Two Warrenton Town Council members are under fire after a voicemail sent accidentally to the wrong person raised questions about whether a proposal for a new veterans’ housing project can get a fair hearing.
Council member Bill Semple, who thought he was leaving a message for council member Eric Gagnon, seemed to accidentally reveal to Molly Brooks, CEO of Hero’s Bridge, that Gagnon planned to vote against Hero’s Bridge Village, a 44-unit housing project the group has proposed in partnership with Warrenton United Methodist Church.
In the errant message, left on June 13, Semple suggested Gagnon try to share “credit” for expressing concern for David McGuire, a veteran and fellow town council member, so that “when you vote against their project they can’t be too pissed off.”
On Aug. 15, Lavarnway quoted the voicemail and shared her own emails to town council members in social media posts that called on the town council to take action against Semple and Gagnon for “unethical” behavior.
“I urge the council to address these violations promptly and uphold its commitment to fairness and integrity,” Lavarnway stated.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, Gagnon and Semple said they did nothing wrong.
“Both Mr. Semple and Mr. Gagnon acted discreetly for the sake of the councilman —motivated only by sincere concern for a colleague, and a desire to shield him from public scorn for his remarks,” their statement said.
The incident began with a call from Semple to Brooks, in which he asked for her help with what he viewed as McGuire’s erratic behavior at a board meeting June 11.
He said he was concerned that McGuire was experiencing service-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Hero’s Bridge supports military veterans with various challenges, including PTSD — though it serves only veterans age 65 or older, which McGuire is not.
Brooks told Semple that she believed McGuire was fine.
“I just didn’t feel it was PTSD-related,” Brooks said.
In their statement, Semple and Brooks said they were concerned because they felt McGuire had “made a rambling and angry statement during councilman’s time directed at the town’s chief of police.”
After asking Brooks if she could check on McGuire, Semple tried to call Gagnon, but accidentally left a voicemail for Brooks. In the message, Semple said Gagnon could share credit for showing “compassion” for McGuire, in hopes it would take the sting out of a future vote against the veterans housing project that Hero’s Bridge supports.
Molly Brooks, founder and CEO of Hero’s Bridge, pictured at the future site of the Hero’s Bridge Village, a proposed affordable housing community for senior veterans. Photo by Ireland Hayes/Foothills Forum
Brooks said it sounded like Gagnon had made up his mind to oppose the project before it got a hearing in front of the town council. The project is still being reviewed by the town’s planning commission.
“I am questioning whether we can receive a fair and impartial vote now,” Brooks said.
Gagnon has raised questions about the project, and some neighbors of the property strongly oppose the plan for 44 affordable rental units for veterans age 65 and older. The 576-square-foot units would be in duplexes laid out in a campus-like setting, a design that aims to create a sense of community.
In the joint Gagnon-Semple statement, Semple said he has not made up his mind about how he will vote. The statement contends the call was taken out of context and was primarily about their mutual concern for McGuire’s well-being.
“Neither Mr. Semple nor Mr. Gagnon seeks credit for expressing that concern, but both reject the unfounded criticism of a few cynical intervenors looking to create distraction and controversy,” the statement said.
Warrenton Town Council members Eric Gagnon (left) and David McGuire (right) pictured during a June council meeting. Photo by Florence Shen
Mayor Nevill Carter said in an interview with the Fauquier Times that he believed initially that Semple and Gagnon had a genuine concern for McGuire when they spoke to him about the incident on June 11 . But the voicemail changed his mind.
“Their behavior in this matter clearly violates the spirit of equitable, transparent, and objective governance that is the standard we hold ourselves to,” Carter said.
Staff writer Tate Hewitt can be reached at thewitt@fauquier.com.
Read the article on The Fauquier Times.