The council meeting of 10/6/08 was quite unusual. First it was quite short and secondly it was extremely pleasant, for lack of a better word.
The first item on the agenda was R-08-41 in which Mrs. Garry requested a loan of 1,000,000 from the TIF fund to cover salaries and other benefits. When asked why she did not borrow from the EDIT or Rainy Day funds she replied that these funds were already depleted. As everyone knows, the tax bills have not been prepared so our tax revenue is down considerably.
We are due for installments of TIF and CAGIT from the State in November, this should see us through until the end of the year.
The Resolution was introduced by CM Messer and seconded by CM Coffey and passed unanimously.
Next on the agenda was A-08-13 the $250,000 for storm clean up also passed 9-0. They even agreed to amend the rules and had all 3 readings last night.
The last item was G-08-09 which was to replace G-08-31 which had a few typo's.
For the most part all of the council members were so pleasant to each other and agreeable I thought I was either in the wrong meeting or possibly in an alternate universe. Whichever, it was indeed a rare occasion.
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53 comments:
Just read Freedom of Speech, is it true we have drained all the pots? Where we going to find $1.3 million when Mayor Doug sleeps on it, will he find it under his mattress?
It ought to be full by now!
Where would New Albany be without all these helpful people over at Freedom Of Speech finding all these flaws we never knew we had in City government and staff.
My solution: Every city government employee and elected official that makes more than $40,000 a year must take a MINIMUM 20% PAY CUT.
Oh my gosh! I'm getting emails and phone calls about FOS's announcement of the $1.3 million cuts due for 2008. Has Council been notified? Are their phones ringing? When they find out, I don't want to hear excuses. What are they going to do - form a committee to study it to death? What is Mayor England and Ms. Garry going to say? Delay, delay, delay. Will the Feds bail out New Albany? Do I hear any volunteers? HELP!!!
How about using a piggy bank for collections towards the $1.3 million, at the city booth at Harvest Homecoming. Use a glass piggy. However, I bet someone would take the money, without breaking the bank - and no one would know. Maybe former citizens who "visit" will feel sorry for the people who can't move away. Maybe they could donate, even a little of what they saved by moving away.
Here's another way that will piss you off.
Why does the Council have the ability to vote for a raise in salary?
Most of us have to meet with our supervisors to ask for a raisr, all the mayor and department heads have to do is just get a damn majority of council members.
And in the name of greed, I don't think anyone would say "nay."
A better way: Let the VOTERS vote who deserve a pay raise.
If the Mayor's performance sucks, then NO RAISE.
Talk about breaking the bank, looks like they already broke it!
I heard about the budget cut also after my article was written.
I am scared to death about our city and our country. The people at FOS are good at uncovering a lot of information, just wish they had better news.
Better yet, all city employees should just DONATE their time. Maybe they could get part-time jobs in the evening and weekends so they could make their house payments and feed their families.
Oh, no wait, they're usually at city meetings then, listening to citizens complain the everything is the fault of city hall.
I know, how about all the guys at Freedom to Spew quit their jobs and patrol the streets and put out the fires for free?
Oh, that's right, these guys just bitch all the time, complain anytime any gov-ment person does or doesn't do anything, want nothing to ever get better, and surely don't understand what it's like to have 37,000 bosses who will never be satisfied--until the streets are paved with gold and they just get money back in their tax bills. The naysayers won't work to fix anything, and they sure won't contribute to any effort like that. They just cheer when things don't go well. Probably out rooting for trees to come down during the wind storm!
And if they have so many good ideas, why don't they run for Council? Wait, some of them were already on the the Council and maybe that's one of the reasons why NA looks like it does. You can't be against everything all the time and expect anything to get better!!
IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS WORKING FOR FREE MR. KNOW IT ALL. GREAT JOB ERIK, MAYBE YOU SHOULD RUN FOR MAYOR NEXT TIME. AS THE BIBLE SAYS: THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE. AND OUCH WHEN IT'S ALL IN PRINT. LET'S SEE HOW DOUG SUGAR COATS THIS ISSUE.
Thanks, Shirley, for the recap, and your descriptions about how short and actually decent the meeting was are cracking me up.
Sometimes strange things do happen! :-)
5:43 Great points, anonymous - thanks FOS for putting this out there. Did anyone notice nothing was in the local paper today about this?
I hear FOS is a local grassroots organization. Not only are they "one the ground," but they are also staffed by people from our community.
Let's see how Garry, Malysz and England wiggle out of this one.
It's interesting to know so many people from different backgrounds, cultures, and such have si many opinions but many similarties. Great blog Shirley I'm a first time visitor.
Elected officials do little and should get paid less. They do not need the big psy they are getting for the real, real bad job that they are doing. England cares about what he can put in his own pocket, not to help us.
12:42:
Yep, they're all crooks and criminals, even those that aren't, and work hard, and get treated as such.
Or maybe it's just another pot & kettle thing.
People need to realize that our elected officials are under scrunity by everyone and need to be. It is easy to sit back and complain about what everyone else is doing, but it's simple to get involved. Blogs like this one and FOS are on top of issues. It's not so easy to throw yourself out there for personal attacks. Everyone can be a mobday morning arm chair quarterback, but it takes an army of workers to put together a game on Sunday. Open your own blog if you think it's this easy right Shirley and Erik?
The only Council member fighting for us the working class is Councilman Price, I support his nickels and dimes theory.
In this current economic condition it looks like to me he has the right ideas unlike Doug England.
Maybe Mr. England is still sleeping on what he's going to do.
"What's wrong with the ayor using the mayor using the rainy day fund." It's raining, Mr. Mayor!
Typo:
What's wrong with the mayor using the rainy day fund? Well, it's raining, Mr. Mayor.
City cuts should hit two key areas: Police & Fire. Then our current administration. Malysz should be cut loose like Louisville had to do.
Why is it that the cops have to have background checks done, but local elected officials don't? The mayor has had several eun-ins with the police, and he got elected? And Malysz, has he ever had a "real" job? Don't lay off the grunts who do the actual work, cut the crap out of the third floor of City Hall.
Why do we need a Mayor, a Deputy Mayor and a City Operation Manager anyway?
We don't. All those needless people doing next to nothing or worse actually damaging the city, they will keep their jobs & their raises too. But great point anonymous.
I agree, make the cuts first on some of these needless department heads that are pulling down big bucks for services that are not really needed, especisally when cutting 1.3 million.
That is right, cut fire and police but keep the five people watching the one man fill a pot hole.
I can hear England's press conference on this one: "I want to assure you that we will continue to cut spending and manage better before turning to taxpayers." Doesn't that just sound like his line of bullsh*t?
BTW: has anyone noticed the "tacky sign" upon entering our great city?
Guess that's how they got their property tax assessment dropped from $275,000 to $117,000.
A little news flash here;
The famous Mayor Doug England, is a fraud, he bought this election,why? You tell me. Ego trip, pretend mobster. Why would anybody want to run a corrupt run down town of New Albany, the guy could not run the Mickey Mouse Club, let alone our city. The so called Mayor, being elected mayor only to recieve more kickback's.
Read the CJ's article on-line about the $1.3 million cut. It states Council President Gahan is trying for a 6pm meeting on Monday to consider the cuts. Mayor England said he doesn't know if there is a way to bring in more revenue, so the only recourse would be to reduce spending. He also mentioned coming up with creative ways. NOW WHAT?!!!
Remember, the budget from last year and maybe even the year before was never approved.
Council never approved all of the new jobs created under the new administration. Perhaps even all of Mr. Malyz's efforts are "illegal", shall we say?
You think the sitting City Council is illegal? Hah. Please look at the law and you will find none of what is going on downtown is on the up and up. Sorry, maybe a couple of things, but not the monies, not the budgets from the past 2 or 3 years, not the peoples involved.
People do need to think. Try and get outside of the box when you attempt this thing, please.
Thank you for your blog, Shirley. This blog appears to take a life of it's own on, lol. 2 many issues, not enough people, time, money, diligence, we need help!
Everyone with an ounce of sense knows England is a dumbjerk and a crook. But, let's not forget someone voted him in office.
Love your blog, keep up the great work.
Have you read the morning courier-journal on line?
Finally the mayor released a statement regarding the $1.3 million budget cut. Congratulations go out to(Erik and staff) Freedom of Speech and The Voice of the People for scooping them all and for fighting for us taxpayers of New Albany.
Cut baby Cut!
Plaiss said it best: "For the city, however, the picture is more complex."
My suggestion is this: Call for an audit and then call in the "Financial Dream Team" of Bolovschak,Johnson,Schmidt, Denhart and Councilman Price.
They could solve this problem real quick and would be looking out for our best interest.
If your part of the problem you can't be a part of the solution.
My local baber is as qualified to be mayor as Doug is. His cakes suck and so does England.
excuse me I'm new at blogging and meant to say "baker." Love your blog.
The entire state knows the truth about New Albany. It is a true embarrassment to us all. Doug needs to give it up.
I pay my taxes and the Mayor spends money on everything but the basics. Look carefully at the way our current politicians are abusing the positions they are in.
Great news today for the City of New Albany. They not only get the bitch slap award, but are also moving quicker towards the big bankruptcy.($1.3 million)
How long will it take for the England mafia power brokers to steal taxpayers money before the city folds?
I see the Mayor is now blackmailing the tax payer over the operational levy. England's going to now use "federal disaster money" to bail out our $1.3 million. It's time for Doug to go. As I have stated before, he should be tarred and feathered and run out of town.
Maybe the council and the selfserving Mayor should do a bake sale to raise the $1.3 million.
Wake up New Albany.
Is this Mayor nuts or what?
My suggestion is this: Call for an audit and then call in the "Financial Dream Team" of Bolovschak,Johnson,Schmidt, Denhart and Councilman Price.
Whoa - is it Halloween already?
the new albanian,
I didn't see your permit to sale beer last night. Where is it? Looks like your breaking the law too.
TO ALL BLOGGERS:
BOYCOTT FRING FEST
415 BANK STREET
TONIGHT!!!!!!
Indiana Alchol & Tobacco Commission. Contact Doug Devine at (317) 232-2442 or Lt. Ken Murphy (812) 523-8314. Kelsey's OF New Albany (Lehman's of New Albany LLC.) 4/3/08 $250.00 fine and 4/3/08 $250.00 violation: IC 7.1-5-7-8 and IC 7.1-5-7-10
Check it out bloggers
Fantastic blog Voice of the People.
Apologies that the 200 or so people in attendance Saturday night failed to heed your call for a boycott.
The permit was posted on the beer trailer throughout and was checked by the ATC on Friday evening.
Thanks to all those who came by and said hi. The first Fringe Fest exceeded expectations, so we'll see you next year.
I could not agree more with Sundays posting on Freedom Of Speech. The mayor is delusional! Great job Erik.
Speaking of "delusional," there is no such person as "Erik."
There is, however, a troglodyte posing as Erik.
A GREAT article on FOS; most excellent. Keep up the good WORKS. What is stated is SOOO true!! Thanks.
YOUR JUST JEALOUS MR. NEW ALBANIAN. YOUR BLOG SUX. GREAT JOB FREEDOM OF SPEECH. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND YOUR WORK STANDS SO STRONG. I LOVE YOUR BLOG TOO...MRS. SHIRLEY.
To reiterate, I insist upon this solely to lessen the frequency of malicious anonymity, which unfortunately plagues certain other blogs hereabout.
Well Mr. B. talk about flaming and personal attacks. You must not read your own garbage you write.
Too funny.
So how much was your ATC fine? Would you like to explain how you got your three way license?
You make Jim Jones seem like a saint after everything you have done.
You do know what assume means> You do that quite often.
Whose laughing now?
That should be "who's laughing," not "whose."
This post is a fine example of what I've been saying all along about anonymity, but no matter, because there's no accounting for cowardice. At the same time, because I respect what Ms. Baird generally tries to do here, I'll answer your questions.
So how much was your ATC fine?
We have not incurred an ATC fine. If you can locate evidence to the contrary, I suggest that you present it -- but, alas, there is none. Perhaps you are confusing us with other establishments.
Would you like to explain how you got your three way license?
As of yet, we don't have one. When we get one, it will be because of the Riverfront Development area provision in the ATC code, as enacted by the New Albany City Council. If we decide to apply for a 3-way, and if we get it, it will be for the sole motivation of stocking a scant few bottles of bourbon hopefully priced well out of your range.
You make Jim Jones seem like a saint after everything you have done.
Now, now. Flattery from an anonymous troglodyte will get 'em absolutely nowhere ... as your mama surely told you.
Who IS laughing now? And telling the truth? And assuming?
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
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