The first of a series of 2008-2009 budget workshops was disappointing in the number of citizens who attended, which was close to the number of county employees. Those who maintain indifference toward the town hall meetings to address the issue of spending cuts for the coming year's Hernando County budget either don’t care or don’t know about the meetings. I hope the latter is the case but then many would still be among the former.
Of the people who spoke, their points were all valid. No one can be wrong when budgets are discussed. A good number of speakers had the same theme: the South Brooksville contamination site. Apparently the County had set an open-ended deadline for the cleanup. Two decades hasn’t been quite enough time.
Three speakers bamboozled me with their insights.
Joe Lemieux’s handiwork came in the form of placards with outdated numbers showing the compensation given to county managers. Each of their salaries has increased this past year. Other words he spoke made it clear the disgust he feels toward ill-spent taxpayer moneys. Foolish me, I misinterpreted his presentation as a podium for a bid as County Commissioner. As it turned out, he was just trying to help every taxpayer with responsible cuts in county expenses. You can call him Citizen Joe.
Then there was the lady, Anna Trinque, who was adamant that the county should reduce, or at least limit, the acreage of public lands. Her vision sees a flourish of new housing construction that would bolster the economy. Those days are over for the time being.
Perhaps a few thousand homeowners with For Sale signs could point out there are plenty of vacancies with unfulfilled opportunities of being sold. Property taxes won’t help the local economy as it has in the past. Those lost tax dollars will have to be replaced with higher impact fees to fully cover the costs of providing county services and road upgrades.
I was convinced she was running for County Commissioner. Not so. She turned out to be a self-interested real estate agent.
There was a gentleman, Mike Gladfelter, with an idea to bring alternative revenues to the county budget. He suggested cloning a Port Richie cost recovery program, which would collect automobile accident investigation fees from insurance companies of at-fault drivers. How much this could save the county wasn’t presented. Investigations would still be handled by the sheriff’s department; the billing would be outsourced. If the idea is worthy of consideration there are some concerns.
Sure, police investigation costs would be removed from the budget. It sounds like a good deal but you can bet insurance companies would pass along the increase in claims to every driver by raising premiums. It would be a poor trade-off. Property taxes have gone down some but the savings of recovery fees for the county would shift financial liabilities back to the pockets of residents.
The other concern is the possibility that there could be an increase in the number of investigations. Investigations deemed too expensive in the past might be given consideration. Perhaps the assets of at-fault driver could influence the degree to which investigations are pursued. There would be no need to contain costs.
Again, I had the impression he was another contender for County Commissioner. Wrong. I learned he is a police officer.
At one point Mike, Anna and Joe had a few tense words amongst themselves. One attendee at the meeting felt it was an inappropriate time for a heated debate. Annoyed, the person suggested their discussion be taken to the parking lot. His recommendation was misinterpreted as a joke when a few chuckled at the idea. I decided to grin and bear it, for he was I.
The attention of Administrator Dave Hamilton all but assures residents he has the stamina and determination to set in motion changes that will serve the best interests of Hernando County. His past experiences were easily displayed but he also acknowledged situations that he would not have been aware if it weren’t for the grace of the citizens who gave him earfuls of awareness.
I wasn’t able to attend the second workshop in Istachatta due to prior commitments. I lost an opportunity to visit an area of the county not yet explored.
Round three of the workshops is forthcoming on Thursday, May 15, at Ridge Manor Community Center. Those who care will be there.
Showing posts with label Budget Hearings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Budget Hearings. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Non-Commissioned Intuition
Too much is being made of the tuition reimbursements for which Commissioner Chris Kingsley has been found to be improperly authorized by county employees who should have known better. Give the guy a break and allow Hernando County Attorney Garth Coller and his staff to wallow through the legal matters. Give Hernando County Administrator Dave Hamilton the task of implementing the correct procedures as dictated by the wording of the State Constitution. Dave hasn’t had but a few moments to catch his breath with all the challenges he has inherited since the start of his position on March 17.
There was no coercion on the part of Commissioner Kingsley to receive the authorization to seek reimbursement for the college courses he had chosen to give him better insight in effectively perform his duties for the citizens of Hernando County. Chris was quick to return the $3,682 tuition assistance moneys. There’s nothing else for him to do.
Kingsley understandably views his duties as an employee of the county. He works for the betterment of the citizens of Hernando County, but his employer is actually the State of Florida. His refusal to offer an apology is admirable. He did nothing wrong in applying for reimbursement. In light of all the other questionable decisions made by former HR Director Barbara Dupre, it’s surprising why everyone views Chris as a culprit in this matter.
It seems no sooner had Michael D. Bates reported the story in Hernando Today that Kingsley satisfied what has turned out to be a loan. His quick response shows the honesty of a responsible citizen and should be given respect rather than criticism for a situation he did not instigate.
Do you not recollect that during the budget conference held in Orlando last fall he funded his own expenses? At that time, he rightly offered no apology for what was an assumption that he had used taxpayer moneys.
Policies and procedures are often put to question only when an unfamiliar situation arises. Such is the case with tuition reimbursement. Chris was the first county commissioner to apply for the benefit. It has now been deemed inappropriate. Call it a clarification of practices.
No one can possibly have forgotten the legal battle that ensued after Rose Rocco won the popular vote for the commission in the 2006 election seat held by Nancy Robinson. Just recently the Florida Supreme Court gave the final ruling that a candidate doesn’t have to reside in the district of which a candidate is elected until the voting is validated. It took a full year and a half to resolve the issue. It was a shame that Rose was forced to seek legal council at her own expense but the matter has been resolved and never again will there be cause to question the residency issue.
In this case, the question of tuition reimbursement has been ruled a benefit not given to an elected official. Karen Nicolai, County Circuit Court Clerk, was quick to take actions to ensure her staff reviews all expenditures before authorizing any request for county funds. The checks and balances of the past were lax; they won’t be in the future.
In the words fo Benjamin Franklin, "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man take take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
"An individual's education should end only at death." So says Ron Rae.
As explained by Chris, seeking continued education is a win-win situation for the individual and a great asset to the employer as long as it pertains to the position held by the individual. Unfortunately for Chris, he must seek approval of such benefits from his real employer, the State of Florida.
I applaud Kingsley for his initiative to make his position something other than a job that doesn't require any form of education. Hernando residents are better served by a public servant knowledgable of business administration schooling. How that knowledge is used for the betterment of the county determines whether or not voters give him a passing grade point average.
This is not the time to bog him down, or any member, of the Commission with this trivial matter. In the coming weeks, county budget hearings will begin, of which must be given primary attention. This distraction is detrimental to the transition that Hernando County must make to balance the budget.
Leave him to performing his constitutional duties. Give him leave of this controversy. Let him pursue continued education at his own expense. Hernando County is deserving of his successes in schooling. He is not deserving of the criticisms laid upon him.
There was no coercion on the part of Commissioner Kingsley to receive the authorization to seek reimbursement for the college courses he had chosen to give him better insight in effectively perform his duties for the citizens of Hernando County. Chris was quick to return the $3,682 tuition assistance moneys. There’s nothing else for him to do.
Kingsley understandably views his duties as an employee of the county. He works for the betterment of the citizens of Hernando County, but his employer is actually the State of Florida. His refusal to offer an apology is admirable. He did nothing wrong in applying for reimbursement. In light of all the other questionable decisions made by former HR Director Barbara Dupre, it’s surprising why everyone views Chris as a culprit in this matter.
It seems no sooner had Michael D. Bates reported the story in Hernando Today that Kingsley satisfied what has turned out to be a loan. His quick response shows the honesty of a responsible citizen and should be given respect rather than criticism for a situation he did not instigate.
Do you not recollect that during the budget conference held in Orlando last fall he funded his own expenses? At that time, he rightly offered no apology for what was an assumption that he had used taxpayer moneys.
Policies and procedures are often put to question only when an unfamiliar situation arises. Such is the case with tuition reimbursement. Chris was the first county commissioner to apply for the benefit. It has now been deemed inappropriate. Call it a clarification of practices.
No one can possibly have forgotten the legal battle that ensued after Rose Rocco won the popular vote for the commission in the 2006 election seat held by Nancy Robinson. Just recently the Florida Supreme Court gave the final ruling that a candidate doesn’t have to reside in the district of which a candidate is elected until the voting is validated. It took a full year and a half to resolve the issue. It was a shame that Rose was forced to seek legal council at her own expense but the matter has been resolved and never again will there be cause to question the residency issue.
In this case, the question of tuition reimbursement has been ruled a benefit not given to an elected official. Karen Nicolai, County Circuit Court Clerk, was quick to take actions to ensure her staff reviews all expenditures before authorizing any request for county funds. The checks and balances of the past were lax; they won’t be in the future.
In the words fo Benjamin Franklin, "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man take take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
"An individual's education should end only at death." So says Ron Rae.
As explained by Chris, seeking continued education is a win-win situation for the individual and a great asset to the employer as long as it pertains to the position held by the individual. Unfortunately for Chris, he must seek approval of such benefits from his real employer, the State of Florida.
I applaud Kingsley for his initiative to make his position something other than a job that doesn't require any form of education. Hernando residents are better served by a public servant knowledgable of business administration schooling. How that knowledge is used for the betterment of the county determines whether or not voters give him a passing grade point average.
This is not the time to bog him down, or any member, of the Commission with this trivial matter. In the coming weeks, county budget hearings will begin, of which must be given primary attention. This distraction is detrimental to the transition that Hernando County must make to balance the budget.
Leave him to performing his constitutional duties. Give him leave of this controversy. Let him pursue continued education at his own expense. Hernando County is deserving of his successes in schooling. He is not deserving of the criticisms laid upon him.
Monday, April 28, 2008
A Conspiracy Theory
There is a vast array of conspiracy theories. JFK, Jimmy Hoffa, UFOs, Pearl Harbor, Marilyn Monroe and AIDS are just a few of modern times. And how about 9/11 and global warming? People can be very imaginative, and manipulative, going to great extremes to prove their point with the twists and turns of a controversial subject. Validation might be in the confines of their minds but there will always be those who share in those beliefs.
Notoriety can bring small fortunes. Books. Movies. TV documentaries and way too many talk show programs highlight media coverage. Many theories are resurrected decades beyond their origination. And still speculation doesn’t resolve the issue.
Don’t rack your brains trying to come up with a conspiracy of a positive nature. Most likely, it will be a fruitless effort. Most, if not all, theories are brought about by paranoia.
I suppose I fit into that psychological profile because there are some very interesting developments of late that deserve consideration. I might be overly assumptive, but Hernando County may very well have it’s own conspiracy coming to light at a very opportune time. Let me explain.
Human Resources Director Barbara Dupre has been given a lump-sum payoff in exchange for the honorable decision to resign from a position she has held for ten years. Her escapades include such tidbits as mismanagement, nepotism, the use of email to solicit petition cards and failing to implement recommendations to bring efficiency to the department’s policies and procedures that would have benefited the county and its employees. This had gone on for eight years.
Utility Department employees have been suspended, with pay, for their part in harassing co-workers with racial slurs and innuendos. A supervisor gave his resignation rather than face disciplinary action. The seriousness of the situation is demonstrated by the involvement of the EEOC. Dupre’s ineptitude in addressing the issue is another of her supposed incompetence.
Emergency Management Department has its own problems, the full extent of which has yet to be played out. Former department secretary Stephanie Anderson gave herself overtime pay that was unwarranted, unverifiable and to the amount of nearly $10,000 worth of compensation. The involvement of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Department and the State Attorneys office shows the seriousness of her actions. Anderson’s arrest may not be the sole result of the ongoing investigation.
Emergency Management Director Tom Leto is on paid administrative leave. His oversight of the department has been put in question.
County Administrator David Hamilton is overseeing the developments of all of these situations. He has to be admired for being ambidextrous though these and other challenges that he has inherited due to the actions and inaction of previous Administrators.
Is it possible that this all began during the time period that Bonnie Dyga held the Administrator position, when Barbara Dupre was hired? Did subsequent Administrators Paul McIntosh, Richard Radacky, John Gallagher and Gary Kuhl take part in what has recently been brought to light? Perhaps each of their early departures from their positions was, in part, due to the goings on in county government. Perhaps they had reached a point whereby they could no longer turn their heads away from too many improprieties in too many departments.
Is it not something more than a coincidence that the dismissal of certain employees are occurring at a time when County Budget Hearings are to begin; at a time when the hiring of replacement employees could result in lower monetary compensation that could ease the budget crisis; at a time when unemployment is at a level whereby replacements may accept whatever pay the county offers? Will the full extent of these matters ever be realized?
And the final kicker-question, Have I become an integral part of this conspiracy?
Notoriety can bring small fortunes. Books. Movies. TV documentaries and way too many talk show programs highlight media coverage. Many theories are resurrected decades beyond their origination. And still speculation doesn’t resolve the issue.
Don’t rack your brains trying to come up with a conspiracy of a positive nature. Most likely, it will be a fruitless effort. Most, if not all, theories are brought about by paranoia.
I suppose I fit into that psychological profile because there are some very interesting developments of late that deserve consideration. I might be overly assumptive, but Hernando County may very well have it’s own conspiracy coming to light at a very opportune time. Let me explain.
Human Resources Director Barbara Dupre has been given a lump-sum payoff in exchange for the honorable decision to resign from a position she has held for ten years. Her escapades include such tidbits as mismanagement, nepotism, the use of email to solicit petition cards and failing to implement recommendations to bring efficiency to the department’s policies and procedures that would have benefited the county and its employees. This had gone on for eight years.
Utility Department employees have been suspended, with pay, for their part in harassing co-workers with racial slurs and innuendos. A supervisor gave his resignation rather than face disciplinary action. The seriousness of the situation is demonstrated by the involvement of the EEOC. Dupre’s ineptitude in addressing the issue is another of her supposed incompetence.
Emergency Management Department has its own problems, the full extent of which has yet to be played out. Former department secretary Stephanie Anderson gave herself overtime pay that was unwarranted, unverifiable and to the amount of nearly $10,000 worth of compensation. The involvement of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Department and the State Attorneys office shows the seriousness of her actions. Anderson’s arrest may not be the sole result of the ongoing investigation.
Emergency Management Director Tom Leto is on paid administrative leave. His oversight of the department has been put in question.
County Administrator David Hamilton is overseeing the developments of all of these situations. He has to be admired for being ambidextrous though these and other challenges that he has inherited due to the actions and inaction of previous Administrators.
Is it possible that this all began during the time period that Bonnie Dyga held the Administrator position, when Barbara Dupre was hired? Did subsequent Administrators Paul McIntosh, Richard Radacky, John Gallagher and Gary Kuhl take part in what has recently been brought to light? Perhaps each of their early departures from their positions was, in part, due to the goings on in county government. Perhaps they had reached a point whereby they could no longer turn their heads away from too many improprieties in too many departments.
Is it not something more than a coincidence that the dismissal of certain employees are occurring at a time when County Budget Hearings are to begin; at a time when the hiring of replacement employees could result in lower monetary compensation that could ease the budget crisis; at a time when unemployment is at a level whereby replacements may accept whatever pay the county offers? Will the full extent of these matters ever be realized?
And the final kicker-question, Have I become an integral part of this conspiracy?
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