Here is a comment sent to me on Monday. Because of potential harassment, the Writer is being provided with privacy. But it is another candle lighting up the darkness that envelops our City. I truly appreciated the kind words.
"Larry, so admire your ongoing effort to right the wrongs that are going on in this area. The number of people willing to tell me their discontent, concerns, hurt, and disappointment has been overwhelming. Keep fighting the good fight, my friend. At the very least, the continual insistence of your efforts makes the mayor know that each move will be scrutinized, watched, and questioned. If it gives you any satisfaction, you are his greatest burden and cause for concern. So KEEP FIGHTING. God gives his toughest warriors the biggest challenges, so never put down your sword".
I really hope that I AM "his greatest burden and cause for concern". Were we lucky enough to have real honest to goodness Law Enforcement be it the City, County and possibly even the State, Mr. Rapp would have really huge issues to deal with? It is all out there, but the "Machine" keeps hurting its neck as it twists looking the other way.
What surprised me Tuesday Morning was the headcount of by Mr. Stephens of Police Officers in Wood County and the Municipalities. Williamstown- 7; Vienna- 22, P'burg about 70 and Wood County- 36. What should jump right out is the 22 for Vienna? When did we get two more, when were they even discussed, let alone approved? I go or have gone to B&F, Council Meetings, one after another month by month. I have what I believe are very, very good notes and I do not have anything on the above two new Officers?
Than Mr. Stephens really blew up the dam. He noted that other Departments pay more than the County does and seems we here in Vienna were an example. Yet, in the Dog and Pony show of the 15th, Mr. Pifer was explicitly asked what a County Sherriff made versus the City. His response was that the County started at $16.40 as of November 2017.
Mr. Rapp, the City starts at $15.59? Mr. Pifer, yes, $1.04/hour more for County.
Mr. Rapp even said that last year, Vienna PD paid $2.00/ hour less than other Cities.
Than Mr. Rapp said that we (County), have same basic coverage for Insurance. This is absolutely untrue. City if one goes through our Benefit Summary Sheets, appears is paying almost 100% for everything? It would seem impossible for an employee including one or two with very, very favorable individual coverage issues under the plan to be able to pay the yearly in network deductible? They pay for very little that can be used to meet it.
The Health Insurance is and has been a disgrace to the Tax Payers/ Residents of Vienna for 20 years. The City has in Truth unfairly enriched the employees by leaving the Premiums at the abnormally low rate supposedly because of no raises. This started surprisingly at the same time that the City/ VFD began making what are alleged illegal Pension/ Annuity payments to the Volunteers- about 1998- 1999 based on Calendar or Fiscal Year start? And one can notice that this did not come up in the past two meetings for discussions? Should I be asking of Mr. Conley/ Mr. Elem or maybe "Car 54 where are you"?
I will say again and yet again, that the folks deserve a fair compensation package. But when the City has given $12,000., in raises/ benefit increases to most and up to $17,000., in raises/ benefits to a select few over the past five years and than complain at no raises some years (only the $728.), while paying ever increasing parts of Premium costs, it is OUT OF CONTROL. It is shenanigans like what are going on, that tarnish/ stain the good hardworking Employees. The old adage that if "one lies down with dogs, they get fleas" is so very true, most especially in Government.
As usual, Mr. Rogers interjected one of his stories that sadly lacked in Truth what it did in length. He went off on how the Teachers when offered a 4% raise would have with the PEIA increases lost money. (This is untrue, they had already been given a $29 Million dollar subsidy to stabilize Premiums for about 17 months and the 4% on the so called average pay of $40,400/year would have been about $1,616 increase with what would have been an alleged $800+ Premium increase? And they still went out on strike).
He than went off on how the Sewer Crew went to Sr. Ctr and had to remove several manhole covers to locate a stoppage in the pipe(s). Said smell was so bad he started to gag and most people would not do that type of work. I would ask but what they know to either have Vicks or some other smell reducing material to rub/ put under their nose, could/ should be wearing a mask or were so use to the type of work they did that they just ignored it? In any case are well paid for the work when ALL is included.
It would be possible to write and write and write on the Insurance/ Raise fiascos that has been going on, but sadly with no disrespect, most of you would not be able to grasp what has, is and will continue to go on. It would be necessary to lay out documents and explain how they tied together to even begin to show the Truth and it ain't pretty.
Mr. Elem than went off on Mr. Rapp's salary increase of what was a couple of thousand dollars. Was said to cover the meetings he attended- VUB/ monthly; Council at least twice/ month at $100./ each. I would now do some "Truth in Advertising" if I may? It has been my understanding since December 2016 that the Pay for Mr. Rapp commencing 1 July 2017 would go up $1,000/ month. While reviewing the Minutes for the City Council Meetings for December 2016, I noted that it was only $500./ month for the total of $52,000/ year. Still, $6K/ is a healthy increase.
At about this time, the Meeting had another "moment". This is where Mr. Elem called Mr. Rapp out for the manner in which he was addressed. Mr Elem said he was talked down too, need education. Said to Mr. Rapp: I talk to you like a man, I am a professional man, expect to be treated like a man, addressed like a man. You get angry and voice goes up. Mr. Elem is so lucky, when Mr. Rapp went off on me several times he was screaming like a child in a tantrum. At least he did not get screamed at.
The debate went on to the pay increase and Insurance Premium Increase where Mr. Rapp pointed out that employees were only getting a $728/ year raise and the projected $30./ Month for a Premium would take $360./ Year out of that with a net of $368./ Year; not very significant. So another motion to reduce raise to $.35/ raise and rest removed lost 5- 2.
Mr. Conley than went for a motion of $.25 + $.35/ hour across the board ($.60). That lost 4-3.
Mr. Rapp had gotten frustrated with all the questions/ motions as this budget had been in progress since January. Mr. Conley/ Mr. Elem had noted that every time Council was to talk about the Budget on a proposed line by line basis that something came up to not get it done and now here we are expected to vote and pass a budget.
As was noted to me Monday night, "the boys got snookered again". And in Truth they did, but as I noted, they tried but got trapped in when they could begin deleting whatever was felt to be excessive or unnecessary? One can easily note that Mr. Rapp can take out/ add in/ move around at will. Rest of Council if they want are still left in a limbo.
And where the Council Members Mr. Bibbee and Mr. Rogers misrepresented (and could one suggest lied ?), noted that the Economic Development Position had been approved for sometime, but not filled. I had in a Council Meeting of 13 March 2014 commented on the Council for openly discussing the new Economic Development Position. In the 12 June 2014 Meeting Mr. Thornton was hired as "Community Development Director". It was a full time position starting at $38K/ year with benefits.
So what was the misrepresentation (or the lie?) in this 15 March Meeting? The alleged length of time that the position had been approved as "for sometime" when in fact it was quite new and approved for only the four years that were in open debate on cost versus return.
Mr. Rapp suddenly called for a "brief recess" to last five minutes. Not sure it really did, but I noted several people had coffee/ tea or whatever in their hands when they returned. It was than immediately that a vote on the Budget was called for and it passed 4-3. Something happened in that brief recess that shut this meeting down?
And it appears that Mr. Rapp has decided that the Council Members are really nothing but members of the Public and NOT to be allowed to speak at the end of Meeting as has been the practice many years. I would challenge at least four of them to make a motion to put an Ordinance in place to allow Council Members and hopefully the Public to speak at meetings.
This is just a tawdry trick on his part to shut down criticism that is much deserved on how poorly he runs this City.
In this new system, even the Council Members are required to call Ms. Smith to get put on the Agenda. Plus are supposedly to advise the subject of the discussion. Folks, you do not know how badly this Mayor sucks as a Representative of the People? I have for some time alleged we were a City using a Fascist/ Socialist form of Governance? This seems to bear it out? The Public should be "invited" to address Council, not have to grovel, beg, plead to do so and that is what you are doing when you have to call for permission and advise the subject.
If most of you had any concept of the First Amendment and the determinations and decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court on Freedom of Speech, you would be up in arms at how He insults the Public.
I could continue to post and may well come back in the future to these two meetings. But for now, let's call it a day. 'nuff said'.