January 22, 2007
FOR $90,000 YOUR CAN PURCHASE INTEGRITY, HONESTY AND ETHICAL CONDUCT. WHAT A BARGAIN!!!
In the ethical morass that is called the City Government, Councilman Joe Brown has hit a new low. He made the statement the other day that said, in effect, that for the $30,000 salary that he is being paid, he should be allowed to do business with the City and make money but for just $90,000 more ($120,000 salary) he would not need to have a conflict of interest. This $90,000 sounds like the same amount of money that US Representative Jefferson kept frozen in his freezer. Is there something significant about this amount?
If this does not show the need for changes in the City Charter and for these changes to be voted on in the October election of this year, then there is little hope for this City. Again, watchdog calls for the following changes either from the City Council or from the Charter Commission or from both.
TERM LIMITS- Prevent elected officials from getting the tenure that gives them the position to sell their influence to developers and other buyers of political influence exhibited by Tennessee Waltz and Main Street Sweep.
NO SALE OF MLGW WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL- Because MLGW is piling up cash at the ratepayers expense, politicians want to get their hands on the cash. As of December 31, 2005, MLGW had $167 million in unrestricted cash, up from $111 million in one year. The law says that any surplus remaining after establishment of proper reserves, shall be devoted solely to the reduction of rates.
THIGHTEN ETHICS RULES- No election official should be able to serve if he benefits from any contract involving City taxpayer money even if he recuses himself from voting on that particular contract or issue.
PENSION REFORM- the January 2001 pension change has cost millions of dollars to date and will go on costing millions more as these elected and appointed officials retire. Since hardly any of the taxpaying public has a defined benefit pension plan anymore, a defined contribution plan should be instituted in the future for all newly hired public employees.
OPEN RECORDS- Only by putting all important contract bids, purchase orders, personnel salaries and benefits on the internet and by making open records access easier, can we keep the sunshine on government practices which politicians like to conceal. The current no bid purchase orders given under the ACS contract shield is an example of gross abuse and lack of transparency in bidding and awarding contracts.
APPOINTEES- There are over 400 appointees whereas the charter, according to Sara Hall’s reading, only allows about 110. This needs to be defined and limited to much less. The January 2001 pension resolution allowing elected and appointed officials to collect pensions and health benefits after only 12 years regardless of age has already cost millions and has the potential to cost $60 million if all of the current eligible elected and appointed people retire under that provision.
RESTRICT ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM VOTING MEMBERSHIP ON CITY AND COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS- This is where the influence peddling starts and needs to be stopped.
CONTRACTING AUTHORITY- Prohibit the Mayor, any Mayor, from signing any contract unless it has been approved and funded by the City Council.
A charter section like the Shelby County charter section which allow citizen generated referendums like the voters used in 1994 to set term limits on County Commissioners.
An open records charter amendment requiring election commission reports of donations and expenditures to be submitted electronically in spreadsheet format so that they can be entered into a unified database and published for notification and verification of information.
In the ethical morass that is called the City Government, Councilman Joe Brown has hit a new low. He made the statement the other day that said, in effect, that for the $30,000 salary that he is being paid, he should be allowed to do business with the City and make money but for just $90,000 more ($120,000 salary) he would not need to have a conflict of interest. This $90,000 sounds like the same amount of money that US Representative Jefferson kept frozen in his freezer. Is there something significant about this amount?
If this does not show the need for changes in the City Charter and for these changes to be voted on in the October election of this year, then there is little hope for this City. Again, watchdog calls for the following changes either from the City Council or from the Charter Commission or from both.
TERM LIMITS- Prevent elected officials from getting the tenure that gives them the position to sell their influence to developers and other buyers of political influence exhibited by Tennessee Waltz and Main Street Sweep.
NO SALE OF MLGW WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL- Because MLGW is piling up cash at the ratepayers expense, politicians want to get their hands on the cash. As of December 31, 2005, MLGW had $167 million in unrestricted cash, up from $111 million in one year. The law says that any surplus remaining after establishment of proper reserves, shall be devoted solely to the reduction of rates.
THIGHTEN ETHICS RULES- No election official should be able to serve if he benefits from any contract involving City taxpayer money even if he recuses himself from voting on that particular contract or issue.
PENSION REFORM- the January 2001 pension change has cost millions of dollars to date and will go on costing millions more as these elected and appointed officials retire. Since hardly any of the taxpaying public has a defined benefit pension plan anymore, a defined contribution plan should be instituted in the future for all newly hired public employees.
OPEN RECORDS- Only by putting all important contract bids, purchase orders, personnel salaries and benefits on the internet and by making open records access easier, can we keep the sunshine on government practices which politicians like to conceal. The current no bid purchase orders given under the ACS contract shield is an example of gross abuse and lack of transparency in bidding and awarding contracts.
APPOINTEES- There are over 400 appointees whereas the charter, according to Sara Hall’s reading, only allows about 110. This needs to be defined and limited to much less. The January 2001 pension resolution allowing elected and appointed officials to collect pensions and health benefits after only 12 years regardless of age has already cost millions and has the potential to cost $60 million if all of the current eligible elected and appointed people retire under that provision.
RESTRICT ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM VOTING MEMBERSHIP ON CITY AND COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS- This is where the influence peddling starts and needs to be stopped.
CONTRACTING AUTHORITY- Prohibit the Mayor, any Mayor, from signing any contract unless it has been approved and funded by the City Council.
A charter section like the Shelby County charter section which allow citizen generated referendums like the voters used in 1994 to set term limits on County Commissioners.
An open records charter amendment requiring election commission reports of donations and expenditures to be submitted electronically in spreadsheet format so that they can be entered into a unified database and published for notification and verification of information.
posted by watchdog at
9:39 AM
2 Comments:
I love your ideas, do you think you would like to relocate to Loudon County- the most corrupt county in the state? The governor can holler till the cows come home about restoring the public trust in government, and ethics commissions, but try getting him to help clean up local governments. He could care less, as most state officals say" It is not our job." They pass it on- is no one responsible for their actions anymore?
By
Unknown, at 12:39 PM
I also have a few suggestions for charter reform. Mandatory external audits of any contract over a certain amount. If audits were conducted on the Linebarger Firm or Beale Street, the city could have saved taxpayers that extra 10% collection fee and no telling how much from Elkington.
Also, contractually obligate any entity that recieves taxpayer funds or monies for work under city contracts to comply with open records laws. No citizen or media outlet should have to go to court to force an entity that does business with city funds to disclose its records of how those funds are used.
Lastly, I also think it would be an excellent idea to implement a disadvantaged neighboorhood improvement clause for developers. If these powerbrokers and companies who renevate downtown for profit can spend millions on apartment buildings and offices with taxbreaks, then they can spend a hundred thousand on community centers, after school programs, and clean up of blighted areas.
Just my two cents.
By
Anonymous, at 11:51 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home