On the Backside...A hearing was held, nearly two months ago on Sept. 30, for the purpose of “re-setting” of the millage rate. This was necessary in order to rectify a procedural error in the initial vote taken. At that meeting, several residents brought to the commission's attention what they saw as other possible violations of Florida Statute Chapter 200-Determination of Millage. One speaker went so far as to request the hearing not move forward. It did anyway.
But not before a former mayor came to the podium to chastise those of us who dared to read excerpts of statutes into the record; he felt that by offering information for consideration that we were somehow “playing lawyer” when IRB pays someone for those services. (Leo even referred to one speaker, Ed Piniero, in his column of Nov. 3rd regarding another matter, as one "who thinks of himself as Oliver Wendell Holmes when it comes to tricky legal matters.") Citizens were, yet again, ignored, another vote was taken, and the required paperwork was subsequently filed with the State.
It seems now that the State of Florida, too, has an issue (or two?) with IRB's "re-do" procedure…although it's uncertain if their issues were the same as ours. Soooooooo...THE THIRD SHOT AT SETTING THE MILLAGE RATE IN IRB IS NOW SET FOR NOVEMBER 20TH.
Somewhat puzzling is that Ed Pinero's public records request for a copy of the paperwork certifying the "re-do" millage rate to the State has yet to be provided. He received the paperwork for the initial incorrect vote, but not for the 9/30 "re-do." Now Leo has the information on his Web site? Is Leo, who is NOT an IRB resident, getting public information that we, as taxpaying citizens here in IRB, are being denied?
What exactly are the ramifications of the City’s latest millage-setting misstep anyway? We already know that we're out the money to pay for another newspaper ad. Does this latest fiasco put the $100K IRB receives in state sales tax monies in jeopardy?
One thing for certain…no one can accuse anyone on THIS commission of micromanaging. In fact, when classifying styles of management, there’s the micromanager, the hands-on manager, the delegating manager and the innocent bystander. From your standpoint, where does our commission rank on this scale?
The COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT—NOVEMBER 13th—AT 7 P.M. is another quasi re-do. Once again, Oliver Wendell Piniero, with about 35 years of municipal government experience, pointed out that the firing of Finance Director Marty Schless was done improperly and that a resolution is required to fire a charter officer. A RESOLUTION IS NOW DRAFTED AND ON TONIGHT’S COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA FOR A VOTE TO RE-FIRE MARTY…RETROACTIVELY? Huh?
Note: IRBeHEARD’s October 14th posting, “Untruth in Millage,” discussed the “possibility” that “other violations” had occurred when setting the millage rate. Our posting is still available in the archived section on the right side of this Web page under the “October” heading, if you’d like to re-read it!)
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
What exactly are the ramifications of the City’s latest millage-setting misstep anyway? We already know that we're out the money to pay for another newspaper ad. Does this latest fiasco put the $100K IRB receives in state sales tax monies in jeopardy?
One thing for certain…no one can accuse anyone on THIS commission of micromanaging. In fact, when classifying styles of management, there’s the micromanager, the hands-on manager, the delegating manager and the innocent bystander. From your standpoint, where does our commission rank on this scale?
The COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT—NOVEMBER 13th—AT 7 P.M. is another quasi re-do. Once again, Oliver Wendell Piniero, with about 35 years of municipal government experience, pointed out that the firing of Finance Director Marty Schless was done improperly and that a resolution is required to fire a charter officer. A RESOLUTION IS NOW DRAFTED AND ON TONIGHT’S COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA FOR A VOTE TO RE-FIRE MARTY…RETROACTIVELY? Huh?
Note: IRBeHEARD’s October 14th posting, “Untruth in Millage,” discussed the “possibility” that “other violations” had occurred when setting the millage rate. Our posting is still available in the archived section on the right side of this Web page under the “October” heading, if you’d like to re-read it!)
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
7 comments:
A former IRB City Manager once told me if the city did not follow TRIM requirements properly, the City would have to send out a postcard to every property owner notifying them of the 1st reading of the budget in addition to having to re-advertise the 2nd reading of the budget. Wonder how much the post card will cost. Maybe the third time is the charm.
Maybe if Ed was a Professional Acclaimed Reporter like Leo, Deanne would respond to his information request as timely as Leo's.
FROM THE ST. PETE TIMES----
THE PREVIOUS NOTICE PLACED BY THE CITY OF INDIAN ROCKS BEACH HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW,NECESSITATING THE SECOND NOTICE
EXPENDITURES
FINANCE $395,454
Tell me again how Mr. Schless should not have been fired. I've never met the man and have nothing against him, but a department head with one of the largest budgets in the City should be held accountable for this mess! His firing appears to be long overdue!
Once again I do not recall this ever happening before. I know that procedure should be known by our new and overpaid city attorney. Didnt she tell Pinero that he was wrong for asserting that improper notice was given?
Easy to blame the former Treasurer for everything.
The fact is the City Manager is responsible for the budget. The Commission even hired a special consultant at great expense to help with the budget and he and the CM still screwed it up.
The fact is the City Clerk is responsible for meeting notice requirement OR advising that meetings must be moved to allow the meeting of notice requirements.
The Treasurer should have been fired. So should a few others for screwing up and not doing their jobs, including the Commissioners and Mayor. Don't these idiots know how to question staff and ask questions to be sure of what they are voting on.
Silly for one commissioner to term the budget amendments BS and then vote to approve them. If it wern't so funny I could not watch.
Watchiing makes me cry because my money is going down a rat hole.
Is that carpet towing Jackass on you have as an image for this story Leo? The hind quarters of it sure looks and smells like him! I heard he has nothing bad to say about IRB this week. Hurray for Cookie Kennedy for putting that loud mouth in his place. Word around town is she called him up and ripped him a new one. I guess he figured he better back off! He's also been banished from Largo. Boo-hoo Leo, baba want his bottle? Thank you Cookie for standing up to that toxic excuse of a writer. Keep up the good work.
Dan Sullivan
Leo is both a distinguished writer and journalist. His reporting of the city is both needed and respected by those of you who want the real news. Just because he has better relations within city hall and is able to get documents that former Mayors and Commissioners cannot get is no reason to point fingers at him. I am tired of all you Yowlers heckling the one true voice of reason. Just because he lives at the other end of the country and has not stepped foot in your precious city is no reason to ostracize him.
Fred Hays aka Leo
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