State Open Meetings Law Alteration Vote
The decision was made by a large majority of Commissioners that it was inappropriate to vote on supporting a change to the state "Open Meetings Law" and it was sent to the Legislative Committee for discussion.
The request under consideration would allow government officials to meet in secret make decisions without public knowledge. Basically it would isolate the public from knowledge of who supported or opposed different legislation and open a Pandora's Box of opportunity for mischief and corruption.
posted by Allen Barrett | 10:49 PM
29 Comments:
Such paranoia. Is everyone around here corrupt...other than you and your few buddies? And don't even go there by talking about mischief.
Not everyone is corrupt and I have never said they were. We have many good hardworking people in county/city, state and national government but there are also some real snakes in the grass as proven by the large number from across the state who are now in jail or have paid fines.
Your hero President Reagan, a man I greatly respect, stated so eloquently, "Trust but Verify". Well, there can be no verification of activities when they are conducted in secret. Only scoundrels and other less than ethical people seek the isolation of secret backrooms to conduct "the people's business". Perhaps you disagree, and it seems so based on your writings, that elected and appointed officials are supposed to be conducting the "people's business".
Meeting in secret is no different than writing a critical statement anonymously. Both disallow personal responsibility.
You have got to be one of the most paranoid people I have ever seen in my life 9my opinion0.
Any commissioner that supports such a thing needs to be voted out of office. It shows that some commissioners do not think they serve the citizens of this county.
If the Commissioners vote for this they are saying they want to be able to meet in private and not hear from the people. If they vote for this, you can rest assure I WILL vote for the Charter which allows the people to have more say in our local government.
9:05
Just take a look at the people who are pushing this charter. Then do the right thing and vote against it.
I have to agree, I was not for the Charter but if our county commissioners try to take public business behind closed doors I will support a charter.
Me too! I can't see how a Charter form of government can be a bad thing when it makes our leaders more accountable and we the taxpayers are allowed to vote on things that will effect us.
Count me in as voting for the charter. Just the one major change of getting to vote on all new taxes does it for me.
4:46
Count on my vote against this so-called charter to cancel yours out. Take a good hard look at the troublemakers who are behind this. Think about it.
5:00 pm I dont care a rat's hiney end about any troublemakers you think are behind anything. I just want to be able to vote on fair taxes.
Look at the counties that have a charter form of government and read the complaints that they can't get anything done and are sliding backwards because the public will not vote for any tax increases, even when they are heavily needed. Giles County would be in much worse shape if we left all decisions up to a group of people that aren't educated about what is going on with government. Every Tom, Dick and Harry that doesn't give a crap about local government would turn out to vote down a tax increase. Where is the money to fun the county supposed to come from? Last I heard, it doesn't just fall from the sky. Maybe we can go back to dirt roads and the doctors will come to our homes when we get sick. Maybe we can have the milkman deliver to out doorsteps again. Is that the type of civilization you want to see for Giles County?
FF
Fleet Fox
You are right about that one - if every Tom, Dick & Harry gets to vote 'No' on providing 'fun' for the county, maybe the county will cut spending and stay within the millions they currently receive from the tax payers. Its the Toms, Dicks and Harrys that are the backbone of this county and now you want to deny them the ability to vote?
6:05 Well I think you really need to consider the few who are behind getting a charter in Giles County. That alone should scare you away from it.
I also believe you need to carefully read what Fleet Fox said at 6:46. Giles County would wind up in much worse shape if this thing passes. People are NEVER going to vote themselves a new tax or an increase. And please don't let the troublemakers tell you that secret deals are made in back rooms. That is just not true.
We can't afford to be unschooled and unconcerned on this charter issue. We need to see it defeated.
They have the ability to vote for commissioners that will work to provide the best environment for their district. By the logic you guys use, they can't even vote for the proper commissioners. How do you expect them to vote for the best interest of the county? We all have a voice now, it isn't my fault that citizens will not and don't care to use it. I am still waiting for somebody to tell me where the county can cut the budget by more than $100k and still be able to maintain the services they are required to provide. When you can do that, I will give you credit for an efort to do more than complain all the time. Don't throw in dead animal disposal. That was put back in per the citizens.
FF
I'll be glad to tell you where a $100,000.00 can be cut real quick. Have each department submit a real budget that starts at zero and justify every expense they request. Have all new employees pay 25% toward their insurance and retirement. Cut funding to the EDC/IDB by 75%. Consider that these are just some expenses spent by the IDB/EDC from June 2010 to July 2011. $9,986.46 for Dan Speer Insurance; $36,494.07 for interest on building; $2,133.00 spent on meals to Hillside Hospital; $1,032.00 for dues at Hillcrest Country Club. The county gave $66,650.00 to the EDC for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Cut the travel budget for both the commission and county executive by 25%. Hold the school budget to the same amount as last year. Review all insurance and bid without preference to any agent and don’t allow any bidder to write the specs they are bidding on. Have every department show in writing the justification for each employee and provide a job description for each. Evaluate the salaries and qualifications of each employee and make adjustments. These are just a few examples of cuts that could be made without undo cuts in services.
To Fleet Fox what counties are having so much problems with the Charter that they can't function? 6:59 made an excellent point in reference to Fleet Fox.
Whether Tom, Dick and Harry give a hoot about the government or not since they are helping to fund that government they should be able to have a say in it. The Charter gives the people a say about how much their taxes will be and more control in what the government is doing with our money.
To vote against the charter because of who supports it is as dumb as not buying a a Toyota because the Japanese were our enemies in WWII.
Don't be a sap, vote for or against the charter because you believe it's best or that it's bad not because some cowardly poster doesn't happen to like some of those who support it.
Monday @ 7:23
To suggest that voters would NEVER vote themselves a new tax is completely false. If a need is great enough and is explained enough to the voters, schools and libraries in particular are issues dear to the hearts of voters. Then again, are you forgetting voters in city of Pulaski voted to raise sales tax to the max to support Sam Davis park?
I am pretty sure they voted against raising the sales tax for Sam Davis Park.
wab
You know, getting insurance and vacation time are just two of the FEW benefits county employees have. They certainly don't make a lot of money. Your favoring taking 25% of these people's pay is just one more reason why so many people find you totally despicable.
Oh, by the way, could you tell me who the commissioners are who voted in favor of this?
Back when you were actually preaching, did you call those who didn't respond to the alter call saps or other colorful names?
3:35
I should have said people traditionally NEVER vote themselves a tax. I should have know someone would take issue with that.
FF is again showing who he is. How can anyone be against a Home Rule Charter that the people petitioned for and the people voted in who they wanted to write it; and the ones who wrote it were all from various backgrounds who came together and got the job done as best they could taking seriously the concerns and the cares of the people of this county. Read the document and decide for yourself and forget about the Toms, Dicks, and Harrys. It us the taxpayers that we need to be concerned about. The current commission could care less about how much money is spent. Most of them, if it were money coming out of their own bank accounts, would look more seriously at cutting back or stop spending all together. Your right about money growing on trees, it just don't happen. The county has got to stop looking at getting more and more money by raising taxes. They have got to realize that people are struggling and we have to quit spending and so should the county. If we don't have it, we don't spend!
To 7:35 Am
If you ever learn that words have meaning you will be amazed at how fewer times you’ll have to say “I mean to say”; “you knew what I meant”; etc, etc.
You took the time to capitalize the word “NEVER” putting greater emphasis on it’s presence then you criticize a poster for pointing out the fact that you were just plain wrong.
If you would have taken the time to actually read what I wrote instead of seeing my name and allowing your alter ego to begin your attack you would have noticed that what I wrote had nothing to do with the current employees of the county. I stated, “Have all new employees pay 25% toward their insurance and retirement”. I will add now that current employees should pay any new increases for their insurance just as they voted to do in the last budget but it was rejected when all the cuts were restored to the budget.
By the way, what did I say about commissioners voting on anything in that post that would lead anyone to ask such an out of place questions as, “tell me who the commissioners are who voted in favor of this”? I have no clue what “this” is, do you? It’s just another example of being so brief in your post that no one knows what you’re talking about.
You ask, “Back when you were actually preaching, did you call those who didn’t respond to the alter call saps or other colorful names? What I have said many times is that after looking closely at all the evidence supporting Christ, His life, death, resurrection and truthfulness of His words only a fool would deny Him and reject the gift of His Grace.
I suppose I could have substituted sap for fool but fool seems to have more impact and is more consistent with God’s word. Thanks for your attack, it gave another opportunity to share the truth.
wab
Oh please don't bother preaching to me. I can't hear a word you say, because your actions are deafening. I see you as a total hypocrite when you do that.
7:35 I think getting better than average salary for a job that is only 35 hours when a private sector employee would get less pay for the same job and have to work 40 hours. That is a pretty big perk in itself.
And just like any company if the company cannot afford to give its employees perks and benefits then it doesn't and neither should our county.
7:14 Not correct. Sales tax is at its max. Look at your cash register receits when you shop. First time around Pulaski voters did vote 'No" then Bill Holt and someone else went around to churches, clubs, etc and told them if it wasn't voted in then we would get a sales tax, per Dan Speer. So, second vote it was 'Yes".
We need to bring industries and businesses into the county to expand the tax base not put additional burdens on the ones that choose to live and shop here.
Our local governments and economic development board have not done a very good job of that or even retaining citizens. As in the past census we are still the only county in the area that continues to lose population.
But with the messages of some of our elected officials and certain citizens that take every opportunity to scream that so called outsiders have no rights in this county it is no wonder.
I sure hope no one posting today is getting paid from our tax dollars while they are posting instead of working.
4:59 We might ask you that same question.
5:10 Got of work at 4 and hadn't post before 4:59 so ask away.
You must of posted on county time by popping off.
The Tennessean had a very interesting article in todays paper,about the sunshine law.
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