Virginia government corruption
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VA Supreme Court exempts State Corporation Commission from open records law
Richmond, VA On Friday, November 4, 2011 the Virginia Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Christian v. State Corporation Commission that the State Corporation Commission (SCC) was not a public body according to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The court arrived at its decision based on the numerous existing laws governing the actions of the SCC combined with the Virginia legislature's rejection of a 1995 bill to incorporate the commission into the FOIA law. The court felt that it could not override the legislatures clear wishes on the issue. [1]
Virginia law currently includes all private agencies that are "supported wholly or principally by public funds" or entities which were "created to perform delegated functions of the public body or to advise the public body". [2]
Virginia Gov. Tells Agencies to Prepare Budget Cuts
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell sent a memo to the leaders of the state’s agencies asking them to prepare budget cut contingency plans for FY2012.[3] The memo instructed agency heads to prepare to cut the equivalent of 2, 4 and 6 percent of their general fund dollars for fiscal year 2012. [4]
McDonnell cited increases in spending mandates, particularly growing costs of Medicaid from increasing enrollment and use, as the reason the cuts were necessary.[3] The governor will submit his budget recommendations to the legislature on Dec. 17.[3]
Auditor faults Richmond schools’ human resources, payroll departments
Johns review of payroll information covered the period from July 1, 2006, to May 31, 2009 and found a number of problems, including overpayments to 19 employees, totaling $50,356.96, employees taking off time but not recording it and sloppy bookkeeping.
The biggest overpayment instance was to an employee on education leave who received $10,050. This employee has agreed to repay the extra salary in $50 increments over 201 periods, but the other overpaid employees are keeping their overpayments.
Review date set for FOIA case
"Warren County General District Court Judge W. Dale Houff has set a review date in June in a case where a town woman is trying to obtain documents from the Warren County Department of Social Services under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Linda B. Selover, a local attorney, filed a petition in General District Court on May 15, 2008, alleging that her rights under Virginia's FOIA were violated by the department's director, Ronald L. King, and its board chairwoman, Prudence B. Mathews."
FOIA covers judicial salaries, council says
"The administrative office of the Virginia court system is subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act, according to a recent opinion from an open government advisory panel.
The opinion from the Freedom of Information Advisory Council indicated that the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia failed to comply with the FOIA when it withheld information about salaries of administrators and other employees in the state’s magistrate system."
After FOIA battle with teacher, county schools relent
"Mark Crockett is no stranger to public records. The teacher at Western Albemarle High School has used salary information to compare pay raises for the district’s administrators and teachers and has sifted documents to challenge a consultant who concluded teachers didn’t value an early retirement incentive program. But as the state celebrated government transparency with Sunshine Week March 15-21, Crockett learned Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act doesn’t free all information equally.
Crocket wanted to read anonymous comments from a survey conducted last fall by the Albemarle County Public Schools’ Quality Council in order to assess attitudes about school leadership. Numeric results were released in February, but Crockett wanted a closer look at the comments."
Judge rules in favor of official in FOIA case
"A Shenandoah County General District Court judge ruled in favor of County Administrator Vince Poling and the Board of Supervisors in a Freedom of Information Act case Friday afternoon.
Toms Brook resident Mark Prince sought to find Poling in violation of FOIA because he apparently did not provide all relevant documents pertaining to two requests Prince made, both regarding discussions about the placement of a regional jail in Toms Brook."
Study finds many Va. records online
"Unless you're looking for death certificates, hospital inspections or a handful of other official state documents, chances are you can find them online in Virginia.
A new survey finds that Virginia ranks among the top states when it comes to posting public records online."
Times-Dispatch Freedom of Information reporting
"Some of the most exciting writing we do here in the Richmond Times-Dispatch newsroom never gets published.
It reads like this: "This is a request under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act . . . ."
With those words, we recently found out that:
- The Virginia State Police need 600 more troopers, investigators, and supervisors.
- Richmond police spent $11,586 on security for Mayor Dwight C. Jones during President Barack Obama's inauguration.
- Richmond officials couldn't say how many officials drive city-owned cars home.
- Virginia Commonwealth University officials decided, in their own words, to be "very flexible" in awarding then-Richmond Police Chief Rodney D. Monroe a degree when he had far fewer VCU credits than the school required of other students -- and the police department paid $15,937 in tuition fees for that degree."
Bedford County School Board regrets secrecy of superintendent rollout
"The Bedford County School Board’s appointment of a new superintendent late last month was not as forthright as the board “aspires under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act,” according to a resolution the board passed Thursday.
Board members did not refer to incoming Superintendent Douglas Schuch by name when they approved a personnel report including his hire at a Feb. 26 meeting. Prior to that meeting, the board had met in a closed meeting and discussed superintendent candidates, current Superintendent James Blevins later confirmed."
Bedford County School Board admits it fell short on FOIA
"A Feb. 26 vote to hire a new superintendent could have been handled more appropriately under the state’s public access laws, the Bedford County School Board acknowledged Thursday night.
The school board passed by unanimous vote a resolution stating the manner in which the board hired Doug Schuch “did not inform the public to the extent the Board aspires under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act.”
Schuch’s hire was included in a personnel report, but school board members refused to release his name until a news conference the next day."
Gun legislation awaiting Kaine's signature
"Two major pieces of legislation dealing with concealed handguns are headed to Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's desk.
One of the two is headed toward a likely veto.
The Virginia General Assembly has approved two major changes to state law in the area of concealed carry permits in recent days -- one would put a statewide list of permit holders off limits, while another would allow holders to carry their guns in restaurants where alcohol is served, provided they don't drink."
Bedford Co. school board chairman defends decision not to identify superintendent hire
"Bedford County School Board Chairman Gary Hostutler on Friday defended the board's decision to vote at a meeting Thursday to hire a new superintendent without identifying him or even stating publicly that a candidate was being approved -- a possible violation of Virginia's Freedom of Information Act.
After emerging from an hourlong closed session Thursday night, Huddleston District representative David Black made a motion "to approve the personnel report.""
Attorney continues fight to obtain records
"The legal process for a town woman who has filed a court complaint to obtain documents and records from the Warren County Department of Social Services is proving to be almost as tedious as reviewing the material.
Linda B. Selover, a local attorney, filed a petition in General District Court on May 15 alleging that her rights under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act were violated by the department's director, Ronald L. King, and its board chairwoman, Prudence B. Mathews.
Selover sought minutes of social services board meetings, audio recordings, e-mails and memos "which may shed light on their investigation of abuse of vulnerable individuals," she has said."
Judge continues FOIA case against DSS
"A town woman's court battle with the Warren County Department of Social Services over her request for documents under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act will continue for at least another week.
Linda B. Selover, a local attorney, filed a petition with General District Court on May 15 alleging that her FOIA rights were violated by the department's director, Ronald L. King, and its board chairwoman, Prudence B. Mathews.
Selover sought minutes of social services board meetings, audio recordings, e-mails and memos "which may shed light on their investigation of abuse of vulnerable individuals," she has said."
Secrecy breeds distrust
"The most refreshing change in Franklin city government over the past six months has been the City Council’s emphasis on openness, transparency and accessibility.
That collective spirit has begun to restore the broken trust between citizens and City Hall that manifest itself in the May election, when two newcomers running on a platform of greater citizen involvement scored runaway victories.
The City Council’s challenge now is to demonstrate that openness is an ongoing commitment, not an election-year show."
FOI Council recommends weapons legislation
"The Freedom of Information Advisory Council recommended legislation yesterday that would prevent the public from getting the names of concealed weapons permit holders from the Virginia State Police.
The public could continue to get names from local Circuit Courts.
The General Assembly will consider the legislation during the next six weeks."
Richmond school district supervisor overpaid employee, falsified evidence
A letter from Umesh Dalal to Brandon does not include the name of the official but writes that the supervisor "either overpaid or failed to detect overpayment to the employee" and "created documentation after the fact to justify overpayment to the employee."
According to the letter, Brandon's payroll documentation was "very limited and incomplete," failing to coincide with time sheets and work schedules. Dalal said the overpayment for the year reached about $2,000.
Association of Government Accountants hold conference for government transparency
In the end of July of 2008, the AGA will hold a conference, Building on the Dream: Shaping a Culture of Accountability, to discuss techniques to make for a more transparent and accountable government.[5]
Virginia State Police Investigate School Board
In 2008 the School Board sued the county to allow $500,000 in expenses. The suit was later settled out of court, when the School Board was granted to put $50,000 of the expenses on the 2008 bill.[6]
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