How Much Representation Should We Expect From Our Elected Commissioners?
If you paid someone to cut your grass and they cut only half of it would you pay them the full amount? If you agreed to pay someone to guard your house for a week end and they showed up then left after an hour would you pay them the full amount agreed to?
Let me make it very clear about a year ago I went to the Grand Jury about a fraud and theft that had taken place involving the County Executive and a 7th District Commissioner. The matter was that the Commissioner Mrs. Vicki Coleman committed a fraud by declaring she had attended a committee meeting and being paid for it while she clearly did not attend that meeting. This was done with the full knowledge and approval of the County Executive Mrs. Janet Vanzant. Video evidence shows the fact that Mrs Coleman did not attend the meeting, in fact she was not even in the room until after the meeting had been adjured and committee members were leaving.
Today at the Environmental Committee Meeting, where the very important and expensive matters of setting up convenience centers for waste disposal and establishment of recycle centers. Mrs. Coleman signed in as attending this meeting. The committee meeting started at 9AM. This meeting lasted until 10:37 AM but Mrs Coleman could not be bothered to stay that long or even half the meeting. In fact Mrs Coleman left the meeting at 9:20 but no doubt she will collect the full dollar amount for having attended the full meeting. I also noticed that another commissioner apparently is learning from Mrs Coleman because Mrs Goolsby another 7th district commissioner also left shortly after signing in as attending, she lasted until 9:25AM.
This seems to have become a pattern for Mrs Coleman having taken place several times in the past. It would seem to me that a Commissioner has an obligation to be involved with the operations of the county and the well being of it's citizens rather than ripping us off at every opportunity. Even more I would expect a higher ethical behavior from someone who is an ordained minister pledged to serving God and following His instructions instead of stealing from the citizens and lying for financial gains.
It's an amazing testimony of filing bankruptcy which left others to pay her debts, voter fraud and thief of taxpayer money and an attitude that she does not have to answer to anyone for her dishonorable behaviors.
Let me make it very clear about a year ago I went to the Grand Jury about a fraud and theft that had taken place involving the County Executive and a 7th District Commissioner. The matter was that the Commissioner Mrs. Vicki Coleman committed a fraud by declaring she had attended a committee meeting and being paid for it while she clearly did not attend that meeting. This was done with the full knowledge and approval of the County Executive Mrs. Janet Vanzant. Video evidence shows the fact that Mrs Coleman did not attend the meeting, in fact she was not even in the room until after the meeting had been adjured and committee members were leaving.
Today at the Environmental Committee Meeting, where the very important and expensive matters of setting up convenience centers for waste disposal and establishment of recycle centers. Mrs. Coleman signed in as attending this meeting. The committee meeting started at 9AM. This meeting lasted until 10:37 AM but Mrs Coleman could not be bothered to stay that long or even half the meeting. In fact Mrs Coleman left the meeting at 9:20 but no doubt she will collect the full dollar amount for having attended the full meeting. I also noticed that another commissioner apparently is learning from Mrs Coleman because Mrs Goolsby another 7th district commissioner also left shortly after signing in as attending, she lasted until 9:25AM.
This seems to have become a pattern for Mrs Coleman having taken place several times in the past. It would seem to me that a Commissioner has an obligation to be involved with the operations of the county and the well being of it's citizens rather than ripping us off at every opportunity. Even more I would expect a higher ethical behavior from someone who is an ordained minister pledged to serving God and following His instructions instead of stealing from the citizens and lying for financial gains.
It's an amazing testimony of filing bankruptcy which left others to pay her debts, voter fraud and thief of taxpayer money and an attitude that she does not have to answer to anyone for her dishonorable behaviors.
posted by Allen Barrett | 9:43 PM
56 Comments:
I thought Mrs. Goolsby said her teaching job wouldn't interfere with her being a commissioner. I'm shocked in her doing this.
Ah, but if you ask other commissioners they'll tell you it's been like this for 200 yrs and they DONT want it to change .They even put signs up in the courthouse saying so .
Which is exactly why the petition for home rule failed a few years back . Its time for that effort to be restarted then maybe we'll get some of the scoundrels OUT
WKSR's web page. My question is why?
Giles County Board of Education Chairman Daryl Williamson, who represents District 1, has resigned from the board.
The announcement was made at Thursday’s school board meeting.
District 5 school board member Richie Brewer was unanimously elected as the new board chair and District 3 member Joy McMasters was elected as vice chair.
The board also unanimously agreed with Director of Schools Phillip Wright’s recommendation to amend its differentiated pay to include $300 as a reward for teachers who attend state training to better themselves, their schools and their students."
Considering Daryl Williamson has pulled his children out of the Giles County school system all together it was the appropriate decision to resign from the board.
Considering that Richie Brewer and Joy McMasters are complete imbeciles (imo), I can honestly say that even though DW was weak and could be easily manipulated, we have severely downgraded in those positions!
I was actually hoping that it was Richie Brewer and Joy McMasters that had resigned.
Sounds like Coleman should be in jail.
You have to be joking !!!!!! Vanzant will never allow that to happen. If so, then a good 1/3 of our County Government would have to join her, especially Vanzant.
I don't believe that there is sufficient room in the Sheriff's Jail.
The single person who could make a terrific difference in the "who gives a shit about what the lousy public thinks" is Janet Vanzant. She alone with proactive leadership could make the Commissioners take notice that they are not the privileged few; rather, they are the voted in servants of the average public. They are in office to better the public and Giles County; not, to better themselves. If Vanzant would refuse to allow or even promote corruption there would be none.
But, I am dreaming.
12:03 please give us ignorant hicks a list of the scoundrels you want to vote OUT. You seem to know more than any of the elected officials. Whats your problem? You cant get elected yourself so you can straighten everything out yourself? Get a life and accept your failure in life to be somebody!
7:51 Your post wasn't for me and I've never ran for office or wanted to, but I don't like my tax dollars paying for someone not doing their job.
If Ms Coleman and Goolsby are attending the meetings for just a few minutes and getting paid like they were there all time, that's wrong. They should do the job they were voted in to do. If Mrs. Vanzant is allowing that to go on she wrong and that is three people need to be voted out or just plain old kicked out.
Goolsby and Coleman knew when they ran they were suppose to be at meetings. Something could come up and they have to muss a meeting, but don't go for a few minutes and get paid like you were there the whole meeting. That makes all commissioners look bad. If that is happening it's time they spoke up.
8:26. Neither Coleman nor Goolsby will be paid for the second meeting which they are members of . They were just waiting during the 1 hr 35 minute meeting for the second meeting. They had to leave and other commissioners sat in for them. They do not get paid for it. The tennessee Code Annotated states that to be paid for a meeting one only has to attend (not stay the entire time). Your complaint and Barrets complaint has no merit. Read the code. Maybe you can understand it.
10:47, Wait a second, did you say "CODE"? HAAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAHAA! That was funny.
I have read the code. However, the fact remains that their is written proof where Vanzant has authorized payment to Commissioners who either do not attend or partially attended meetings.
Look at the meeting attendance records and view Vanzant' s signature authoring payment.
10:47 Don't matter when you vote for someone to represent you, you expect them to be there for it all.
How many Commissioners take off from their job to attend the Commissioners meetings? The ones that really care about Giles County.
8:49. A commissioner is not required to be at committee meetings if he/she is NOT on that committee. Commissioners are only required to be at Quartely meetings or specially CALLED meetings of the entire court. .everyone is required to attend those meetings.
Agreed, a commissioner is not required to attend a committee meeting if they are not a member of that committee, however, they are paid just to sit in and listen.
4:18. Serious note here! Any commissioners who do not attend all of the committee meetings have NO IDEA what is going on in Giles County! Yes,they get paid for just attending ,but it is necessary to be informed.They get paid very little for the time and travel to the meetings. Those who have jobs are at a disadvantage. They cannot attend all the committee meetings as they wish they could. Some who live or work in town can sign out and attend if their job allows. Not all Bosses allow it. Commissioners seriously do the best they can for us considering everything! Thank you!
Don't run for office if you aren't going to be able to attend the meetings. You know before running what the pay is. At least it covers your gas to the meeting. You are there for the good of the county not to get rich off the county. Check with your boss to see if you will be allowed to go to the meetings before running.
It's so easy to think you can do whatever you want before getting a job of any kind then find out there are rules.
Some Commissioners work out of town, but show up for meetings and stay the whole time. If you know one like this congratulated him/her.
If you are a teacher, don't the county pay you when you have to miss work for a meeting?
NO! Teachers have a limited amount of sign out time IF they have another teacher who can teach their class while they are signed out. If the teacher goes over an alloted amt of time by the school baord,they lose pay. Teachers are only paid for the time they are at school teaching if they are classroom teachers.
Those who work for the school system have no deductions from their pay when they are commissioners and attend meetings of the commission, period, no questions. When a commissioner leaves the school they continue to be paid by the school system and receive the thirty dollars paid to commissioners attending the meeting. Many times committee meetings and even full commission meetings last less than an hour with many lasting less than half an hour thirty dollars for a thirty minute meeting ain't bad. I appreciate those commissioners making sacrifices to attend these meetings. As a teacher how often does Mrs Goolsby allow her students to show up for role call then leave the class a few minutes later and not return? She should know better. Coleman on the other hand is just a loss. She consistently bugs out on meetings after signing in. And then there are those meetings she is paid for and doesn't attend at all. Barrett is no the only one who has noticed this behavior and complained about it. At least two other people have complained to me but Mrs Vanzant refuses to even discuss her behavior. I believe as head of the local NAACP Coleman is just too powerful in Vanzant's eyes. IT's wrong to take money from the taxpayers under false pretenses.
To the person who tried to refer to the "CODE" that says they must attend to be paid not stay, look at what the word "attend" means.It means "to be present". You can not be present if you are somewhere else. One thing that that's obvious is some people think a little thief is acceptable, steal a small amount isn't so bad. It's sad that a minister has this attitude without apparently understanding that it reflects on her total character.
8:5 AM Very good post! Did not know Coleman is President of the local NAACP. Thanks for the information.
Just cause you be a preacher don't keep you from stiling.
Fact: Teachers earn two personal days each school year plus four hours personal sign out time.
Fact: If a teacher goes over that time the teacher's pay is docked.
Fact: All school employees pay is public knowledge and can be checked.
Fact: Mrs Goolsby's pay was docked last year due to attending meetings, a decision she made prior to running for office.
Fact: Mrs Goolsby left the meeting at 9:55.
Fact: Mrs Goolsby asked a fellow commissioner to please cross her name off the sign in sheet and then contacted the County Executive's office to confirm her name was crossed off the list.
Fact: Not one person contacted her to ask why she left the meeting.
Please have the correct facts prior to bashing a person.
If Mrs. Goolsby asked for her name to be marked off she did the right thing. Thanks for telling us that. Hope Mrs. Coleman will do the right thing also.
Sorry but if Goolsby pay was docked last year it wasn't for attending county commission meetings. Fact her sign out sheets at school were torn up after she would return to school and not counted against her. Fact the scheduled meetings were very clearly publicized and if she came to a meeting expecting it to be hours later then she wasn't paying attention.
12:03, the only way to get rid of Vanzant to is to run a SINGLE candidate against her. The last time the opposition candidates split the vote against her allowing her to be re-elected. I wouldn't put it past the status quo of encouraging this situation in order to achieve Vanzant's re-election.
The only way to end the cronyism in this county is to establish a Charter local government with term limits like the one that was proposed several years ago.
No Janet.
Black privilege is at work with coleman.
It makes no difference if one is black, white, yellow, brown, red blue or purple. You should do what is right and expected for those who elected you. Being an elected official is not a part time job.
It does matter when you are the head of the NAACP, there are a lot of votes there and Vanzant isn't about to possibly alleninate those vote. She had no problem playing them for suckers, just look at how many blacks are employed by the county in any leadership positions? How many blacks has she hired? Remember when she wouldn't even allow a black woman to be interviewed for the budget director?
Why does the County Executive continue to allow the thief of taxpayer money through the fraud of Commissioner Coleman. If a person will steal a small amount how long before they steal a larger amount. Based on a past bankrupcy we know she is not very good at handling money now she has opened a restaurant that may lead to another bankruptcy. Her votes, when present, have been consistently supportive of the County Executive and the massive spending on such things as hundreds of thousands of dollars for picking up dead farm animals, a benefit to farmers like Mrs Vanzant but not for anyone in Commissioner Coleman's 7th District, Why she would vote to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit private individuals in their money making enterprises is beyond my understanding, certainly the same subsidies are not given to other business that have to pay for the disposal of their waste products. Oh well, I guess have a thief for a representative doesn't matter as long as they are in the right party..
Thou shalt not steal...you know, unless it's just a small amount. That's what the Bible says, isn't it?
What restaurant does Ms. Coleman own?
According to the signs littering Mill street it's called SILK
That explains that obama stuff on the wall of that restaurant.
Not too racist are you 945? What a dumbass
Now a person is a racist because they made a simple comment about "obama stuff on the wall" at a restaurant. If the place is owned by a black person and your right 12:05 why would a racist be in the restaurant to begin with. Sounds like you are one of the fools that sees a racist everywhere they look when the only real racist they ever see in in the mirror.
And you, 7:33, sound like a fool who lives in a world of denial. It is absolutely racism to say "That explains that Obama stuff on the wall of that restaurant" when it's owned by a person of color. Would you say the same if the establishment was owned by a Caucasian? The word "dumbass" does not even begin to describe the depth of your ignorance. I'm sure a picture of Hitler on the wall of a white supremacist would not suggest racism in your tiny mind. Good look convincing yourself that you are a productive member of society dumbass.
A picture of Hitler on the wall of a white supremacist would be no more surprising that one of Obama on the wall of a NAACP president or one of Reagan on the wall of a Conservative. It doesn't have as much to do with race as with politics. Is there anyone who is not aware that the NAACP strongly supported Obama for president. I don't know what's on her walls and really don't care but having a picture of Obama on there doesn't make her a racist anymore than having a picture of Hitler makes one a "white supremacist" or having Reagan on the wall makes you a conservative. You speak of small minds and being a dumbsss well from your comments you prove that you excel in both.
I'm afraid you misunderstood my comment Allen. I was not suggesting that the owner of the restaurant was a racist. I was inferring that the poster who said "that explains the picture of obama" was. Obama is the potus and one does not have to be a person of color to have his picture on their wall. If you cannot understand that then I have given you too much credit for your open mindedness. Also, I have never referred to you as a dumbass and I am not inclined to do so now. You are, however, occasionally inclined to jump the gun when you feel offended by someone. I just consider that human nature and do not take it personally. Have a great day.
Since I did not write the 7:33 post I suppose I should have refrained from posting about your comment 8:10 that seemed to attack the writer as a racist. My position is that way too many people are referred to as being racist regardless of what their life reveals. The word has been used, misused so much that the derogatory and ugliness contained in the term has been weakened to the point that it no longer holds the negative meaning it should have. Why couldn't the 7:33 poster simply have their opinion and criticize the comments they disliked without being considered a "racist" or "a fool who lives in a world of denial". Yes I do "jump the gun" sometimes and may even overreact at time but as often and viciously as I have been attacked I suppose I am a bit defensive.
I respect your opinion on most issues and I assure you that my intention was never to offend you.My patience runs thin when posters like 733 make comments that have nothing to do with anything.Again, that is just human nature and I am guilty of speaking my mind even when I should not. Peace to you and yours.
Sounds like we have a lot in common, no offense taken. Thanks.
When I am driving down the road and see someone with an Obama sticker on their car my first thought is that they are an idiot not if they are black. Does that make me a racist or just smart?
Since it took idiots to elect the criminal traitor I'd say you are just smart.
LET YOUR YES BE YES AND YOUR NO BE NO AND IF YOU TAKE BRIBES OR YOU SAY YOU ARE SOMEWHERE AND YOUR NOT YOU LIE. IF YOU ARE GETTING PAID TO DO A JOB AND YOU ARE NOT DOING IT YOU ARE ROBBING,YOU ARE A CHEAT.IF YOU ARE SPREADING RUMORS AND CAUSING MISTRUST AMONG OUR CITIZENS YOUR A DISGRACE.IT IS REAL SIMPLE DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE IS THE LEADERSHIP. IF THE HEAD OF THE BODY IS WEAK THE WHOLE BODY IS SICK WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM. BUT I WAS ALWAYS ADVISED THAT EVERYONE CAN POINT OUT PROBLEMS,NOT EVERYONE CARES TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION. I HAVE A GREAT IDEA LETS ALL GET TOGETHER AND WORK TO FIND A SOLUTION, MAYBE A FEW ARREST WOULD STOP IT. MAYBE CITIZENS BANDING TOGETHER TO GET PROOF OF ALL THESE ACCUSATIONS WOULD HOLD VANZANT ACCOUNTABLE. ANOTHER GREAT IDEA IS TO STOP BEING AFRAID OF THE GOOD OLD BOYS AND STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE. PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO BE LABELED OR ATTACKED,AS MR.BARRETT HAS BEEN. I DARE SAY MOST OF THE PUBLIC IS SCARED TO SAY ANYTHING TO MRS.COLEMAN BECAUSE SHE IS BLACK AND IF YOU SAY ANYTHING YOUR LABELED A RACIEST.WHICH IS A PLOY TO GET OUR EYES OFF THE REAL ISSUES. I DO NOT KNOW IF MRS.COLEMAN IS GUILTY OR NOT BUT I PRAY SHE ISNT BECAUSE IF SHE IS SHE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO A HIGHER POWER THAN YOU AND I. IF SHE IS BEING FALSELY ACCUSED THEN THE PERSON MAKING THESE ACCUSATION SHOULD BE SUED FOR SLANDER. ITS AS SIMPLE AS BLACK AND WHITE
I was on the grand jury when Barrett brought the evidence that Coleman had committed fraud against the county by taking money she was not entitled to. Most of the people wanted her indicted but Mr Collins said the DA wouldn't bother with it so it was just dropped. Since then I've asked around and learned if the grand jury indicts a person the DA has to charge them. Guess it's another case of protecting special people who are above the law.
It was not really worth the fight!
9:14 punishing a thief isn't worth the fight? When a person, specially a government official, breaks the law you don't think it's worth the fight to stop them? Your attitude is what has allow such corruption to grow out of control in this county. Break the law lock them up.
You don't understand!
Very thankful to the poster of Sept 17 at 5:35 p.m. for throwing light on to something that has bothered me for some time. Who appoints Sam Collins as chairman of the Grand Jury anyways? Seems like he has been chairman for too many years and someone else should fill that role.
Agree 9pm agree fully.
Does Sam T have the right to act as grand jury foreman under state of Tennessee law? The following is a very interesting article.
https://thejaghunter.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/blockbuster-exclusive-state-of-tennessee-grand-jury-foremen-are-not-jurors-by-post-emails-sharon-rondeau/
After having my victims rights were violated by the district attorney and grand jury and the criminal was allowed to go free I questioned the process used by the grand jury and District Attorney in prosecuting criminals. I found that although there should have been a preliminary hearing Held against the offender Special privilege was extended to this criminal by the grand jury. All eyewitnesses were forbid from testifying to the grand jury. And against the official rules governing the victims rights the accused was allowed to access and testify before the grand jury. This criminal had made false statements two police officers which word document it in the official police report . The police officer who arrived at the scene of the crime and was a witness to actual events was not even allowed to testify before the grand jury. There is legal action being taken against this process currently.
From Tennessee district attorney's conference homepage.
A case transferred to circuit court by "binding over" must then be presented to the GRAND JURY, a group of thirteen citizens chosen from the jury panel. One of these thirteen is the fore person and will preside over the grand jury. The grand jury hears testimony from witnesses in a private session. Neither the defendant nor his lawyer will be present at the grand jury hearing. A representative of the district attorney general's office may be present when witnesses present their testimony, but the grand jury's voting must be done in secret. If twelve of the thirteen grand jurors believe a crime was committed by the defendant, they will charge or " indict" the defendant for that crime. The formal charge by the grand jury is called an INDICTMENT. Sometimes this charge is also referred to as a "true bill". When the grand jury refuses to indict someone, its action is sometimes referred to as a "no true bill." When the Grand Jury returns a "no true bill' against a defendant, then that person cannot be brought to trial.
I just want to know how does Sam T. Collins get away with advising the Grand Jury? Does he really think he can get by with that. That needs to be reported.
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