It was brought to our attention by a city resident who spoke with County Attorney, Michael Craig, on Friday, October 22, that Acting City Manager/Vice Mayor Trudy Block attempted to present a check in person to the County on Thursday, October 21st. The County presented the City with a 30 day deadline to pay IN FULL the $531,000 delinquent impact fees due to the County since 2006 and 2007, with the due date being Friday, October 22, 2010. Attorney Craig indicated that the check Ms. Block attempted to present to the County was in the amount of $28,000. This is not even close to the amount that Ms. Block had previously tried to negotiate a deal for with former County Manager, Michael Herr, which was closer to a payment in excess of just over $100,000 per year over 5 years.
A second attempt to deliver this check was done via overnight mail for arrival on Friday morning, October 22nd. This package was defused by the County, per Attorney Michael Craig.
If the City had knowledge of this new deadline for the last 30 days, why was it not discussed in a public setting during the October 12th meeting with the rest of the Council Members? The item was on the agenda, but the only information provided to the public or the other Council Members by Ms. Block was that payment negotiations with the County were ongoing. Then she quickly followed this up by stating that, "That was all we will discuss on this issue." When Council Member Kimsey tried to get clarification on "We" she quickly changed the subject and moved on to the next topic disregarding his comment.
Members of Concerned Citizens had heard rumors about this new 30 day deadline 3 weeks prior, but had not been able to confirm anything officially. We felt it was not up to us to provide the public with this rumor, but rather an obligation for the City to inform the public and other Council Members. We assumed that the city would discuss this matter in more detail when we saw it on the agenda for the October 12th meeting. Since this check was more than $10,000, how can the decision be made without Council approval? Are there meetings or communications going on between a few Council Members in violation of Sunshine Law? Who was involved in the decision making on this check? Where was this money allocated in the City budget? So much for transparent government! Did the City officials think that people would not hear about this in such a small town where people know people?
well its clear this town is being run like a three ring circus! its time for the b.s. to stop, trudy and all the rest need to come clean!
ReplyDeletewhats going on behind closed doors? where is the truth in office we all deserve, the council members are out of touch with the people, it appears only one member gets it !its time for the traveling leftwing puppet show to fold its tent and go away,,you have lost our trust,
It appers that the payment deal does not meet the Sunshine Law
ReplyDeleteDoes the Sunshine Law apply to members-elect?
Members-elect of public boards or commissions are covered by the Sunshine law immediately upon their election to public office.
What qualifies as a meeting?
The Sunshine law applies to all discussions or deliberations as well as the formal action taken by a board or commission. The law, in essence, is applicable to any gathering, whether formal or casual, of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter on which foreseeable action will be taken by the public board or commission. There is no requirement that a quorum be present for a meeting to be covered under the law.