Oct. 29, 2009
Who is the Opinionated Woman Labeled 'Ms. Smith Goes to Huntington City Council'?
She Has Strong Thoughts on Environmental Contamination and Animal Cruelty
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – During the heated residency settlement discussions a Huntington woman apparently impressed observers with her asking touch questions while remaining in a calm “you catch more flies with honey” demeanor.
Terri Smith told HNN that she had attended only one council meeting previously. She didn’t speak at it, but a TV person cornered her to offer her thoughts on the small screen.
Before moving back to WV to take care of family members, she told of an out of town “political” incident in which the animal rescuer was accused of cruelty. The jury acquitted her in less than five minutes; she represented herself in court.
Ms. Smith supported Ron Paul in the last presidential election. Her viewpoints reflect the unbundling of regulations and laws supported by Sen. Paul. For instance, on the dog tethering debate which sneaked in to the meeting after the residency debate, the animal lover stated that she does not support a flat ban on the practice.
“I read somewhere that West Virginia was among the top three worst areas for animal neglect and abandonment. If there is not enough money to hire enough animal control officers… I think more laws would be confusing. There’s already a neglect and cruelty law on the books, so you cannot leave your animal out in the weather that’s already on the books. There’s sufficient laws, but a lot of times you can solve these problems [other ways]. You should try to talk to the person [allegedly abusing the animal] and see if they want to give the dog away. Start with the easiest….”
NUCLEAR CLEAN UP NEAR SCIOTO COUNTY
Having purchased property in Athens County , Ohio, the woman noticed posters regarding the environmental issue involving the cleanup of the former uranium enrichment plant at Piketon, Ohio.
“I started going to those meetings. I want to eventually get into some organic gardening and a sustainable off-grid home. It bothers me that there is a huge amount of contamination [near the plant].”
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) appointed Smith and 20 others to a Community Advisory Board to assist in clean up issues from the Gaseous diffusion plant.
SHAM CLEAN UP BOARD; CONTRACTORS MONITOR SAMPLES, NOT EPA
“I’m on the clean-up board, but it’s [not] really a legitimate board of average community members,” Ms. Smith said, adding that “ the Department of Energy ended up appointing [mostly] ex-nuclear contractors and people who have worked in the nuclear industry who still benefit financially from it. I’m the only one in opposition, they kind of rubber stamp everything. It’s a sham of a board. The Ohio EPA does not do any oversight. I’ve asked them questions, and they have admitted they do not go there to monitor samples, they let the contractors do it.”
The data compiled by the contractors is then forwarded to the Ohio Department of Environmental Protection, she said.
FORMER WORKERS HAVE CANCER AND/OR TOXIC EXPOSURE ILLNESSES
Asked about the lasting impact from working at the former uranium enrichment plant, Ms. Smith told that there are a lot of seriously ill former workers.
“All the workers in the 80s and 90s were from Scioto County. Every single employee has some kind of cancer or several toxic exposure illnesses,” Ms. Smith stated.
RESIDENCY AFTERMATH: INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY AGREES STATE LAW SUPPORTED EXEC SESSION DISCUSSION OF SETTLEMENT
Prior to speaking with Ms. Smith, HNN received word from an attorney on allowance of attorney/client advice in an executive session and settlement discussions. “I thought West Virginia Statute 6-9a-4(b)(11) was fairly clear that a public agency can approve or consider a settlement in closed session,” the attorney said:
(11) Nothing in this article permits a public agency to close a meeting that otherwise would be open, merely because an agency attorney is a participant. If the public agency has approved or considered a settlement in closed session, and the terms of the settlement allow disclosure, the terms of that settlement shall be reported by the public agency and entered into its minutes within a reasonable time after the settlement is concluded…”
CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION SUPPORTED BY SMITH
For the record, Ms. Smith believes that council should have worked harder (or continue working) on agreements that do not break the law and would be more pleasing to constituents. One of those options would be a charter amendment election, which, for instance, might allow a little flexibility on strict residency by mandating employees live in Cabell County.
She does not agree with council members voting for an item opposed by those who elected them. Asked specifically for observations developed after the meeting, Ms. Smith said, “the bottom line is we just have another governmental body that once they are elected, they are going to do what they want and not pay attention to what their constituents want. “
Based on Mr. Ritter’s statements, certain citizens want employees to “live here. I feel people that signed affidavits knew what they were doing. I’d rather have police officers that live in the city as those that do not [may] have less loyalty to the city. [Some] people do not want police [and emergency] officers to live outside the city.” Acknowledging the “right across the river” venue of Chesapeake and Proctorville, Ohio, she suggested an amendment might contain a “radius” or something.
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Who is the Opinionated Woman Labeled 'Ms. Smith Goes to Huntington City Council'?
She Has Strong Thoughts on Environmental Contamination and Animal Cruelty
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – During the heated residency settlement discussions a Huntington woman apparently impressed observers with her asking touch questions while remaining in a calm “you catch more flies with honey” demeanor.
Terri Smith told HNN that she had attended only one council meeting previously. She didn’t speak at it, but a TV person cornered her to offer her thoughts on the small screen.
Before moving back to WV to take care of family members, she told of an out of town “political” incident in which the animal rescuer was accused of cruelty. The jury acquitted her in less than five minutes; she represented herself in court.
Ms. Smith supported Ron Paul in the last presidential election. Her viewpoints reflect the unbundling of regulations and laws supported by Sen. Paul. For instance, on the dog tethering debate which sneaked in to the meeting after the residency debate, the animal lover stated that she does not support a flat ban on the practice.
“I read somewhere that West Virginia was among the top three worst areas for animal neglect and abandonment. If there is not enough money to hire enough animal control officers… I think more laws would be confusing. There’s already a neglect and cruelty law on the books, so you cannot leave your animal out in the weather that’s already on the books. There’s sufficient laws, but a lot of times you can solve these problems [other ways]. You should try to talk to the person [allegedly abusing the animal] and see if they want to give the dog away. Start with the easiest….”
NUCLEAR CLEAN UP NEAR SCIOTO COUNTY
Having purchased property in Athens County , Ohio, the woman noticed posters regarding the environmental issue involving the cleanup of the former uranium enrichment plant at Piketon, Ohio.
“I started going to those meetings. I want to eventually get into some organic gardening and a sustainable off-grid home. It bothers me that there is a huge amount of contamination [near the plant].”
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) appointed Smith and 20 others to a Community Advisory Board to assist in clean up issues from the Gaseous diffusion plant.
SHAM CLEAN UP BOARD; CONTRACTORS MONITOR SAMPLES, NOT EPA
“I’m on the clean-up board, but it’s [not] really a legitimate board of average community members,” Ms. Smith said, adding that “ the Department of Energy ended up appointing [mostly] ex-nuclear contractors and people who have worked in the nuclear industry who still benefit financially from it. I’m the only one in opposition, they kind of rubber stamp everything. It’s a sham of a board. The Ohio EPA does not do any oversight. I’ve asked them questions, and they have admitted they do not go there to monitor samples, they let the contractors do it.”
The data compiled by the contractors is then forwarded to the Ohio Department of Environmental Protection, she said.
FORMER WORKERS HAVE CANCER AND/OR TOXIC EXPOSURE ILLNESSES
Asked about the lasting impact from working at the former uranium enrichment plant, Ms. Smith told that there are a lot of seriously ill former workers.
“All the workers in the 80s and 90s were from Scioto County. Every single employee has some kind of cancer or several toxic exposure illnesses,” Ms. Smith stated.
RESIDENCY AFTERMATH: INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY AGREES STATE LAW SUPPORTED EXEC SESSION DISCUSSION OF SETTLEMENT
Prior to speaking with Ms. Smith, HNN received word from an attorney on allowance of attorney/client advice in an executive session and settlement discussions. “I thought West Virginia Statute 6-9a-4(b)(11) was fairly clear that a public agency can approve or consider a settlement in closed session,” the attorney said:
(11) Nothing in this article permits a public agency to close a meeting that otherwise would be open, merely because an agency attorney is a participant. If the public agency has approved or considered a settlement in closed session, and the terms of the settlement allow disclosure, the terms of that settlement shall be reported by the public agency and entered into its minutes within a reasonable time after the settlement is concluded…”
CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION SUPPORTED BY SMITH
For the record, Ms. Smith believes that council should have worked harder (or continue working) on agreements that do not break the law and would be more pleasing to constituents. One of those options would be a charter amendment election, which, for instance, might allow a little flexibility on strict residency by mandating employees live in Cabell County.
She does not agree with council members voting for an item opposed by those who elected them. Asked specifically for observations developed after the meeting, Ms. Smith said, “the bottom line is we just have another governmental body that once they are elected, they are going to do what they want and not pay attention to what their constituents want. “
Based on Mr. Ritter’s statements, certain citizens want employees to “live here. I feel people that signed affidavits knew what they were doing. I’d rather have police officers that live in the city as those that do not [may] have less loyalty to the city. [Some] people do not want police [and emergency] officers to live outside the city.” Acknowledging the “right across the river” venue of Chesapeake and Proctorville, Ohio, she suggested an amendment might contain a “radius” or something.
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