Marion County Commission turns into shouting match in wake of Cinalli 'firing' incident
Feb. 6—FAIRMONT — Marion County Commission President Ernie VanGilder tried to distract from his botched dismissal of County Administrator Kris Cinalli by going on the offensive at Wednesday's County Commission meeting.
However, former commissioner Randy Elliott did not let VanGilder forget why VanGilder was in hot water to begin with.
"I'm here today in support and defense of County Administrator Kris Cinalli," Elliott said. "Against a ridiculous, unauthorized, and I might add, unsuccessful attempt by Commissioner VanGilder to fire Kris, which happened after the last County Commission meeting two weeks ago."
Elliott accused VanGilder of acting outside his authority, with no legal cause or the required vote to remove Cinalli from his position. Elliott added VanGilder demonstrated his personal animosity toward Cinalli by calling the County Deputy's office and requesting them to escort Cinalli out of the building.
"Sheriff Roger Cunningham, Chief Deputy Jeff Carpenter, showed up and found out what was going on," Elliott said. "They did not escort him out of the building. Kris left of his own accord, with a box of his belongings from his office and totally embarrassed and humiliated by Ernie's actions."
VanGilder declined to comment on Cinalli's firing in the past, citing policy regarding privacy of personnel issues. However, that did not stop one of his colleagues from revealing what happened the day VanGilder tried to dismiss Cinalli without authorization. VanGilder's unilateral action caused discomfort to the Commission. In an email obtained through a records request, Commissioner Bobby DeVaul strenuously emphasized that commissioners' actions should be legal and ethical.
"I will not participate in any decisions or actions that fail to meet those standards," DeVaul wrote.
One accusation VanGilder tried to engage in unilateral action led to other accusations of unilateral action from at least one of his colleagues. Elliott echoed those concerns in his remarks to the Commission.
VanGilder went on the offensive as soon as the meeting opened. Before starting the commission's agenda, he furiously criticized coverage by the Times West Virginian, calling articles featuring him smears and attacks on his personal character.
However, VanGilder could be seen visibly pressing into his seat as Elliott held his attention for VanGilder's unauthorized attempt to fire Cinalli.
VanGilder offered corrections to the original story. He pointed out it was Commissioner DeVaul who nominated VanGilder for the role of commission president. The minutes of the meeting where that took place bear him out. He also disputed attempting to build a Hydrogen Hub in Marion County, calling it a pure fiction.
"We have the Hydrogen Hub, we have to get that project finished and developed," he said in an article from Oct. 22, 2024, bringing up the Hydrogen Hub as one of the projects he wanted to see finished if he won reelection. "It will bring not just jobs in the hydrogen industry but also develop the proposed industrial park there on the south end of Fairmont, closest to the interstate."
VanGilder also objected to a claim which stated County Attorney Chuck Shields found no conflict of interest with his ownership of a property that was under scrutiny due to the potential of it being developed as part of a project to create an access road leading to the proposed site of the Hydrogen Hub. Shields clarified what VanGilder said, stating that his opinion was he agreed with a finding of the West Virginia Ethics Commission that there was no conflict of interest.
VanGilder defended his record on the County Commission.
"The pay isn't very good to start with," he said. "I do it because I enjoy the job and I feel like I'm giving something back to the community. Until a few years ago, we made a lot of decisions in this room. I worked with two democrats — sitting right there — many years. Did not have all this contention and did not have a press continually try to create chaos in this county and keeping this county from advancing in any way or form."
On the issue of VanGilder not ceding the commission's presidency to Longstreth according to what VanGilder disputes is an unwritten tradition, he said he spoke to Longstreth on the phone where she asked him if he would want to serve another term.
What VanGilder didn't discuss during the eight minutes he lashed out, was the injury he inflicted on himself when he tried to fire Cinalli without authorization. His choice to do so provided the inciting incident which led to the chain of events VanGilder had to defend himself against on Wednesday.
After Elliott shared his opinion, VanGilder called Elliott's comments unfactual. Elliott asked VanGilder to tell him which portions were unfactual. VanGilder told Elliott the remarks about Elliott attacking him over the years was unfactual and refused to elaborate further. Elliott and VanGilder butted heads in 2022, when Elliott accused VanGilder of letting his business interest and animosity against the City of Fairmont get in the way of his work as a commissioner.
Elliott pressed forward, attempting to get VanGilder to clarify what exactly was unfactual about Elliott's remarks.
"I told you, I'm not making any comment because that's exactly what you want me to do," VanGilder said. "Please, take a seat. You've had your five minutes of fame. You're done. Next item."
Commissioner Longstreth gave her remarks at the end of the meeting. She said traditionally, Marion County Commissioners have always worked together in a collaborative manner. She said observers should not take the articles published as an indication of how the commission is being run. Instead, they highlight the need for commissioners to recognize that the residents of Marion County have entrusted them to make decisions to maintain and improve their community and quality of life.
She recharacterized what she felt articles was describing the current situation at County Commission as a rift. She said her hope was the commission would get its house in order and return to making decisions together for the county.
"It is a disagreement only effective communication and following correct procedures should have prevented," Longstreth said. "As Commissioners, we are here to serve the people. We must discuss and deliberate on issues of all levels of importance based on what we were elected to do regardless of personal agendas or political affiliations. People depend on us and frankly it's our job to meet those expectations."
Reach Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com
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