This past Tuesday I was running just a bit behind schedule and arrived just after the start of the Commissioner’s committee meetings.
As I walked into the chambers and made my way to my usual seat, I almost laughed out loud. Why? Several of the city’s code enforcement officers were present. What was amusing was the fact that they were wearing body armor. Yes, the same body armor that Director Carla Delaney once stated she didn’t want the code enforcement officers to wear because she didn’t want them to look like law enforcement officers.
Well, one would just have to know something was up. And indeed it was.
The enforcement officers evidently were dressed to show they were professional and able to do the job they have been paid to perform; just not on nights and weekends, You know, “It’s too dangerous.”
The agenda item to discuss placing Code Enforcement under the Marshal’s office was postponed, which is just another game of kick the can. This time Commissioner Francine Scott ran interference for Director Carla Delaney.
Scott stated they needed to appoint a commissioner to meet with Code Enforcement and the Marshal’s office and hear from each department the pros and cons of such a move, as if that hasn’t been the center of many discussions already.
Taxpayers, property and business owners can expect for this agenda to ultimately fail. Commissioners will continue to protect the directors and territorial boundaries with no regard to what is best for the city.
Another item that was really painful to listen to and watch unfold was the additional funding to provide expanded scope of services related to Fleming Park.
The funding was for the amount of $460,00.50 with an included 15% contingency of $53,530.50.
This is where the confusion set in. Is this new construction? No, already done. Well, OK. What about the 15%? Now this is where the interim Central Services Director does his best Fred Flintstone imitation. It was ” Yaba Daba Do” all the rest of the way.
In the middle of this fleecing, it was discovered that a years-long debt of over $200,000 had not been paid to a vendor. Really? Where’s the money? Why hasn’t the vendor publicly demanded payment? Can we say forensic audit?
It seems to be that Engineering Director Hameed Malik cannot operate and pay the contracted vendors with the 1% budget cut that Mayor Garnett Johnson asked for and was approved by the commission.
So, Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle had this item placed on the Engineering Committee’s agenda as a motion to approve amending Engineering & Environmental Services FY2024 budgets initial reductions by limiting the 1% reductions to be applied to operational budgets with exceptions of Environmental Services’ operation budgets and restore Environmental Service budgets to pre-reduction amount.
Presently, 1% reductions are applied to the total budget that includes employees’ wages & benefits.
Malik showed the commissioners that if he took one percent from the vendor’s total charge, then that wouldn’t be enough to pay the vendor. Now from this single example, I suspect that he is going line-by-line item expense and taking the 1% deduction from that expense.
This should indicate a game being played, and the Engineering Committee allowed him to win. How about taking the 1% from the total budget and then get to work balancing the money.
Again, can we say forensic audit?
Mayor Garnett Johnson: I was not there for your first official VOTE. The vote to go into legal session and lunch is at best, a soft vote. The real VOTE begins Tuesday at the full Commission meeting. The citizens that believe in you and worked to get you that vote will be watching and listening.
I am one of those citizens. Already, you are being challenged on something that you wanted, a 1% budget cut. The question is “Will you stand firm on your idea and budget responsibility or will you concede to the restoration of the 1%?”
This past week a “workshop” was held to discuss how to relieve the overcrowding of the Webster Detention Center. Bail bonds not being set, cases backlogged, courts overburdened and not enough judges to hear the cases. The list goes on and on.
And of course the stand-by-blame, Covid, is a reason as well. So what to do, oh, what to do? The one thing for sure that is not going to help is to throw more money at it.
The city attorney appointed to the Aviation Commission, Rachel Mack, will be honored this coming Wednesday, July 17, at the Daniel Field Airport. It will be a Glioblastoma Awareness Day event.
Sadly, Ms. Mack suffers from this debilitating cancer. Despite this battle, she was on the telephone during this past Wednesday’s Bush Field commission meeting, ready to serve as needed. This, in itself, shows the determination to beat this illness.
If you have never had the pleasure of meeting this lady, then you have missed a blessing.
There will be special events, airplane unveiling and dedication plus several dignitaries in attendance. Augusta’s Mayor Garnett Johnson will be there. So please come on out to the Daniel Field Airport and show your support. The time will be announced.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
