Yesterday morning, I mentioned Tommy Massey's resignation from Hamblen County Commission, 14th district. Click here. Massey had resigned several days before that, but the paper wasn't reporting it.
A little over 8 hours after my post went up, the Trib put out a short report in its online edition! Click here and you might catch the Trib's 5:39 PM article before they disable the link.
And today, you can look for this days old local "news" in the "news" section of the print edition.
Oddity: While the "news"paper wasn't able to run a "news" article about the resignation yesterday, it was able to run a paid public notice from the County about the resignation in the Classified section.
Showing posts with label Tommy Massey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tommy Massey. Show all posts
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
August 3, 2011 Commissioner Tommy Massey Resigns (14th District)
Commissioner Tommy Massey has resigned from the Hamblen County Commission. Massey represented the 14th district (Manley School voting precinct).
Massey's resignation letter was turned in several days ago but hasn't been mentioned publicly---probably so certain commissioners could get the replacement vote lined up before news of the vacancy was released by the "news"paper.
[I was elected as 14th district commissioner in 2002 and served until 2006 when I chose not to run for re-election. Click here. Massey ran unopposed in 2006 and was re-elected in a close race against Larry Carter in 2010.]
Massey's resignation letter was turned in several days ago but hasn't been mentioned publicly---probably so certain commissioners could get the replacement vote lined up before news of the vacancy was released by the "news"paper.
[I was elected as 14th district commissioner in 2002 and served until 2006 when I chose not to run for re-election. Click here. Massey ran unopposed in 2006 and was re-elected in a close race against Larry Carter in 2010.]
Sunday, September 06, 2009
September 5, 2009 County Commission Stops Unauthorized Car Allowances in Order to (Finally) Comply with State Law
At its August 20 meeting of the full commission, the Hamblen County Commission voted 12-1 to stop three of the four car allowances that have been paid for several years in violation of state law. [Commissioner Tommy Massey was absent.]
This was a total reversal of what the Finance Committee had recommended on August 10. See my post on the August 10 Finance Committee meeting here.
This was a total reversal of what the Finance Committee had recommended on August 10. See my post on the August 10 Finance Committee meeting here.
At the August 10 Finance Committee meeting, I had asked the committee to stop payment of unauthorized car allowances. The Committee refused to stop these unauthorized payments and, instead, voted to study the issue again in September. The payments were going to continue despite state law that does not allow Hamblen County to pay car allowances, despite an April 2009 state attorney general's opinion on county car allowances, and despite the county attorney's May 2009 opinion (which was just a review of the state attorney general's opinion noting that Hamblen County is not among those counties authorized to provide car allowances).
After years of paying unauthorized car allowances and with the prospect of these payments continuing for still more months, I spoke to the full commission during the public comments forum on August 20 and, as I had done on August 10, I again asked that these unauthorized car allowances stop now and that Hamblen County come into compliance with state law now. Why continue to violate state law and pay out thousands of taxpayer dollars on unauthorized car allowances?
Despite state law and my request that the commission comply with state law immediately, Finance Chairman Joe Spoone made a motion to postpone any decision and to "study" the car allowance situation in September. Thankfully, one commissioner was listening and had the courage to question what was going on and to stand up for the taxpayers.
Commissioner Dana Wampler noted that Hamblen County is out of compliance---as I had stated---and Wampler then amended Spoone's resolution to stop three of the car allowances now (Ely, Hopkins, Young) and to pay mileage to those individuals if they use their car on county business. The situation is still set for review in September, but unauthorized car allowances will stop.
During discussion of the amendment, Wampler turned to county attorney Rusty Cantwell and asked about the unauthorized car allowances and when the county should come into compliance. Rusty said that there are three car allowances (the fourth car allowance is that of the County Mayor but Rusty doesn't think that the Mayor's $600/month car allowance is really a car allowance). As far as when the county should come into compliance with state law, Rusty said that was "up to you (the commission)." That response from the county attorney was a bit of a surprise.
Thankfully, Commissioner Wampler stuck to his guns and decided that the county should come into compliance with state law right away. The motion to stop unauthorized car allowances passed 12-1. Guy Collins voted no. I'm not sure if Collins' "no" vote meant that he wanted to keep paying unauthorized car allowances or if he just didn't understand what was going on. Tommy Massey was absent.
I appreciate Commissioner Wampler for doing the right thing. I'm guessing that he took some flak for that after the meeting. Stancil Ford doesn't really like for the public to have any input. He doesn't like a lot of discussion by commissioners at the full commission meetings, and he doesn't like to have changes from the original script.
When you watch the tape of the meeting, Ford turns to County Mayor David Purkey and to County Attorney Rusty Cantwell. Ford is not really happy with the question and comments and amendment by Commissioner Wampler, but in the end he can't stop the amendment and he himself votes for the amendment. Why? Because the amendment brings Hamblen County into compliance with state law and saves taxpayer money, too. How could you oppose that?
The real question is, why did it take four months to get a vote on coming into compliance with state law on the floor at a county commission meeting? Many thanks to Commissioner Wampler for doing "the right thing." Commissioner Wampler showed that one commissioner can make a difference when he or she just does "the right thing" and puts it out for a vote.
Joe Powell tapes the meetings for the county and they are shown on Charter Ch 7 (goverment/education channel) at 9:00 PM on Tuesday? and Saturday nights. [I watch on Saturdays, and I think Tuesday is the other day that the tape is shown.] You can call the county mayor's office (586-1931) to find out what other day the tape is aired.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
April 7, 2009 Ricky Bruce Leads Committee Supporting Sales Tax Increase
A committee to support increasing the sales tax in Hamblen County in the area outside the city limits was formed last night at the Hamblen County Board of Education offices. The committee is encouraging voters to vote FOR increasing the sales from 9.5% to 9.75% on the May 5, 2009, referendum ballot.
The committee was named "Win The Vote."
Hamblen County Commissioner Ricky Bruce moderated the meeting and broke the attendees into five groups (Finance, Advertising, Youth Volunteers, Other Volunteers, and Strategy).
Hamblen County Commissioner Tommy Massey led the Finance Committee. Sitting with Massey's group were Commissioners Dana Wampler, Joe Spoone, Stancil Ford, Herbert Harville, Dennis Alvis, Reece Sexton, Nancy Phillips, Mayor David Purkey, School Board Member Joe Gibson, and School Business Director Traci Antrican.
Massey first proposed raising $10K for newspaper ads, print ads, and posters at every voting station. Massey, noting that Commissioner Lebel had once discussed sending out a letter from commission to voters, asked Commission Chair Stancil Ford about this. Ford gently nixed that idea, responding that there had been some controversy over a previous sales tax letter that had been signed by Mayor David Purkey and himself and sent to voters.
Massey suggested that if each of those sitting with his group donated $100, there would be about $1,000 to start with. Later in the evening, Tish Jones of HC*ExCell and P-16 told everyone that you can't take donations until you have registered as a single-issue committee. Tish supports just about every tax increase.
Commissioner Nancy Phillips and School Board member Joe Gibson said they would get on the phone and try to raise money. Bruce said he would take care of committee registration on Tuesday. Massey said all contributions could be sent to his mailing address (P.O. Box 339, Talbott, TN 37877).
Traci Antrican, Business Director of Hamblen County Schools, was named treasurer of the "Win The Vote" committee.
SB Member Joe Gibson is worried that voters are not going to vote for the tax because of the way it is worded on the ballot (FOR or AGAINST increasing the sales tax). Gibson wanted to promote the sales tax as a "choice"--EITHER vote for the sales tax increase OR there will be a property tax increase. Gibson's remarks brought back memories of the "pick-your-poison" approach that the county commission used in 2002 to trick/blackmail/extort voters to support the Wheel Tax Referendum.
Commission Chair Stancil Ford--of state income tax fame--discouraged Gibson's "pick-your-poison" approach, noting that such a statement would bite you down the road. Stancil knows that voters remember all too well the infamous "pick-your-poison" statement when Commission Chair Maudie Briggs told voters that they could EITHER vote for the wheel tax OR there would be a property tax increase. Then just a few months after blackmailing voters into supporting the wheel tax, Maudie and other commissioners turned around and voted to increase property taxes at the same time!
The Strategy Group report was given by School Board Chairman Janice Haun. The very first strategy she mentioned was a proposal to contact ministers to see if they would be supportive and perhaps put info in bulletins. Even aside from the obvious question of legality, I was very surprised to hear a group propose using churches as part of a pro-sales tax strategy. Her group also proposed lots of social networking through Facebook, MySpace, PTO's, HCEA, E-mails, and phone calls.
The Advertising Group report was given by school system employee Teresa Ayers. She said she would develop a logo on Tuesday and added that she would have flyers printed "here" and ready for distribution on Wednesday. She was also going to develop a Powerpoint for PTO's and PTA's to use.
[Note: There was apparently some discussion after the meeting broke up about Teresa doing her pro-sales tax committee work at the Board of Education building on school/taxpayer time. I was sitting in the parking lot after the meeting and for some reason Teresa came over and knocked on the car window just to let me know personally that actually she was going to work on the sales tax powerpoint "at home" instead of at work. I said you're probably going to work on the flyers "at home," too, and she agreed. I didn't ask, but I expect that her comments also meant that no printing would be done on school equipment.]
The Youth Volunteers probably had the most specific action report. Teacher Cari Swann Ashford assisted the group. The two youth presenters proposed asking parents to hand out sales tax increase flyers at work, encouraging 18-year old students to vote FOR the sales tax increase, putting signs up in schoolyards, designing T-shirts, having student workers at poll sites, and campaigning door-to-door. Signs in schoolyards--except on Election Day--might be questionable. Sort of like Teresa Ayers doing single-issue sales tax committee work on school/taxpayer time with school/taxpayer computers, equipment, and supplies.
The Other Volunteers report was given by Paula Bruce Combs, who is a school principal and Commissioner Ricky Bruce's sister. If I remember correctly, Paula became an assistant school principal right after Ricky was elected to county commission in 2002, and then became a principal shortly after that. Some of Paula's proposals included contacting and seeking support from PTO's, friends and family, faith-based groups, retirees, and Red Hat Society members. She also encouraged making announcements to groups, using e-mail, and seeing if a FOR sales tax message could scroll across the bottom of cable Channel 4 screen.
The committee was named "Win The Vote."
Hamblen County Commissioner Ricky Bruce moderated the meeting and broke the attendees into five groups (Finance, Advertising, Youth Volunteers, Other Volunteers, and Strategy).
Hamblen County Commissioner Tommy Massey led the Finance Committee. Sitting with Massey's group were Commissioners Dana Wampler, Joe Spoone, Stancil Ford, Herbert Harville, Dennis Alvis, Reece Sexton, Nancy Phillips, Mayor David Purkey, School Board Member Joe Gibson, and School Business Director Traci Antrican.
Massey first proposed raising $10K for newspaper ads, print ads, and posters at every voting station. Massey, noting that Commissioner Lebel had once discussed sending out a letter from commission to voters, asked Commission Chair Stancil Ford about this. Ford gently nixed that idea, responding that there had been some controversy over a previous sales tax letter that had been signed by Mayor David Purkey and himself and sent to voters.
Massey suggested that if each of those sitting with his group donated $100, there would be about $1,000 to start with. Later in the evening, Tish Jones of HC*ExCell and P-16 told everyone that you can't take donations until you have registered as a single-issue committee. Tish supports just about every tax increase.
Commissioner Nancy Phillips and School Board member Joe Gibson said they would get on the phone and try to raise money. Bruce said he would take care of committee registration on Tuesday. Massey said all contributions could be sent to his mailing address (P.O. Box 339, Talbott, TN 37877).
Traci Antrican, Business Director of Hamblen County Schools, was named treasurer of the "Win The Vote" committee.
SB Member Joe Gibson is worried that voters are not going to vote for the tax because of the way it is worded on the ballot (FOR or AGAINST increasing the sales tax). Gibson wanted to promote the sales tax as a "choice"--EITHER vote for the sales tax increase OR there will be a property tax increase. Gibson's remarks brought back memories of the "pick-your-poison" approach that the county commission used in 2002 to trick/blackmail/extort voters to support the Wheel Tax Referendum.
Commission Chair Stancil Ford--of state income tax fame--discouraged Gibson's "pick-your-poison" approach, noting that such a statement would bite you down the road. Stancil knows that voters remember all too well the infamous "pick-your-poison" statement when Commission Chair Maudie Briggs told voters that they could EITHER vote for the wheel tax OR there would be a property tax increase. Then just a few months after blackmailing voters into supporting the wheel tax, Maudie and other commissioners turned around and voted to increase property taxes at the same time!
The Strategy Group report was given by School Board Chairman Janice Haun. The very first strategy she mentioned was a proposal to contact ministers to see if they would be supportive and perhaps put info in bulletins. Even aside from the obvious question of legality, I was very surprised to hear a group propose using churches as part of a pro-sales tax strategy. Her group also proposed lots of social networking through Facebook, MySpace, PTO's, HCEA, E-mails, and phone calls.
The Advertising Group report was given by school system employee Teresa Ayers. She said she would develop a logo on Tuesday and added that she would have flyers printed "here" and ready for distribution on Wednesday. She was also going to develop a Powerpoint for PTO's and PTA's to use.
[Note: There was apparently some discussion after the meeting broke up about Teresa doing her pro-sales tax committee work at the Board of Education building on school/taxpayer time. I was sitting in the parking lot after the meeting and for some reason Teresa came over and knocked on the car window just to let me know personally that actually she was going to work on the sales tax powerpoint "at home" instead of at work. I said you're probably going to work on the flyers "at home," too, and she agreed. I didn't ask, but I expect that her comments also meant that no printing would be done on school equipment.]
The Youth Volunteers probably had the most specific action report. Teacher Cari Swann Ashford assisted the group. The two youth presenters proposed asking parents to hand out sales tax increase flyers at work, encouraging 18-year old students to vote FOR the sales tax increase, putting signs up in schoolyards, designing T-shirts, having student workers at poll sites, and campaigning door-to-door. Signs in schoolyards--except on Election Day--might be questionable. Sort of like Teresa Ayers doing single-issue sales tax committee work on school/taxpayer time with school/taxpayer computers, equipment, and supplies.
The Other Volunteers report was given by Paula Bruce Combs, who is a school principal and Commissioner Ricky Bruce's sister. If I remember correctly, Paula became an assistant school principal right after Ricky was elected to county commission in 2002, and then became a principal shortly after that. Some of Paula's proposals included contacting and seeking support from PTO's, friends and family, faith-based groups, retirees, and Red Hat Society members. She also encouraged making announcements to groups, using e-mail, and seeing if a FOR sales tax message could scroll across the bottom of cable Channel 4 screen.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March 10, 2009 County Commission Rejects Land Purchase for a New East High
The meeting was at the Health Department on Main Street. There was no set time--the notice just said that the Education Committee would meet "after" the called county commission meeting was over.
It started as a discussion about a 1.4 Million dollar land purchase for a new East High School.
It ended with 10 commissioners voting "no" and 3 commissioners voting "yes."
After the Education Committee vote was taken yesterday, the school board, Dr. Lynch, and Central Office administrators scooped up the powerpoint presentation and left the building.
Commissioner Joe Swann, chairman of the Education Committee, said to Director of Schools Dale Lynch, "You just heard the door slam on your building program."
Joe Swann, Tommy Massey, and Ricky Bruce voted "yes."
Voting "no" were Stancil Ford, Larry Baker, Guy Collins, Herbert Harville, Reece Sexton, Joe Spoone, Doyle Fullington, Paul Lebel, Dennis Alvis, and Dana Wampler. Commissioner Nancy Phillips was absent.
There were discussions about the price of the land, access roads, site preparation costs, increased traffic, safety concerns, renovations vs. new construction, and practice fields for sports.
Joe Spoone said he wanted to see the funding plan for the entire project before any property is purchased.
Well, when you look at the true costs for the entire project, you will see that the $80 Million estimate is just a fraction of the total taxpayer costs.
There is not $80 Million sitting around waiting to be spent on another school building program. The $80 Million has to be borrowed, and that means there are interest costs on top of the actual building costs.
Over a 20-year payout period, an $80 Million dollar building program would cost county taxpayers another $61 Million in interest for a total cost of $141 Million TAX Dollars (principal + interest).
Over a 25-year payout period, that same $80 Million dollar building program would cost county taxpayers another $80 Million in interest for a total cost of $160 Million TAX dollars (principal + interest). [These costs are from a county cost estimate]
Those are sobering figures that should make anyone pause ---but especially so in these uncertain and difficult economic times in Hamblen County and across the nation.
Another sobering figure is the debt still owed by the county (taxpayers) on the previous (1998) $35 Million dollar school building program and $5 Million capital improvement program. The re-payment schedule for that $40 Million debt was set up as interest only payments for the first 8 years or so, meaning that after making "minimum payments" for 8 years or so, the county still owed the same $40 Million that it had borrowed at the start.
It started as a discussion about a 1.4 Million dollar land purchase for a new East High School.
It ended with 10 commissioners voting "no" and 3 commissioners voting "yes."
After the Education Committee vote was taken yesterday, the school board, Dr. Lynch, and Central Office administrators scooped up the powerpoint presentation and left the building.
Commissioner Joe Swann, chairman of the Education Committee, said to Director of Schools Dale Lynch, "You just heard the door slam on your building program."
Joe Swann, Tommy Massey, and Ricky Bruce voted "yes."
Voting "no" were Stancil Ford, Larry Baker, Guy Collins, Herbert Harville, Reece Sexton, Joe Spoone, Doyle Fullington, Paul Lebel, Dennis Alvis, and Dana Wampler. Commissioner Nancy Phillips was absent.
There were discussions about the price of the land, access roads, site preparation costs, increased traffic, safety concerns, renovations vs. new construction, and practice fields for sports.
Joe Spoone said he wanted to see the funding plan for the entire project before any property is purchased.
Well, when you look at the true costs for the entire project, you will see that the $80 Million estimate is just a fraction of the total taxpayer costs.
There is not $80 Million sitting around waiting to be spent on another school building program. The $80 Million has to be borrowed, and that means there are interest costs on top of the actual building costs.
Over a 20-year payout period, an $80 Million dollar building program would cost county taxpayers another $61 Million in interest for a total cost of $141 Million TAX Dollars (principal + interest).
Over a 25-year payout period, that same $80 Million dollar building program would cost county taxpayers another $80 Million in interest for a total cost of $160 Million TAX dollars (principal + interest). [These costs are from a county cost estimate]
Those are sobering figures that should make anyone pause ---but especially so in these uncertain and difficult economic times in Hamblen County and across the nation.
Another sobering figure is the debt still owed by the county (taxpayers) on the previous (1998) $35 Million dollar school building program and $5 Million capital improvement program. The re-payment schedule for that $40 Million debt was set up as interest only payments for the first 8 years or so, meaning that after making "minimum payments" for 8 years or so, the county still owed the same $40 Million that it had borrowed at the start.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
February 21, 2009 Maybe, Just Maybe, the 2009-2010 Hamblen County Budget Will Be On-Line This Year
During the visitor's comments portion of the Hamblen County Commission meeting on February 19, 2009, I again asked that Hamblen County budget documents be made accessible to the public on the Hamblen County website.
I've been pushing for this from the time I served on commission in 2002-2006 and afterward. This time, there was a mini-breakthrough and a glimmer of sunshine.
Commissioner Nancy Phillips turned to Chairman Stancil Ford and stated she thought that the proposal was a good idea. She asked that the request be placed on the agenda for March committee meetings.
[While I was serving on Commission, Commissioner Phillips and I along with several others pushed to get a Hamblen Government website up and running. She and I also led the push for televising commission meetings. She has a track record of being a proponent of open government.]
After the meeting, Commissioner Tommy Massey came over and said that he, too, thinks this is a good idea. I asked him to please support this when it comes up in committee meetings.
Thank you, Commissioner Phillips, for getting this placed in committee for consideration. Thank you, Commissioner Massey, for expressing your support.
Sharing detailed information with taxpayers about how their taxes have been and are being spent should be a no-brainer. And making information like this available on the government website is a simple process of feeding papers into a scanner and then posting it.
It's time to open up and expand the local government-to-taxpayer information pipeline. As Larry says, when he's not working on cable repairs, Git 'r done!
I've been pushing for this from the time I served on commission in 2002-2006 and afterward. This time, there was a mini-breakthrough and a glimmer of sunshine.
Commissioner Nancy Phillips turned to Chairman Stancil Ford and stated she thought that the proposal was a good idea. She asked that the request be placed on the agenda for March committee meetings.
[While I was serving on Commission, Commissioner Phillips and I along with several others pushed to get a Hamblen Government website up and running. She and I also led the push for televising commission meetings. She has a track record of being a proponent of open government.]
After the meeting, Commissioner Tommy Massey came over and said that he, too, thinks this is a good idea. I asked him to please support this when it comes up in committee meetings.
Thank you, Commissioner Phillips, for getting this placed in committee for consideration. Thank you, Commissioner Massey, for expressing your support.
Sharing detailed information with taxpayers about how their taxes have been and are being spent should be a no-brainer. And making information like this available on the government website is a simple process of feeding papers into a scanner and then posting it.
It's time to open up and expand the local government-to-taxpayer information pipeline. As Larry says, when he's not working on cable repairs, Git 'r done!
Friday, December 21, 2007
December 21, 2007 Hamblen Commission Passes Illegal Immigration Resolutions
The Hamblen County Commission joined with the City of Morristown and overwhelmingly passed both anti-ILLEGAL Immigration resolutions last night.
Several individuals spoke at the beginning of the meeting expressing various concerns about illegal immigration and encouraging the commission to support the resolutions.
When it came time to vote, only two commissioners spoke.
Joe Swann repeated many of the same comments he had made during a previous committee meeting. It's a "federal issue."
He's against anything illegal, but he was afraid that passing the resolutions might cause the county to have to raise taxes and/or quit taking state prisoners in order to make more room for local illegals in the jail.
I guess Joe doesn't recall that his very first tax vote as a commissioner was to raise taxes-- largely to increase law enforcement spending. He had no problem then in raising taxes to pay for additional law enforcement costs of the sanctuary county (Hamblen) .
And Joe will probably have no problem in raising taxes again this coming year for the ever-increasing educational and healthcare and law enforcements costs that the county incurs as a result of being held out as a magnet for illegal immigration.
Tommy Massey, as he did in committee, spoke up to support Swann. Tommy, too, is against anything illegal. I don't believe Tommy mentioned this time--as he did in committee-- that conditions are bad in Mexico and that he himself would do anything to bring his family here.
Tommy said he would go ahead and vote for the resolutions to the extent that they just "say" we want someone else --the state and federal governments-- to do something.
Joe, as I recall, abstained from voting on one of the resolutions and voted against the other.
The next step is for citizens and commission to really push for action at the state and federal levels...the time is right and our Congressman David Davis is firmly against ILLEGAL immigration.
Several individuals spoke at the beginning of the meeting expressing various concerns about illegal immigration and encouraging the commission to support the resolutions.
When it came time to vote, only two commissioners spoke.
Joe Swann repeated many of the same comments he had made during a previous committee meeting. It's a "federal issue."
He's against anything illegal, but he was afraid that passing the resolutions might cause the county to have to raise taxes and/or quit taking state prisoners in order to make more room for local illegals in the jail.
I guess Joe doesn't recall that his very first tax vote as a commissioner was to raise taxes-- largely to increase law enforcement spending. He had no problem then in raising taxes to pay for additional law enforcement costs of the sanctuary county (Hamblen) .
And Joe will probably have no problem in raising taxes again this coming year for the ever-increasing educational and healthcare and law enforcements costs that the county incurs as a result of being held out as a magnet for illegal immigration.
Tommy Massey, as he did in committee, spoke up to support Swann. Tommy, too, is against anything illegal. I don't believe Tommy mentioned this time--as he did in committee-- that conditions are bad in Mexico and that he himself would do anything to bring his family here.
Tommy said he would go ahead and vote for the resolutions to the extent that they just "say" we want someone else --the state and federal governments-- to do something.
Joe, as I recall, abstained from voting on one of the resolutions and voted against the other.
The next step is for citizens and commission to really push for action at the state and federal levels...the time is right and our Congressman David Davis is firmly against ILLEGAL immigration.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
December 11, 2007 Hamblen County Committee Sends Illegal Immigration Resolutions To Full Commission
A Committee of the Hamblen County Commission voted yesterday to send Anti-ILLEGAL Immigration Resolutions on to the full Commission on December 20.
In what was at times a heated discussion, Commissioners Joe Swann and Tommy Massey lined up together to present the case for waiting and studying the issue.
Joe Swann pointed out that businesses pay the majority of property taxes in Morristown and in Hamblen County and he wants to wait to get his "hands around" the whole issue.
Tommy Massey said conditions are deplorable in Mexico, and he defended Commissioner Swann's desire to study the issue.
Commissioners Joe Spoone and Larry Baker along with Sheriff Esco Jarnagin presented the case against ILLEGAL immigration, pointing out the obvious---the issue is ILLEGAL immigration.
And pointing out that it is ILLEGAL immigration even if it benefits the bottomline of a business and even if it benefits the lawbreaker and his family.
They also pointed out the devastating and wide-ranging economic effects of ILLEGAL immigration on the average person in Hamblen County. Increased law enforcement and incarceration costs, increased educational costs, increased healthcare costs, increased costs for social benefits.
More to come...
In what was at times a heated discussion, Commissioners Joe Swann and Tommy Massey lined up together to present the case for waiting and studying the issue.
Joe Swann pointed out that businesses pay the majority of property taxes in Morristown and in Hamblen County and he wants to wait to get his "hands around" the whole issue.
Tommy Massey said conditions are deplorable in Mexico, and he defended Commissioner Swann's desire to study the issue.
Commissioners Joe Spoone and Larry Baker along with Sheriff Esco Jarnagin presented the case against ILLEGAL immigration, pointing out the obvious---the issue is ILLEGAL immigration.
And pointing out that it is ILLEGAL immigration even if it benefits the bottomline of a business and even if it benefits the lawbreaker and his family.
They also pointed out the devastating and wide-ranging economic effects of ILLEGAL immigration on the average person in Hamblen County. Increased law enforcement and incarceration costs, increased educational costs, increased healthcare costs, increased costs for social benefits.
More to come...
Friday, October 19, 2007
October 19, 2007 Macbeth/MacCollins: "Out D**n Button"
The Hamblen County Commission met last night.
The Tribune photographer took a picture of three local high school students receiving a "Give Kids Good Schools" resolution.
Almost all the votes were 13-0, but there was one 12-1 vote when Larry Baker cast a dissenting vote in opposition to adoption of an "International Building Code" which he sees as an added layer of bureaucracy and expense for home builders and home buyers.
And there was one 11-0-2 vote when a capital plan was adopted with Joe Swann and Frank Parker abstaining due to conflicts of interest.
The really interesting part of the meeting--and just about the only true time of discussion--came toward the end of the meeting.
The quote of the day goes to Commissioner Guy Collins. Guy wanted to speak on one of the agenda items but was told by Chairman Ford that he had to press his "speaking" button before he could continue.
Guy, who has been a county commissioner longer than several of the other commissioners have been alive, kept trying to hit his "speak" button but finally blurted out that he didn't care about that d**n button. Lady Macbeth, no doubt, would have appreciated Guy MacCollins frustration!
[The new voting system that has been instituted by Chairman Ford requires that commissioners who want to speak must hit a "speak" button and then be recognized before making any comments. ]
If Guy's Macbeth remark was the highlight of the meeting, the lowlight came shortly after during discussion of staffing and title changes in the sheriff's department. After listening to commissioners, a citizen (Bonnie Oakberg) raised her hand and asked if she could ask a question.
Chairman Ford lashed out with a clear "no," and in his brief explanation, Ford told Ms. Oakberg that she should have talked to commission at the beginning of the meeting if she had anything to say. Ms. Oakberg then said that she had just thought of something that she wanted to ask.
Ms. Oakberg added that the previous commission used to allow the public to comment when items came up for discussion. [She's right. I was on that commission and was extremely proud of our policy of openness and our willingness to listen to public input.]
With an "I'm important. You're not" attitude, Chairman Ford let Ms. Oakberg know that she would not be allowed to ask a question. Ms. Oakberg left the meeting.
At the end, Commissioner Nancy Phillips asked for a moment to make a statement. She turned to Commissioner Joe Swann and said that she didn't want to get into a fight with anyone, but she did want to say that she thinks that the public should be allowed to speak if they have a question that comes up after the public comments portion of the meeting.
Joe Swann, agreeing with Chairman Ford's heavy-handed tactics, said if the public was allowed to speak there would be "chaos." Apparently, Swann's definition of "chaos" is the public speaking and the commission taking the time to listen.
Then he told Ms. Phillips that the previous commission had been "chaotic." Swann's definition of "chaotic"? Probably commissioners who ask questions, who try to control spending, and who think that higher taxes and spiraling debt pass an overwhelming financial burden on to our children.
Commissioner Phillips took exception to Swann's remarks and replied that there had never been chaos.
Commissioner Tommy Massey who ran unopposed for the seat that I vacated said that he liked the current (Stancil Ford) process and the way the meetings were handled.
Commissioner Baker spoke up in support of Commissioner Phillips.
The meeting was quickly adjourned by Chairman Ford.
I hear from sources that Commissioner Joe Spoone and perhaps another commissioner told Phillips after the meeting that they supported her position on letting the public ask questions during discussion of issues.
The previous commission allowed open, but not unlimited, discussion. Often very good ideas and suggestions were brought up by citizens in the audience. As Commissioner Phillips was heard to say after last night's meeting, citizens have good ideas, too!
Obviously, commissioners make the final decision, but that doesn't mean that the public should be ignored or insulted as Ms. Oakberg was simply because she politely requested permission to ask a question.
I heard one person say last night that Stancil Ford must still think he's in the Tennessee House of Representatives and that he's been reincarnated as iron-fisted Speaker of the House Democrat Jimmy Naifeh.
Ford barks at commissioners and at the public. And to make sure that he can get out of there in 30 minutes, he runs through the agenda like it's a race... with no time to listen to questions that might arise from the public during the meeting.
The Tribune photographer took a picture of three local high school students receiving a "Give Kids Good Schools" resolution.
Almost all the votes were 13-0, but there was one 12-1 vote when Larry Baker cast a dissenting vote in opposition to adoption of an "International Building Code" which he sees as an added layer of bureaucracy and expense for home builders and home buyers.
And there was one 11-0-2 vote when a capital plan was adopted with Joe Swann and Frank Parker abstaining due to conflicts of interest.
The really interesting part of the meeting--and just about the only true time of discussion--came toward the end of the meeting.
The quote of the day goes to Commissioner Guy Collins. Guy wanted to speak on one of the agenda items but was told by Chairman Ford that he had to press his "speaking" button before he could continue.
Guy, who has been a county commissioner longer than several of the other commissioners have been alive, kept trying to hit his "speak" button but finally blurted out that he didn't care about that d**n button. Lady Macbeth, no doubt, would have appreciated Guy MacCollins frustration!
[The new voting system that has been instituted by Chairman Ford requires that commissioners who want to speak must hit a "speak" button and then be recognized before making any comments. ]
If Guy's Macbeth remark was the highlight of the meeting, the lowlight came shortly after during discussion of staffing and title changes in the sheriff's department. After listening to commissioners, a citizen (Bonnie Oakberg) raised her hand and asked if she could ask a question.
Chairman Ford lashed out with a clear "no," and in his brief explanation, Ford told Ms. Oakberg that she should have talked to commission at the beginning of the meeting if she had anything to say. Ms. Oakberg then said that she had just thought of something that she wanted to ask.
Ms. Oakberg added that the previous commission used to allow the public to comment when items came up for discussion. [She's right. I was on that commission and was extremely proud of our policy of openness and our willingness to listen to public input.]
With an "I'm important. You're not" attitude, Chairman Ford let Ms. Oakberg know that she would not be allowed to ask a question. Ms. Oakberg left the meeting.
At the end, Commissioner Nancy Phillips asked for a moment to make a statement. She turned to Commissioner Joe Swann and said that she didn't want to get into a fight with anyone, but she did want to say that she thinks that the public should be allowed to speak if they have a question that comes up after the public comments portion of the meeting.
Joe Swann, agreeing with Chairman Ford's heavy-handed tactics, said if the public was allowed to speak there would be "chaos." Apparently, Swann's definition of "chaos" is the public speaking and the commission taking the time to listen.
Then he told Ms. Phillips that the previous commission had been "chaotic." Swann's definition of "chaotic"? Probably commissioners who ask questions, who try to control spending, and who think that higher taxes and spiraling debt pass an overwhelming financial burden on to our children.
Commissioner Phillips took exception to Swann's remarks and replied that there had never been chaos.
Commissioner Tommy Massey who ran unopposed for the seat that I vacated said that he liked the current (Stancil Ford) process and the way the meetings were handled.
Commissioner Baker spoke up in support of Commissioner Phillips.
The meeting was quickly adjourned by Chairman Ford.
I hear from sources that Commissioner Joe Spoone and perhaps another commissioner told Phillips after the meeting that they supported her position on letting the public ask questions during discussion of issues.
The previous commission allowed open, but not unlimited, discussion. Often very good ideas and suggestions were brought up by citizens in the audience. As Commissioner Phillips was heard to say after last night's meeting, citizens have good ideas, too!
Obviously, commissioners make the final decision, but that doesn't mean that the public should be ignored or insulted as Ms. Oakberg was simply because she politely requested permission to ask a question.
I heard one person say last night that Stancil Ford must still think he's in the Tennessee House of Representatives and that he's been reincarnated as iron-fisted Speaker of the House Democrat Jimmy Naifeh.
Ford barks at commissioners and at the public. And to make sure that he can get out of there in 30 minutes, he runs through the agenda like it's a race... with no time to listen to questions that might arise from the public during the meeting.
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