Dear Editor:
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In response to the article in last week’s paper (June 29, 2011), entitled “Fireworks at Pattonsburg Over New Factory Owners.” This was the unofficial minutes of the Pattonsburg Board of Aldermen’s meeting of June 15, 2011, and was prepared incomplete and with many omissions by a city staffer.
These unofficial minutes directly quote comments verbatim by me regarding the proposed business venture at the cap factory by Keola (Stan) Medeiros. Your reporter did not contact me to verify or even to determine if these comments were correct or complete. Many of my comments were left out or omitted in the unofficial minutes faxed to the paper by this staff person. On June 27, 2011, I wrote an open letter to every voter in Pattonsburg and explained in great detail the current status of the cap factory business proposal by Stan Medeiros and why matters have stalled and about other city matters.
As I recall in the meeting, I asked or inquired “Is this a scam? Or I hope this is not a scam, as this would be a cruel hoax to play on the many people of Pattonsburg.” Left out of these unofficial minutes were my comments that many folks around Pattonsburg have been hyped up with promises of high paying hourly jobs and have continually questioned when the Medeiros would start business and hiring.
I further stated, which was omitted, that expectations and anxiety have been running high in Pattonsburg since this business venture was to originally start last October.
Also left out of these minutes was the fact, as a new board member, that I requested and did see during the meeting, the written contract for the first time and noted that this business deal with the City of Pattonsburg and Mr. Medeiros “was a no money down” deal and based primarily upon pending federal grants and HUD loans. Also omitted was the point that Mayor Gene Walker told us that he takes full responsibility for this business transaction.
Just as an additional note, the proposed Pattonsburg Municipal Court ordinance was also discussed at this meeting and presented by Mayor Gene Walker was missing several critical pages of the proposed draft ordinance. Copies of this proposed ordinance had been hand delivered, prior to the meeting, to the alder persons homes by city staff. I noted this error at the meeting for the record (minutes) but that too was not recorded by staff.
I have no hidden political agenda here as alderman nor do I accept a salary for serving the people of Pattonsburg, my only motive is public service and to use my prior government experience for the benefit of the folks of Pattonsburg.
Larry McNeely,
Pattonsburg (July 5, 2011)