The other day, I made a boo-boo and did not catch it until Monday. I was writing on the Home Improvement place here in town- Lowe's and spelled it Loews, which is a Corporation with 102 Move Theaters among other things. Person that caught the issue with "you know who" also asked me about the spelling on Lowe's. Where is my proof reader when I need them? As I have said before, one should never proof their own writings.
Does not change what happened, just who did it.
Am going to start covering the City Council Meeting of the 23rd of August. It was almost funny if it had not been so pathetic as in the behavior of the Council Members.
First let us cover the Public Forum:
Greg Frazier led off as the opening act with some comments on the Repealing of the Police Department Fee. He noted the $879,016., carryover from 30 June 2018 end of Fiscal Year 2018 to 1 July 2018 start of Fiscal Year 2019. This was incorrect as the City had a carryover number they used for Budget Revision #10 on 14 June 2018 in the amount of $1,233,737.00. There was already a discrepancy of the $354,721.00. By the end of the Fiscal Year that had more or less balanced out at $350,000., due to some sort of expense for $4,721.? Mr. Frasier did not have all of that information until just before the meeting, so went with the $879,016 amount.
There are some issues that I am "researching" (yeah, that damn word again), on what may well be fraud? But again, we must remember that we are in West Virginia and there is little if any Law to be had. Don't believe me, go check those five Supreme Court Justices that are going through a bit of a dust up? All the damage has been due to Federal Investigations and actions versus the dog and pony shows in play as I post this.
He than made several other comments on the elimination of the Fee and what $48./ year would buy based on the local Aldi Ad of the 9th and it would also be 6 months of prescriptions for himself.
Mr. Nonamaker than followed up with questions on a list of what streets were to be paved based on the newly approved Paving Contract? Same as P'burg did?
Mr. Rapp than began the West Virginia Two Step by saying the list was in the Bid Packet put out. And of course you all have a copy? Could not or would not answer the question. What may not be readily known to most of you is that there is a walking path at the McDonough Reserve that IS ON the list for paving. Yet, look at your streets and wonder if you made that short list for this year? Could one not ask but what the McDonough Foundation has just done or is going to do for Mr. Rapp?
Paving a walking trial in many places is not done. They are kept Au Natural with the exception maybe of a bridge over a creek/ depression of some sort? This isn't a 100% surety, but this particular deal smells a bit like a pay off? And I am not talking a City Park somewhere; but a forested animal laden area. Those deer do not need a paved trail to get to our plants etc.?
Mr. Sasyn ended the preliminaries with some comments on that Boat Ramp than no one is talking about, but still seems part of the action? He had talked to the Williamstown, St. Mary's and even the Weirton area Docks/ Ramps. All had issues with the maintenance due to silting/ flooding each year. So his main question was "Cost"?
Mr. Rapp: Changed dance step and gave off a loud hoot and holler on having contacted the Corps of Engineers, but no response yet. Said an actual Dock would depend on what the Community wants? But, Mr. Rogers wants a Dock; Mr. Leach wants a Dock, Mr. Rapp wants (ed) a Dock if still here when all is said and done? Plus Ms. Powell is pursuing an Agenda that she says does not exist to get a Dock.
And on Monday, I was again asked about the Mussel Beds that are supposed to be off the shore of the Park Site? I said that I did not know and think that is part of what City is after with their FOIA to the Corps? If there are beds there, it will be like down on 12th St., and not likely to happen?
That was end of Forum and almost immediately, Mr. Rapp called for an "Executive Session"? It was a Personnel Matter. Lasted about four minutes. Nothing had happened, just info. It could be that someone is stacking arms and leaving? Will note at this point that Mr. Rogers was not at the meeting and also at the lack over the past few weeks of most of the Department Heads?
Am going to speculate that it is Mr. Rapp's intent that NO ONE be there that might get asked a question in Public? I am going to do an aside here and note that I am finding there is much information that is being hidden, glossed over almost impossible to get easily. Transparency is becoming more and more opaque versus clear.
We than went into a very long discussion on the Police Fee. This is where various members of the City Council twisted the Truth until it screamed in pain.
It led off with our old and respected ex-fire fighter and only Fire Department Official there, one Roger Bibbee defending the City Fee.
It seemed he was already trying to hide from what had gone on with that Fee? He kept referring to "Prior Administration's". But going back at least two of them, he was with Mr. Rapp, Ms. Smith and Mr. Rogers all part and parcel of them and a voting majority too.
Mr. Bibbee stated that previous Board had looked at when doing Home Rule 1% to a move to look at Fees/ Taxes, Real Estate. He and Ami Roberts along with Tax Department could not make the numbers match. He was getting the feeling now that there was a general move against a reduction?
He than said that no one likes to reduce Revenue. (Now what the clowns on the Council can not and will accept, is that THEIR Revenues are OUR Tax Dollars. There is no God Given Right to have those funds).
Said City did not know at beginning what the 1% would bring in? Since than, City has raised Sewer/ Water Fees. Added some additional Financial Responsibility to our Citizens. Recycle fee had to be increased. But he had no problem with that.
Allow me this bit of thought:
1. City knew an approximate amount of at least $2,500,000., which has turned out to be from older budgets $1,200,000., in 2015- 2016 Budget as it started in July 2015. By the first FULL year of 2016- 2017 it was at the $2,500,000 range.
2. Sewer/ Water would NOT have to be increased had VUB properly did due Fiscal Responsibility in how deferred Levy Payments should have been handled in the first two years of the 12th St., upgrade and the first 6 months of the Water Tower Levies? It has been pointed out that allegedly, approximately $500,000- 600,000., was wasted. Council did nothing more than rubber stamp those increases. Remember, Mr. Rapp keeps saying VUB is a separate entity in and of itself.
3. There have been and are issues with how the Recycle Program is done and how the Fee is paid? Has went on for years. Increase is needed it would seem in the eyes of the Increasers, not the facts?
He said the numbers had been looked at extensively. The $4.05 for most and the $2.02 for the Seniors.
He than went on to say that he did "Not know if there is a clear definition on what that really is"?
Since I am a kind and generous Soul, I provided him this in my 25 August Blog:
https://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Fixed+Income
"For example, a retired person lives on a fixed income as he/she only receives payments from his/her pension, Social Security, or something similar. A person on a fixed income may have little leeway if prices rise significantly".
May I emphasis the last sentence: "A person on a fixed income may have little leeway if prices rise significantly".
Mr. Bibbee: Said he did not relate to Seniors. He did not agree with that. Many times, Seniors have higher income than our other Citizens on a regular basis. We can argue Fixed Income all day long? Not comfortable with any definition of "Fixed Income"? What if anything can we do for Citizens? Not a lot for Citizens, a lot too the City. Least impact on our budget that can be made up by 1% from two years ago. Need closure on this. Tonight discussion only.
As an aside, if the Seniors are so wealthy compared to the rest of the Community, than why are we subsidizing the Exercise Classes by paying over $25K/ year now to the people leading those? Those 50 and over are allowed to come to Vienna from all over the MOV for the free classes. Maybe a Fee for non-residents? 'nuff said'.