“Empty vessels make the loudest noise”
– Mayor Fraser responds to Chapman’s tirade

Casey Chapman wasn’t happy to hear Purcellville Mayor Kwasi Fraser’s comments questioning Stantec’s model for a projected Town of Purcellville utility rate increase. Fraser encouraged the company to fix their model, instead of basing it on building more homes in the Town.

In citizen comments addressing the mayor at the Purcellville Town Council Work Session on May 24, Round Hill resident and developer Casey Chapman started off by telling Fraser the model that Stantec used “highlights all of your failures for the last 10 years.” 

Fraser has been mayor for 8 years and inherited an approximate debt of $61 million from the Lazaro Council on July 1, 2014. The Town’s debt is currently $52 million.

“Mr. Mayor, this is probably the single most nail in the coffin to a failed entire term that you have been mayor. This is what this represents,” Chapman said. 

“Saying that you can fix this with operational efficiencies is a joke… ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] was a gift, you are right. You didn’t plan on it, it happened – and without it, you would have failed.” 

Chapman continued his tirade. “The point that you are hoping and dreaming for a result that does not yet exist from the federal government to fund these things that are existing in present day is not a plan. That’s a hope, a wish, a dream, a fantasy – and not fiscally responsible, and not being a good mayor for the residents or the businesses in the community.”

Addressing the two other slow growth members of Town Council, Chapman said, “Stan Milan, Vice Mayor [Chris Bertaut], you all are going down on not acknowledging the issue here of availabilities not being into the equation. [This] is a direct result of ignoring zoning and planning and their proper smart growth strategies that need to be implemented in Purcellville to achieve financial stability.” 

Chapman again turned to Fraser. “Mr. Mayor, you have failed to solve the problem. You have kicked the can down the road … You claim nutrient credits? Great, that’s one; find another, and I’ll encourage you to find 10 more … then you might be able to pay for your ideas.”

After Chapman finished his outburst, Fraser countered, “The only failure [meaning success] for me as mayor is not giving developers what they want.” Chapman’s family is one of the owners of the Vineyard Square project.

“When comments are made and you’re silent, some people believe the comments, so I’d like to counter some things that were said at the last meeting,” Fraser said. 

Chapman attends almost every Town meeting and has something to say at most of them. 

“For the people listening publicly, these statements that are made, although they are bombastic – we are reminded that empty vessels make the loudest noise,” Fraser said. 

“Relative to my accomplishments – I need to state this for the record, because folks I have known who have died and their accomplishments are tarnished by loud mouths, and one of my accomplishments was the $900,000 in nutrient credits. I lowered the Town debt by $9 million. I came up with working and collaborating with this Town Council and management with ideas to address our revenue. I’ve heard from members that the sky is falling, but those members failed to even put together a solution.”

Fraser concluded by saying “I will continue to present solutions that I believe are innovative.”

At the Town Council Meeting on June 14, Vice Mayor Chris Bertaut addressed Casey Chapman’s comments from the May 24 meeting.

“We have all heard some developers express their displeasure with the Mayor and some members of this Town Council. Much of that displeasure seems to stem from a disagreement about the best way to address budgetary issues,” Bertaut said. 

“As a Town Council Member, I have to be most responsive to the residents who are entitled to vote, not just to the loudest voice in the room.” 

Bertaut said he agreed with Mayor Fraser that availabilities are a Ponzi scheme.

Regarding Vineyard Square, Bertaut said the project is not viable unless a compliant Town Council agrees to spend more than $2 million to extend O Street to Hatcher Avenue. “This is nothing short of a handout.”

Fraser reiterated that high density residential build out is a Ponzi scheme. For every tax dollar a locality receives in revenue, that locality spends nearly double to support it in services. “Then 5 to 10 years down the road you are paying for police services, you are paying for ripping up streets and so on,” he said.

Fraser stressed that with the $1.3 trillion available in infrastructure grants, the Town should “position ourselves to capture” some of that money – the same way the Town did when they received the American Rescue Plan Act funding of 10.5 million over two years.