FW Summary of March 17 Closed Session

8/18/2019 FW Summary of March 17 Closed Session

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From: Michael C. Frue

Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 2:34:41 PM

To: Jon G. Ostendorff

Cc: Wanda Greene; Kathy Hughes

Subject: FW: summary of March 17 closed session

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-----Original Message-----From: Ellen Frost [mailto:[email protected]]Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 7:00 AMTo: Miranda DeBruhlCc: Holly Jones; Kathy Hughes; Brownie W. Newman; David Gantt; david gantt work; Ellen M. Frost; JoeBelcher; Mike Fryar; Wanda Greene; Jon Creighton; Tim Flora; Mandy Stone; Robert J. Deutsch; MichaelC. FrueSubject: Re: summary of March 17 closed session

Goodness much activity last night. No need for me to give you any background about ten months of EDC

and senior staff working with Deshutes we were all privy to the same information .It saddens me this seems a sad attempt to negate any responsibility that your unusual behavior i.e.Twitter posts , Facebook posts and contact and pressure Deshutes to make a decision about locating hada horrible result. They chose Roanoke . Are you to blame for the loss to our community of jobs , we willnever know for sure , but calling it a "fairytale " certainly could not have helped.Our senior staff ,EDC and our clerk are consummate professionals they spend their waking hours workinghard for the citizens of our county. Their success is evident i.e. Plasticard, Linamar and GE.Navigating through landing GE was a very difficult process but not one of 7 then commissioners everattempted to interfere in the process. Confidentiality was essential as the cause of needing expansionwas rolling out a product they will be revolutionary to the energy needs of the aviation industry. If at anypoint before the announcement anyone had revealed the name of the company GE would have closedthe existing plant in Asheville and moved out of Buncombe , but we chose to be mindful of the needs orour community and workers . As a result we have a thriving business which eventually will add 500 jobsto our community.

I am done with this subject , I end where I started sad that you seem to be smug that Deshutes choseRoanoke , instead of the loss of great jobs to our community.

Sent from my iPadEllen FrostBuncombe County [email protected]

> On Mar 29, 2016, at 12:59 AM, Miranda DeBruhl wrote:>> Cheers, and welcome back.>> Please keep all of your records on this disaster.

>> Miranda DeBruhl>> Sent from my iPad>> On Mar 29, 2016, at 12:08 AM, Holly Jones wrote:>> Dear Commissioner DeBruhl,


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>> For the record, I do not consider my vote to purchase Ferry Road, a once in a lifetime economicdevelopment opportunity for HUNDREDS of job seekers in this county, neither a mess nor a failure. Ihave tried to respect the minority view that this was not a risk you all would take. That is fine. However, ifin some bizarre way you think I am trying to back away from that decision, let me clear the record. I woulddo it again.>> Furthermore, I am also crystal clear what my responsibilities are as an elected official as they relate tostaff. Your choice to misrepresent my motivation is sad although not unexpected. However, it was anoble attempt at metaphor.>> Good night.>> Holly Jones> Buncombe County Commissioner> [email protected]>>>>

>>> On Mar 28, 2016, at 11:23 PM, Miranda DeBruhl wrote:>> Holly,>> Our staff should not and will not bear the burden of your failures. It is wrong for you to use the staff asa sponge for your political messes.>> Thank you,>> Miranda DeBruhl

>> Sent from my iPad>> On Mar 28, 2016, at 10:42 PM, Holly Jones wrote:>> Dear Miranda,>> I realize it is the political season, but I would respectfully ask that you take a breath and review whatyou write before hitting “send." >> While I am sure you are aiming your guns at your political opponent in this election season, yourdiatribe comes across as an incredible insult to our county clerk who has spent years training to be the

best clerk she can be and has been recognized for her accomplishments in this realm statewide. I for oneam very grateful for her service and her professionalism. As an elected official, it is your responsibility tounderstand the impact of your loaded words.>> If you take the time to review past closed session minutes, you would realize these minutes reflectstandard procedure and are not some conspiracy. If you don’t like that approach, fine, but for goodnesssake you accusing professionals of "misrepresentation" is beyond the pale.>> Friend, I have no qualms that these minutes will be scrutinized with other records, potentially arecording you made without anyone’s knowledge. If you think there is something left out, by all means


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when they are presented for adoption, make amendments and we can either accept or reject them. Wehave this opportunity every meeting. If you have a recording that you used truly in “secret” that cancorrect anything that our clerk presented, why don’t you share it with us all so we can de termine if theminutes are inaccurately presented?>> I will be following up with staff one by one to see if they feel unfairly pressured by not recording minutes.I have served in elected office in 15 years and have had relationships with numerous staff and neverheard this as an issue. However, our role as an elected official also requires our care and nurturing ofour employees and I for one take that seriously.>>> Holly Jones> Buncombe County Commissioner> [email protected]>>>>>>

> On Mar 28, 2016, at 8:54 PM, Miranda DeBruhl wrote:>> These minutes are a misrepresentation of our emergency closed session called during "sunshineweek.">> However, if anyone believes it to be true, then the property itself was acquired unlawfully and thetransaction should be invalidated as such. As presented, the minutes do not indicate a purchase price.With no purchase price authorized by the board, how in the world did the county taxpayers come toacquire this land? Does the majority of our board now contend that it directed staff to use taxpayermoney to acquire land at any price?>> The "secret" meeting and discussion lasted for for forty-five minutes, is this truly all that transpired? I

think not and everyone present knows not.>> Did commissioner Newman not clearly indicate that the real reason for purchasing this property was, "tocontrol what goes there?" And, was this not clearly indicated as the real "emergency" for the meeting?>> Did commissioner Newman not specifically name Jack Cecil as a potential purchaser of this land whoNewman desired to stop? Did commissioner Newman not specifically state that left alone, "We don'twant Jack Cecil to build houses here?">> More than one attorney, sworn officers of the court, were present for this meeting. Is this in fact theirrecollection of what transpired? I think not.>> And, if in fact the meeting was recorded, will all of you swear this is what happened?

>> For these reasons, and many others, I stand by my desire to have all of these "secret" meetingselectronically recorded so that there may be no question as to what actually transpired. Electronicallyrecording these minutes would be far more fair to the staff and remove any pressure they may feel.>> Friends, these minutes are going to be compared to the copious number of other sources for publicrecords in this matter. I encourage each of you to reflect on the facts and honestly represent them to thepublic in our minutes.>> Thank you,


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>> Miranda DeBruhl>> Sent from my iPad>> On Mar 28, 2016, at 2:15 PM, Kathy Hughes wrote:>> We have had a records request for the 3/17/15 minutes. Now that the reason for the closed session isover, the full record can be disclosed; however, these minutes must be approved by you first. Here’s thedraft record from that closed meeting.>> Kathy Hughes, NCMCC> Clerk to the Board> Public Relations Director> Buncombe County Government> 200 College Street> Asheville, NC 28801> 828-250-4105> Fax – 828-6076

>> “Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” >> >>

Documents

FW Summary of March 17 Closed Session