GregVaughnforHarpersFerryCampaign|2017|page 1
2017 Harpers Ferry Election | Misperceptions & FACTS
Information often has a vibrant life of its own and at times can become distorted in its telling and retelling. Following are several information MISPERCEPTIONS in the community that have been repeated in recent Town Hall Meetings and Forums alongside corresponding FACTS to help make informed voting decisions.
If you step beyond misperceptions and review the facts, you will discover that in his most recent term Greg has helped advance town finances from deficit spending to a surplus that can be invested in safety and community infrastructure, has restored fair and equal enforcement of codes to restore historic and cultural integrity of the town, and has reinvigorated economic and tourism impact in the community.
Take a look and learn the FACTS!
MISPERCEPTION:HarpersFerryneedstoengageaCPAfirmtopreventfiscalmismanagement.FACT:HarpersFerrycurrentlyhires,andhashiredforyearsinaccordancewithWestVirginiaStatecode,aWVapprovedCPAFirmthatconductsroutineadvisoryfunctionsandreviewandaseparateWVapprovedfirmfortherequiredannualaudit.HarpersFerryhascompletedALLCPAcertifiedauditswithnoindicationofanymismanagement.Allauditsareavailableforonlinereviewbythepublic.
MISPERCEPTION:HarpersFerryhasinadequatepoliceduetomismanagementofthecurrentTownCouncil
withinferencesthishasledtocrimespikesinadjacentmunicipaljurisdictions.FACT:HarpersFerryapproachesaratioofonepoliceofficerper100residents,ahigherratiothanmostUScities.Anyincreasedcrimeinthearearesultsfrommultipleinfluencesincludingaddictionintheregionandfiscalchallengestoco-municipalitiesthatresultedintemporarycessationofpolicecoverageinadjacent(non-HarpersFerry)jurisdictions.
TheTownCouncilhasworkeddiligentlytogeneratenewfundingstreamsforHarpersFerryandexpectsthatanticipatedsurpluseswillallowforadditionalpolice
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supportandservicesinthenearfuturewiththehopeofworkingalongsideadjacentjurisdictions.
MISPERCEPTION:HarpersFerryresidentswillhavetopaycapacity,infrastructure,andsupplycostsforadditionalwaterusagegeneratedbyanewHilltopHotel.FACT:TherecentlyapprovedHotelOverlayOrdinancerequiresANYANDALLCOSTSthatmightresultfromcapacity,infrastructure,andsupplyneedsbeyond2008levelsTOBEBORNSOLELYbythehoteldeveloper.
MISPERCEPTION:WaterandSewerCostIncreasesforresidentsareoccurringduetoTownCouncilmismanagementandfailuretoreachouttopotentialfundingpartnersforthe$6.5millionHarpersFerryWaterSystemUpgrade.FACT:Costincreasestoresidentsaretheresultofdeferredmaintenanceoverthepastdecades.Thecurrentcouncilisaddressinginfrastructureissuesthathavenotbeenattendedtoforyearsduetolackoffunding.HarpersFerryTownCouncilandCommunityadvocateshaveworkedalongsidecommunityadvocatesandfundingprofessionalstocraftthemostcost-effectiveapproachtoprojectfinancingforwaterservicesessentialtopreventinghigherlongtermcosts.SewerServicesarenotadministeredbythetownandtheTownCouncilDOESNOTcontrolsewerfees.
MISPERCEPTION:HarpersFerryparkingrestrictionsarepunitivetoresidentsandadeterrenttotourism.FACT:Theimplementedparkingplanaddressesresidentsafety,tourismtraffic,andparkingmanagementwhilegeneratinganewrevenuestreamthatcanbedirectedtocommunitysafetyandinfrastructureenhancements.Thecurrentcosttoanytownresidentis$5peryear/pervehicle(coveringthecostofprintingtheresidentdecal)andanyresidentcanrequestawaverforconsiderationif$5ayearisabarrier.Residentdecalshelppoliceidentifynon-residentautosforresidentprotection.Thepermitsalsohelpsassurethatresidentswillhaveadequateparkingintheirneighborhoodastourismtrafficincreasesthroughouttheseason.
TheParkingApp(researchedandrecommendedbyaresident)hasallowedHarpersFerrytoavoidcostsassociatedwithtraditionalparkingmeters.AllreportsforthecurrenttouristseasonindicatenodeclineintourismandwhilegeneratingthousandsofdollarsinnewrevenueforHarpersFerry.
MISPERCEPTION:ThecurrentHilltopHotelOverlayallowsforunrestrictedgrowthofaprojectbeyondthescaleofthesiteandhascompromisedpublicandregulatoryoversight.FACT:TheapprovedHotelOverlayOrdinanceprescribesahotelfootprintthatfallswithintheoriginalsizeparametersofthesite.TheapprovedHotelOverlayplancontainsstrictandenforceablezoningandregulatoryprocesseswithcommunityinputscheduledintoeachdesignphase.
AnyproposedincreaseinthecurrentfootprintorsizemustseeapprovedbytheBoardofZoningAppeals(BZA)followingpublicreview.TheDevelopmentCompanyhasaprovenrecordandhistoryofsensitiveandarchitecturallyalignedprojectsthroughouttheregionandhasadaptedplantomeetdesignconsiderationsandconcernsofHarpersFerrystakeholdersthroughtheprocessthroughaseriesofpublicmeetings.
MISPERCEPTION:ThecurrentTownCouncilhasnotbeentransparentinmattersrelatedtotheHilltopHotelOverlayandotherTownmattersandrefusestoheardissentingvoices.FACT:ThecurrentHarpersFerryTownCouncilcontinuestoholdongoingandopencommunitymeetings,forums,anddialogueinwhichallstakeholdervoicesareheardaboveandbeyondtherequirementsofgovernanceordinances.Insomecases,dissentingvoiceshaverefusedtohonortheframeworksestablishedforcivilandaccuratepublicdiscourse.TheTownadditionallyhasbroughtinimpartialfacilitatorstomakecertainmeetingsareopenandcivil.AllinterestedpartiescanreachouttotheRecorderfornotesandinsomecasestranscriptsandrecordingsofthesessions.
PLEASESHAREANDSTAYTUNEDFORADDITIONALFACTUPDATESASNEEDED!VISITGREGONTHEWEB|GregVaugnforHarpersFerry.weebly.com
HonoringWestVirginiaElectionRules:SponsoredbytheGregVaughnforHarpersFerryelectioncampaign.JohnMadigan,Treasurer
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