| ||
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 | ||
For past Letters to the Editor, view our Archives by publication date.
Bad Links? | What our Readers Are SayingLetters to the Editor Mayor Brown: Farr article misleadingA Citizen article entitled, Friends of Tom Farr to support opposition to Mayor Brown, was a bit misleading with a few assumptions made by the reporter about the Development Authority of Peachtree City (DAPC). Rick Schlosser and the rest of the DIRECT PAC leadership have taken their weakened organization that has consistently defended DAPC actions and converted it into the Friends of Tom Farr that is geared toward a more emotional and less factual position. The reporter never mentions that DAPC members and DIRECT PAC leaders are visibly behind the new emotional Farr political strategy. The reporter mentions that due to the DAPC not being able to have access to the hotel/motel tax that the authority has been financially insolvent when it comes to paying those large notes [from Peachtree National Bank]. The fact of the matter is that the DAPC was never able to pay anything but small interest payments on the loans even when they had the hotel/motel tax because they were constantly in the red and borrowing every year. In essence, they were financially insolvent before the hotel/motel tax was taken away. Without the back-door loans, the tennis center and amphitheater would have been closed down a long time ago under the DAPC. The reporter stated, ... the [DAPC] loans were approved. He continued, Brown further alleged that Farr didnt take himself out of the discussion for seeking such loans, but he admitted that there is no evidence of that in the authoritys minutes which Brown has researched. First of all, the original loans were NEVER approved by the DAPC as set forth in state law. Second, I did not allege that Farr did not take himself out of the discussion for seeking such loans. Instead, I stated that there was no public discussion at all on the loans as prescribed by the law. You cannot take yourself out of something that never happened. By the way, Tom Farrs name does appear on the loan documents at Peachtree National Bank, so there is no doubt that he was involved. Yes, a lot of the DIRECT PAC and Friends people are scrambling to save a sinking ship. Attorney Doug Warner was in a position of responsibility when everything went down. DIRECT PAC leader Rex Green works for Group VI who is also suing the city for the DAPC misdeeds. Former Mayor Bob Lenox was at the helm when millions of dollars poured into the DAPC with no accountability structure being implemented. Lenox was a DAPC member himself before becoming mayor. Bob Brooks was on the City Council that passed the 1993 intergovernmental agreement with the DAPC and he later became a DAPC member and participated in acquirement of loans and change orders to city-owned facilities without a public discussion or vote. I am proud of the way that our City Council has been one of the most open in Georgia. The elected officials and the citizens have had some meaningful discussions on a number of issues and the process has worked well. Open government does work. Not everyone gets what they want, but the actions taken are legal and all know that the system is fair. Let us not go back to the old ways. Steve Brown, mayor
Some of those people respond to Mayor BrownThe Friends of Tom Farr organization has pledged not to respond directly to anyone who chooses to criticize or tries to politicize this movement, its purpose, or the over 350 citizens who signed the Call for Action. Clearly this is the proper position for the group to take. We respect and support this position, but certainly comments from individuals are appropriate, and here are ours. As participants in the Friends of Tom Farr presentation on May 6, and as two of those who helped compile the list of sponsors and supporters, we have had the opportunity to observe and reflect upon the wonderful people who signed the Call To Action. Regrettably, their reward for signing the Call to Action was to be declared politically bankrupt by the mayor of Peachtree City, accused by him of conducting an emotional circus, and, most interestingly, labeled by him as those people, that is, citizens, for whom he was unable and unwilling to disrupt his busy schedule. So, who are those people? For the most part, the 350-plus signers are and have been instrumental in helping make Peachtree City what it has become from 1959 to 2001, without question, the best place to live anywhere. Yes, there are some signers who do not actually live in Peachtree City, but this is appropriate. Toms influence and efforts to help others extended well beyond the city limits of Peachtree City. Still, a careful check of those on the list will reveal that most are residents of the city. Politically bankrupt individuals? We dont think so. Sure, some are in the political arena, and they have served honorably as former mayors of Peachtree City, former city council members, planning commission and authority members; present and former officials in Fayette County, Brooks, Tyrone, Fayetteville and other counties. And as was emphasized by one of us in stating his own personal feelings at the event on May 6, the list of those people includes productive, successful and optimistic people who love Peachtree City and have contributed enormously to its success over the years. The list of signers includes the founder of Peachtree City and many others involved in its building and design over the years, such as landscape architects, engineers, surveyors, Realtors (both residential and commercial), subcontractors, vendors, homebuilders, retail business owners, dentists and doctors and nurses, other caregivers, many airline people, and a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Also on the list is a best-selling author, the former president of Delta Airlines, those who brought the FAA and National Weather Service and many other businesses to Peachtree City, attorneys, bankers, accountants, advertising people, editors, publishers, firefighters, EMTs, police officers, teachers and other educators, retirees, full-time mothers, fathers and grandparents, and members of our armed forces, both active and retired. And most importantly, the list is filled with those who volunteer their time, energy and money to worthwhile causes such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimists, Samaritans, the Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Fayette Senior Services, The Pioneers Club, Southern Conservation Trust, Cultural Arts, American Legion, many other local civic groups and worthwhile causes, their places of worship, and the city itself. All are on the list of supporters and sponsors of the Friends of Tom Farr. Is the Friends of Tom Farr movement a political stunt, an emotional distraction, a witch hunt, as the mayor claims, or is it a sincere effort on the part of many involved and committed citizens to honor and defend the late Tom Farr and muzzle a runaway politician? Let the good citizens and voters of Peachtree City decide. Jimmy Booth
Some teachers get away with incompetenceThere have recently been some very public issues involving school teachers losing their certificates for not adhering to certain policies. Aside from the rules these teachers broke, they were considered excellent teachers. They had good yearly evaluations and excellent rapport with students, parents, and other teachers. I am a teacher myself and I am a stickler for following rules. I understand that these teachers made mistakes, and there should be consequences for those mistakes. What I do not understand is how there are other teachers, right here in Fayette County, who are still teaching after 30 years who also often do not follow policies, and who cannot claim good rapport with students, parents, and other teachers. In fact, one of these teachers is known to have such poor relationships with students and parents that students are routinely transferred from her class at the parents request, and families who have been in the community know to request their child not be placed in that class. It is well-known that this teacher speaks with disrespect towards students, has extremely poor classroom management, sometimes has no idea where students are, does not keep up with important documentation, and continually flouts school policies. Unfortunately, teachers have little recourse when one of our own is giving our professions a black eye. When a teacher has had such poor performance for nearly 30 years, there is no excuse. Thirty years of classes with approximately 25 students each (even more when classes change by subjects, which has been the case for many of those years) amounts to over a thousand students who have had a wasted year in the classroom. There are community members and teachers who have had students in these classes who readily admit it was a wasted year for their child. There are even teachers now teaching who were in some of those classes and who acknowledge what a joke it was. Community members, parents and educators, please let your voice be heard. Go to your school administration, go to the county office, go to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Help protect the integrity of the many outstanding teachers we have in Fayette County, and more importantly, help protect future students from wasted years of education. Name withheld by request
Photocircuits employee: Workers got tiny severance; site said toxicEditors note: The general manager of Peachtree Citys Photocircuits plant was asked to comment on the charges contained within this letter. Scott Formel declined to make a point-by-point rebuttal but did respond to a request for an interview. That story appears on the front page. Hello, my name is Melodee. I have worked at Photocircuits Corp. in Peachtree City, Ga. since March 16,1998. The employees of Photocircuits need help. Please read my lengthy explanation, because I would like your help. We have had it rough for the last four years or so. The company got involved with Intel right about the time I started. I had just come from Advance Circuits Inc. in Minnesota, where Intel got their hopes up for a huge extended contract, only to leave them high and dry. They basically did the same thing to Photocircuits. Photocircuits executives thought they had it made, and they started buying more buildings here, and abroad. Many bad decisions later, and they started to lose money. Well, in the last four years the company has cut our medical reimbursement payments, their 401k contributions, and frozen wages. Twice since, they have cut our wages for about six months. The first time we were told they needed to pay for the building in Costa Rica, for which they had brought numerous Costa Ricans here to train at a huge expense. They were running in the red, they told us, and needed to prove things to the bank, because they were always needing new loans to keep Photocircuits going. We found out on the Internet there was a workmans comp. lawsuit that went against Photocircuits about that time, for about the same amount the company said they needed to pay on the Costa Rica building, almost a half a million dollars. Eventually we got our 10 percent pay reduction reinstated. The second time John Endee, owner, said he needed a 10 percent pay cut so he didnt have to shut down instead. He needed it to pay severance for the last layoff; it should only take about six months again. After that it was reinstated. Well, in December of 2004, we were told that they decided to shut down the Peachtree City operations as opposed to the Glen Cove, N.Y. operations, and move the bulk of the business to China. Never mind they had already filed papers and notified the proper Georgia offices in September of last year. So we heard news stories, with more information than we knew. But still no information from them on when we would close, except that it was to be by September of this year. Just one little note with our paycheck that said that. So we had a big meeting with Human Resources and the Ga. Department of Labor about services that would be available to help us retrain or do a job search. This was good. But at this meeting I asked our Human Resources representative about what the WARN Act said, that Photocircuits was required to give us, individually, 60 days notice, in writing, of a two-week period in which we would be laid off. He said they already gave us notice with our paychecks, and I told him that wasnt good enough. I also sent him a link to the Ga. Department of Labor Web site, where they talked about the WARN Act. Layoffs started April 28 and 29. Another one was this past Thursday and Friday. We heard second shift is due to shut down this coming Friday, but no official word is ever leaked out. More layoffs after that, and we have to be out of our building by the last day in June, because things have been sold. Anyway, we should be covered under all the WARN Act rules I read about, but they have never given us even a days notice of any layoff. But here is where it gets even nastier. As people got laid off in the first round, they went down to Human Resources to be told about severance. Remember, we had paid the severance of the previous layoff about a year and a half ago with our pay cut. Now they were told there would be no severance, but they would be paid a retention bonus based on 30 percent of their severance pay (but severance was being calculated as of last September, when they notified the proper Georgia authorities, not until your last day of work). So they went to Human Resources and signed a paper that they accepted the 30 percent and were officially laid off. But the weekend was not even over before they got a call from New York saying there had been a mistake of the paperwork, and they should go back on Monday and re-sign papers to get 10 percent, and if they didnt they would get nothing. We heard back from one girl who ended up with less than $10, so she asked why she would want to re-sign, and they told her she wouldnt get her vacation pay otherwise. Our pay is earned in one-to-three-hour increments each week; they have to pay it to us. Well, in the end I guess everyone signed. Now the rumor is, since everyone accepted, they have set a precedent, and everyone will get 10 percent. I went to [the Human Resources representative] and asked for copies of my paperwork in my files this past Thursday, because I have always had good reviews and I wanted copies of that. He said no, and he said the company said no. When he tried to give some lame reasons for this, I said, You are so full of [it]! and walked out. He called me back, told me he didnt appreciate being sworn at, being called a liar and said, That hurts, as he patted his hand on his chest. I asked him why he would talk those people into re-signing for 10 percent, and asked if the 30 percent paper was a legally binding contract. He said no. I asked if the 10 percent contract was legally binding. He said no. I asked if it said anywhere on there that they couldnt sue the company for anything more. He said, Absolutely not. He said he didnt have to lie to anyone about anything. I told him I was angry, didnt believe anything he said, and got a number from him for Human Resources in New York to talk about my paperwork, and I left. I have since found out, by going back to the Dept. of Labor WARN Act information, that since those laid-off employees signed and took that 10 percent, that they can no longer benefit from any WARN Act litigation against the company. They know we are not organized and they can get us to sign to be able to get our 10 percent and our vacation pay. Nobody knows their legal rights at Photocircuits, unless there are a few people like me. After what I said to [the rep], I will probably be fired. There are off-duty policemen watching our buildings day and night. I wish they could know what is going on, not only with us but with their city. They decided to close Peachtree City, Ga., instead of Glen Cove, N.Y., because of the toxic waste cleanup expense related to N.Y. It has been there a really long time, and I dont suppose there were many waste standards or good laws back then. They said it would cost millions, we heard $15 million, to close Glen Cove, mostly for toxic waste cleanup. They keep preparing for bankruptcy, but letting the dates go by, but someday soon they probably will, after they have settled the business in China, and gotten all they can from the Chinese in the way of some payments on all the business they are transferring there. Then what will happen to the toxic waste cleanup? And we heard speculation that the reason they are keeping just a few people here in the 350 Dividend Drive building in Peachtree City is because that is our toxic waste building. Do you suppose they intend to leave Peachtree City with the cleanup on that one in the end? So we need help. People are getting laid off daily, and signing for 10 percent. They count on us not being informed on our rights or options. We have been treated so badly, and they want us to give in and give up, and move on. We will move on, to a much better life, but we could use all the help we can get, and we dont get much. I am sending this to others, as my last hope, and if I am fired soon, I dont know how much I will be able to do, as my emotions are tearing me apart. We will appreciate and help you can give us. Thank you, and if you know of anyone who might be able to help, please feel free to forward this e-mail to them. Melodee Prigge
Lutheran church rezoning request brought out a lot of rude opponentsWell, its done. The decision has been made. Christ Our Shepherd [Lutheran Church] has been denied their rezoning request. Ive been a member of COS for 13 years, and it may surprise some people when I say that I understand both sides of the issue. I wouldnt want Walgreens next door to my house either. But, the church really is in need of a bigger facility, and it really would have worked out well if the property had been rezoned. However, I must voice my disappointment in the behavior of some of your readers. This subject has caused several in our community to show just how mean, rude and cynical they can become in the name of their cause. Over the course of the last few months there have been several comments that I find hurtful, snide and disrespectful. The first one was, if I remember right, written by Cal Beverly. In his discussion of the subject, he said our church worshiped the almighty dollar. Pardon me? If your family had out-grown their home, and there had been on ongoing discussion of how to solve the problem, when suddenly someone offered you more than your home had been appraised for, would you not seriously consider the offer? Just within our church membership there have been differing opinions about accepting the offer. Its also a heartbreaking decision. This was where my children had their first communion, and celebrated their confirmation. One of our former pastoral interns chose to be ordained here. My husband and I were thrilled to be married here. But, I had to keep in mind that the church is not the building we are in, but the congregation and our pastors worshiping together. Was this rude comment necessary? Another reader called us religious zealots. Obviously this person is not educated in the area of religion. The Lutheran Church has been around for centuries, and is a traditional Protestant religion. Aside from what the author of that comment thinks, we are not a religious cult who snatches your children and converts them to the dark side. Give me a break. Another comment I found offensive was, and I paraphrase, The church officials have been quoted as saying that this offer was An answer to our prayers. Really? Isnt that a figure of speech? I doubt that they have been praying that Walgreens would come to their aid. This writer was correct. We do not pray to the Walgreens God. However, apparently the writer is not familiar with prayer. I can guarantee that many of us have prayed, both individually and together, to have God show us a solution to the overcrowding. Im sure the author of this comment has never seen our church when two services are going on at the same time, one in the sanctuary, and one in the fellowship hall. Nor has the author seen the pastors race from doing the sermon at one service, and time it right to get to the other service to do the sermon. We do the best with what we have. We will continue to pray for the answer. Many readers and city official have been stating that the commercial rezoning does not meet the Master Plan. Master Plan? What Master Plan? Theres a Master Plan? If so, was the disaster at the intersection of [Ga. highways] 54 and 74 part of the plan? What about the mess at Wal-Mart and Home Depot? Was that part of the plan? If so, Id like to suggest that maybe we need a new city planner. This one is not working. I believe that our church representatives have handled their arguments for rezoning with courtesy and respect. We can be proud of our behavior. I realize that these few rude readers are not the majority of your readers. They just make for interesting reading. But, I certainly remain disappointed in their lack of courtesy and respect as their try to argue their opinions. May God forgive them. Patty Arrowsmith
County mistaken on storm-waterThe Fayette County Commission needs to take a hard look at what their engineers and Planning Commission are asking them to do. Placing the responsibility for storm-water collection areas in the hands of unqualified homeowners, whose only interest will be not spending the money for inspections or maintenance, is asking for failure. Who will be responsible when detention basins fail and affect areas outside the developments? What happens in the case of a natural disaster when government intervention efforts may be needed? The issue is not about creating more government; the countys engineering department already is responsible for this task. The real issue is that the Planning Commission needs to do its job and develop a comprehensive and cohesive county-wide program to comply with the mandates prior to allowing any subdivisions to be developed. Paula Ellentuch
Whats up with Starrs Mill focus?For years I have been watching and reading your free newspaper and enjoy doing so. My family and I have been residents of Fayette County for 20 years next month. However, as a person with a degree in journalism, and as a local reader, I cannot understand why the individual who is responsible for the layout for your sports pages seems to find any way possible to put any article about Starrs Mill High School as the lead story. If you dont believe my observation, just take a look in your archives and you will see what Im saying is true. Even in the writing of stories in which the writer discusses all the schools in the county, Starrs Mill is usually mentioned first. Just Friday, May 13, the lead story was about two schools: McIntosh and Starrs Mill tennis teams have advanced to the semi-final round of the state tournament. In the headline, Starrs Mill was mentioned first yet in the article the lead sentence said McIntosh and Starrs Mill .... By the way, this article was an exception to one of my earlier statements. Beneath the lead story was, I think, the true lead story. McIntosh High was hosting both the boys and girls AAAA state championship games. Again, that was two STATE championship games on one night in one location. How often would anyone have the opportunity to view two consecutive championship games in a local setting? Perhaps there might have been an even better turnout for these games if your paper had given the opportunity better play. Who knows? Even on your Web site today in the sports section, the Starrs Mill baseball teams advance into the SECOND round of the playoffs and the SEMI-FINAL tennis story were placed above the state championship soccer game story. I also understand you have more important things to do than worry about the sports page layout. Its hard to keep up with the antics of our Peachtree City mayor, whether or not the Tax Commissioner is guilty of endangering the lives of his employees with an unloaded skeet gun, and the running arguments between the Fayette County Commission and the councils of the various municipalities in the area. By the way, I do not have a student in any school in this county. My children graduated from McIntosh, the last of which was in 1999, so I have no vested interest in this question of positioning and balance. Because there are now five public high schools in the county plus private/parochial high schools, perhaps you should be more in-tune with all the readers of your paper and not just those who live in the Starrs Mill feeder area. There are other parts of the county with schools serving those areas that field teams with athletes competing just as fiercely as SMHS athletes plus their interested parents, families and friends, graduates of those schools and interested citizens of the county who want to know whats going on with all the schools. Thanks for listening. Mike Johnson The sports editor replies: Mr. Johnson, thanks for your comments about the paper; there were some interesting observations. I can assure you there is no bias towards Starrs Mill. In fact, just a week before, we got complaints from Starrs Mill parents for not having enough coverage. I guess it just goes to show that you cant please everyone. One reason you may feel that youve seen nothing but Starrs Mill stories is that our papers are divided between the schools. Wednesday is typically the Sandy Creek/Whitewater edition, although all of their athletic teams are done for the season now; Friday is for McIntosh and Starrs Mill; and Sunday is for Fayette County. There are logical answers for all of your stated concerns: Why a Starrs Mill tennis picture above a tennis story that started with McIntosh? Because I had run McIntosh tennis pictures previously and I didnt make a trip to Bainbridge for the McIntosh boys quarterfinal, which occurred earlier in the week. Why was the soccer story on the bottom of the sports page? Because there was also a story on the front page of the paper. I try to be as even as possible. I am a McIntosh graduate myself (1993) and in the six years that I have done the sports section I have been accused by every school at least once of having a bias against some school or showing favoritism to another. Honestly, I am just reporting the news. If a team goes further in the season, they get more coverage. Im glad you read our paper and hope you will continue to do so. Im sure when the fall season kicks up, you will notice the way the news is spread out throughout the week. Thanks again and dont hesitate to address any further concerns, questions or tips to me. Mike Boylan |
Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |