We live in sad and dangerous times when the Truth is a flickering light; and the Evil in our lives is like a raging fire" Lawrence Wilson
If not for Technology, we would have no challenges left? Sorry for late posting.
A bit on the Council Meeting of the 26th of April.
It began with a Kumbaya moment for one Mr. Cox of the Police Department for his handling of a car wreck on Grand Central going South into P'burg. Apparently, a lot of drama for the couple in one of the wrecked vehicles and he handled it with decorum and professionalism.
Than the comments on Vienna being one of the top ten safest Cities to live in West Virginia as reported via one group that ranks Cities based on various reported crimes Now this has come up before, and it is based on "reported Crimes" of various types. The issue is that Vienna is well noted over the years for NOT reporting crimes in order to present a here we go with Mr. Rapp's favorite word, Façade on what Vienna is versus what the facts if told would say?
Allow me to again provide the definition for Façade: "An outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality". Look at how the City just recently admitted the Opioid/ other drug problems in Vienna. Hidden for years to hide the safety issues. So "Atta Boy" where appropriate and an "Aw Poop" to Mr. Rapp.
Than as expected, the purchase of the home across the street from the current City Building for $80K and closing costs. Two additional points to be watched for:
1. I gave Mr. Conley an ad for a single person type elevator that in itself takes up about the space of a washing machine. Now this may be one of several models that are available and could be added on too the current building to allow for handicap access to the second floor. As for it meeting code per ADA which one person present says does not apply to a building with less than three floors or not would have to be resolved? But, it would be much less expensive than a new 2 or 3 Million Dollar Building across the street. Don't bet on it happening.
2. As soon as the money begins to appear, be prepared for the preparation and than beginning of the new City Building. I am going to speculate the start by late 2019, early 2020 so that it like the tin shed by the Senior Center can be used to hype an Election/ Re-election bid as in 2016. I was told by a City Official that those tin buildings are the wave of the future versus the older types we are more used too.
The Ordinance on hiring after much ado came down to the following steps:
1. City Council will sign off on hiring of new Department Heads.
2. Replacing an employee for whom funds have already been budgeted will lie in the area of the Human Resource Department in conjunction with the Department Head having the vacancy. We will have to see if the new State Law on Nepotism is applied or not in hiring?
3. In the absence of a Human Resource Director (possibly typing letters for the Mayor that day and subsequently being the Mayor's Secretary), the Mayor will be the one to decide with the Department Head input on the new person?
4. Expansion of the City Staff (I guess to include the VUB), past the current 81 Employees can only be done with the approval of the Budget and Finance Committee for funding. 6-1 with Ms. Smith against.
As part of the above, Mr. Rapp noted he has the best Department Heads in the whole State of West Virginia. He has the utmost faith with out hesitation in them or words to that effect.
The Ordinance allowing Council Members to speak at the end of each Council Meeting with the exception of the Meeting to approve the Annual Budget and the Laying of the Levy passes with minimal arguing. 6-1 with Mr. Leach against.
Ordinance to allow the Public to speak went down in flames (3-4, with Mr. Conley, Mr. Bibbee and Mr. Elam for it), after Mr. Rapp promised that there would be a notation on each Agenda to allow same. Conditions were no more than 5 minutes per speaker and a maximum of 30 minutes per meeting. There was a proviso that he Mayor could extend those time limits if appropriate.
Some conversation on the numerous conditions that were attached on the who, what, when, where and why one could or could not speak. Mr. Skogstand said ALL were based on the SCOTUS. He must have had some long nights tracking them down? In the end, it was felt to emulate the Wood County BOE process was fine for Vienna too.
Mr. Rapp says will have a sign in sheet out 15 minutes prior to each meeting. I would ask what the process for allowing privileged speakers to sign in before that 15 minutes? Has happened before in a Hearing on the Sewer/ Water Rate Increases. When put out on Podium, already had some names on it.
He than went on to say that in his 13 years on Council has never denied anyone the right to speak. With no respect allow me to say that is a LIE. It was my calling out a Department Head in 2015 that resulted in the Public Forum stopping for some time and the reason that I started this blog in June of 2015. He stated that input is very important to him for the Residents.
He than made a comment that the Council sets/ controls the Agenda. This is not quite correct as a Council Member can request an item be on the Agenda, but it is Mr. Rapp and Ms. Smith who put or don't put it on the Agenda if not wanted. After that might happen, it would be necessary to try and get a Resolution/ Ordinance on Agenda for discussion. We are NOT quite the Democracy he is trying to portray. Vienna is an alleged Socialist/ Fascist type of Governance.
Some additional comments by Mr. Rogers, Mr. Leach and Mr. Elam with end result that List will be out next meeting and we will see what happens (Mr. Leach).
The Resolution to close Spencer's Landing was a raucous and spirited set of comments where in Mr. Rapp should have enforced the Rules on Disrupting the Meeting and had Mr. Pifer remove Mr. Conley from the Chamber. He actually "raised" his voice and was totally against leaving it open as there are so many questions on what is down on that property? As you know folks, I have commented on that site many times and believe there are definite needs for more drilling no matter what Mr. Leach, Mr. Rapp say about meeting the DEP requirements for contamination. IF and I repeat again IF, that Ravine is not tested down to 55' in several places and now with the discovery of the Batting on the River Bank as too what is under it, than we have NOT done due diligence.
Lots of controversy on the fact that DEP would shut down Park if it was felt unsafe. Than the comment back that Mr. Hancock is quoted as saying it is the City's option not DEP. I am going to say I believe that is incorrect? DEP can shut down anything under State Law if needed. State Law will trump local Ordinances if necessary. Now if only the WVSC would do that?
Some of the telling points is that Mr. Conley claims he is being told one thing by Mr. Hancock at DEP and Mr. Leach and Mr. Rapp are saying other things from Mr. Hancock and Mr. Rebar of CMI fame. The attempt to get Mr. Hancock in front of the Council and the Residents was not accepted due to the cost of bringing him to Dodge. I must give an "Atta Boy" to Mr. Leach and Mr. Rapp when they use a "Fiscal Responsibility" argument to stop something they do not want to happen. Other than that, the money dam is wide open for anything and the City printing presses are just a hummin'. Resolution failed 5-2, with Mr. Conley/ Mr Elam against.
Mr. Rapp wants Mr. Mathers on the Parks Commission due to long experience with the State Forestry Department. Only problem he is NOT a Vienna Resident and now an exception for him to be on Commission. This is a very, very dangerous precedent to set as while may have some validity this time, it will open the door to other non-residents be appointed to set Policy for the City. Mr. Mathers is very experienced and knowledgeable, but he is NOT a Resident of Vienna. 'nuff said'.
If not for Technology, we would have no challenges left? Sorry for late posting.
A bit on the Council Meeting of the 26th of April.
It began with a Kumbaya moment for one Mr. Cox of the Police Department for his handling of a car wreck on Grand Central going South into P'burg. Apparently, a lot of drama for the couple in one of the wrecked vehicles and he handled it with decorum and professionalism.
Than the comments on Vienna being one of the top ten safest Cities to live in West Virginia as reported via one group that ranks Cities based on various reported crimes Now this has come up before, and it is based on "reported Crimes" of various types. The issue is that Vienna is well noted over the years for NOT reporting crimes in order to present a here we go with Mr. Rapp's favorite word, Façade on what Vienna is versus what the facts if told would say?
Allow me to again provide the definition for Façade: "An outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality". Look at how the City just recently admitted the Opioid/ other drug problems in Vienna. Hidden for years to hide the safety issues. So "Atta Boy" where appropriate and an "Aw Poop" to Mr. Rapp.
Than as expected, the purchase of the home across the street from the current City Building for $80K and closing costs. Two additional points to be watched for:
1. I gave Mr. Conley an ad for a single person type elevator that in itself takes up about the space of a washing machine. Now this may be one of several models that are available and could be added on too the current building to allow for handicap access to the second floor. As for it meeting code per ADA which one person present says does not apply to a building with less than three floors or not would have to be resolved? But, it would be much less expensive than a new 2 or 3 Million Dollar Building across the street. Don't bet on it happening.
2. As soon as the money begins to appear, be prepared for the preparation and than beginning of the new City Building. I am going to speculate the start by late 2019, early 2020 so that it like the tin shed by the Senior Center can be used to hype an Election/ Re-election bid as in 2016. I was told by a City Official that those tin buildings are the wave of the future versus the older types we are more used too.
The Ordinance on hiring after much ado came down to the following steps:
1. City Council will sign off on hiring of new Department Heads.
2. Replacing an employee for whom funds have already been budgeted will lie in the area of the Human Resource Department in conjunction with the Department Head having the vacancy. We will have to see if the new State Law on Nepotism is applied or not in hiring?
3. In the absence of a Human Resource Director (possibly typing letters for the Mayor that day and subsequently being the Mayor's Secretary), the Mayor will be the one to decide with the Department Head input on the new person?
4. Expansion of the City Staff (I guess to include the VUB), past the current 81 Employees can only be done with the approval of the Budget and Finance Committee for funding. 6-1 with Ms. Smith against.
As part of the above, Mr. Rapp noted he has the best Department Heads in the whole State of West Virginia. He has the utmost faith with out hesitation in them or words to that effect.
The Ordinance allowing Council Members to speak at the end of each Council Meeting with the exception of the Meeting to approve the Annual Budget and the Laying of the Levy passes with minimal arguing. 6-1 with Mr. Leach against.
Ordinance to allow the Public to speak went down in flames (3-4, with Mr. Conley, Mr. Bibbee and Mr. Elam for it), after Mr. Rapp promised that there would be a notation on each Agenda to allow same. Conditions were no more than 5 minutes per speaker and a maximum of 30 minutes per meeting. There was a proviso that he Mayor could extend those time limits if appropriate.
Some conversation on the numerous conditions that were attached on the who, what, when, where and why one could or could not speak. Mr. Skogstand said ALL were based on the SCOTUS. He must have had some long nights tracking them down? In the end, it was felt to emulate the Wood County BOE process was fine for Vienna too.
Mr. Rapp says will have a sign in sheet out 15 minutes prior to each meeting. I would ask what the process for allowing privileged speakers to sign in before that 15 minutes? Has happened before in a Hearing on the Sewer/ Water Rate Increases. When put out on Podium, already had some names on it.
He than went on to say that in his 13 years on Council has never denied anyone the right to speak. With no respect allow me to say that is a LIE. It was my calling out a Department Head in 2015 that resulted in the Public Forum stopping for some time and the reason that I started this blog in June of 2015. He stated that input is very important to him for the Residents.
He than made a comment that the Council sets/ controls the Agenda. This is not quite correct as a Council Member can request an item be on the Agenda, but it is Mr. Rapp and Ms. Smith who put or don't put it on the Agenda if not wanted. After that might happen, it would be necessary to try and get a Resolution/ Ordinance on Agenda for discussion. We are NOT quite the Democracy he is trying to portray. Vienna is an alleged Socialist/ Fascist type of Governance.
Some additional comments by Mr. Rogers, Mr. Leach and Mr. Elam with end result that List will be out next meeting and we will see what happens (Mr. Leach).
The Resolution to close Spencer's Landing was a raucous and spirited set of comments where in Mr. Rapp should have enforced the Rules on Disrupting the Meeting and had Mr. Pifer remove Mr. Conley from the Chamber. He actually "raised" his voice and was totally against leaving it open as there are so many questions on what is down on that property? As you know folks, I have commented on that site many times and believe there are definite needs for more drilling no matter what Mr. Leach, Mr. Rapp say about meeting the DEP requirements for contamination. IF and I repeat again IF, that Ravine is not tested down to 55' in several places and now with the discovery of the Batting on the River Bank as too what is under it, than we have NOT done due diligence.
Lots of controversy on the fact that DEP would shut down Park if it was felt unsafe. Than the comment back that Mr. Hancock is quoted as saying it is the City's option not DEP. I am going to say I believe that is incorrect? DEP can shut down anything under State Law if needed. State Law will trump local Ordinances if necessary. Now if only the WVSC would do that?
Some of the telling points is that Mr. Conley claims he is being told one thing by Mr. Hancock at DEP and Mr. Leach and Mr. Rapp are saying other things from Mr. Hancock and Mr. Rebar of CMI fame. The attempt to get Mr. Hancock in front of the Council and the Residents was not accepted due to the cost of bringing him to Dodge. I must give an "Atta Boy" to Mr. Leach and Mr. Rapp when they use a "Fiscal Responsibility" argument to stop something they do not want to happen. Other than that, the money dam is wide open for anything and the City printing presses are just a hummin'. Resolution failed 5-2, with Mr. Conley/ Mr Elam against.
Mr. Rapp wants Mr. Mathers on the Parks Commission due to long experience with the State Forestry Department. Only problem he is NOT a Vienna Resident and now an exception for him to be on Commission. This is a very, very dangerous precedent to set as while may have some validity this time, it will open the door to other non-residents be appointed to set Policy for the City. Mr. Mathers is very experienced and knowledgeable, but he is NOT a Resident of Vienna. 'nuff said'.
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