George Biles of 108 Oak Street

George Biles of 108 Oak Street in Vienna wrote to the Vienna Planning Commission in a letter dated January 25, 2006 regarding the recent petition by a property owner to have their property removed from the Windover Heights Historic District:

"My attention was recently brought to a website at the address of www.historicvienna.com. I was able to gather from what I read that property owners in the Windover Heights Historic District (WHHD) wish to remove themselves from the WHHD covenants. From the material on the website, it seems that standards and definitions for homes within WHHD are lacking, weak and/or inconsistently applied. I then reviewed Council meeting minutes from past years and it seems issues regarding WHHD have been long simmering. I would implore the Council to appoint a blue-ribbon panel to identify and summarize issues as they exist today, and provide recommendations for the Town Council within a very short timeframe. The citizens of WHHD deserve no less."

There are no covenants Mr. Biles. We are dealing with an unconstitutional law regularly and intentionally applied in a different fashion to different citizens. This web site documents the facts from A to Z. Biles continues in his letter:

"However, a larger issue was evident in my perusal of this website. I was shocked at the harsh words and treatment of members of the Town Government, and citizens who volunteer for its boards. Some of the content was so personal in nature, that it left me saddened for those serving ALL of the citizens of Vienna, and a wary eye for the intent of the publisher(s) of the website. Having said that, I would suggest the blue-ribbon panel also ascertain the intentions of those pursuing removal of their properties from the WHHD. My suspicions are that their underlying intentions are self serving and/or self enriching -- and NOT for the consistent application of WHHD covenants...I implore the website owners to tone down their rhetoric against fellow citizens."

Biles then concludes:

"I would cast my vote to oppose the petition [for removal from the District]."

Mr. Biles should be commended for his 'rhetoric'. Unfortunately, Biles has an agenda as evidenced by his "vote". Let's address his points:

1. George Biles clearly implies that our "underlying intentions" are suspicious, "self serving" and "self enriching." We wonder if Mr. Biles ever entertained the thought that, maybe, just maybe, the petitioners merely want to have the same unencumbered property rights that he has, i. e., the same rights that all of the Town Council Members and substantially all "volunteers" on boards, commissions, etc. have? As to Mr. Biles being "shocked at the harsh words and treatment" of Town officials and the like, perhaps he might be more forgiving of this website's wording (much of which are quotes and the like by Town officials), if he and his property rights were given the WHHD/Town treatments complained of.
2. As to the petitioners' property, which resides between a large industrial property, namely the Vienna Post Office and a private club that meets in an ex-church, it has no historical attributes.
3. Citizens volunteering to be on Board and Commissions is a good thing. However, citizens who volunteer should not be allowed to lie and or manipulate facts and circumstances to the detriment of other citizens' property rights. Just because you "volunteer" doesn't entitle you to act in any manner you see fit. And since these Boards and Commissions are the primary feeder lines for the next grouping of Town Council members, volunteer or not, many are obvious politicians pushing agendas that harm basic property rights.
4. Without the existence of this website, the citizens of Vienna would have never known this type of behavior was taking place. Biles blames the messenger (this website) for reporting the personal attacks of Vienna Board members, but conveniently ignores their behavior in his letter.
5. Biles' letter speaks to "underlying intentions" and uses the phrases "self serving" and "self enriching" to describe citizens who have broached legitimate issues regarding the WHHD. Biles complains about so-called personal attacks then, without knowing any of the citizens involved in defending their basic property rights, launches his own attack.
6. What do you think the "intentions" were of the Vienna Town Council when they proposed to ban the videotaping of meetings against State law? This very website that you slam was/is instrumental in exposing the video evidence at the very heart of the disaster that is the Windover Heights Historic District.

What really puzzles us about George Biles' letter: How can he not be concerned about the "intentions" and actions of a government that can abuse their citizens and destroy property rights without a second thought?