8/18/2018 Mail - MBrittingham@charlestownwv.

us

Re: Charles Town-Wasteful Spending on Speech?

Dan Casto <dancastocpa@gmail.com>

Sat 8/18/2018 10:23 AM

To: Mike Brittingham <MBrittingham@charlestownwv.us>;

Cc:Scott Rogers <SRogers@charlestownwv.us>; Michael Tolbert <mtolbert@charlestownwv.us>; Chet Hines <chines@charlestownwv.us>;

Nick Zaglifa <nzaglifa@charlestownwv.us>; Ann Paonessa <apaonessa@charlestownwv.us>; Micheal George
<mgeorge@charlestownwv.us>; Bob Trainor <btrainor@charlestownwv.us>; Daryl Hennessy <dhennessy@charlestownwv.us>;
walsworth@journal-news.net <walsworth@journal-news.net>; tcook@journal-news.net <tcook@journal-news.net>; mheath@journal-
news.net <mheath@journal-news.net>; Craig See <sojpublisher@gmail.com>; editor@spiritofjefferson.com
<editor@spiritofjefferson.com>; info@orion-strategies.com <info@orion-strategies.com>;

 1 attachments (615 KB)

Screenshot_20180818-102139_Messages.jpg;

Hi Mike, yes this is my personal email address. Also, JCDA is largely exempt from FOIA. Let me know if you want to have a discussion. 202 400
4430.

On Fri, Aug 17, 2018, 10:44 PM Mike Brittingham <MBrittingham@charlestownwv.us> wrote:

I’m available on Monday any time prior to the Council Meeting if you’d like me to attend.

Thank You,

Mike Brittingham
Councilman
City of Charles Town

From: Dan Casto <dancastocpa@gmail.com>

Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 10:25 PM
To: Mike Bri ngham
Cc: Sco Rogers; Michael Tolbert; Chet Hines; Nick Zaglifa; Ann Paonessa; Micheal George; Bob Trainor; Daryl Hennessy;
walsworth@journal-news.net; tcook@journal-news.net; mheath@journal-news.net; Craig See;
editor@spirito efferson.com; info@orion-strategies.com
Subject: Re: Charles Town-Wasteful Spending on Speech?

Hi Mr. Brittingham:

I'm meeting with a couple council members on Monday and will have a column coming out soon. You cannot do anything to satisfy my
inquiry other than putting actual controls in place and allowing all businesses (as opposed to only some friends) to compete for business. No
offense, but what you are saying is "we enter into the mortgage and then question whether it was a good decision whenever we get the
monthly mortgage statement." By then it's too late.

Good night, I look forward to getting to know you all better!

-Dan-

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8/18/2018 Mail - MBrittingham@charlestownwv.us

On Fri, Aug 17, 2018 at 10:20 PM, Mike Brittingham <MBrittingham@charlestownwv.us> wrote:
I can assure you Mr. Casto that this City Council is a group of the finest men and women in our City and think very heard about every
dollar they spend. As a member of the finance committee it is routine for us to ask questions to each other as we sign checks, scrutinize
expenses and look for ways to save money.

What else can I do to satisfy your inquiry?

Thank You,

Mike Brittingham
Councilman
City of Charles Town

From: Dan Casto <dancastocpa@gmail.com>

Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 9:58 PM
To: Mike Bri ngham
Cc: Sco Rogers; Michael Tolbert; Chet Hines; Nick Zaglifa; Ann Paonessa; Micheal George; Bob Trainor; Daryl Hennessy;
walsworth@journal-news.net; tcook@journal-news.net; mheath@journal-news.net; Craig See;
editor@spirito efferson.com; info@orion-strategies.com

Subject: Re: Charles Town-Wasteful Spending on Speech?

Thank you Councilman Brittingham,

It does not satisfy my inquiry. This is not about the event or whether it should have been held. I believe that this was a waste of money,
but that's a policy call. My biggest gripe is the City's governance is severely lacking.

First, an RFP should have been issued. Second, it's embarrassing that the City Manager cannot point to any procurement rules (I presume
it has been kept this way so that the contracts can be given out to whoever the City wants). Third, the City's code requires Council to
approve expenditures over $3,000. It has come to my attention that the City currently signs contracts in excess of that amount and then
just approves the invoices. As a result, the City is contractually obligated without Council approval. Council is evidently asleep.

While I understand having a nice event, I do not understand managing the City's finances this way. For a City that is all about
"transparency" there is very little that is transparent about the city's purchasing processes. It seems that the City of Charles Town might
want to invest in some better governance before seeking to annex more of the County, it's a good idea to be good at managing what you
have first.

I encourage the Council to adopt a set of procurement guidelines as soon as possible.

-Dan-

On Fri, Aug 17, 2018 at 9:44 PM, Mike Brittingham <MBrittingham@charlestownwv.us> wrote:
Dan,

As far as I know the City tried to make a whole hearted attempt to create a nice State of the City event at our request. There are
economic and civil benefits to pulling off an event like this well. Not many people showed up, that’s a shame and we should try a
different approach next time or publicize better to get people there.

But, the City of Charles Town is in a good fiscal position and should try to promote ourselves in order to be better. That was the purpose
of this event.

Additionally, our website is horrible. Council members including myself have asked for a better website for citizens to have access to
more information, permits, forms, etc. What Charles Town spent was on the low end for web design services. I’ll determine when I see
the finished product if it was worth it, but I have confidence it will be.

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8/18/2018 Mail - MBrittingham@charlestownwv.us

Does that satisfy your inquiry or would you like me to do more?

Thanks,
Mike Brittingham
Councilman
City of Charles Town

Thank You,

Mike Brittingham
Councilman
City of Charles Town

From: Dan Casto <dancastocpa@gmail.com>

Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 10:35 AM
To: Sco Rogers; Michael Tolbert; Chet Hines; Mike Bri ngham; Nick Zaglifa; Ann Paonessa; Micheal George; Bob
Trainor
Cc: Daryl Hennessy; walsworth@journal-news.net; tcook@journal-news.net; mheath@journal-news.net; Craig See;
editor@spirito efferson.com; info@orion-strategies.com
Subject: Re: Charles Town-Wasteful Spending on Speech?

I had a pleasant conversation with Daryl Hennessy, City Manager of the City of Charles Town. The latest on the
Orion Strategies deal is:
1) There was no RFP for these services. Mr. Hennessy and Mayor Rogers determined that there were no other
providers who could provide these "unique" services.
2) The City of Charles Town has no procurement rules.
3) The City of Charles Town allows contracts to be executed without legal review and Council approval. The
Council approves the checks where the contracts are paid. Mr. Hennessy acknowledged that this is likely not an
advisable process.
4) Mr. Hennessy claims that the contract does not cover the website and logo, but acknowledged that it is a
poorly written agreement. He claims that there will be an RFP for the logo and website if the City moves forward.
5) Mr. Hennessy stated that the State of the City address was the Mayor's idea. But that Mr. Hennessy takes
responsibility for Orion.
6) No one responded to the VIP event, so it was cancelled (even though invitations were sent out at great
expense).

On Thu, Aug 16, 2018 at 3:12 PM, Dan Casto <dancastocpa@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Charles Town City Council:

Below is a link to a contract between the City of Charles Town and Orion Strategies. I am shocked and appalled
that the Mayor of Charles Town and the Council entered into this contract. The State of the City address will
cost us, the taxpayers, $6,500 in fees just to Orion Strategies.

We, the taxpayers, are paying $4,000 to have Orion Strategies develop a logo regarding how "Hip" the city is.

We, the taxpayers, are paying $9,500 for a new website.

The total estimated cost of the City of Charles Town's arrangement with Orion Strategies, over just two
quarters, is $20,000

Who is Orion Strategies? A political consulting firm who also works for the natural gas industry (the same
industry that Mayor Rogers is so against). Is our City's leadership trying to advance their personal political
careers on the public dime?

Where was the RFP for this? Where were the approvals? Why spend only $4,000 on Economic Development
each year, while spending $6,500 for a speech? The taxpayers deserve answers.
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8/18/2018 Mail - MBrittingham@charlestownwv.us

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7EQiQ1wUfNyU1AtX0ZSeklxaFg1aV81NkUwQVQ4YXg0N2VR/view

Thanks,

Dan Casto
202-400-4430

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