LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE
[ Vol. 3, No. 2 ]
[ loudounnow.com ]
[Nov. 23 – 29, 2017 ]
Tapping for joy SEE PAGES 26 & 27
‘A Bad Soap Opera’ Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
The recent shake up in Purcellville Town Hall comes seven months after 24-year town manager Rob Lohr retired, amid friction with a newly seated Town Council majority.
Purcellville Reels Amid Alleged Management Scandal
T
BY PATRICK SZABO AND NORMAN K. STYER
he chaos in Purcellville’s Town Hall continued Tuesday when Interim Town Manager Alex Vanegas was placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an independent administrative investigation into his conduct since taking the post in May. The action follows revelations that Vanegas had an inappropriate personal relationship with the human resources consultant, Georgia Nuckolls, hired to lead the investigation that resulted in the firing of the town’s police chief three weeks ago. It also was revealed that Nuckolls had a prior criminal history that
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
Interim Town Manager Alex Vanegas has been placed on leave pending an independent administrative investigation into his conduct since taking the post in May.
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was not disclosed. Now, the integrity of that investigation has been called into question—both by the Town Council and the attorney representing Cynthia McAllister as she appeals her termination. The Town Council was briefed on the allegations during a three-hour emergency closed session Saturday morning. At that time, the council took no formal action in public and did not place Vanegas on leave. “The employee involved in the relationship will be disciplined in accordance with the Town’s personnel manual and procedures. Further, the Town will implement measures that will govern all future contract awards, designed to prevent the recurrence of these issues,”
according to a town statement released following that meeting. Vanegas did not return to work on Monday. Mayor Kwasi Fraser met with department heads and other staff members Tuesday morning and expressed his confidence in their ability to continue serving with the “highest level of care and professionalism.” “As we work to rebuild a positive, collaborative and stable organization, I want you all to know that my and Town Council’s commitment with this effort will be to you, the employees,” Fraser said, according to a statement released by the town. “With your help, led by incrediPURCELLVILLE >> 47
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