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November 26th, 2007
1. Everybody is moving to Tennessee, or is it North Carolina, or maybe Crackersville Georgia. The News Journal will run a story a week it seems as to how undesirable it is to live in Volusia County and how a third generation Floridian, or is it second generation, will leave Florida. What we missed in the News Journal story this week was what this self described “cracker family” couple, who ran a citrus farm and had collections of flea market and thrift shop Americana, was what they sold that farm for in real money. They describe being hemmed in by developments (maybe Heathrow or Venetian Bay), that their new neighbors were unfriendly, and none of the new neighbors appreciated the gunfire when they shot marauding birds and small predators like Felix the Fox and Pogo Possum. We were wondering exactly what a farm in the middle of a bunch of developments in Florida was worth, and what it cost them to buy that farm in bucolic Tennessee. Believe it or not, there are areas of Florida that do not have subdivisions with unfriendly neighbors. They could have sold out for big money and still bought another farm in Florida. HEY, we told you we are cynics.
A story like that is wonderful for alarming the poor folk. We expect that the Pied Piper of Hamlin will show up here and the News Journal will suggest that the entire population of Southeast Volusia follow him to Tennessee. We were thinking how wonderful it would be, if instead of the whole population, just some of the editors of the local newspapers followed all of those crackers to Tennessee.
2. Did you know we just had a clean election? Of course you should not count those last minute flyers about your opponent’s sleazy real estate deals that seem similar to the one's you and your husband were involved with. Nor should you be concerned about all the stolen signs, and please do not mention how you made sure that complaints by your followers concerning the ethics of your opponents were run by the local newspapers at the drop of a hat. Obviously, this was all orchestrated by political supporters, and of course Dame Mayor MacKay had no knowledge of these activities. We believe her comments about how this was a clean election ring hollow.
W-2S REVISITED
The W-2's published over the last few weeks are again presented this week as an EXCEL file so that you can manipulate the data as you wish. Additionally, we provide a number of analyses regarding pay and benefits. We have added charts in columns showing each employee and the percentage of increase that includes the benefit package for each employee. NEW LINK
Anchors away
By W.C. Denmark
The ship of state has gone off course. Local politicians over many decades have ventured into the sea of private commerce with disastrous results. Now with rising taxes and fees crushing our community we should give them no quarter.
History always repeats itself. Citizens armed with knowledge are our best defense against cutthroat politicians repeatedly raiding our pocketbooks. City leaders in Suvs have a responsibility to be financially frugal. Payroll should match our community not a union wish list. Anything else is piracy.
I say with self appointed authority the government should not be in business. Despite feigned legitimacy they take more than they earn. Buccaneers were often sponsored by governments. They took as much as they could get away with from merchants and citizens. They earned nothing. It was a business.
Pirate ships often disguised themselves as regular merchants. Using the technique known as the “ruse de guerre”, a ship’s flag was raised to disguise the thieves as friends. Today, the ruse is “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you”.
Many ports welcomed pirates because of the money they had to spend. Port Royal, Jamaica, became a leading buccaneer base after it was captured by the British in 1655. Brothels, gambling houses and bars quickly sprang up to satisfy the needs of the buccaneers.
Brothels have morphed into tax money now taken by pirate politicians to buy golf courses, riverfront offices, club houses, pontoon boats and shiny new SUVs instead. Like legal privateers of old, elected officials spend money wildly. We should not let them operate any businesses.
My family owned and operated three marinas. Our last one on Kinzua Dam in PA was leased from the Federal Government. I never forget my father complaining about their mandatory placement of the launch ramp. It cost us an extra $70,000 because of the fill required. Keep in mind a launch ramp is basically a sloped dirt pile and this was about 1968 – dirt was cheap. We could not use it for big boats at all. This was done because it looked better.
As a marina brat I can tell you people can’t be allowed to run around on the docks. Liability is huge; theft is also an issue. Marina operations can’t permit public access. But in the case of the NSB City marina they have pushed expense, liability and indebtedness upon every taxpayer in the city. Still we are not allowed to walk on the dock. You can’t take your kids there to fish! How does that work?
The city marina should be sold. Real business people are forced by fiscal reality to work within a budget. I love the thought of that. No one has to worry about waste or stupidity in the real world. If you can’t run something or spend too much money, you go out of business and we tax payers are not forced to pay. Pirate politicians and their crew of cronies are not so easily controlled.
Recently I stopped at the NSB marina. Lawns were beautifully manicured and the person I spoke with was nice. Everything looked upscale and expensive. Signage was very clear about how welcome I was. No fishing or cast netting on city property and no trespassing. I was also informed the bathrooms were only for marina folks. Too bad, I had hoped to leave a token of appreciation.
Now my ever growing pool of detractors will protest. The marina makes us money they say. Baloney, I have yet to see any profits from any city business reduce anything I’m forced to pay for. This particular pet project has three employees and provides no real services. One full time dock master and two part time staffers man the helm for 43 slips. The department head draws $39,000 plus a benefits package of 30%. This is a total of more than $50,000 to watch a few boats float and command two part time workers. Sure, it’s nice but for whom? Average income in Volusia County is less than $25,000.
North Causeway Marine has two people working 29 wet slips and 80 dry storage units. They have another employee who can help if needed. Fishin Cove has one employee in summer and two in season taking care of 13 wet slips and dry storage for 70. It is important to note that dry storage boats are much more labor intensive than docked boats. Both private operators report staff salaries in line with our average income statistics not the bloated city payroll.
City Boats slips were assigned by lottery to “make it fair”. Fair for whom? The muni-marina charges only $10.50 per foot. North Causeway Marine and Fishing Cove are approaching $12. Worse, the municipal marina leaves seven slips open for transient business which, according to both private operators, is a waste of income. Your income I might add. Both private marinas have a waiting list of nearly 100 people.
Obviously, there is a great demand for boat dock and storage space here. If you understand supply and demand you must wonder why the city low balls its amenities. If it is not to reward a few local favorites what is their thinking? A single accident or storm could cost this city millions?
Like our municipal golf course this governmental incursion into the marina business is in direct competition with local licensed tax paying businesses. Those 41 municipal boat dock renters must vote early and often. How about you?
Once again, we have a city operation undercharging its customers at the expense of its ownership (citizens). Are those boaters red-headed step children of our city commission? Perhaps not, it seems when bureaucratic buccaneers and their cash crazed crew use our money they are just wasteful.
Recent marina renovations were bid at $1,569,020.07 it includes new docks and restrooms attached to an office and everything you see. That’s the bid; actually we sunk $2,084,787 into the municipal marina for 47 customers. If a real business was spending its own cash I doubt this money would have been spent in the first place and their nearly twenty-five percent overage in damning.
Statistically an average home is about 2,200 square feet and sells for $243,000. Statistically it is three bedrooms, two baths, air, and full kitchen you know what a single family home looks like. Our city spent $302,459 on their tiny bathrooms, tiny office and beautiful dumpster. Ouch city fathers! That’s our money you’re throwing around like drunken sailors.
Beyond the 302,000 dollar Mack Daddy office /toilet complex for 36 favored yachtsters is the dumpster area. Some days you can smell it. Notice the exotic laser carved gates in front of the dumpster. Our city has managed to even waste money on a waste area. Those trash gates cost more than $9000. No real business would spend their own money like this. Go look. But wait, this is tax money. You must remember this is the same organization that has riverfront offices.
As an investment it is fair to say we are going backwards. It is reasonable to assume that besides servicing the debt we tax payers should expect an additional 5% on our money. That would be over and above our return on the property. If you have a CD with 100,000 and you add $50,000, wouldn’t you expect interest on the entire investment? What return shall we get on our two million dollar renovation? If we recycle boaters beer cans how long to pay for a $10,000 dumpster door? Can you as a citizen of New Smyrna Beach assume any benefit from the municipal marina?
I said the municipal golf course has not increased in value one bit after a huge waste of taxpayer’s money. I submit the marina is not worth any more either. Businesses are valued by prices set in formulas and outside factors. The little strip of land is not getting any better. Cash flow over the next ten years may not increase at all under the watchful eye of out political pirates. This stuff sets net worth not the clang of a ships bell or wild speculation in taverns or city chambers.
Shiver me timbers Maties. What more dare I say to make you want to keel haul any elected official who promises us another successful business venture. Shall I bring up fiber optics and its ten million dollar loss? Each time they parrot rich benefits we blindly fall to the oars of payment. This is piracy and it is time we stop it. Broadside your elected officials demand he removes us from the seas of commerce.
Grants don’t grow on trees and spending has brought this economy to its knees. Get involved. Contact every elected official you can. Tell them next time they put their hand on the rudder to steer clear of anything private enterprise can do. Business is better.
As a marketing guy I have the perfect ending. We use it to motivate folks just like you. Please respond this time it’s absolutely true. Act now and save!
The Florida House of Representatives web address is http://www.myfloridahouse.gov . Volusia County is http://www.volusia.org/ Orange County http://www.orangecountyfl.net Seminole http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/ Florida Senate http://www.flsenate.gov Axe the Tax http://www.axthetax.org Volusia Tax Reform and www.volusiataxreform.com City of New Smyrna Beach http://www.cityofnsb.com and The Shadow http://www.nsbshadow.com
NOTES
1. We are publishing two articles this week about the mismanagement by the City of two local businesses. Wouldn't it be nice if someone thought they could justify management decisions that seem counter to making money and more about subsidizing friends? We need some analysis and discussion of the airport, sports complex, and management decisions like buying more expensive police cars and a trash truck for Park and Recreation when the contract with a company like Waste Management (or who ever it is that picks up City trash) would be we think significantly cheaper. If the fire department Union does not like our analysis of their raid on the City treasury, they can answer the article with intelligent, non-profane prose. We do not think that piling a 5.1 % pay raise on top of all of the other perks that have bloated their salaries over the last six years is appropriate. Furthermore, we are not impressed that they have sold this package to other communities across Florida. Their success Statewide is admirable as an exercise in being smart and aggressive, but it does not change the fact that these pay scales, pension provisions, and insistence on better play toys (here fire stations) are more than the City can support. Moreover, it is a condemnation of our elected officials that let it happen. So back to the premise of this note. We will print cogent articles that further the debate.
2. Whether it makes sense for the airport to be managed by the City has nothing to do with the question of whether those who live around it have a legitimate complaint about the noise level. That airport has been around for a very long time, and those who moved in subsequent to 1940 knew, or should have known, it was there when they made the decision to buy or rent. What they pay for these accommodations includes the benefit or discount to the individual for living in proximity of the airfield. Someone with a small plane might find the noise acceptable for the convenience of living near his aircraft, while others would not be caught dead within five miles. National Airport (now Regan National) in Washington, DC, was established before 1920 and there was no Alexandria or Arlington, Va., breathing down its runways. Arguments to close it by those who moved in almost a hundred years later have not convinced anyone to shut it down. However, this has nothing to do with the issue of whether our airport is well run.
“Best Blog of the Week”
(Edited for grammar and punctuation)
A POTPOURRI OF CITIZEN COMMENTS IS
AGAIN PROVIDED THIS WEEK IN ORDER
FOR YOU TO GET IN TUNE WITH THE
MOOD OF OUR READERS
Ok Sally MacKay won. You can all quit pretending you agree with her now. Vandercrook is gone...mission accomplished.
Eco whiners forget that builders make nice homes and people choose to buy them. Private property owners sell and private citizens buy. All very nice. The way it should be. Lots of folks still buying just not as many as last year. Its still good and will only get better. Developers are making NSB better than ever.
I was born and raised in NSB, and I do MAKE money from developers. I am not a developer, but I make money from the projects they broker. I know I am not the only one. If you botch development in this town a lot of honest working people will be out of work. I hope the nice view and the old houses are worth the shambled coffers.
I really enjoy this site. Your ability to get the election to swing your way and have the Mayor voted back in was over-whelming. Your political power is something to be afraid of. Wait....that's not how it happened was it. Didn’t everybody your support get booted out or not voted in? I must have been dreaming, just like your dreams of people taking this site serious.
So, it would appear that we have to keep people moving here, as our economy relies upon development. But those people moving here will need jobs, likely in the development industry, which is of course the economic engine here. So the new people will need new people to make a living, and those new people will need new people, and so on and so on....Nope, not buying it.
Draft Hathaway '09. When the Mackay machine went after Hathaway he beat it. He's the voice of reason on our current Commission.
Interesting. For every cop on the street we have to support four? For every fire fighter we have to support three? Now here is a twist, there are double the numbers of fire fighters. No wonder the government is going broke.
One idea to increase revenue and improve NSB - build a second city Marina at the Swope site. Leasing boat slips generates huge money, brings in money people and makes jobs. The Swope site is being wasted. It is a potential gold mine. ********Another idea is to kick out the Anglers Club and use the building as another adjunct city marina. There are forty boat slips at that site that are essentially given to the Anglers Club for free. ***********The Yacht Club property (worth millions) was granted to the Yacht Club by the City of NSB in 1980 - what a thoughtless give- away that was! At least that club is paying property taxes. Anglers lease 40 boat slips and buildings for $99 per year. Cut out the good ole boy network. Those Welfare Boys are costing the taxpayers too much.
Included with the latest UC bill was a propaganda sheet touting the virtues and goals of the UC. My question: Are the residents of NSB the sole owners of the UC, or is it all the rate payers? The UC boss's are unconcerned of their customer/owner's intellect as they pump out such blatant pap. Shame on them for thinking their customers are ignorant enough to believe them. The bosses are an embarrassment and should be fired.
From: Silver Sands
Some of us have been here for generations, and in some years have promoted development and in others have sat on what we've got, trying to stave it off. We've been in love with certain local politicians for a time and then vote them out, for fresher perspectives. But this is just a blog, where all voices can be heard. So before you make declarative statements proclaiming some slant to the whole mess, I say get a grip and don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
DEAR SALLY
We know that the Mayor must be inundated with transition issues, and does not have the time to deal with many of the challenges facing her. Therefore, we have decided to help by providing her with draft letters that propose solutions to serious issues facing the City and her administration. We believe this will allow her to concentrate on satisfying her campaign promise to engage all elements of the community in consensus building to plan what could be done if the City Commission decides to take action on any of the real issues facing the City.
The draft letter below enlightens her about an issue of great importance to her constituency, and an affront to one of her Commissioners, therefore, we are confident she will take immediate action to correct whatever problem exists.
Memorandum
To: Mayor Mackay
From: Lynne Plaskett
Subject: Angler’s Club
Dear Mayor MacKay:
It appears that neither my husband nor I can become members of the Anglers Club, and I am terribly upset. Worse, there is a rumor that you sent them a letter before the election saying that you would do nothing to renegotiate their lease which is currently $25 a year, and the property is currently assessed at about $250,000, by the property appraiser, when it should be appraised for around $5,000,000. If I am correct, we should be receiving a greatly increased lease payment and about $100,000 in taxes. I can not believe this is true, but would appreciate your public denial of these rumors.
I have also heard that unlike the former Mayor, you have not been given an honorary membership to their organization. This smacks of discrimination and a lack of proper deference to diversity. Therefore, since you seem to have a communication link with these people, I am requesting that you obtain their charter, by-laws, a membership list, a boat slip assignment list, and amounts charged. Further as our Mayor, I am also requesting that you invite the County Property Appraiser to explain why the additional tax is not being collected from this property.
As ever, yours in service,
Lynne Plaskett, Commissioner Zone 4
Lp/jl
Copies: City Commissioners
ARTICLES ON GOVERNMENT
Now that the ’07 election is mostly behind us, we have concluded from a number of sources that many voters, as well as some of our elected officials, do not have a basic understanding of our government structure, or the roles and responsibilities of our local elected officials. Since one of the Shadow’s main objectives is to promote better local government, we will again be publishing a series of articles that may better help readers to understand our Commission-Manager form of government. The first series of articles has been assembled by Ken Taylor, a former mayoral candidate, and some times contributor to the Shadow, and addresses the office of mayor. The Shadow welcomes and will print articles from our readers that address topics of local concern, and that are in good taste. If your curiosity cannot be contained, visit the City’s website, link to the Municipal Code, and read the original charter, its amendments, and the Ordinances currently in force within the City. We hope you find these articles worthwhile, and will provide us feedback so that we may better serve you and the New Smyrna Beach Community.
Understanding the Mayor’s Office in Council/Commission-Manager Cities, Specifically New Smyrna Beach, Florida
By Ken Taylor
Part ll
This series of articles draws heavily on an article published in the Fall 1985 issue of Popular Government magazine, Institute of Government, UNC at Chapel Hill, NC, by James H. Svara.
This series of articles is offered as a means of enlightening the public about our form of municipal government, and to provide the public with an understanding of the mayor’s responsibilities and roles in that government, so they can cast an informed and well reasoned vote at election time. In Part l, we discussed the Nature of the Mayoral Office and the Variety of roles expected of the person holding this office. In Part ll, we will discuss several roles and responsibilities the successful candidate must understand and embrace.
Ceremony and Presiding
The ceremonial function is the dimension of leadership that observers of city government typically see. The mayor is in heavy demand for appearances at many and various meetings, dinners, and other special occasions. He also serves as spokesman for the commission, enunciating positions and actions taken, informing the public about coming business, and fielding questions about the city’s policies and intentions. In these two activities, the mayor builds an extensive contact with the public and media, which can be a valuable resource. In addition, the mayor presides at meetings. In so doing, he sets the tone for meetings and may exert mild influence over outcomes by guiding the debate, and by determining the timing of agenda issues. Commissions often face difficult choices and, like many small groups, generally depend to some extent on the resolve of the leader either to decide, delay, or move on.
Dimensions and Roles of Mayoral Leadership
The following roles should always be performed within the context of allowable interfaces allowed under the “Sunshine Law.”
Roles are identified by letters A-J. Dimensions are indicated by numbers I-IV
I. Ceremony and Presiding
A. Ceremonial tasks
B. Spokesman for commission
C. Presiding officer
II. Communication and Facilitation
D. Educator: informational and educational tasks vis-a-vis the other commissioners, manager, and/or public.
E. Liaison with manager: promotes exchange between the commission, the manager and staff (remember the “Sunshine Law”).
F. Team leader: coalescing the commission, building consensus, and enhancing group performance.
III. Organization and Guidance
G. Goal setter: setting goals and objectives with commissioners and manager; identifying problems; establishing tone for the commission.
H. Organizer: stabilizing relationships; guiding the commission to recognition of its roles and responsibilities; defining and adjusting the relationship with the manager.
I. Policy advocate: developing programs; lining up support for or opposition to proposals.
IV. Promotion
Promoter: promoting and defending the city; seeking investment; handling external relationships; securing agreement among parties to a project.
Think about these roles and those that are important to you. Incorporate them into your assessment of a candidate’s ability to achieve them if elected.
Communication and Facilitation
Beyond simply transmitting commission views to the public, the mayor may also serve as an educator. In his relations with the commission, the public, the media, and/or the manager and staff, the mayor identifies issues or problems for consideration, promotes awareness of important concerns, and seeks to expand city wide understanding by providing information. In this activity, he is not primarily promoting an idea, as in activities discussed below, but informing and educating. For example, the mayor who systematically speaks to the press and groups about increasing imbalance between needs and revenues helps to prepare the public for a tax increase at budget time.
In his liaison with the manager, he links the two major components of the system, the legislative body, and administrative apparatus, and can facilitate communication and understanding between elected and appointed officials. The mayor increases the manager’s awareness of commission preferences and may predict how the commission will react to administrative proposals. Although the manager must maintain positive relationships with each member of the commission, the mayor-manager interaction is an official way to exchange information, as are the commissioner-manager relationships. For the mayor to hold up his end of the relationship, he must be sensitive to the concerns of all commission members.
Finally, as team builder, the mayor works to coalesce the commission and build consensus. In this regard, he promotes cohesion without trying to guide the commission in any particular direction. Commission members do not automatically work well together, and the larger the group, the less harmony there is likely to be. The goal here is not agreement or like-mindedness, but rather to approach city business as a common enterprise. The mayor as team leader seeks to promote full expression, helping the commission work through differences expeditiously, and encouraging it to face issues and resolve them decisively.
The mayor may view his election as a vague mandate to lead, but he must take care not to alienate the commission and isolate himself by moving too far away from it as an assertive advocate of new policies.
It ain’t the economics, stupid, it’s politics.
Government in Business
Captain Bligh
I read with interest the articles from Mr. Denmark about the Marina (Island Voice) and about the Golf Course (Shadow). He is accurate about the loss of taxpayers’ money. To further expound on the issue, one must look at the politics. If it was just the economics, then logic might be used to convince the Commissioners to not get into business. Consider two new City run businesses, the City Marina and the Water Taxi. One can categorically state, “It’s all about politics.” Look good to the voters and pals.
City Marina
At the request of the Commissioners, the City released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to manage the Marina. Five groups of local business operators responded. One group, was formed by three local business leaders.
They studied the rates for marinas in Daytona Beach, Titusville, Vero, Cocoa, etc. and set them at a slightly higher level due to
Our proximity to the Inlet… a sport fishing boat or cruiser takes over an hour to get to the inlet from Daytona Beach. The fuel savings is not insignificant- a sailboat takes nearly 2 hours;
2) Easy access off of I-95/44;
3) New floating docks.
They projected a minimum profit of approximately $200,000; to be shared 50-50 with the City.
The proposals were examined by a committee of the City Manager, a Commissioner and the Public Works Director. The proposals were then ranked and submitted to staff for a recommendation. Their proposal was the winner. The Mayor’s pal was third in the rankings. He let the group know where he stood (Politics).
When the City Manger presented the winning proposal to the Commissioners, the Mayor asked: “Why are we doing this?” to which the City Manager replied, “Well, we were just following your instructions.” The Commissioners then decided that they’d like to receive all the “profits” rather than share them with a management company. It politics.
No no, don’t tell me.
The City Commissioners then hired an ex-commissioner to manage the marina (as a consultant). Did I mention that he had just lost his re-election bid for Zone 2? …And he was owed a few favors. It’s Politics stupid.
But wait, there’s more.
The Commissioners then decided to offer slips at a much lower rate than we proposed. Why? It’s politics … look good to the voters. So they left a lot of money on the table. The taxpayers’ money.
Water Taxi
The Water Taxi is a fun ride. It is not economically viable. Neither is Votran. The Proposal and business plan to run the Taxi was created by the CEO of the Marine Discovery Center. The proposed a fare was $10.00.
But wait, there’s more.
At the last minute, the Mayor, during roll call voting said he’d vote yes IF the rates were set at $8.00. To give the “local citizens a break”. Why? It’s politics … look good to the voters and pals.
Well at $10, the Taxi could make some money, at $8 it lost money. (Rate was finally raised to $10 after the busy season had passed)
The Taxi grant is taxpayers’ money. As soon as the grant is exhausted, it’ll fold and the vessels revert to the Federal Government. Ridership is good, but the costs are just too high to make it a going concern. The vessels are not going to last 5 years. They were chosen at the insistence of the Mayor over the objections of the management team. They were over a year late in delivery and are not well suited for salt water. Politics? You be the judge.
To make matters worse, the Taxi is of little benefit to New Smyrna Beach. Ridership is 90% northbound. The primary beneficiary is the Town of Ponce Inlet, specifically Inlet Harbor Restaurant and Down the Hatch Restaurant (great places all). While some folks do ride to New Smyrna Beach, they get off at Canal St. and come back complaining that there is nothing to do and (on weekends) most shops are closed. The stop at Riverview has had minimal visitors.
Think about it. If you want to visit New Smyrna Beach, why would you drive from Daytona, Ormond, Port Orange, etc. to Ponce to get on the Taxi. You can drive directly to New Smyrna Beach in less time.
Golf Course
The same is true, I’m sure about the Golf Course. Why? It’s politics … look good to the voters and pals.
Airport
The airport is another example of largesse gone amuck. Favorable lease terms, no penalty for late payments. Why? It’s politics … look good to the voters and pals.
Utilities Commission
That subject is not something I am familiar with, but it appears the public is being abused all in the name of Politics. The forays into Internet Services, WiFi, etc. are just plain dumb. Why? It’s politics … look good to the voters and pals.
Summary
So we have five “enterprises” in our small city and all are problematic. Good business practice takes a back seat to cronyism, looking good for the voters and Politics. Politics trumps economics. I could write much more about the specifics of poor government management, especially lack of basic P&L sense, marketing and fiscal planning and control, rate setting, staffing and pay, etc.
By the way, many cities across our fruited plain run enterprises successfully and competently. Just not here. Why? It’s politics … look good to the voters and pals.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUBLISH THIS INFORMATION FOR YOUR BENEFIT, AS LONG AS IAFF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.
UTILITIES COMMISSION
BOND ISSUE
Next week the Utilities Commission will float a bond issue for $10,000,000. In the past the City borrowed money from bond funds in order to meet its bills in the third and forth quarters. With the “borrowed” money it could meet payroll and operating expenses. The money would be replaced in early December, or a little later when property tax money started to flow. No one could follow the money, and since it would be put back before the point-in-time audit, there was no accountability. We believe this is what may happen at the Utilities Commission, seeing that they did not have a rate increase before the election and with its huge payroll; it is likely that there is a serious cash flow problem. If the UC does filch some of the money for operating expenses, and we speculate that it will, they will need a rate increase to pay back its bond fund. By the way, we think this would be illegal under the terms of the bond, State regulations, and Federal regulations. Someone just might invite the Florida Department of Legal Enforcement and the State Attorney General to look into the way the money is moved around.
FYI, we asked for the W-2's from the Utilities Commission for 2006. However, they procrastinated claiming that the 2001 information was not available, and then asked an unrealistic price to research their 2001 records to locate information that we believe could have been sent to us by E-Mail at the flick of a tab on their computer. Besides it was already November, so we will ask for the 2007 W-2’s in February. By then, we may also have some of the material they have been withholding from the City finance department, and we can get a more realistic picture not only of how much money they lost, but how they lost it.
LIVER TRANSPLANTS
AT BERT FISH
Bert Fish Hospital Chief CEO was dumped on at the City Commission meeting last week because he stated that there was neither a demand for nor a good reason to set up a pediatric care facility at Bert Fish. Now, emergency care is available, so what we are talking about is whether it is more logical to transport a sick child to a facility with a pediatric specialty within 24 hours of initiating emergency care, where more extensive treatment might be needed---like Halifax which is less than 15 minutes away by ambulance, or no care at all?. We are dumbfounded that neither Commissioner Plaskett nor Richenberg found this acceptable, and were even more dumbfounded when the question was raised as to who would pay for the family to visit the child at the certified facility.
Now let us analyze the problem. Not every hospital, particularly local hospitals with limited need and resources provide all services to their community. Certainly our astute commissioners have heard of “burn” facilities, children's hospitals, and Johns Hopkins and Bascom ophthalmology. Pittsburgh is where you want to go for a liver transplant and Cleveland or Houston for heart. Why do you persecute a professional who tells you that your resources should not be spread thin to provide a service for which there is no demand and where the specialty service is provided in a nearby Florida facility when needed? Moreover, there was no issue that the service would be provided on a timely basis.
There are topics that the Shadow believes Bert Fish should address, like telling the public where and when its Board meets, but dictating to it that it should provide a service at its own facility that can be made available through other facilities is not one of them. There is no question either that it would have been prudent to inform the City of their intention to terminate in patient pediatric services and why before addressing the City Commission. The Commission was blind sided. Commissioner Plaskett was absolutely correct in being angry that the community was not informed of this decision prior to the Board's unilateral determination to seek desertification. She might want to inquire further as to whether the decision was made to avoid insurance violation charges rather than merely the number of patients being served. We also have a suggestion as to how to make the service available if the only question is a little more money. Ask the firefighters to pitch in with their own money, not money collected in a boot, on a public street, or ask the doctors at Bert Fish to tithe. Either would pay for it.
FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTRACT
The Fire Department Union Contract has been under negotiation. In our opinion, it should be scrapped and completely rewritten. While professing to assure that the management function of the Fire Department remains with the City of New Smyrna, the current contract effectively emasculates the City's management authority and transfers almost all authority for employment, pay, and promotion to the employees, represented by the Union. They run this ship, and through provision after provision in the contract that provides for pay and pensions, a bonus for almost every conceivable detail that may or may not enhance their worth, and a few that clearly do not, they are over compensated. This is not an indictment of the Union. Their negotiators have done an excellent job of obtaining pay and benefits for their members that are extraordinary. They have done this across the State and use any benefit they obtain in one jurisdiction as a base for threatening that their members will go elsewhere if you do not match the benefit. Our problem is that elected officials have not paid attention to the cost of running the government, and granted these and other employees, the keys to the strongbox, as well as pay scales and pension plans that are neither rational nor supportable. The Union problem now is that those they represent can not easily jump ship for another fire department because everybody is retrenching.
A fast reading of the extant contract suggests the following:
that the City hire minimally qualified employees;
that these employees are then trained to perform the duties required by their job description;
that they are paid to acquire the education and skills to perform the job;
that as each component of this education is obtained, the employee must now be paid more because they can now do the job for which they were hired, but did not have the skills or training to perform.
The employee is still in the same job for which they were hired. There is no increase in productivity, only in pay. Great deal for the employee, but not for the City!
Some of our bloggers have suggested that we provide a plan of how to fix this problem. We are pleased to do so, but anticipate further carps, and, in the absence of leadership on the part of our City Commission, and the management of the NSBFD, are convinced that they will choose to ignore the problem as usual. However, here are a few ideas of what to do.
Do not compare our FD with any other local fire department. The same union represents them all and they use each one against the other to argue why the next contract should increase pay and benefits, if they threaten to leave, tell them OK;
Do not use the labor lawyer who negotiated the last contract, let the City attorney earn his money. Tell him specifically what you want him to negotiate into the contract;
Eliminate all special payments, specifically the add-ons for completing a course, and the myriad of added duties that belong in the job description. You do not pay store clerks more because they take a course in more efficient shelf stocking that you pay for, then tell them their duties include stocking the shelves, and give them a
$10 per week because they are now more efficient in stocking the shelves. Put these duties back in the job descriptions where they belong and no more extra pay for just doing your job;
No overtime. Overtime is and can be constrained and almost eliminated. There may be a few times when it is needed, such as natural disasters, but otherwise it is not needed. If someone calls in sick, do not fill that position unless it is the truck driver and the remaining fire personnel or reserve contract employee (see below) can not drive the truck. This is also something that should be required of anyone hired by the FD. If you can not drive the truck after six months on the job, you do not have a job. Cross-train all personnel to be multiskilled. In any event, reserve personnel, ones licensed to drive a fire truck, can be on call or, as suggested, other stations or the County EVAC could be dispatched. Let us face reality. Almost all of the calls are medical, and few of them are affected by a response time that could not be met anywhere in the City by an EVAC unit stationed at Bert Fish and another Beachside during a hurricane, say in the Publix parking lot;
Abolish the position of Lieutenant. Do it in this contract. It is pure grade creep, and if you have any doubt, the contract treats lieutenants as non supervisory. Worse, Article V is nothing but a straight jacket that removes all elements of management and replaces it with a formula by and for seniority, with no discretion on the part of management.
If you do not want to do it all at once, try this as an alternative:
Furlough any lieutenant who will draw a retirement and fill any future position with a new recruit. It may take a few years, but it will work. Cindy Richenberg has 23 years of service,
Ask private companies what they will charge to provide service. It would help to know what service the City wants for medical response, and for the few house fires that occur. How about discussing this issue. Deltona has about a 7 minute response time and there is no indication that its citizens are not adequately served.
Immediately combine Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, and Edgewater fire departments. Even if they overcharge as they do for the RCC 911 service, you could reduce the absurdly heavy supervisory component. It looks like one supervisor to less than three employees at the New Smyrna Beach fire department.
Stop all consideration of adding a new station on Third Avenue and save a couple of million by refurbishing the Columbus Avenue Station.
Sell the Putt-Putt course, or lease it to a miniature golf business. We are sure that any of the major real estate brokers in town will come up with numbers, but we figure it would be an immediate return of a couple of million dollars, a tremendous savings in construction costs, and a return of a tourist attraction.
Potential savings:
1. Retire three lieutenants who can draw an annuity under the current system. Do not backfill but abolish the positions:
Current costs at $150,000 each=$450,000. Hire thee new firefighters at $35,000 each and with reduced pension will cost $60,000 each for total cost of $180,000. Savings $270,000
2. No overtime for working someone else’s shift. No overtime, but heavy use of reserve personnel.
3. No gratuitous perks for doing your job. Savings would be about $300,000
4. Caps on future pay. Establish a rational starting salary and set a limit on the increase in salary that includes a reasonable component for risk.
5. No increase in the cap for inflation. These caps would be applicable to all future hires.
6. Savings would be huge. Take the job, know the limits.
7. Rescind the plan to build a new fire station on Third Avenue.
There you have it. We think this adds up to more than half a million in a hurry, and rolling back the pension contribution will save another half million. Those are dollars. Also, not building the Third Avenue Fire Station will save around $2 million.
Maybe one or two of these suggestions might not be feasible, but we can not continue as in the past. If we are not broke already, we soon will be. We appreciate the service and believe in our dedicated employees. This does not mean we have to pay them excessively for their services.
