September 7th, 2009
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1. The Botox graphic
Doctoring a campaign picture is one thing. Putting someone else’s picture out to suggest not only being significantly younger but more dynamic is another. Plasket runs a photo shop picture and it is no longer Plasket. Sally’s photo shopped picture is over the top. It is fair game for a lampoon.
2. RANDY AND THAT “NOSE” RING
Some of you may be interested in Commissioner Richenberg’s cell phone use. It is informative. During the period June through September of last year he charged 163.33 hours (9799.8 minutes) of talking time to the city. Of that time, he called Utilities Commissioner Diesen 19.15 hours (1149 minutes), Clay Henderson 5.8 (348 minutes), and Gracye Bark 40 minutes. Henderson’s interest of course appears designed to get Randy to not oppose putting a 10 square mile housing development in the wet lands and scrub in Edgewater. See, both of them are committed to protect the environment until a developer puts up big money and hires one or both of them. We think the Utilities Commission decision to give Clay Henderson a $250,000 + legal fee might have had something to do with this issue. But then, we at the Shadow are cynics.
3. SALLY SPINS
Spin is the Mayor’s statement that she wants to be neighborly with Port Orange. That was after New Smyrna Beach was told to get lost when it opposed at the County level zoning the new housing and commercial development by Port Orange for the Northwest corner of I-95 and Pioneer Trail (Woodhaven). Just as her interference was treated with disdain by the Port Orange Council, her efforts were rebuffed by the County. She, Gummey, and Rakowski got nothing but “NO” . So Sally denies that she was trying to kill their project, and now says she just wanted to be neighborly. See quotes in last week’s Daytona Beach News Journal.
“Best Blogs 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
9/1/2009, 1:23 pm
fed up
I just drove over the S. Causeway bridge and noticed a small plaque on a pole just past Richmond Dr. having something to do with former NSB employee, Roy Nelson.
Mr. Nelson does not deserve that. I don't even wish to use his proper employee designation here because he is a poor example of that profession. His unfortunate accident, and the fiasco of a funeral that resulted infuriates me. If any part of that entire mess deserves recognition, it's the dog, Caesar. That poor animal paid dearly for his handler's actions. Nelson is not a hero in my book.
9/4/2009, 10:54 am
MR ED
The Mayor's comments concerning our Police Officers and Firefighter's pensions during the debate should clearly show everyone that she is ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS...OR JUST A PLAIN LAIR....
Here's why......
During the debate, Sally mentioned Florida Statutes Chapter 175 and 185, and said the State mandated the City's current pension plans for Firefighters and Police Officers, and noted that the city couldn't raise the Firefighter's contribution rate beyond their current one percent of salary, because any increase in contribution rates would have to go towards increased benefits.......And then she went on babbling, and said the Unions would have to agree on any changes to their Pensions......and they obviously wouldn't do that.....so we might just as well forgetaboutit......and keep paying a million dollars a year for Firefighters Pensions....
Now, lets take a look at the FACTS.......
#1. Florida Statutes Chapter 175 and 185 provide for MINIMUM standards for Pensions for Firefighters and Police Officers, INCLUDING a 2 percent Multiplier......THE CITY'S LOCAL PENSION PLANS INCLUDES A 3 PERCENT MULTIPLIER......So we are already clearly providing our Firefighters and Police Officers MORE THAN THE MINIMUM found in Chapters 175 and 185.
SO WHY CAN'T THE CITY COMMISSION RAISE THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE TO PAY FOR THESE ALREADY EXISTING INCREASED BENEFITS? (Benefits that go way beyond those Mandated by Florida Statutes Chapter 175 and 185)
ANSWER: BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO! ( Not because they can't)
FACT: Port Orange is now in the process of increasing the employee contribution rates of all three of their Pension Plans....Fire, Police and their General Employees. And they wouldn't be doing so, if Sally were right, and that was against the Law!
#2. Union contracts can be changed by the City Commission, without the approval of the Union. To do so here in Florida, there is a process for that, and in summary, the City must first declare that there is an Impasse with the Union, go to mediation, ignore the mediator's recommendations, call a Public Hearing on the matter, and then..... THE CITY COMMISSION CAN IMPOSE A CONTRACT ON THE UNION, even over its objections. (To read about this process, Google " FLORIDA PERC HANDBOOK" ....Its a publication but out by the Florida Public Employee's Relation Commission)
ps
I JUST THOUGHT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW WHAT A ILL-INFORMED MAYOR WE HAVE........
But the question we should all be asking ourselves after this debate, is this: Is Sally just "ill-informed"? Or is she a liar?
It's one or the other.....she either doesn't know what she's talking about, or she's lying to cover-up her reluctance to face the Unions and tell them NO MORE!
Which one is it?
"Valp2007@aol.com"
You comment on sally mackay's educational background, have you checked on this kid adam barringer's?and have you listened to him talk on political matters, of which he has no knowledge? he hasn't served on one committee for this city and he is not well read on the matters at hand . He travels with his side kick, an angler who ends adam’s sentences when he can't find the words....that is a hoot to watch. and this is who this town wants for Mayor? please, this sounds like the old boys are trying to get back into power with this young man as their front man and the bit about his family business that his brother is running while he is campaigning????? hey, you yourself commented about the rehabbing for the chamber of commerce and all jobs MUST GO TO NSB contractors...well, stand in line Barringer construction or Clancy construction or whomever his buddies in the Anglers' Club are.. your comments please
New Smyrna Beach taxpayer.....
By the way, Members and guests only.
NOTES
1. HOW THEY WORK THE OVERTIME
They jack up the pay of those employees who are closest to retirement. That is at time and one half, and then they use the overtime pay in the computation of the pension. The fire department contract for example includes the three extra hours of mandatory overtime which is then included in the computation for the pension, which, along with early out and a three percent year multiplier results I pensions as high as their last pay check.
2. AN AUDITOR IN YOUR POCKET
AT THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING, COMMISSIONER HATHAWAY COMPLAINED THAT THE COMMITTEE REVIEWING PROPOSALS FOR AUDITOR WAS NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE PROPOSERS ONE ON ONE AND FOR THAT REASON MILLIKEN WAS REJECTED. OUR COMMENT TO MR. HATHAWAY IS THIS: AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER AND COMMISSIONER YOU SHOULD HAVE INSISTED IN SPEAKING TO THEM ONE ON ONE BEFORE MAKING A RECCOMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION. IF MILLIKEN DID NOT MEET THE CUT-OFF CRITERIA, THEY ARE NOT IN THE RUNNING. IT IS UNCONSIONABLE FOR THE SAME AUDITOR HAVE THIS JOB FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS. IF THIS WERE A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, NO PROBLEM, BUT FOR A PUBLIC ENTITY, NO WAY. TOO MUCH CHANCE FOR IMPROPIETY OR CORRUPTION. THE AUDITOR SHOULD BE CHANGED AT LEAST EVERY THREE YEARS. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE UTILITIES COMMISSION.
WE ARE SURE MILLIKEN IS A PERFECTLY COMPETENT FIRM; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT MEET THE CUT-OFF CRITERIA, AND ARE THEREFORE NOT TO BE CONSIDERED. THERE IS NO REASON TO GIVE THEM SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THEY ARE A LOCAL FIRM. WE DO NOT CARE WHAT SALLY’S OPINION MAY BE!
DEAR PAM
As we have stated in the past, we realize that the City Manager is limited in the resources available to her for pursuing cost reduction projects, so we have decided to help her out and provide draft letters for her review. As we have said, this will free her up for important things, like dealing with all the serious problems of the police and fire department pensions.
Dear Sally
I want to sell all of the SUV’s owned by the City. They are expensive to run, unnecessary except for status symbols, and dangerous. The picture below says it all.
Pam
EDITORIAL
The Shadow has decided to ‘translate’ the positions of the incumbents seeking a new term. These texting size squibs is how we frame the current positions of the incumbents as to why they believe should be elected. The current incumbents have created a track record. Here is the squibs on the incumbents.
Mayor Mackay
I will do better than my last two disastrous years. I cannot run a meeting and do not have a college degree. Despite my application to the Zoning and Planning Board in 2003 , I do not have a Master’s Degree either. I have made deals with the employee unions and the Angler’s Club that sell out the City taxpayers. I will not reduce City expenditures and will not cut City employment. I am anti-growth and believe in subsidies for all sorts of favored groups. My website, the one that says what I have accomplished, is a creative writing exercise. It is professional “spin”. My explanations of my education changes weekly.
DISTRICT 1
Randy Richenberg
I have enjoyed spending your money. “The worst vote I made last year was not voting to raise taxes”. More taxes should have been raised so I could spend more of your money. Paying my wife’s $64,000 pension, giving money to preferred friends, anti-growth, buying unneeded property at inflated prices, and protecting the pay pensions, and benefits of all the union employees is more important than taxpayers I voted for a 27% tax increase. Vote for me and I guarantee I will raise your taxes.
DISTRICT 2
Jack Grasty
I want to remain one of the chief flacks for the City Unions and the Angler’s Club. Remember when I pranced around the Commission meeting and said to leave the Angler’s Club alone! The Angler’s Club should be left alone and no effort should be made to reign in the pay, pensions or benefits of City employees. I voted for the 27% tax increase. I also voted for every pay increase for City employees, every property purchase at inflated prices, and every payment to the Marine Discovery Center such as buying kayaks. I am in the pocket of the special interests in the City and proud of it. I am not running on my good looks or intelligence, but on my being a good ‘ole boy.
CITY MANAGER GOVERNMENT
Ken Taylor wrote a series of articles last year for the Shadow on City Manager government. What we have had, however, is micro managed government by the elected officials who do not understand that their role is solely policy guidance and not day to day management. These are set forth in the LINK.
CANDIDATES WHO WILL VOTE UNION
Sally Mackay
Randy Richenberg
Jack Grasty
Steve Sather
Solidarity for the union masses; $60,000 salaries; $64,000
pensions; New Lazy Boys?
AND NO REAL CUTS IN SPENDING
Remember Yogi Berra who said that “this was like déjà vu all over again”. Well, we published the article below about a year ago and now a year later nothing has changed. The Shadow, not the City, did get the County Appraiser to take a look at the Angler’s Yacht Club rip offs of the taxpayer and he raised their property appraisal by almost $1,000,000 this year. While the City is still trying to figure out how not to make this segregated all white male ‘club’ pay a proper lease for their $5,000,000 property, they continue the outrageous current lease. The appraiser will get another look at this property again this or next year and the Shadow hopes raises their assessment to full market value. We will settle for maybe $4,000,000 which would be an $80,000 tax bill.
Then they gagged the auditor. The auditor was told not to talk about the individual Commissioners’ possible tax evasion. Just a suggestion from the City Attorney that Sally liked. Gagging the auditor was even more crude than listening to a police sergeant being paid $82,000 base pay state that he “needed” the 2% pay raise. They unanimously voted for the pay raise during a depression.
The worst was when they over paid $2,000,000 extra for the Esther street parking lot (43 spaces for $4.3 million if we recall) and did not “quibble” (Sally’s word) over the price for the possibly heavily contaminated Dunn Lumber Property ($40,000 more than another contract for sale which fell through we are told because of the contamination). Did Sally ever sell or buy any property without “quibbling’? They really showed their incompetence in buying property, which was only eclipsed by their inability to look at the unaffordable pay and pensions for their fire and police employees. So, if reaching a new low for failure to govern gets you into Yogi’s ball park, they certainly are a winner. As Yogi also said “You can observe a lot by just watching.”
Last year’s article (slightly edited):
“It is budget time. We laughed when we heard the auditor commend the City Commission for doing such a great job in managing its money without even referring to the use of reserve money to make it come out in the black. In other words, they did not reduce expenditures. But what do you expect from a firm that has done the audit for ten years and has a good idea of what it needs to say to keep the account. But then we are cynics.
We said it before and we will say it again. The New Smyrna Beach City Commission should put the following items on the Agenda for their first meeting in April, and have each Commissioner and the Mayor state and explain their position on each issue. The Shadow believes they owe the taxpayers an explanation for why they will not take action to resolve these pressing issues and reforms as an indication of how they propose to reduce spending in the coming fiscal year. We invite the other area newspapers to investigate each of these issues, publish reports of their factual findings, and utilize their editorial skills to analyze and comment as they see fit. It would be refreshing to observe real journalists in action for a change. Come on guys, the Anglers Club would be any easy task for an investigative reporter!
Lost Revenue
1. $80,000 to $100,000 tax loss because the County Tax Assessor has still not assess Anglers club leased property at full value, and the City will not challenge him.
2. $25,000-$50,000 tax loss because the City will not pursue setting aside the Anglers Club $25 a year lease for a fair market value lease.
3. $520,000 unnecessary annual expenditure because City will not eliminate three hours guaranteed overtime for firefighters that costs $10,000 week [they caved].
4. $500,000 loss for not getting bids from professional management companies to manage Municipal Golf Course [they raised some rates for 2009 and will cut budget loss somewhat. They put back the old rates for 2010!].
5. $1-2 million savings by abolishing all fire department lieutenant positions.
6. $500,000 to $750,000 savings by abolishing three police department Commander positions.
7. $300,000 by consolidating tri-city RCC operation with County 911 center [ they cut out $300,000 of the over payment in 2007].
8. $87,000 subsidy for Marine Discovery Center [we believe lots more and add kayaks and building for kayaks].
If all savings are realized, the City could reduce its budget by as much as $4,500,000 or so real dollars. We, of course, cannot picture these politicians taking such extreme measures to accommodate the wishes of their constituents over their special interest supporters, but we can hope for the best…….”
In sum they did nothing significant to cut spending, spent a couple of million dollars out of reserves, and want to raise taxes this year so as to give the fire and police department pay raises or at least not reduce salaries or pensions. When you tell your kid you cannot afford to take the family to the movies, remember that they increased the municipal golf course number of employees to 25. [now reduced but still double any other golf course in the City]
When the County Council voted to not at least cut out of the proposed budget the 2 % pay raise for all County employees and the tax for the Ponce Inlet port that will never be built, they told the taxpayers to get lost. They must think that taxpayers have an infirmed memory.
WEBSITES OF CANDIDATES
New and Corrected
FOR MAYOR
Sally Mackay -----sallymackayformayor.com
Marilee Walters-- marileeformayor.com
Adam Barringer---adambarringerformayor.com
FOR COMMISSIONER ZONE TWO
Jack Grasty -------
Palmer Wilson --- www.palmerwilsonfornsbcommissioner.com
Steve Sather ----- www.stevesather.com
FOR COMMISIONER ZONE ONE
Randy Richenberg-
Judy Reichert ------- voteforjudynsb.com
Frank Dalton--------- frankdaltonforcommissioner.com
These will be updated as new information is received.
Tomorrow night’s Commission meeting (NOW MOVED TO 5.30 PM AND THE FIRE MARSHALL WILL “LIMIT” ATTENDANCE—HMMM…) is when they plan to adopt the budget with the 27% increase in taxes. It is probably the most important meeting in years, and three of the Commissioners, Randy, Jack, and Lynn, are on record as approving this budget. Randy is easy to understand. He needs to protect the $64,000 pension his wife will receive for the next 30 or so years and she wants to make sure that her friends at the fire department also share in her bounty. Jack is in the pocket of the employee as is Lynn. Sally will of course come up in all likelihood with a smaller increase and the use of some of the reserves. Remember, reserves are your tax money that they already collected. Any tax increase should be unacceptable. Let them reduce the budget to where they do not need a tax increase. The taxpayers can no longer keep shelling out money to fund purchases of unneeded property like Dunn Lumber and Esther Street and at inflated prices. As bad or worse are huge subsidies to the Municipal Golf Course and Marine Discovery Center, not collecting market price revenue for City property like the Angler’s Club, and buying $9,000 plastic Christmas trees.
It looks like the City Manager may be on board with Randy. Early meeting and keep out the taxpayers.
CANDIDATES WHO WILL VOTE FOR THE
ANGLER’S CLUB SWEETHEART LEASE
ADAM BARRINGER (MEMBER)
“waste of taxpayers’ money
to challenge the lease”
JACK GRATSY
STEVE SATHER
JUDY REIKER
Cheap boat slips; We own the City; We are the white elite, ask us!
Randy: “Worst vote I made was not raising taxes”.
Judy: fundraiser held for her by Angler’s Club members.
Jack and Steve: Angler’s Club members are an asset .
Sally: Negotiate with Angler’s Club rather than set aside the lease and negotiate with highest bidder for property!
Steve Sather, who is a candidate for Commissioner from District 2, pleaded Nolo Contendere (similar to a guilty plea) in 1992 to a charge of “unlawful sale or distribution of cocaine”. This was posted a few times on the BLOG and was removed for several reasons: first the postings included unsubstantiated allegations against another candidate and the Shadow believed that Mr. Sather should have an opportunity to state why, in his opinion, this was not relevant today.
His position, which we thought would be in a letter from him to the Shadow, is that it was 17 years ago and that his plea bargain resulted in a punishment that paid his debt for his crime. He states that he is reformed and has changed his life and life style. He further states that the issues he stands for is what the voters should review. He points to his web site (see below) as his plans for the City.
THIS UNFOLDING ELECTION
An examination of the current candidates in each of the three primaries presents the electorate with two entirely different choices. On the one hand there is a fight between the incumbents who currently are in power (Sally, Jack, and Randy) and three other candidates (Adam, Judy, and Steve). Each of the three incumbents will continue to give away the taxpayers money to their friends. On the other side, principally supported by the Angler's Club and the employee unions, are three candidates who want to control who runs the City. They also want to control spending the money and these candidates will fight over the crowds who currently get money from the City. Judy, Steve, and Adam are not going to stop the major spending since that is what their sponsors want also every bit as much as those currently holding office. That includes the golfers who get cheap golf, secretaries that make over $80,000 in salary, fireman who receive $64,000 pensions at age 46 for life, and cheap leases for valuable City property which is why the Angler's Club is currently active and supporting at least three of the candidates running against the incumbents.
The current contracts which Sally refuses to change were originally put in place by prior Commissions. This includes setting up the Marine Discovery Center as a money pit. It was Sally, Jack, and Randy who have been instrumental in appointing Utilities Commission Directors who seem to care little about saving costs for ratepayers. It is unlikely that any of them will demand market prices for valuable City property if not forced to do so by irate taxpayers. The Angler's Club and the Chamber of Commerce will continue stealing taxpayer money. Remember, the Community Redevelopment Agency, which has been criticized as near useless by an outside consultant, is composed of a Board of Directors almost all of whom are connected to the Chamber of Commerce.
Now do not fret. There are distinct differences between these groups. Both Judy Reiker and Adam Barringer have college degrees, a distinct improvement over Randy, Jack and Sally. None have made promises that they have already broken. Both are for rational growth and increasing the tax base. Hopefully, they will understand how a City with a City Manager form of government is supposed to work and will not interfere with permitting the City Manager to run the City. Certainly, even if they have commitments to their allies, they will not show the total disdain displayed for the taxpayers by the incumbents who cannot grasp that all City employees should not be paid large sums of money for pay, pensions, and benefits. The current three incumbents in the last two years have avoided even addressing the city employee contracts. Do not forget that Sally said she would cut the budget! Or how about her statement that “the fireman should step up to the plate”. Take promises from some of the candidates with a grain of salt. Or maybe the whole salt shaker. Do not forget that the Angler’s Yacht Club has come out of the closet and is now an open participant in this election with one of its members running for Mayor, and at least four candidates having its wholehearted support! And while they do not apparently like Sally anymore, she has not been a bad egg in their basket.
Now we turn to the other three candidates. Marilee Walters, Palmer Wilson, and Frank Dalton. All three are running against business as usual. All three are educated. All three say that they will reduce expenses to match reduced income, and not raise taxes. All three are for rational growth and increasing the tax base. They state that the days of simply taxing property without regard to drops in property value are over. They believe that there is no reason for a City to subsidize golf, running water taxis at a loss, and buying kayaks. They want, in different degrees, to adjust employee salaries and benefits to affordable and a fair basis. But these are also promises since none of them has held office and there is no assurance as to how they will act. There is a high probability that they will do what they promise because they are running as outsiders who will cut the budget to match revenue without raising taxes. Their slogan appears to be: We are not an incumbent in the pocket of the Unions, and we are not a member or supporter of a club looking for a sweetheart lease at taxpayer expense.
Now all nine candidates will claim that public safety is paramount. But which ones of the nine will ask the County Sheriff what he would charge the city for the same or better service? Which ones will publically state that he or she will limit the municipal golf course subsidy? Which ones will demand that the Angler's Club pay market rates for the prime waterfront property they have filched for so many years? These are only a few of the specific questions that should be asked. Otherwise you will have a bunch of promises that are vague.
The end of the process will resolve whether those that take money from the taxpayers and give to their friends will prevail. It should be interesting to watch the fight. It is Sally who has consistently delivered the goodies to the groups of voters bought over the last two years, but several of the newbies will probably deliver more of the same to most of the same. Just a little more quietly than Sally.
VOTE THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 VOTE
