I am deeply committed to transparency and accountability. I am also deeply committed to ensuring that the development of Spencer’s Landing and Vienna’s other riverfront properties includes input from the community.

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In July, the City of Vienna entered into a contract with The Thrasher Group for the Spencer’s Landing Master Plan Project. This project included 4 parcels of property.

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The contract with the Thrasher Group included the establishment of a “steering committee” to work closely with The Thrasher Group in developing Spencer’s Landing.

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According to the contract, the steering committee will be involved in each planning step of the project.

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Understanding the importance of the role of the steering committee, Councilman Mancuso and I sponsored a resolution to create a steering committee as envisioned in the Thrasher contract. According to the Thrasher Group’s contract, the steering committee was meant to have a significant role in the project.

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Unfortunately, the resolution to create the steering committee failed with Mayor Rapp, Councilman Leach, and Recorder Elam voting against forming the steering committee.

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Following the failure to create the steering committee, the Mayor took his own action and appointed fifteen people he selected to the “steering committee”. Then, at the August 22nd council meeting, the Mayor indicated that the committee’s role would be limited to developing a survey questionnaire.

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However, the contract with Thrasher outlines the steering committee’s role which has significant influence and discretion on the “final recreational features” of Spencer’s Landing. The steering committee’s role is not limited to just developing the questioner as the Mayor suggested in August.

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Because of the lack of transparency around the development of the Spencer’s Landing project, I sought an advisory opinion from the West Virginia Ethics Commission regarding the Open Meetings Act and whether it applies to the steering committee working with Thrasher.

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On September 5, 2024, the WV Ethics Commission gave their advisory opinion. After considering the facts, the Committee found that since Vienna City Council is delegating authority to the steering committee to work with a city-hired consultant to make recommendations to the City Council on policy or administration, including initial, revised, and proposed designs and features of the Spencer's Landing Project, then the steering committee is a governing body under the Open Meetings Act and subject to properly noticed public meetings.

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Now, given the WV Ethics Commissions' advisory opinion and the significant role of the steering committee, I plan to propose a future resolution for the steering committee’s formation. The formation of the steering committee should be similar to Vienna’s other boards, ensuring that committee members are appointed by a Council vote.

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My actions, with respect to the advisory opinion I sought from the WV Ethics Commission, reflects my commitment to uphold democratic principles and ensure that the community’s voice is integral in the development of our riverfront properties. It is essential that such committees operate transparently to maintain public trust and to align the final project with the community’s vision.

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And if I am elected to serve as your next mayor, I will make sure that all city advisory boards, including temporary committees such as this one and the recent pool committee will operate in accordance with the Open Meetings Act at all times. Vienna residents deserve complete transparency from their government and all boards that serve it