Florida pastors Terry Jones and Wayne Sapp want to burn the Quran in front of the largest mosque in North America, which just happens to be in Dearborn, which just happens to be in Michigan, as part of an anti-Muslim rally.
Dearborn wants to charge them about $46,000 for security. (and they're gonna need it. this could get real ugly real quick.) That's the reason for Jones being in court; he's saying he shouldn't have to pay.
No one is saying that Jones and Sapp can't burn the Muslim Holy Book.
That's not in dispute.
Why?
Because Jones and Sapp enjoy the freedom of our First Amendment.
In a nut shell, your First Amendment protects your right to freedom of expression and freedom to practice your religion without government interference.
A lot has been said lately about the loss of freedom of speech at Stockbridge council meetings. People appear to be angry that their allotted time of 3 minutes per comment is somehow unfair; and outlining what will and will not be tolerated during that 3 minutes somehow restrictive.
Any public speaker will tell you that after 3 minutes, you are losing your audience anyway. Their minds are drifting off to shopping lists, doctor's appointments and oil changes. If you can't say what you mean in 3 minutes, you probably don't know what you want to say anyway. Make your point in under a minute and a half, and chances are people will still be listening.
Unless you're Don Rickles or Eddie Murphy, personal attacks on members of your listening audience will at a minimum fall flat, at a maximum offend your listeners, and again, you've lost your audience.
Why do you think Dale Carnegie tells speakers to "open with a joke or friendly remark to engage your audience" ? (mama's translation: you get more flies with honey)
But we're getting away from the issue.
Free speech is alive and well in Stockbridge, for those of you who know how to exercise it as was intended by the Founding Fathers.
For those of you who want to light up the council meetings with riotous antics and burn down reputations, go to Dearborn instead.
There's a couple of guys you should meet.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Cemetery Clean Up Date
Ok, people, this is where the rubber meets the road.
Time to put up or shut up.
On Saturday April 30, beginning at 10am, volunteers will be cleaning up the cemetery.
All we need now are volunteers.
The response to the banner ad for volunteers to send their contact information to the Stockbridge Citizen-Herald was, well to put it bluntly, dismal. Maybe you didn't want to send us your contact info, and that's ok. We are notifying you now.
Here's your opportunity to pitch in, participate and prove that you want to be a part of the solution.
This is also a wonderful chance to make new friends, see old friends and accomplish a good days work. If physical limitations keep you from doing this kind of work, hell, come on out anyway! The Indians will need a couple of Chiefs! Bring a lawn chair and just enjoy the day outside in the fresh air.
This opportunity is not limited to Villagers.
We encourage Township residents to participate, as well as people from neither place who may or may not have relatives interred here. See? We are an equal opportunity opportunity!
Look forward to seeing you all there.
Time to put up or shut up.
On Saturday April 30, beginning at 10am, volunteers will be cleaning up the cemetery.
All we need now are volunteers.
The response to the banner ad for volunteers to send their contact information to the Stockbridge Citizen-Herald was, well to put it bluntly, dismal. Maybe you didn't want to send us your contact info, and that's ok. We are notifying you now.
Here's your opportunity to pitch in, participate and prove that you want to be a part of the solution.
This is also a wonderful chance to make new friends, see old friends and accomplish a good days work. If physical limitations keep you from doing this kind of work, hell, come on out anyway! The Indians will need a couple of Chiefs! Bring a lawn chair and just enjoy the day outside in the fresh air.
This opportunity is not limited to Villagers.
We encourage Township residents to participate, as well as people from neither place who may or may not have relatives interred here. See? We are an equal opportunity opportunity!
Look forward to seeing you all there.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Vocabulary Lesson
Get out your pencils and a clean sheet of paper.
We are going to define some terms that are being bandied about, which in our opinion, are being used incorrectly.
Ready?
1. Budget: A financial statement of estimated income and expenses of a country for a period of time; also, a plan for financing a government, based on such a statement.
2. Deficit: Deficiency in amount, as of income.
3. Democracy:Government by the people; government in which the supreme power is retained by the people and exercised either directly, or indirectly through a system of representation.
4. Dictator: One who exercises supreme authority in a state.
5. Fact: That which has actual existence; an event.
6. Opinion: Belief stronger than impression; less strong than knowledge; a belief; view; judgment.
Now let's use them correctly.
The current council is trying hard to assess the budget woes of the Village. The deficit in the Major Street Fund is being addressed, and yes there will be an additional deficit as a result of poor financial management by the former government.That's a fact.
In our opinion, the former manager acted as a dictator, in that he wasn't interested in democracy. He felt he alone knew what was best for the Village; after all, he was the smartest man in Stockbridge. And that's a shame. And that's why the Village is in the shape it is.
Class dismissed.
We are going to define some terms that are being bandied about, which in our opinion, are being used incorrectly.
Ready?
1. Budget: A financial statement of estimated income and expenses of a country for a period of time; also, a plan for financing a government, based on such a statement.
2. Deficit: Deficiency in amount, as of income.
3. Democracy:Government by the people; government in which the supreme power is retained by the people and exercised either directly, or indirectly through a system of representation.
4. Dictator: One who exercises supreme authority in a state.
5. Fact: That which has actual existence; an event.
6. Opinion: Belief stronger than impression; less strong than knowledge; a belief; view; judgment.
Now let's use them correctly.
The current council is trying hard to assess the budget woes of the Village. The deficit in the Major Street Fund is being addressed, and yes there will be an additional deficit as a result of poor financial management by the former government.That's a fact.
In our opinion, the former manager acted as a dictator, in that he wasn't interested in democracy. He felt he alone knew what was best for the Village; after all, he was the smartest man in Stockbridge. And that's a shame. And that's why the Village is in the shape it is.
Class dismissed.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority Meeting
The Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority meeting is Wednesday, April 20
at 7 pm in the Village Offices.
Plan on attending.
It's your money.
Ask questions.
Learn about the function of the SDDA.
Be a part of the future of your Village by being present at the meetings.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!!
Ok, apparently we live in the Land of Oz, complete with a brainless Scarecrow, a Cowardly Lion, and a Tin Man with no heart.
Honestly you need a program to follow the players. There's almost a curtain that comes down between acts.
The Scarecrow was spanked silly by the Village Attorney at last months council meeting, proving that the Wizard (you can figure out who that is) has yet to bestow a brain upon that hapless individual, evidenced by the ridiculous attempt to argue law with an attorney. And the Scarecrow is still spouting law and ordinances with no working knowledge of either.
"I would while away the hours, certain of my powers, if I only had a brain..Oh the thoughts I'd be thinkin', I could be another Lincoln if I only had a brain..." (admit it, you're humming)
The Scarecrow is, not surprisingly, forgetting earlier comments it made, and can't seem to keep track of anything. Who remembers when Scarecrow insisted there was nothing wrong with the budget,(and we were all a bunch of alarmists with a grudge), insisting that the Village Manager and Chief of Police were fired (when in fact they were the parties that had asked for a separation) and insisting that most of the current council was violating the Open Meetings Act (even after having that explained) and calling for prosecution.
Still waiting on that brain....
You will let us know when you can figure out what an isosceles triangle is, right?
Listen, everyone wants to move forward.
The problem is the past keeps coming back to bite the Village on it's ass.
The First Amendment will definitely protect your right to free speech, Scarecrow.
It might even protect your right to be an ass, so you go on ahead.
Better to shut your mouth and let people think you're stupid, than open it and prove them right.
Advice to those of you who want to HELP the Village move forward (you know who you are):
Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Volunteer your time and talent.
Come to meetings and hear for yourself what's happening. It's the only way you'll really know what's going on. Don't take anyone's word for anything. Your information is only as good as your source.
While this blog is truthful and contains hard facts that withstand scrutiny, it is certainly colored by our opinions.
However, we know that we are not the end-all and be-all on every subject under the sun. Unlike the Scarecrow, we can be taught.
Welcome to Oz, children.
There's no place like home.
Honestly you need a program to follow the players. There's almost a curtain that comes down between acts.
The Scarecrow was spanked silly by the Village Attorney at last months council meeting, proving that the Wizard (you can figure out who that is) has yet to bestow a brain upon that hapless individual, evidenced by the ridiculous attempt to argue law with an attorney. And the Scarecrow is still spouting law and ordinances with no working knowledge of either.
"I would while away the hours, certain of my powers, if I only had a brain..Oh the thoughts I'd be thinkin', I could be another Lincoln if I only had a brain..." (admit it, you're humming)
The Scarecrow is, not surprisingly, forgetting earlier comments it made, and can't seem to keep track of anything. Who remembers when Scarecrow insisted there was nothing wrong with the budget,(and we were all a bunch of alarmists with a grudge), insisting that the Village Manager and Chief of Police were fired (when in fact they were the parties that had asked for a separation) and insisting that most of the current council was violating the Open Meetings Act (even after having that explained) and calling for prosecution.
Still waiting on that brain....
You will let us know when you can figure out what an isosceles triangle is, right?
Listen, everyone wants to move forward.
The problem is the past keeps coming back to bite the Village on it's ass.
The First Amendment will definitely protect your right to free speech, Scarecrow.
It might even protect your right to be an ass, so you go on ahead.
Better to shut your mouth and let people think you're stupid, than open it and prove them right.
Advice to those of you who want to HELP the Village move forward (you know who you are):
Be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Volunteer your time and talent.
Come to meetings and hear for yourself what's happening. It's the only way you'll really know what's going on. Don't take anyone's word for anything. Your information is only as good as your source.
While this blog is truthful and contains hard facts that withstand scrutiny, it is certainly colored by our opinions.
However, we know that we are not the end-all and be-all on every subject under the sun. Unlike the Scarecrow, we can be taught.
Welcome to Oz, children.
There's no place like home.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Some Facts on Policing
Law Enforcement is a hot-button topic for all the out-county areas, including Stockbridge. When the Ingham County Commissioners decided to balance the budget on the back of the Sheriff's Office with sweeping cuts and elimination of road patrol, the hue and cry raised by the out-county townships fell on deaf ears. What to do?
Stockbridge Township held Town Hall meetings to inform residents of the impending cuts to their coverage. They were sparsely attended. Commissioners Randy Schafer and Steve Dougan, Sheriff Gene Wrigglesworth, Under sheriff Alan Spyke, Detective Sergeant Brian Valentine, Stockbridge Township Supervisor Paul Risner and Trustee Ed Wetherell were at the first meeting, as were approximately 30 residents. Options were discussed. Concerns were voiced. There were no easy answers.
Conspicuously absent: anyone from the Village Council.
Subsequent Town Hall meetings were held in a mostly ignored effort by Stockbridge Township government, to inform citizens of the current policing issues and some of the options being explored.
Still absent: anyone from the Stockbridge Village Council, Management or Police Department.
Supervisors for the Out Counties as well as residents attended County Law Enforcement Meetings and County Comissioners meetings, all asking the County Commissioners to halt the proposed cuts to the Sheriff's Office, all to no avail.
The cuts began, and the schedule was moved back - no longer would the end date of road patrol be 2012. It was now January 2011.
The vote on the Special Assessment failed. People who had little money to begin with decided they didn't have the average $150.00 per year for law enforcement protection. Perhaps they felt they were being strong-armed by the Commissioners. (they were, after all, paying taxes just like everybody else in the county) Whatever the reason, in Stockbridge Township at least, there were no assessment dollars to fund law enforcement.
Supervisor Paul Risner sent a letter to the Village, asking for a representative to contact the Township regarding the option of the Village Police Department policing the Township. A fact finding meeting to include estimates on cost and coverage.
No one ever responded.
The Village paid little or no attention to the problem of policing for the Township; after all, they had their own police department, such as it was.
The shake up caused by the elections of a new Village President and new trustees, and the subsequent resignations of the Village Manager and the Chief of Police put the Village Police Department and the cost of running it in the spotlight. The budget shortfalls and the lack of any cash reserves in the Village meant a tightening across the board. Now the Village found itself in much the same position as the Township: what to do about policing?
A Police Committee appointed by President Byrd set out on its own fact finding missions. Some of what they found was astonishing. Case in point: the cost of running the Unadilla Township Police Department versus the cost of running the Village Police Department. For example, the Village is approximately 1 square mile with a population of approximately 1200, as compared to Unadilla Township which is 34 square miles with an approximate population of 3190.
The Village of Stockbridge Police Department (before the resignation of the Chief) employed 5 officers and patrolled (the term patrolled is used loosely here) roughly 88 hours a week (after Village employees took an 8 hour cut), at a cost of about $180,000.00.(that figure is probably much more given benefits, equipment, and costs)
The Unadilla Township Police department employs 1 part time Chief, 1 Sergeant, and 3 officers who patrol 120 hours a week, 1 investigator who works 16 hours per week, and has 3 reserve officers who donate 16 hours per week for patrol at a cost of about $200,000.
How do you account for the disparity?
A large portion of your Law Enforcement dollars were directed to the former Police Chief, in the form of salary and benefits.
And, you get what you pay for - or not.
And why should you care about the Ingham County Sheriff's Office and their depleted resources?
Who do you think had your back when your part-time Police Department was closed?
And who do you think responded when your former Chief refused to come back to your Village to take calls? (even though that was WHY he had the patrol car to take home?)
Who responded to the latest armed robbery when your Interim Chief John Torres needed a K9 unit to track the suspect?
And now with reductions, they aren't there like they used to be.
You can't look to the Sheriff's Office to pick up the slack - they have (at best) 2 deputies to patrol all 446 square miles of Ingham County. They'll still come,, but it might take a while.
There are no easy answers to the question of public safety. Just ask Stockbridge Township - they have been wrestling this particular issue for two years.
Everyone wants to feel safe in their own homes and on the streets of their town. They want to know that when they lock up their businesses, they'll stay that way. They would like to think that the bicycle the 10 year old left on the front lawn will still be there in the morning.
But safety costs money.
And that's the bottom line.
***Please note that corrections have been made to this post. The actual population of the Village is approximately 1200 residents. (the number stated previously, 600, referred to actual parcels, not people.) The hours of policing are 88 hours per week, down from the 96 hours previously spent. All employees of the Village took an 8 hour cut, with the notable exceptions of the former Manager and Chief. We are sorry for the inaccuracies and any confusion this may have caused. The Stockbridge Citizen-Herald
Stockbridge Township held Town Hall meetings to inform residents of the impending cuts to their coverage. They were sparsely attended. Commissioners Randy Schafer and Steve Dougan, Sheriff Gene Wrigglesworth, Under sheriff Alan Spyke, Detective Sergeant Brian Valentine, Stockbridge Township Supervisor Paul Risner and Trustee Ed Wetherell were at the first meeting, as were approximately 30 residents. Options were discussed. Concerns were voiced. There were no easy answers.
Conspicuously absent: anyone from the Village Council.
Subsequent Town Hall meetings were held in a mostly ignored effort by Stockbridge Township government, to inform citizens of the current policing issues and some of the options being explored.
Still absent: anyone from the Stockbridge Village Council, Management or Police Department.
Supervisors for the Out Counties as well as residents attended County Law Enforcement Meetings and County Comissioners meetings, all asking the County Commissioners to halt the proposed cuts to the Sheriff's Office, all to no avail.
The cuts began, and the schedule was moved back - no longer would the end date of road patrol be 2012. It was now January 2011.
The vote on the Special Assessment failed. People who had little money to begin with decided they didn't have the average $150.00 per year for law enforcement protection. Perhaps they felt they were being strong-armed by the Commissioners. (they were, after all, paying taxes just like everybody else in the county) Whatever the reason, in Stockbridge Township at least, there were no assessment dollars to fund law enforcement.
Supervisor Paul Risner sent a letter to the Village, asking for a representative to contact the Township regarding the option of the Village Police Department policing the Township. A fact finding meeting to include estimates on cost and coverage.
No one ever responded.
The Village paid little or no attention to the problem of policing for the Township; after all, they had their own police department, such as it was.
The shake up caused by the elections of a new Village President and new trustees, and the subsequent resignations of the Village Manager and the Chief of Police put the Village Police Department and the cost of running it in the spotlight. The budget shortfalls and the lack of any cash reserves in the Village meant a tightening across the board. Now the Village found itself in much the same position as the Township: what to do about policing?
A Police Committee appointed by President Byrd set out on its own fact finding missions. Some of what they found was astonishing. Case in point: the cost of running the Unadilla Township Police Department versus the cost of running the Village Police Department. For example, the Village is approximately 1 square mile with a population of approximately 1200, as compared to Unadilla Township which is 34 square miles with an approximate population of 3190.
The Village of Stockbridge Police Department (before the resignation of the Chief) employed 5 officers and patrolled (the term patrolled is used loosely here) roughly 88 hours a week (after Village employees took an 8 hour cut), at a cost of about $180,000.00.(that figure is probably much more given benefits, equipment, and costs)
The Unadilla Township Police department employs 1 part time Chief, 1 Sergeant, and 3 officers who patrol 120 hours a week, 1 investigator who works 16 hours per week, and has 3 reserve officers who donate 16 hours per week for patrol at a cost of about $200,000.
How do you account for the disparity?
A large portion of your Law Enforcement dollars were directed to the former Police Chief, in the form of salary and benefits.
And, you get what you pay for - or not.
And why should you care about the Ingham County Sheriff's Office and their depleted resources?
Who do you think had your back when your part-time Police Department was closed?
And who do you think responded when your former Chief refused to come back to your Village to take calls? (even though that was WHY he had the patrol car to take home?)
Who responded to the latest armed robbery when your Interim Chief John Torres needed a K9 unit to track the suspect?
And now with reductions, they aren't there like they used to be.
You can't look to the Sheriff's Office to pick up the slack - they have (at best) 2 deputies to patrol all 446 square miles of Ingham County. They'll still come,, but it might take a while.
There are no easy answers to the question of public safety. Just ask Stockbridge Township - they have been wrestling this particular issue for two years.
Everyone wants to feel safe in their own homes and on the streets of their town. They want to know that when they lock up their businesses, they'll stay that way. They would like to think that the bicycle the 10 year old left on the front lawn will still be there in the morning.
But safety costs money.
And that's the bottom line.
***Please note that corrections have been made to this post. The actual population of the Village is approximately 1200 residents. (the number stated previously, 600, referred to actual parcels, not people.) The hours of policing are 88 hours per week, down from the 96 hours previously spent. All employees of the Village took an 8 hour cut, with the notable exceptions of the former Manager and Chief. We are sorry for the inaccuracies and any confusion this may have caused. The Stockbridge Citizen-Herald
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Spring is Springing!
Well, it looks like the weather may finally break. It would be nice to be able to guarantee no more snow, but this is after all Michigan, and weather-wise anything can happen.
However, according to those who predict our local weather, we should look forward to warmer temperatures - a definite Springtimeyness is in the air.
Of course we should expect the April Showers, it is April, but the time to begin the Spring Clean Up in the Cemetery and around the Village is pretty much at hand.
As in other posts, volunteerism was stressed as a way to give back to our community, and hopefully ignite a flame of civic-mindedness here in Stockbridge.
Spring Cleaning is a tradition in many households, with mom going absolutely bonkers as soon as she saw the first crocus, stripping beds, beating rugs, emptying cupboards and moving every appliance in the house. Notice you probably didn't see much of dad during this; he was usually hiding in the barn.
Wouldn't it be something to see people putting down their differences and picking up rakes in an effort to beautify this wonderful town? What a sight it would be to see the residents working side by side, accomplishing more than just clearing away the detritus of fall and winter.
They would be working together toward a common goal, and the very nature of that act would form bonds that could see this Village through troubled times. Maybe even create new friendships along the way.
It's entirely possible that a group of volunteers could write a new chapter of cooperation in a town so fractured by it's past. Mend breaks. Heal old wounds.
All those in favor, signify by saying "Aye"
Those opposed? Stay home.
However, according to those who predict our local weather, we should look forward to warmer temperatures - a definite Springtimeyness is in the air.
Of course we should expect the April Showers, it is April, but the time to begin the Spring Clean Up in the Cemetery and around the Village is pretty much at hand.
As in other posts, volunteerism was stressed as a way to give back to our community, and hopefully ignite a flame of civic-mindedness here in Stockbridge.
Spring Cleaning is a tradition in many households, with mom going absolutely bonkers as soon as she saw the first crocus, stripping beds, beating rugs, emptying cupboards and moving every appliance in the house. Notice you probably didn't see much of dad during this; he was usually hiding in the barn.
Wouldn't it be something to see people putting down their differences and picking up rakes in an effort to beautify this wonderful town? What a sight it would be to see the residents working side by side, accomplishing more than just clearing away the detritus of fall and winter.
They would be working together toward a common goal, and the very nature of that act would form bonds that could see this Village through troubled times. Maybe even create new friendships along the way.
It's entirely possible that a group of volunteers could write a new chapter of cooperation in a town so fractured by it's past. Mend breaks. Heal old wounds.
All those in favor, signify by saying "Aye"
Those opposed? Stay home.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Life Lessons
Life is a series of lessons. Some learned through trial and error, some learned with humility, some with grace.
Some of life's lessons are ingrained on us from childhood: Don't take what isn't yours; clean up your own mess; play fair; don't cheat; don't tell lies; be a good sport, no one likes a sore loser.
Some were learned with the gentle urging of a mother's voice. Some were learned at the end of a switch or the back of a hand.
However you learned your lessons, there they are, stuck in your head forever. Not that we always pay attention to that voice in our heads. We do disregard it on occasion, and usually find out we should have listened.
Mama knew best, and was trying to teach you lessons to carry you into adulthood. (and unless your mom was Ma Barker, the lesson were for your own good.) You're supposed to know how to be a grown up.
Part of being a grownup is admitting when you're wrong.
Apologizing to injured parties without a caveat of "but if you wouldn't have."
So imagine the utter shock of no apology from Karen Smith, who upon hearing that her tirade about violations of the Open Meetings Act by Trustees Uihlein, Stowe and Corey and threats of prosecution were, well, WRONG, offered no apology - zero.
I don't imagine we'll hear one from Russ Mackinder who made the same allegations in a Letter to the Editor in the local paper, either.
So let's call it what it is:
Sour Grapes.
A last, desperate effort by a sore loser (see mama's lessons) to smear people with good intentions and sound legal advice. (I'm sure the Village attorney would be glad to argue the Open Meetings Act with you ... for a fee .. too bad you missed the meeting, where we all got to hear it for free)
Maybe it would do you guys good to take another of mama's lessons to heart: Don't speak unless spoken to - and stay the hell out of adult conversations. You don't know what you're talking about.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Some of life's lessons are ingrained on us from childhood: Don't take what isn't yours; clean up your own mess; play fair; don't cheat; don't tell lies; be a good sport, no one likes a sore loser.
Some were learned with the gentle urging of a mother's voice. Some were learned at the end of a switch or the back of a hand.
However you learned your lessons, there they are, stuck in your head forever. Not that we always pay attention to that voice in our heads. We do disregard it on occasion, and usually find out we should have listened.
Mama knew best, and was trying to teach you lessons to carry you into adulthood. (and unless your mom was Ma Barker, the lesson were for your own good.) You're supposed to know how to be a grown up.
Part of being a grownup is admitting when you're wrong.
Apologizing to injured parties without a caveat of "but if you wouldn't have."
So imagine the utter shock of no apology from Karen Smith, who upon hearing that her tirade about violations of the Open Meetings Act by Trustees Uihlein, Stowe and Corey and threats of prosecution were, well, WRONG, offered no apology - zero.
I don't imagine we'll hear one from Russ Mackinder who made the same allegations in a Letter to the Editor in the local paper, either.
So let's call it what it is:
Sour Grapes.
A last, desperate effort by a sore loser (see mama's lessons) to smear people with good intentions and sound legal advice. (I'm sure the Village attorney would be glad to argue the Open Meetings Act with you ... for a fee .. too bad you missed the meeting, where we all got to hear it for free)
Maybe it would do you guys good to take another of mama's lessons to heart: Don't speak unless spoken to - and stay the hell out of adult conversations. You don't know what you're talking about.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Gettin' Schooled
So, an object lesson in ... stuff ...
Last night's council meeting was informative.
Don Byrd explained his resignation and retraction of same and declared it a dead issue.
Karen Smith got schooled during public comment by the Village Attorney regarding the Open Meetings Act, and how it's applied to committees on fact finding missions. (Do you think she reprinted her blog on the subject and ate it? Probably not; she was too busy having hallucinations about unicorns and cotton candy and peppermint)
Monica English got a lesson in working for the Downtown Development Authority, in which she learned that Anne Moceri, Heath Corey and Molly Howlett consider her an employee of the Village, even though she doesn't work for the Village, and those same people only want to make sure everything about her hiring is "above board." (stop snickering)
The council voted to hire Tom Ford as interim Village Manager for a hell of alot less money than we paid the former Village Manager. ($10 an hour not to exceed 30 hours a week, often less than that depending on what needs to be done [now there is a truly civic minded gent-kudos] and evidently he really is a Village employee)
Anne Moceri championed the cause of not including the names of people who speak during public comment, saying that you couldn't approve meeting minutes that included comments unless those same people were there to say that yes, in fact, they did say those things. (Then she choked on her coffee when it was suggested that recording meetings would take care of that. "What? We're recording meetings? We didn't vote on that!) (belly laughs allowed here)
Joe Pena was absent. Again. Some more. Still. (do you think after his performance last month he was too ashamed to attend? [ just heard a snort from the back row] What? It could happen...)
Linda Dancer's unemployment benefits were discussed.(she's been collecting benefits since her suspension) The Village is paying those directly since the Village opted out of Unemployment Insurance. So, good to know where the money (which the Village doesn't have) is going.
The Deficit Elimination Plan was discussed, and in no uncertain terms, absence of same laid directly at the former Village Manager's door. A plan is being put together now, and really, that's all the Treasury Department wanted. (this is called taking care of business and moving forward)
So, good meeting, well attended by Villagers.
We got schooled.
And it was informative.
Nice to be back in school.
Last night's council meeting was informative.
Don Byrd explained his resignation and retraction of same and declared it a dead issue.
Karen Smith got schooled during public comment by the Village Attorney regarding the Open Meetings Act, and how it's applied to committees on fact finding missions. (Do you think she reprinted her blog on the subject and ate it? Probably not; she was too busy having hallucinations about unicorns and cotton candy and peppermint)
Monica English got a lesson in working for the Downtown Development Authority, in which she learned that Anne Moceri, Heath Corey and Molly Howlett consider her an employee of the Village, even though she doesn't work for the Village, and those same people only want to make sure everything about her hiring is "above board." (stop snickering)
The council voted to hire Tom Ford as interim Village Manager for a hell of alot less money than we paid the former Village Manager. ($10 an hour not to exceed 30 hours a week, often less than that depending on what needs to be done [now there is a truly civic minded gent-kudos] and evidently he really is a Village employee)
Anne Moceri championed the cause of not including the names of people who speak during public comment, saying that you couldn't approve meeting minutes that included comments unless those same people were there to say that yes, in fact, they did say those things. (Then she choked on her coffee when it was suggested that recording meetings would take care of that. "What? We're recording meetings? We didn't vote on that!) (belly laughs allowed here)
Joe Pena was absent. Again. Some more. Still. (do you think after his performance last month he was too ashamed to attend? [ just heard a snort from the back row] What? It could happen...)
Linda Dancer's unemployment benefits were discussed.(she's been collecting benefits since her suspension) The Village is paying those directly since the Village opted out of Unemployment Insurance. So, good to know where the money (which the Village doesn't have) is going.
The Deficit Elimination Plan was discussed, and in no uncertain terms, absence of same laid directly at the former Village Manager's door. A plan is being put together now, and really, that's all the Treasury Department wanted. (this is called taking care of business and moving forward)
So, good meeting, well attended by Villagers.
We got schooled.
And it was informative.
Nice to be back in school.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Stockbridge Village Council Meeting
The Stockbridge Village Council meeting is tonight, April 4, at 7 pm in the Village Offices.
Plan on attending.
Get your information first-hand.
Ask questions.
Share your comments and concerns.
Be a part of the democratic process in your home town.
The real democratic American idea is not that every man shall be on the level with every other, but that every man shall have liberty, without hindrance, to be what God made him. - H. W. Beecher
Plan on attending.
Get your information first-hand.
Ask questions.
Share your comments and concerns.
Be a part of the democratic process in your home town.
The real democratic American idea is not that every man shall be on the level with every other, but that every man shall have liberty, without hindrance, to be what God made him. - H. W. Beecher
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!
This just keeps getting better.
As information on budgeting problems and irregularities, dropped balls and other monkey business comes to light, the Dancer Memoirs are "leaked."
Leaked?
Yeah, leaked.
Obviously someone forgot all about the non-disclosure agreement.
We are left with an impression of a man lurking behind doors, eavesdropping on conversations, furtively putting his ear to the bottom of a glass pressed against a wall, and scribbling furiously on a scrap of paper with a pencil nub.
I don't know about anyone else, but I find it truly comical.
Instead of playing Ace Detective Agency with his fancy de-coder ring, the former Village Manager should have been writing letters to the Treasury so the Village could get it's money (unless he didn't know how to write the deficit elimination plan...). He should have been concentrating on the other mistakes in the budget that he knew were there.
But let's be honest. He was done in August either way, and all of the financial problems here were not gonna be his problem. He gets to walk away.
Guess who gets to hold the bag?
The truly terrifying thought here is that NO ONE knows what the true numbers are. Money has been moved and shifted. There was alot of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
For instance: when the Village offices were moved, THE NEW EXPENSES WERE NOT IN THE BUDGET. Not the new rent, not the new and higher utilities, not the re-build inside to create the office space. (In other words, let's move, damn the torpedoes, we'll find the money later, we'll just amend the budget. After all, we're all friends here <wink wink>)
So, where did that money come from? (reference the Peter/Paul comment above)
More will evidently be revealed as the current council tries to work it's way through this budget fiasco. We wish them well, and urge them to stock up on Tylenol.
Not all of us have a pristine past. Not many of us come from families with a lily-white lineage.
Show of hands: how many people in Stockbridge don't have a black sheep in their family? (or 2 or 3)
How many families are untouched by the scourge of alcoholism and/or drug abuse?
How many here should not throw stones, given their own glass houses?
How damnably sad that a certain man has his criminal history flaunted in a memoir (by the police chief, no less) and re-printed in a blog. Even for these guys, that's low. And done for their own personal gain. No shame in their game, more's the pity.
Too bad these guys didn't pursue their JOBS as vigorously and with such attention to detail.
And the reality is that the Village is still where it was before all this crap got leaked.
Holding the bag.
So, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Toto got it all figured out: he's not who he pretended to be.
As information on budgeting problems and irregularities, dropped balls and other monkey business comes to light, the Dancer Memoirs are "leaked."
Leaked?
Yeah, leaked.
Obviously someone forgot all about the non-disclosure agreement.
We are left with an impression of a man lurking behind doors, eavesdropping on conversations, furtively putting his ear to the bottom of a glass pressed against a wall, and scribbling furiously on a scrap of paper with a pencil nub.
I don't know about anyone else, but I find it truly comical.
Instead of playing Ace Detective Agency with his fancy de-coder ring, the former Village Manager should have been writing letters to the Treasury so the Village could get it's money (unless he didn't know how to write the deficit elimination plan...). He should have been concentrating on the other mistakes in the budget that he knew were there.
But let's be honest. He was done in August either way, and all of the financial problems here were not gonna be his problem. He gets to walk away.
Guess who gets to hold the bag?
The truly terrifying thought here is that NO ONE knows what the true numbers are. Money has been moved and shifted. There was alot of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
For instance: when the Village offices were moved, THE NEW EXPENSES WERE NOT IN THE BUDGET. Not the new rent, not the new and higher utilities, not the re-build inside to create the office space. (In other words, let's move, damn the torpedoes, we'll find the money later, we'll just amend the budget. After all, we're all friends here <wink wink>)
So, where did that money come from? (reference the Peter/Paul comment above)
More will evidently be revealed as the current council tries to work it's way through this budget fiasco. We wish them well, and urge them to stock up on Tylenol.
Not all of us have a pristine past. Not many of us come from families with a lily-white lineage.
Show of hands: how many people in Stockbridge don't have a black sheep in their family? (or 2 or 3)
How many families are untouched by the scourge of alcoholism and/or drug abuse?
How many here should not throw stones, given their own glass houses?
How damnably sad that a certain man has his criminal history flaunted in a memoir (by the police chief, no less) and re-printed in a blog. Even for these guys, that's low. And done for their own personal gain. No shame in their game, more's the pity.
Too bad these guys didn't pursue their JOBS as vigorously and with such attention to detail.
And the reality is that the Village is still where it was before all this crap got leaked.
Holding the bag.
So, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Toto got it all figured out: he's not who he pretended to be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)