Has Arp Violated Oath of Office
Opinion January 10, 2016
Attention citizens of Blue Ridge. The depositions relating to the Ada street lawsuit against Arp, Pack and Kendall are now public. As a citizen, you should take the time to read them. The depositions are very illuminating in terms of the type of people we have in office, their moral and ethical standards and their background and experience in terms of representing the citizens of Blue Ridge.
There is obvious evidence that Angie Arp has used her position in office to better herself financially and personally which is a direct violation of her oath of office. She voted against Kristy Petrillo having a trapeze in the downtown area but yet she is currently constructing an “Air Park” consisting of trapeze like equipment on the highway. She voted against the Ada Street partners building a hotel in the downtown area. But in the depositions of multiple witnesses, Miss Arp approached many “businessmen” to partner with her to build a hotel in the downtown area. Twice in her two years in office she has voted against someone building a project because she herself wanted to do it and reap the benefit, monopolizing the market and making more money than anyone else. These actions are a clear and direct violation of her oath of office.
In the Georgia Municipalities “Handbook for Georgia Mayors and Council Members,” Fifth Edition, under the chapter: “Structure of Municipal Government; Ethics, Conflict of Interest, and Abuse of Office” it states ;
“A public officers goal should be to further the public good, not to improve the standing of the public officer.” (Page 73)
This document by the Georgia Municipalities Association also clearly delineates what a “conflict of interest” is. On page 74 under “Civil Statutes” it states:
“It is improper and illegal for a member of a municipal council to vote on any question brought before the council in which he or she is personally interested.”
Miss Arp should have recused herself from voting on both the trapeze and Ada Street partners zoning situations. Her not voting on these two situations would have caused the 1, 2 & 3 vote team of Arp, Pack and Kendall to lose thus weakening Miss Arps personal gain should these two projects move forward without her involvement.
Miss Arp has demonstrated she does not have the ethical and moral fiber to abstain from profiting personally from her position in office. She, is supposed to be the servant of the people. She has violated the trust of the people by serving herself, not the people.
Cindy Trimble
2 Comments
Well here I go even though I hate myself for even giving into this. I don’t have a personal interest in anything or anyone. But I do know that Angie Arp was looking into the COMMERCIAL property she now owns on 515 for quite a while. I am not sure how that property is similar to the downtown property your speak of since that property was already zoned commercial. And if you are going to bring attention to one person who holds a position with the city and owns or has purchased property in the downtown area then you need to bring attention to all of them. Tax records are public as well. And I agree that everyone should read the depositions for themselves and actually do all the research for themselves. Can’t believe most of what you hear or read. I am not in this for a debate so I won’t be looking for a response. Just saying my peace as usual. I don’t care what anyone does or owns as long as they are not hurting anyone else. I hold no jealousy but I do have a problem with people constantly creating drama which takes away from any productivity that might be possible if people would work together for the good of the city rather than try to hurt others for their own benefit. Thank you
Well, I guess voters get what they deserve when they vote for council members like these. Hopefully next election our citizens will elect someone who looks out for the interests of the people, and not the politician.