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thanked Ms. Babcock for her past service and nominated A1 Henry for the Hampton seat on the commission. Significantly, none of the other four members of the Board raised any question why Susan Babcock should not be reappointed, or had any other comment on the issue. With Ms. Babcock watching from the rear of the room, the board unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Henry.
A public firing of an appointed official is a rare and unpleasant thing to watch. Normally when a person is dismissed from a job, some explanation is given. But Susan Babcock was dismissed without any reasons being given. "Thank you for your service, you're fired,” was the message. It was shabby treatment for someone who had worked hard at a thankless job.
Perhaps Mr. Lee at some future point will explain why Ms. Babcock did not deserve reappointment. Perhaps he will explain what Mr. Henry brings to the Planning Commission • that he thought was needed there. Perhaps—but I will not hold my breath. In the subterranean world of county politics,' these issues seem to get decided long before the public meetings, for reasons that are never made public. And the Board's "don't ask, don't tell" policy prevents any public discussion of what is really going on.
I wish to publicly thank Susan Babcock for her dedication to the work of the Planning Commission, and for her commitment to a set of values that has kept Rappahannock County a beautiful, peaceful, uncrowded place in a world gone mad for sprawll She will be missed. As for what happened today, I would simpjy conclude by saying that it doesn't pass the smell test.
James P. Gannon
Castleton
Car tax revisited
95.7%