On target, changing times and follow the contract

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: June 28, 2008

Marshall was on target

To the editor:

After reading the editorial, “Survey says …” (June 25, page A6), I was quite disappointed with the way the Danville Register & Bee took shots at Delegate Danny Marshall for trying to do the will of the people. The fact of the matter is that Southside should not have to pay for Tim Kaine’s Northern Virginia roads. This is the worst governor in the history of Virginia and he does not care about the needs of Southside — except when he is trying to get something. We cannot even get a criminal executed because of Kaine.

Marshall sent out a questionnaire and asked direct questions. The people who voted for Marshall are intelligent enough to know what is at stake and most of us feel that Kaine should work within his allotted budget — just as we are. No one has given me extra money to pay my bills, so why should we in Southside give Kaine a blank welfare road check for Northern Virginia?

If you are worried about congestion on the Robertson Bridge, there is a simple solution. Take the Aiken Bridge and then Memorial Drive. But since someone will say something about the traffic lights on Riverside Drive, there is also a way to avoid them. Take River Street behind Riverside Drive (at the theater) all the way to the last light in front of Danville Plaza Shopping Center. I have been doing this to save gas. It works.

Delegate Marshall and U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode are both effective leaders. They are not socialists and both do the will of the people.

E. WYATT MOORE

To the editor:

Times are changing here in the United States.

I am a legal immigrant to the best country on Earth after living in England for 23 years. I remember the fearful nights in England during World War II, huddling under the stairs with my parents and hearing the bombs fall. But for the United States, I believe England would have lost that war.

After the war, I had a chance to move to the United States and raise my children away from Europe where there had been two big wars in 25 years. My sister had married an American Air Force man who had served in England. I was married and my wife and I had two children. I couldn’t afford the cost of the ship fare for all of us, so I took a chance and traveled alone, planning to send for my wife and children after I had gotten a job in the United States.

My first sight of New York was quite a thrill — sailing past the Statue of Liberty. All the new immigrants were lining the ship rail. It was quite an experience.

I rode a Greyhound bus from New York to Danville. My first jolt was when the bus reached Washington. There was a change of drivers, and the new driver said, “All colored folks in the back of the bus.”

He didn’t even say please.

I must say it was quite a shock to hear such an order. I felt like crawling down in my seat. Here I was — a foreign person — and I was allowed to sit in the front of the bus. Black soldiers who had served their country had to sit in the back of the bus. I had more rights than a black person. It sure didn’t feel right. If there was only one toilet at the rest stops, the blacks were not allowed to use it — not even the drinking fountain.

I got a job two days after I reached Danville. I had a skill that was needed.

I thanked God for my good luck, but I noticed the indifference there was to the black people.

It seems times are changing for the good. Who knows, for the attention Barack Obama is getting these days, he might even get to live in the White House.

Yes, times are really changing. It is not before it’s time.

HARRY WARD

To the editor:

The article, “Gwaltney owed vacation compensation,” (June 26, page A1), mentions a special Danville City Council meeting to be held noon Monday for the purpose of deciding how much vacation compensation to give retiring City Manager Jerry Gwaltney.

The article continues by quoting Councilman Adam Tomer: “He (Gwaltney) has accrued considerably more than the 60 days in his contract.” This quote leads me to believe that the contract states that the city will pay for up to 60 days of unused leave.

Well, there you have it! The answer to the question should be, pay Gwaltney according to the contract. In other words, pay for 60 days of unused leave.

It’s not like Gwaltney filled the position of city manager without pay. In fact, he has been well paid. My guess is that his current salary is $125,000 — or more. And, of course, many other perks were made available to Gwaltney.

Using the salary figure of $125,000, the 60 days of leave will allow Gwaltney to receive approximately $21,000. If the council members vote to amend the contract (12 hours prior to Gwaltney’s retirement) and pay him for six months of leave time, Gwaltney would receive approximately $62,000.

Danville City Council members are elected to serve the citizens of Danville. They are given the responsibility to be good stewards of our resources — especially our tax dollars. Being good stewards also means that council members must ensure that the provisions of contracts are met.

After reading the aforementioned article, I cannot see how City Council members are even trying to serve the citizens of Danville. They are trying to serve Gwaltney at the expense of the taxpayers. And, that’s not the first time they have done this.

You may recall, a few years ago when council members voted to allow Gwaltney to participate in the city’s retirement plan — although it wasn’t in the contract and this was at the expense of the taxpayers. We have paid approximately $8,000 per year to allow Gwaltney to double dip on retirement plans.

It appears to me that the current council members think they work for the city manager. Council members, wake up! The city manager serves at the pleasure of council members.

I don’t have to remind our citizens how the cost of food, fuel and fees have gone up recently, and they haven’t peaked yet. And now, we may have to pay for something that’s not in the current contract.

The purpose of this letter is twofold: First, to encourage all Danville citizens to call all council members to express your concerns regarding this upcoming special council meeting. Second, to encourage all City Council members to attend this upcoming meeting and vote to represent the city of Danville, follow the contract, and wish Gwaltney Godspeed!

LLOYD R. MILLS

Danville