Developer says he didn't try to bribe officials
By Prentiss Findlay
MOUNT PLEASANT — Developer Robert E. Miller Jr. said Saturday that he didn't threaten or try to bribe any Town Council members to get them to vote against the Central Mount Pleasant development.
Miller said he's not concerned that Councilman Joe Bustos contacted the FBI. Bustos said he told the FBI that Miller inappropriately pressured him to vote against Central Mount Pleasant.
Miller said his attorneys aren't worried about Bustos' allegation and that they find it amusing. "They laugh. It's ridiculous. The FBI has a lot of stuff to do," Miller said. He said he's had no discussions with the FBI about the situation.
"I never called Joe Bustos. Joe Bustos called me and threatened me. I can't even believe he's saying that. That's a bald-faced lie," Miller said.
Bustos said Saturday that he heard
Miller had alleged that council members who supported Central Mount Pleasant were paid off. "I did call him, but I called him to ask if he was putting out that I had taken a bribe," Bustos said.
Councilman Ken Glasson has said someone who wanted him to vote against Central Mount Pleasant offered him a $250,000 bribe, threatened his business and his political career. Miller said he wasn't that person.
"I don't know where that's coming from," Miller said. He said Glasson, a financial advisor, tried to recruit him as an investor. Miller said he raised $11,000 for Glasson's election campaign.
Glasson has said he discussed the situation with FBI officials, who told him not to reveal the identity of the alleged briber. Glasson could not be contacted Saturday, but he told The Post and Courier on Friday that an FBI agent told him it would be two weeks before Glasson could name the person.
Councilman Nick Collins has said he felt threatened by someone who wanted him to vote against the project.
"Nick Collins can't say that Bobby Miller ever threatened him. He's got no business saying anyone threatened him," Miller said.
Miller said his conversations with Bustos, Collins and Glasson were to tell them he thought the project as designed was bad for the town because of the traffic it would dump on already congested roads.
Miller said he told Collins, "I think it's stupid if you do it. Here's why I think it's stupid if you do it." Miller said he and Collins have conversations when Miller gets his hair cut at Collins' salon.
Miller said he never told Glasson how to vote but informed him in a meeting that the Central Mount Pleasant project design that Town Council was considering would result in a five-fold increase in traffic on Hungryneck Boulevard and Rifle Range Road.
Miller, a longtime member of the Charleston County Planning Commission, said the only concern he expressed to any council member was that Central Mount Pleasant should be approved in accordance with the town's comprehensive plan.
Town Council approved Central Mount Pleasant on May 17 in a 5-2 vote. Bustos, Glasson and Collins voted for the project. The development is bounded by Rifle Range Road, Hungryneck Boulevard and Venning Road. It will have 719 residences, 405 of which will be concentrated in a 35-acre mixed-use tract with 350,000 square feet of office and retail space. It will also have a 200-room hotel and a new location for Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School. The town annexed 96 acres for the project.
Reach Prentiss Findlay at pfindlay@postandcourier.com
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Comments
Native_Ink (anonymous) says...
It's so funny. In Mt. Pleasant, to get someone to vote AGAINST development, you need to bribe and threaten them.
August 12, 2007 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
Somebody is lying or everybody is lying. These allegations need to be backed by tangible proof. He said/ they said is not going to cut it. Do any of you have eyewitnesses or taped conversations to back up your claims? Are there any other council members with similar complaints?
The Central Mt.Pleasant vote ratio is very interesting. I think all citizens would like to know which members voted for and which were against the project. That information could provide a few answers.
August 12, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MSB (anonymous) says...
M....nothing is going to come of this and you know it. FBI?? they have a real job....and this petty spat is just that...petty. What Mt.Pleasant SHOULD do is place a moritorium on ALL development. Then have a referendum and let the voters of the town decide. Of course...with all the yankees in Mt.Pleasant it's still an iffy outcome. Everyone knows yankees have no common sense.
August 12, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCgal (anonymous) says...
What town council can't handle their jobs and positions and call in the FBI if they don't like the situation?
Grow up or resign the position if you can't handle the responsibility.
And avoiding the press or not answering questions only makes the situation look iffy.
Answers for your tax payers please.
August 12, 2007 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
MSB, you and I both know we can't post the names of the people that should really hang in this town. Oh, we could post them, but then everyone would want to know why. To tell the readers the reasoning behind our comments could bring up problems I'm noy going to deal with.
Calling the FBI? Now that is just plain laughable.
Somebody just got their candy snatched away that's all.
August 12, 2007 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
Is this guys wife the former head of the Charleston County Voting commission?
Let's setup a hypothetical situation where a real estate developer tells a local politician he better vote for his project because if the local politician doesnt go along, the real estate developer just might see to it that the local politician isn't re-elected next time around . Now if the local developer's wife is in charge of all the voting machines in Pleasant County- (without any written receipts being issued to the voters) - the threat would feel much more real to the politician , would it not?
August 12, 2007 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
truthseeker, from what I gather, yes. His wife is the former Jill Franco, ex News 4 anchor person, who later became Head of the CC Voting Commission.
August 12, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
It just gets more interesting,Harpo. I spoke with a gentleman this evening that informed me that our illustrious mayor and Mr. Miller are best buds. How 'bout them apples?
August 12, 2007 at 11:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mostavidreader (anonymous) says...
But he is the mayors most ardent fundraiser
August 13, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concernedcitizen (anonymous) says...
If Miller didn't do anything then how did he know they were talking about him? No one named names. He says he has not been approached by the FBI and that he did not make any threats, bribes, etc. But then Miller comes forward claiming he didn't do what the council members are claiming he did. If Miller did nothing why does he think it's him they are referring to?
August 13, 2007 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
libertarian (anonymous) says...
Having been born and raised in Mt P, and lived here all of my nearly 50 years (not counting a 5 year 'exile' in NC), I continue to be amazed by this.
Corruption in politics. Shocked I am.
But anyone who thinks Mt. P. is too pro growth is rewriting history. Anybody remember that building permit cap that slowed development in Mt. P. greatly.... only to shift it into the county? Mt. P. got all the extra traffic, but none of the tax revenue. Brilliant. Remember the Hamlin Plantation builders & others suing over it? Wouldn't expect that if the town was so pro-builder.
Common scenario:
Once someone gets THEIR house built, its time for a building moritorium and "smart growth". I've lived her since the Kmart was considered too far out of town. I don'tl ike everything that's been built, but bottom line.... If YOU don't want something developed, BUY THE LAND. You have no right to tell another citizen that they cannot get value from their property. Laurel Hill is loudly complaining about Central Mt. P. ... Seems to me that was woods& horse pasture not too long ago. I guess somehow developing Laurel Hill was "good" and didn't spoil things, but developing the woods next door will bring about the end of the world (or at least Mt. P.) as we know it. Kinda like disturbing pristine woodlands for Darrell Creek was OK, but the folksliving in the former natural area can't bear the thought of another development next door.
Same old. Same old. The only difference between a conservationist/sow growth advocate and a developer is one already has his building permit.
Sorry about the typos
August 13, 2007 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
Posted by hawneena on August 12, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
truthseeker, from what I gather, yes. His wife is the former Jill Franco, ex News 4 anchor person, who later became Head of the CC Voting Commission.
_________
don't leave out the part of why she isn't the head of the voting commision anymore, you can start by checking the budget woes during that time... wish I had a voice recorder for that one...
August 13, 2007 at 10:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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