OUR VIEW: Conflicts of interest abounded in town hall

» Chuck Stephenson, the town’s former planning director and head engineer, got what he deserved for shady business dealings.

On Tuesday, a state board for professional regulation levied a stiff penalty against Charles “Chuck” Stephenson, pointing to serious ethics violations that cast a dark shadow over his 18-year tenure as the town of Culpeper’s planning director and head engineer.

Stephenson, the board concluded, “substantially intertwined” his public employment and home-based business, “knowingly and blatantly” preparing architectural drawings without an architect’s license and at times being compensated twice (by use of town resources) for the same project.

It presented a huge conflict of interest that one of his subordinates, the zoning administrator, had power to approve his private plans. “By virtue of his public office,” the board wrote, “Stephenson was in a position to influence the approval process for these projects.”

In addition to not disclosing, in writing, his commercial business interests to the town and private clients, he also did not include his name or seal on some projects he designed, such as the Culpeper Christian School expansion, which ultimately required approval by the town’s Planning Commission.

Stephenson, who resigned in April, was fined $5,000 and had his engineering license suspended for six months.

That seems an appropriate punishment. Thankfully, it’s now water under the bridge for the town — or at least we hope so.

This whole saga raises serious questions about exactly what went on behind closed doors in town hall. Just who knew about these violations, and why didn’t someone in a position of authority step up to report the matter sooner? The whistle blower in this case, a private architect, said local officials were unresponsive when he brought the matter to their attention.

Violation of public trust by those in power is a serious transgression, and we can only hope the town’s newly hired planning director, Patrick Mulhern, will restore transparency and dignity to the office.