Staunton citizen blames Mayor Oakes for hostility within city council: Letter

PAUL KAZAROV
·1 min read

I attended the Staunton City Council work session and regular meeting on Jan. 13. What I saw and heard was a dysfunctional city council. A sudden closed meeting was called at the start of the work session without notifying three members of city council of this intent ahead of time. Was this done deliberately?

Two days before on Jan. 11, a special city council meeting was scheduled to inform citizens of Staunton about the Augusta County courts and a proposal to move them to Verona. Mayor Oakes and two members of city council boycotted the meeting, and as consequence, the meeting had to be dismissed due to a lack of quorum. This was a slap in the face to all who attended the meeting, in person and remotely. Why did these three council members choose to behave so disrespectfully?

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I blame the mayor, the official in the leadership position, for continuing to fuel the animosity festering among council members. The behavior is arrogant, irresponsible and petulant, and we deserve better. I no longer have hope that this city council can get their act together.

The mayor should resign.

PAUL KAZAROV

Staunton

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton citizen holds mayor responsible for animosity in city council