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Thank you, enjoy your visit and come back ya' heah.
November 28, 2011
DEAR PAM
We realize that you have limited resources available for pursuing cost reduction projects, so we have decided to help you with draft letters. This will free you up for important things, like dealing with all the serious problems of the police and fire department pensions. Hope this helps you formulate your position to the Mayor.
1. THE RIGHT MIX OF ARTICLES
Every week the Shadow tries to balance the exposure of new things that crawl out from under the rocks as against the failure of elected officials to address what is already exposed. On the one hand we run the risk of overloading the reader, and, on the other, of being stale. All we can say is that we try for the right mix. Remember, the Shadow is commentary.
We have hoped for years that the DAYTONA BEACH NEWS JOURNAL, which should be one of our principal local newspaper, would resolve to be what it claims to be for this community. The NSBNEWS has filled some of the gap, but essentially the Journal refuses to report or comment upon what has been a corrupt system of
crony government within our city. Could the smell of advertising money be at the root of the problem?
2. PADDLE BOARD TOURNAMENT
We never were and never will be the surfboard capital of the world. We are also not the first City which thought of a paddle board tournament. They are everywhere, especially in Florida. We will be in competition with every community on the water in the States. Past history suggests that some other community will be the capital. But then maybe we are missing something in terms of the agenda of the Mayor and his buddies.
3. FLAGLER IS A VIBRANT SHOPPING AREA
The Shadow has never suggested that money should not be spent for promoting shopping on Flagler. We just want to see the business owners themselves cough up that money and not the taxpayer. And don’t yell back CRA money is your tax money as you forget that 50% comes from the County, which gets it from all tax payers. Canal, however, is dead. Flagler is alive and fun and shopping there is fun and rewarding. The problem with Flagler is the CRA should not promote evening pub crawls or fund raisers for charities that take the money out of the CRA district. Many of the boutique stores close during pub crawls and thus get nothing out of the infusion of tax dollars. Chili parties from 10 am till 6 pm makes sense and seem to be family focused. So do fish and shrimp fries. Halloween parties for drunken twenty year olds at taverns do not. Do we want to continue to see repeats of the drunken brawl a week or so ago at the Flagler Tavern where a window got broken out and a young women severely injured? The Shadow thinks not and prefers a nice sampling of chili at noon.
Mayor Barringer:
Are you posing for the CRA calendar? I thought I made my feelings known about "girlie things" at my confirmation hearing. You can go ahead and pose, but I can't see myself and Jack Grasty in a bikini for any cause. Besides you know we need to stay far away from that former newspaper publisher while things are still hot about the hotel. By the way have you heard anythong, oops I mean anything about the hotel; site looks pretty dismal to me.
PAM
1. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS (COLA) ARE REASONABLE AND ARE NOT PAY INCREASES
Neither the State nor County did anything more than put employees in a financial position where they were if inflation had not diminished their take home pay value. New Smyrna Beach on the other hand gave most of its employees two extra days pay in addition to the COLA; translation pay raise. Couple that with in the case of the NSB firefighters, another long range raise occurred as they still do not pay anymore into their pension than before; translation the City Manager has done nothing to solve the problem. Did you get a raise and a COLA this year. The Shadow thinks not.
2. PROJECTS THAT WILL LOSE MONEY. - THANKS SALLY
Last year Sally Mackay was effectively one of the two architects of a $50,000 tax loss. She has two projects this year which will probably lose the taxpayer’ s around $100,000 or more----$50,000 for the Balloon Fiasco and another $50,000 or more for yet one more artist oriented boondoggle she calls the “hub”. Do we really need another art shop in New Smyrna Beach that will continue to be drain 30 years later on tax dollars like Images? The Shadow thinks not. We also think of it as but another money pit for tax dollars, but unless we are mistaken the Mayor has “suggested” he will support this boondoggle if she does not run for Mayor. Pam we figure carried the message. READER NOTE: See our previous solutions for the City Manager elsewhere on this page.
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BLOGS: A STATEMENT BY THE SHADOW
The Shadow generally does not edit BLOGS. Very profane comments, even in only first letters, and attacks accusing anyone of a crime are deleted or reformed even when they are about public officials. Personal attacks upon the publisher that are devoid of content are deleted. But not always. Not all postings are essays on important subjects. Not all are fully cogent. On the real positive side, there are way more than 100,000 postings over the last few years and many are excellent tip offs as to funny goings on in Mayberry. Many also are excellent essays on relevant topics. Do our readers a favor and stop attacking the opposing political party as commies or reactionaries. The Shadow does edit for spelling.
tax base. Here our City Manager’s modus operandi is to cut expenditures just enough to keep in place the previous year’s millage rate.
In a falling real estate market that results in a tax increase. The millage rate remains well above the real value of the property but masquerades as if it is not a tax increase and our elected ones tout that endlessly as if the more they say it, the more it will be true. With the additional revenue, which is a few more million than needed to run the City government even as she shrinks its numbers and services, she coddles her inner circle with hidden giveaways. She pays big taxpayer money to those she fires so that they do not appeal publicly or worse, spill the beans on her games. That is why Rakowski was given $43,000 instead of just a pink slip and directions to the unemployment office. That is why she is rumored to be giving Liz Yancey a big severance package, again just to keep her mouth shut.
And then there are crazy ventures like Esther Street and the badminton court on the beach. Rather than lower property taxes, the Utilities tax, or your cell phone tax, she continues on a spending spree. For instance just firing Gummey would save several hundred thousand a year (with the severance package saved in about a year and four months the Shadow calculates). Liz Yancey’s departure will save $150,000 a year assuming the Assistant City Manager takes over supervision of the few employees left at Parks and Recreation and that does not count getting rid of her husband the way overpaid grass cutter at the Golf Course.
Now she will claim, along with the elected ones, that she has reduced the city payroll. What makes the Shadow mad is she does that based on other people’s work and never shares the credit. She got rid of most of the unneeded police management per the reorganization proposal given to her in August 2009 by a city resident and police management expert, Palmer Wilson. She reduced the fire department personnel by 15 (51 reduced to 36) as a result it appears from the County reduction to two to a shift, efforts for consolidation, and exposure by the Shadow and the Civic report in Port Orange. All sorts of changes have been made as recommended by Jack Housely’s budget review committee, but again little or no credit to anyone excerpt her highness, Pammy. She was forced by the County to merge the 911 service and the Shadow is convinced she has agreed to consolidate the NSB fire department with the County. She probably is now trying to figure out how to cut her exposure from the problems now apparent of the questionable funding procedures followed by the flaccid Community Redevelopment Agency. Her method is simple: Follow good advice and never give credit to those that gave you the advice.
In reality, however, her method is simply bad management. It is bad management to have a legal expense of $600,000 or more for a small city of only 22,000 people (Hey the Shadow uses the real Census numbers, not those fancied by the Mr. Marketer Tony Otte). It is bad management not to address the fire department pension issue. It is bad management to submit unintelligible budgets (the Shadow recommends that you check out the Police Department pages with all the missing data and incoherent explanations of programs). She is responsible, but she never admits she is a large part of the problem. Spend money and say that was what the Commission ordered. Not bad if you can get away with it.
SOLUTION: Send her packing to her next destination where she can again spin her Machiavellian spider web.
2.SELECTED VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOL EMLPOYEE SALARY LEVELS
There are eight thousand teachers and there have been big cuts in top management employees and pay over the last several years. The Shadow limited its request to those earning more than $75,000 (CLICK HERE). The Shadow thinks that the County School Board has made some in-roads on the classroom staffing and to some degree administrative staff and salary sides of the house, but there is still room for improvement, especially given the current economic conditions and the non direct tax support that the schools receive with little or no oversight.
3.REVISITING THE LOSSES FOR THE BALLOON FIASC0
The City is supporting a 2012 repeat of the Balloon Fiasco. The Shadow printed their financial balance sheet (CLICK HERE) which showed almost $50,000 of your tax dollars being spent to entertain a limited number of natives and visitors.
“Grants” from Bert Fish and Halifax, which collect millions of dollars for indigent care ($17,000 in grants last year), is a disgrace. The SVAA grant did put a few heads in beds, specifically the few balloonists for whom the Festival bought condo accommodations (mostly through a SVAA Board member). Before the City “solicited” other tax collecting agencies, the City would have been on the hook for all of the losses. If you believe the balance sheet is accurate, and the Shadow does not, the City lost only $15,000 ($3,500 on the sheet and $12,000 from an airport fund—City money). There is no entry charging for the time of airport or other City personnel, a major effort in time spent as we understand it.
This is a City commitment without funding. Commissioner Hathaway: Is this open ended funding outside the budget fiscally responsible? And what about transparency? The Shadow believes that if this project is a worthy one (and we do not), then why should the City not be up front with its financial support? Why not let the public know exactly what this hobby weekend for a few special people really costs? Why not review why this event continually moves from one city to another after the real costs are shown and people finally say no more tax dollars for the hobby? What is wrong with the Commissioners who just can’t seem to get the guts to ask questions and say “No More Money Down The Tube?” Why we ask? And so should you the tax payer. Well the answer is that transparency is not one of Pammy’s Rules and no one of the Commissioners or the Mayor is going to cross her. Heck, the Shadow is still waiting for a lot of public information requests from the City Clerk who apparently is waiting for the City Manager.
SOLUTION: Send her packing to her next destination where she can again spin her Machiavellian spider web and free the City Clerk to do his job.
4. NO FEDERAL MONEY FOR LOCAL FIREMAN AND POLICE
What a rotten idea if the locality has not first cleaned up its act. To give money to Edgewater with its overstaffed police and fire departments would be a betrayal of the Federal taxpayer. So would rewarding a city which gives a pay raise to an official already hauling in a salary of $90,000 and which does not even make a passing effort to address its out of whack pension system. Add the over expensive new fire stations, and in the case of NSB, a clearly totally unneeded expenditure. The Shadow hopes that not a dime of Federal grant money is spent to support anybody in a City where the City has a bloated fire department force, has not addressed its pension plan, and is building a new fire department station it does not need. New Smyrna Beach is one such City. Did we forget to mention Edgewater?
SOLUTION: Send her packing to her next destination where she can again spin her Machiavellian spider web, cancel the fire station construction and consolidate with the County, saving taxpayers money all around.
5.ACCREDITATION REVIEW (AUDIT) OF COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The Shadow received this press release recently:
“November 21, 2011
Volusia County Sheriff's Office
ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT
A team of independent assessors is coming to town next month to examine the Volusia County Sheriff's Office’s policies, procedures, management and operations. The public is invited to comment as part of a periodic, outside review designed to verify the department’s compliance with law enforcement performance standards. The Sheriff’s Office has been internationally accredited since 1991.
As part of the on-site assessment, the independent Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA) is inviting the public and agency employees to comment on the Sheriff’s Office’s compliance with Commission standards. Copies of the standards are available for public inspection at the Sheriff's Office on the fourth floor of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand.
Anyone who would like to provide comments to the assessment team can call (386) 943-7075 between 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. Those wishing to make their comments in person are invited to attend a public information session at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 in the County Council chambers on the second floor of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center. Comments should address the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to comply with Commission standards. Further information can be obtained by calling Sandy Shields or B.J. Rossetti in the Sheriff’s Office’s Professional Standards section at (386) 736-5961.”
This is an audit by the national commission not the Florida cut in half picnic. As noted in the above press release, the Sheriff’s Office has been continually accredited since 1991. The Shadow tips its hat to Sheriff Ben Johnson and all the men and women of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for their continued demonstration of compliance with these well over 400 national standards that reflect a professionally operated law enforcement agency.
Now what does that have to say for our Chief Pagano and his “executive staff?” Not much since they remain unaccredited after well over seven years of “effort” and “money” thrown down the drain for his "executive staff. For you understand that management of any accreditation process is an executive or command function and not one that can be "delegated" to workers or part-time hired help. And keep in mind that they are only trying to measure up to about 230 standards in the watered down Florida version of accreditation. Pammy are you listening? You could do the town a favor before you pack it in and get us a “professional” police chief who understands the meaning of that word. The Shadow is convinced the rank and file would appreciate it.
SOLUTION: Send her packing to her next destination where she can again spin her Machiavellian spider web after she gets rid of Pagano.
1. HOW THE NEW SMYRNA BEACH MANAGER FUNCTIONS
A blogger wrote:
Pookie
11/19/2011, 8:14 AM
“Does anyone wonder how the city can pull $120,000 for a seawall and $26,000 for a parking lot as non budgeted expense out of the air.
Pammey is just the best. Remember this trick. We may need magic $$$$$ if Jim gets elected to county gub'ment.
Only a great deal more.”
Unlike most other Volusia County jurisdictions, we in New Smyrna Beach have a huge
Date: 11/21/2011, 11:20 PM
Name: To MDC Lovers
The MDC has never had a year where they did not have to sponge off the city and other government doles just to survive. The City gave them an infusion with your tax money with the Water Taxi to the tune of $84,000 a year for three years plus all they could skim off the boat tickets. Add in free rent at the AOB, free use of AOB toilets, free use of City dock, and probably free use of city fuel and certainly the electricity at Saxon Drive they have never paid for.
Then we can add in kayaks, kayak racks, kayak paddles, John Deer kayak movers, etc, etc, etc. Then to top it all we gave them, free, the old high school plus
1 million of your tax dollars from the State, County ECHO, and City coffers. And Chad boy gets a new high priced job; priceless boondoggle.
Just another bunch of moochers who return absolutely not one red cent to the City; they just take and take some more.
Date: 11/22/2011, 7:44 PM
Name: 522
That isn't SAD, THAT IS LYING CRIMINAL
Sorry Pammy, that garbage doesn't work anymore, you are lying to us about the hotel and everyone knows it and we are sick and tired of it--you have turned that beautiful piece of property into a Friendly’s dump lot.
WHAT IS THE STORY? Who hosed you guys THIS time?
IF YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO TALK - THEN TALK OR RESIGN--- you were pretty ugly when you fired Rakowski - NOW THE STOLEN BUCK STOPS WITH YOU. WHAT IS THE STORY? - OUT WITH IT
Date: 11/26/2011, 3:03 PM
Name: Questions
Just got back from my first Wine Walk" on Flagler. I was totally surprised that I didn't see one drunk, anyone from the CRA handing out tax money, or any under age drinking. I did see a lot of people enjoying the beautiful weather, visiting the stores & shops, and generally having a great time. Was I at a different Flagler Avenue that I read about on the Shadow? Guess not because I did see the ugly black fence around Swentors city commission approved sand box.
THE SHADOW RESPONDS: SEE OUR ARTICLE ON THE FRONT PAGE. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO DAYTIME ACTIVITIES ON FLAGLER THAT DRAW FAMILIES AND EVEN WINE LOVERS SUCH AS THE CHILI COOKOFF AND WINE WALKS. AS TO THE CRA DOLLARS, YOU CAN'T SEE THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL BEEN PLACED IN THE POCKETS OF THE SPECIAL FOLKS WHO AREN'T THERE. AND FINALLY AS TO THE HOTEL, SEE OUR ARTICL ON THAT AND WE AGREE; IT IS AN EYESORE AND WILL SHORTLY BE A FAILED DEAL WITH TAPAYER MONEY LOST AND POLITICIANS POINTING THEIR FINGERS AT EVERYONE BUT THEMSELVES. THANKS FOR BLOGGING AND READING THE SHADOW.
Date: 11/26/2011, 10:22 AM
Name: Positive Pete
Hey 515,
Here is some positive thinking:
CRA will expire...Canal merchants will become self sustaining...Flagler Merchants won't ask for anymore tax $$ to pay for their street parties!
Now that is positive!
THE SHADOW RESPONDS: BLOGGERS LAST WEEK COMMENTED WE NEVER PRINT POSITIVE OR COUNTER-SHADOW BLOGS - HERE IT IS AND THANKS FOR READING THE SHADOW.
Date: 11/25/2011, 8:02 AM
Name: Questions
2 506,
One at a time so maybe you will have time to verify that they are facts: Florida Avenue Park & Walk- In the developers LPA item D. "As part of the purchase agreement for the properties with the CRA, the developer will be required to relocate the public spaces that will be lost when the CRA parking lot is redeveloped for the hotel." The purchase agreement item ix. only had to pay $8,400.00 for payment of existing leases. This is just one item of many.
THE SHADOW RESPONDS: SUGGEST YOU ASK PAM IF YOU CAN FIND HER.
AND FINALLY
Date: 11/25/2011, 1:55 PM
Name: Questions
Next week will be the start of the 13th week since any work was done on the Flagler Ave. hotel. According to the required schedule they should be starting on top out & dry in and starting interior construction on first floor. Tuesday night is the city commission meeting. Do you think the Mayor will ask again about the progress? Do you think the Mayor will ask why 100% financing was not verified before closing? Do you thing the Mayor accepts a letter of commitment as payment for a meal at his restaurant? Why then did he allow that as proof of 100% financing for the sale of the city lots? Why can't the tax payers of NSB get these answers?
Date: 11/25/2011, 11:23 AM
Name: To 569
I know you think Jim Hathaway was right on with his no vote on the hotel, but really when one knows that his in not the deciding vote, are you sure he was right on or just trying to gain votes. Look who was standing right next to the mayor and all behind this mess during the ground breaking. Mr. Hathaway. I wouldn't be so sure about that vote.
Date: 11/23/2011, 11:11 PM
Name: Bidding war
Will Doug Hodson bid on useless calendar against former crony Boob Loot?
Don't people laugh and say no thanks when offered a paper calendar? Mine is on phone and computer. Don't want picture of Liz Yancy, Sock Puppet and Pammy on wall.
They should do sundials to benefit MDC or other NSB cutting edge marketing.
Date: 11/23/2011, 6:46 PM
Name: Ambulance
I like the story Channel 9 did about the ambulances and lack of use. But what I have to ask about is this. Volusia County just took over EVAC and took possession of all of their equipment and manpower. I am willing to guess there is appox. 40 to 50 EVAC ambulances in service, give or take a few. With that being said, why would Volusia County Fire Services spend more than a MILLION DOLLARS on four Fire truck/Ambulance combos? Seems like a HUGE waste of tax dollars if you ask me.
Date: 11/23/2011, 4:26 PM
Name: Fools Rush INN
City commission to Star in New Elvis movie about the Heart Break Hotel
***** FOOLS RUSH INN******
Date: 11/23/2011, 10:20 AM
Name: to 542
Number: 443
That's an easy one.
We'll make two assumptions first: 1) the CRA wants/ needs its own Calendar (who knows) and 2) it's a permissible use of tax dollars under the enabling statute by the CRA as advertising (depends on the focus of the calendar is my understanding).
Then we're left with this No Bid, No Money.
Date: 11/23/2011, 10:35 AM
Name: Thanks
Nice.
Easy, based on assumptions.
You are right, if in fact said calendar is needed and it promotes CRA districts proper.
The merits, circumstances, facts, reputations of the players and methods by which this calendar and other such spending is accomplished is what makes CRAs such as on NSB "appear" as theft by codification.
AND FINALLY
Date: 11/23/2011, 8:57 AM
Name: What? More Boobs
What?!
The same Boob who encouraged "selling" the Florida Ave CRA lot is looking to line his pockets with more CRA tax $$ for the former Pennysaver/former Observer calendar that traditionally debuted at Flamingo Follies (another CRA tax $$ propped up event).
Seems Boob sold NO advertising as he saw his demise coming!
Now, he wants CRA tax $$ to print the calendar as a "public service"!
Can't we get a lawsuit filed against this bunch of Chamber, Canal and Flagler grifters...doesn't the taxpayer have standing?
BULLETIN
The Shadow is Still Waiting for the SVAA and Ms. Carni to Produce the Very Simple Public Information Request We Sent Over Two Weeks Ago. The Request Was For Copies of All Required Heads-In-Beds Evaluations Done on SVAA Grants. How About It Nicole; Had Enough Time To Find Them Yet?
NORMAN’S CORNER
ITS’ ME AGAIN CHAIRMAN BRUNO
An update on the “NSB Waterfront Loop” would be I am still having trouble finding those 22 restaurants on the “Waterfront” section , so I inquired at the SVAA for some help. Well they seemed too busy to help as they had their files all over the floor and some women was yelling at the help “they must be in here somewhere.” Not sure what that was about, but as I have said before, I am ready, willing and able to run that part-time operation from my seat at any of the bars on Flagler except the OM Chill Bar; people seem strange in there.
Just give me a call on my CRA funded cell phone and I will just hop in my car at the church parking lot and come a’running...
Your Trusted Servant and Taxpayer
NSB Norman Normal -
P.S. I moved from Traders un-permitted outside bar to the porch at Flagler Tavern, but again there does not seem to be any waterfront dining as I can’t see any water. But have no fear I keep looking and checking in with Tony and Holley for any tips for dinner. Oh yes I checked the bait shop at the foot of Canal and they do not serve dinner.
Attention Pat Rice, Editor, Daytona Beach News Journal: You and the NJ recently did a powder puff piece on the Waterfront Loop in NSB, but it failed to note at the end of this alleged piece of “news” that the NJ received advertising money at the same time for Christmas on Canal. Even Fox News notes where its money comes from. The Shadow thinks your failure here is not a good sign for independent journalism.
The Shadow Comments on the Decline and Fall of Objective News Reporting
