Trouble in Dumfries

Dumfries, Va. - And they haven't even taken office yet.

The term "dysfunctional" has been bandied about. Accusations of grand-standing, patronizing and self-importance have been flung around, and a sprinkling of sarcasm was added to the finish of the conversation.

The News and Messenger requested, under the Freedom of Information Act, all e-mail correspondence from, to and between current and newly elected Dumfries Town Council members since the May 4 election.

Dysfunctional is a term used to describe the town council by an interim town manager who quit after having had enough of the council's antics.

Jerry Foreman, a Dumfries councilmember-elect, asked that his fellow new member Kristin Forrester be referred to -- out of respect -- as "Dr. Forrester," during a recent and somewhat heated e-mail he sent to sitting Councilman Cliff Brewer.

Forrester recently was awarded a Ph.D.

"This is no way to start a 'less dysfunctional' new Council!" responded sitting Councilwoman Dorothea Barr, referring to Foreman's response to Brewer. "Council members must listen and evaluate many diverse views, while considering what is best for the Town." In closing, she added that she would like to be referred to as "Goddess Barr."

The e-mail thread began May 16, the day after the current council was sent a six-page document of budget recommendations from Forrester and Foreman.

Via e-mail, Brewer pointed out to them that the sitting council was capable of developing the next fiscal year's budget -- something it would do before the new members take office.

"I know you two are anxious to provide input for consideration, but until the current council's term is up, it's best to listen and understand why things are the way they are," Brewer wrote.

Foreman characterized Brewer's comments as "condescending, arrogant and self-absorbed in your high opinion on yourself," in his response.

"You have continually attempted to talk down to me during the election process and this is the third time you have questioned my knowledge, creditability and my intentions," Foreman wrote.

Most of the e-mail exchanges since the election have been copied to all old and new council members, along with various members of the town staff.

In closing, Foreman added, "In the future when you address the person that just received her degree, please show the proper respect for the title and state clearly 'Dr. Forrester.' "

"Wow, I actually read the Brewer e-mail as a simple review of events, combined with his opinion. I did not see anything offensive or rude -- and am surprised that it was viewed that way," Barr then responded. "In the future please refer to me as Goddess Barr."

Foreman was not quite done. He acknowledged Barr's humor, but added, "It is obvious that the input was received as a young dog taking on an old dog mentality, it was viewed wrong on anyone's part who received it in that mode.

"This dysfunctional thing is not for me. I have never been a part of a dysfunctional anything so I recommend that term stop being utilized. That term is a cancer and although used in a humorous manner has no place in the Town Council vocabulary."

This all started -- at least the e-mail trail -- the day after the election.

Forrester sent an e-mail to Town Manager Kimberly Alexander urging her to stop the police department's efforts to attain accreditation, something both the recent police assessment and the acting chief feel strongly about pursuing.

Alexander replied and copied all council members to bring them into the discussion. Alexander told Forrester she still supported Acting Chief Ray Colgan's plan to hire a part-time expert to continue the accreditation process.

Following a council budget work session on May 11, Forrester continued the e-mail thread, adding her fellow council members elect -- Foreman and Michele Jurgensen.

In this lengthy e-mail, addressed to "all," Forrester wrote that she had hoped her input on police department issues such as accreditation would be "compelling" because of her "extensive education and professional experience in this area."

Forrester has a Ph.D. in education policy, a master's in justice administration and a bachelor's in criminal justice. While she has not worked in law enforcement, she has worked in the security industry and had police officers working for her. "I definitely have the credentials to speak to this," she said Thursday.

She stated in her e-mail that she had spent many hours researching information related to her suggestions about the police department.

Aside from the issue of accreditation, she also shared comparative salary information, noting that she felt salary ranges for police department positions in Dumfries were too high.

"Y'all may recall that just over a week ago I won the election by an impressive margin, and the police department realignment, to include salary and accreditation, was a strong part of my platform," she wrote. "This says something to me about the importance of this issue to our citizens."

Forrester received 276 votes; Jurgensen, 230; and Foreman, 205. Outgoing incumbents Clyde Washington received 139 and N. Sue Cornell garnered 136.

Barr responded, "I would like to point out that many sitting on the council did receive as many, if not more votes than you did, during their respective election cycles -- so that should not be a basis for swaying any discussion. In fact, prior to this e-mail -- it never has been," Barr wrote.

Forrester wrote that Barr misunderstood. "My point was not that I'm the winner of the popularity contest and therefore y'all should follow direction," she wrote.

"The point was that I was the highest vote-getter and happened to run on a platform of these very issues and clearly highlighted my position and reasons for that position. For that reason, the outcome of the election suggests that our residents expect the type of changes in our police department that I outlined during the campaign and am standing for now."

She added that she hoped that clarified any misunderstanding.

Given the e-mail exchanges following her and Foreman's budget recommendations a few days later, there may be more misunderstandings.

Forrester said Thursday she was disheartened, disappointed and saddened by the e-mail exchanges and was simply asking the council to consider her recommendations. She also asked that her soon-to-be fellow council members call her by her first name. However, if a formal title is called for, she would prefer to be "Dr. Forrester" rather than "Ms. Forrester."

Foreman said Thursday there was no disrespect intended when he and Forrester submitted their budget recommendations, but he described the e-mail exchanges as a "dressing down."

"I felt like I was being talked down to and I didn't appreciate it," he said.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-530-3907.