From outward appearances, it would seem that the clowns remain in control at the circus called the Augusta Commission.
One would almost expect to see that small clown car drive down the center aisle of the chambers and all of the commissioners come jumping out to perform their own brand of lunacy.
The financial audit routine was a performance that must have been choreographed by a seasoned skit writer. It had it all: outrage, denials, accusations, finger pointing, side stepping and double talk.
The only thing missing was the country artist Garth Brooks jumping up from behind the dais and breaking out into a country song about “Lyin’, Cheatin’ and Stealin.'” Why it was such a great performance it had a couple of commissioners grinning and wringing their hands in glee like two school yard bullies throwing rocks and then sticking their hands in their pockets like they are the innocents.
The way the bid process is being presented and forced upon the public is nothing short of total absurdity. But the usual commissioners are defending the actions of the procurement director, finance director and the interim administrator for their choice for the cost saving bid.
You always get what you pay for.
To digress for just a moment, remember when “Earl Scheib Paint and Body” advertised he could paint any car for $99.95? Well, he was true to his word.
Now, what he didn’t tell you is that with that price you got absolutely no prep work.
The paint job didn’t include washing the car beforehand, sanding of any area, removal of pinstriping and no painting of the inside of door frames or trunk lid. So when you got your newly painted car back, all would complain of the painted over dirt, pinstriping and not painted door frames and truck lids, having not read the fine print.
The manager would just remind you and show you the release you signed and that you got what you paid for.
That is exactly what the audit bid they are trying to force feed the public will do. Yes, the bid they snuck in at the last moment is for half the amount of the original approved bid. It is also for half the work, half the hours and it will be conducted over the internet.
The question was asked and answered that the city would be sending and submitting what was to be audited. WOW !!!!!!
In my opinion that is an out right signal that the auditors will be sent what is known as “clean” documents to audit. Yes, indeedy, the city will only send only what the city directors want to send; that way nothing is found.
Once the audit is complete, they can shout to the top of the unmown grass that nothing is wrong with the way the city handles money.
I don’t know about how some feel, but for me that is about as wise as it would be to sit down at a poker table with a dealer who deals from a marked deck. The dealer always knows the predetermined outcome.
It just ain’t smart to sit at that table when you are aware of what is going on.
The company that was awarded the bid first is surely the company that would stand a better chance at a truly clean audit. After all, they would have people here on site in a provided working space at the Municipal Building. They would perform twice as many work hours and they would get access to all of the Park’s and Rec Department’s financial records and contracts.
Now, ask yourself, “Which is the better way to go?”
An audit has been requested for about the past four years. I asked for one while I was in office, to no avail. The majority of the commission would not hear of it.
When Catherine Smith McKnight was elected, she joined in with me asking for a complete in-depth financial audit. Still to no avail, McKnight was shut down as well.
Being the “People’s Commissioner,” McKnight has stuck to her guns and continued to call for the audit. It now seems that Commissioners Wayne Guilfoyle, Brandon Garrett and, in the final months of his term, Sean Frantom have also joined the fight.
They are now seeing first hand the lengths that the directors and interim administrator will go to in order to stop an in-depth audit.
Question, what is it that they all are afraid of?
Another issue was explained laughably, if you are gullible enough to believe it, which I don’t believe you are.
Frantom brought to everyone’s attention the burned out structure located at 2104 Broad St. in the Harrisburg section of district one. This structure has been left as is since the fire almost a year ago. Frantom inquired as to why the state code 41-2-5, international maintenance code section hasn’t been enforced.
The excuses began to fly. It was impressive as to the number of reasons for no action that Carla Delaney pulled out of her hat .
Time lines on court dates were to blame, along with the outside attorney who the department hired seemed to have dropped the ball as to the date. Delaney even used the Engineering Director Dr. Hameed Malik’s reasoning that the fallen bricks are the only thing holding the wall up.
Now that was about as believable as Wile E. Coyote catching the Roadrunner with an anvil and butterfly net, just ride by and see for yourself.
The first thing that needs to happen is that the Code Enforcement Department needs to be handed over to the Marshal’s Department, so that issues such as toppled over buildings can and will be handled and the law enforced.
It is also a shame that someone can sell alcohol out of an ice chest on Broad Street or set up a grill and sell hotdogs and burgers downtown on a weekend night without a license and nothing is done about it. Oh, that’s right, code enforcement “doesn’t work nights or weekends, as it is too dangerous.”
That quote came straight from the mouth of the code enforcement director.
The pipe bomb heard exploding during the last commission meeting was when district four commissioner Alvin Mason announced he was stepping down for much needed back surgery. OK, I can understand that. He stated in his absence district nine’s Commissioner Francine Scott would be overseeing his district four.
While it likely wasn’t intentional, that action, in essence, nullified the Mayor’s newly gotten vote. How interesting is that?
Now, not to stir the pot of ill intent, but exactly how is his leave of absence going to work? He has said it will be for an undetermined period of time, from, I believe, four weeks to six months.
Will Commissioner Mason still receive his pay and allowance while on leave? Will Commissioner Scott want additional pay for overseeing a district that’s already in her super district? Better yet, will Scott want two votes instead of just her one? After all, she can say she’s doing double duty.
Why can’t Mason vote while on leave? There are lots of questions, few answers.
Although most of the commissioners, department directors and city employees claim that they do not read The Augusta Press, they sure do know what is written about them according to the comments they make in reference to TAP. Maybe someone will step up and answer these questions being asked.
Meanwhile, TAP readers, you may read for yourself. Here is what the law has to say according to OCGA 50-14-1{g}{3}:
“On any other occasion of the meeting of an agency or committee thereof, and so long as a quorum is present in person, a member may participate by teleconference if necessary due to reasons of health or absence from the jurisdiction so long as the other requirements of this chapter are met. Absent emergency conditions or the written opinion of a physician or other health professional that reasons of health prevent a member’s physical presence, no member shall participate by teleconference pursuant to this subsection more than twice in one calendar year.”
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
