According to the offical Town of Tyrone website under careers:
Job Openings
The Town of Tyrone has the following job openings:
Town Engineer - $51,646
Accounting Supervisor - $51,646

According to Mayor Lee's letter to the Editor,
"The statement that he is no longer our engineer is also not correct, while we do have an engineer for the sewer system he is still the town engineer and performs engineering work on a daily basis.

What is he....?

TO mayor Sheryl Lee

Finally we hear from the mayor…..where the heck have you been Sheryl?? Now you only come out to show support for Barry Amos. Give us a break!!

First of all, we have done the research and the blogs reflect the truth. Only you, Amos and Smola try to subvert the truth!

I would like to respond to mayor Lee’s comment about the $2.1 million dollars Barry Amos has gotten for the town of Tyrone. Where is it? Please explain why the town having to refund all those impact fees? The comprehensive plan states that the impact fees will fund part of the downtown redevelopment. How does this work, you misrepresent where the funds are and what they are being used for on the comprehensive plan to get the grants and then what??? YOU ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO FOLLOW THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

Greedy developers follow the money trail. They research when a town or municipality gets funding either from state or federal grant programs. The developers are supposed to follow a well drawn out legal bidding process, but Tyrone does not do this….they farm out redevelopment to the slimy private developers, probably for kick-backs and then the development ends up like Trickum Creek and the horrible state of that cemetery.

If Barry is so great and does so many jobs, then why did he not help Wayne Adams when the Dollar store was being built and mud ran off into the front office of Wayne Adams’ tire store? Why can’t Barry do something about the cemetery? It just seems to me like Barry does what he wants to do - whatever is to his & Smola's benefit and everything and everybody else is s__t out of luck!!

The town of Tyrone has subverted the laws of eminent domain, even though Smola denies this has happened. There is something called inverse condemnation and this happens when a government entity regulates land uses or eliminates land uses in their entirety as ordinance #454 states. This leaves the land owner with no uses to rent out his property for, thus the market value of the property goes down. Then the private developers come in and buy up the property at below market value and re-develop it according to the Town’s “vision.” This is what Tyrone has been doing since 2004 when it passed ordinance #454. And there are more people than the Shelleys who have been adversely affected, Wayne Adams, Keith May, Jeff Alexander, just to name a few….THIS IS STILL EMINENT DOMAIN. I think what Smola meant when he said “eminent domain will not happen on my watch” was that he would not go through the proper legal channels to exercise the government’s right to eminent domain, which is the taking of private property for public use, but the government is required to pay the owner just compensation for their property. Smola just wants to devalue the downtown properties so that Barry’s private developers, i.e. Burt Clark, can get the property and build the great dense downtown that Smola wants. THIS IS NOT LEGAL & IT IS A FORM OF EMINENT DOMAIN – IT’S CALLED A REGULATORY TAKING or INVERSE CONDEMNATION!!

One last thing: The Comprehensive plan is based on a survey sent out a while back and only like 13% of the public returned the survey to the town…….I have seen the results of the survey and at the bottom of the survey it says in small print…”this survey is not to be relied on” because it is lacks reliable scientific methodology that is sufficient to pass the test of reliability in the scientific community……something to that effect. The whole comprehensive plan is based on this BOGUS SURVEY!! See Barry & Smola think they are smarter than everyone else, but guess what – they ain’t!! hahaha

So mayor Lee – your post means NOTHING.

1st of all, there are hardly no typos or grammatical errors so I agree that Barry Amos wrote this diatribe that mayor lee has submitted, so did you really write this?

2nd of all - what exactly has Barry done that = engineering work on a daily basis?

3rd: the comprehensive plan - that is Barry's baby!! You signed it but it is Barry's vision, right?

4th: Don't you live on Palmetto Road and didn't you have property that was bought up by private developer Burt Clark?

I have many more questions but this is enough for now...please respond. Thanks

Lame Duck Mayor Sheryl Lee finally speaks out - after the fact, accusing citizens of not doing their research. Although its very difficult to get information from Secret City Hall, we have done our research. Mayor Lee says statements about Barry Amos' salary are not fact - that he makes only $87,199.62 as of last year [2006]. Sheryl, you are correct about last year, meaning fiscal year 2006-2007 which ends in Sept. 2007. I suppose you were not paying attention when Barry submitted his own request to Council in 2006 for a 15% increase based on comparable Town Manager's salaries. He was asking for an increase to $100,279.63. You and the Council granted him an 8% increase, making his salary $94,175.59 for fiscal year 2006-2007. The 2007-2008 budget includes an 8 1/2% across the board increase for all administrative staff, bringing Barry's current salary to $102,180. This information was researched from the Town's budget and minutes. It is not rumor as you stated. The question of Barry's income came from the forum. The question was based on a 2007 AJC Survey stating that the Maximum salaries [not average] for City and County Managers in the 10 County Metro Atlanta area was $75,000 for small Towns [Tyrone], $85,000 for medium size [PTC or Fayetteville], and $115,000 for large [Atlanta, Fulton & Dekalb]. The question was, why does small Town Tyrone have to pay a big Town salary?

I would like to comment on your letter Sheryl. You want to clarify several points about Barry, ok, well I have questions. Barry’s salary. Did you also include any overtime that the Town might have paid him in this $87,000 amount? Or are you pulling this straight from his salary range? You state that he does several duties, i.e.Director of PW, isn’t that what Renee Holt does. Why is he doing her job? Sewer Department? Why does he need to direct the sewer system when Fairburn hires their own personnel to do that? You aren’t making any sense Sheryl. I thought that is why we pay Fairburn, to handle those problems. Is Barry even qualified to do this? I would think not. Didn’t he tell the homeowner’s across from Sonic that he couldn’t help them when their system failed?
I believe that you speak of $2 million dollars worth of grants that possibly were not requested by Barry, but he is taking the credit for. Look into the books Sheryl, if he is taking credit for the library then you are wrong. What grants did he get? Name them.
Stormwater engineer? Please. Then for that reason alone he should be fired. How many citizens have come before council to complain about the lack of response to their problems of runoff from developing properties? Actively promotes Tyrone? If he cares so much about Tyrone, why doesn’t he live here? He does everything in his power to see that Tyrone fails. I saw that dvd and it stunk. It only showed your friend Doug Bennett and his business and you. That is no representation of the Town. Comcast did this free of charge to gain customers in Tyrone. He shouldn’t get the credit for that. So he supports the Planning Commission, you call that an accomplishment? You can’t keep anyone on that committee for the fact that they can’t get a decent answer or facts from Barry and Valerie. Those you do have on there are just power hungry and Barry lets them suck his thumb. That commission is a joke and it only supports Barry and Valerie’s ego.
I can’t believe that you would state, “While everyone always has room for improvement, I think that the mayor and council, as well as administration are excellent stewards of the taxpayers’ money, especially when we can fill that many jobs with one individual.” Have you really been the Mayor of Tyrone? Have you been hibernating Sheryl? Are you that naïve that you don’t see the damage that he has done and is doing due to the lack of knowledge of the many jobs that you say he is doing? You can’t honestly believe that if Barry did have brains, could do a good job at all of those tasks?
Barry adheres to the policies of Tyrone. Well yes he does, because he writes them and you sign off on them. He is the puppet master Sheryl and you are his puppet.
I can’t believe that you would think that the citizens and the potential candidates would take your advice of what they should be concerned about, i.e. the direction of the future of Tyrone. The last thing this Town needs from you now is to hear you say what is on your mind when you were the Mayor you wouldn’t tell any of us anything. We don’t’ need you to tell us about the comprehensive plan Sheryl. You haven’t cared what the citizens of Tyrone wanted and you still don’t. You say that it addresses the growth. You want the comprehensive plan to work so that you can sell your property when it comes time. You are looking out for yourself as usual Sheryl. We see right through you.

The rest of your letter bores me Sheryl. All I hear is blah, blah, blah. You said more in this one letter than you have the last 4 years. The citizens have asked questions of you Sheryl and you have refused us. As usual you only care about Barry and Valerie. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I look forward to seeing how much they care about you when you are no longer in power.
In closing Sheryl, I would like to thank you for not running for office and I look forward to the quick sell of your property.

"Several citizens and/or candidates have attempted to turn our town manager into a campaign issue. In this attempt statements are being made that do not support the facts".

Mayor Lee, those questions asked at the forum could have been pulled in advance if those in charge, thought they were inappropriate,they saw fit not to do so. As for the candidates using the town manager as a compaign issue, not one of them said they would fire him. On no ones flyers, have I seen that statement. The closest I've seen to what you describe, was a statement at the forum that employees should be held accountable, that ..IS.. what happens in most places.

"Not only does the town manager take on a multitude of different jobs, other staff members do so as well."

I'm sure you were gratefull for that, because many times when someone asked you a direct question at town hall, your answer was 'call the office between 9 and 5 and someone will help you with the answer'. What were we paying you a $1,000. a month for? Was your job description to show up at 2 meeings and swing the gavel? It is no secret you delagated all you duties and thinking to Mr Amos, but he wasn't elected Mayor. I hope we get a full time Mayor that can at least answer the questions asked of them.

This is a re-print of an article printed in the Citizen last Saturday by reporter Ben Nelms - you can access the original article by going to South-Fulton Tyrone News above and looking at the articles....

Tyrone Candidates have Their Say at Forum - by Ben Nelms

It was not development and density. It was not sewer. The main campaign issue in Tyrone’s upcoming municipal elections nearly morphed into a non-issue issue Monday night as candidates for mayor and council posts 1 and 2 responded to the many questions posed to them. The main campaign issue is town manager Barry Amos.

Topping the list of questions were those, whether directly or indirectly, relating to Amos, his job performance and service on behalf of citizens. Yet within their remarks, candidates took a largely circumspect posture, insisting that the job performance of any or all town employees should be assessed fairly. Other long-standing issues came through clearly Tuesday night. Those involved the hot-button topics of future growth and development and, directly tied to it, the question of sewer. And again, while candidate responses were sometimes divergent, their answers often took a similar tack, along with the perspective that citizens must be involved in decision-making and that elected officials should ensure their inclusion.

Though Amos’ name was never spoken at the forum, it was no mystery that a bulk of the questions involved town actions in which his management role held significant impact and responsibility. One of the questions posed to mayoral candidates Mike Smola and Don Rehwaldt concerned their visualization of how downtown Tyrone might look in five years and again in 10 years. Smola said development downtown should be done along the lines of moderate density. With a build-out population projected at 9,000, Smola said the town should preserve open space with a slightly denser core downtown. Wall to wall retail exists from Peachtree City to Fairburn, he said. Smola advocated for keeping open spaces other than in the town center area.

Addressing the question, Rehwaldt said the downtown area and future development will likely be stymied due to a lack of sewer. Without sewer it can’t continue on, he said. Rehwaldt added that business owners are wondering what course the town should take. And everyone wants the town to look better, he said.

A question posed to all candidates, concerned a town ordinance that “took away so many business land uses.” Candidates were asked if they would vote to repeal the ordinance. In response, Post 1 candidate Ken Matthews said he would vote to repeal it. Post 1 candidate Tracy Young said he would repeal it, adding that he would ask businesses what they want. Post 2 candidate Eric Dial said ordinance might have gone too far toward inverse condemnation, something to which he objects, adding that the ordinance be re-visited prior to any decision. Post 2 candidate Jesse Nascianceno virtually agreed, saying that the ordinance should be re-visited and that citizens should be engaged in the process. Post 2 candidate Gordon Shenkle said the ordinance should be seriously examined along with all town ordinances. Rehwaldt said the council should look at a review while Smola, a current council member, said the council had not acted to disenfranchise residents and had gone through proper channels in passing the measure. He agreed that the ordinance could be reviewed.

Another question said, “Tyrone officials often talk about the 313 responses to the downtown redevelopment survey as being representative of the citizens’ desires. Would you consider a petition with more than 313 names to change the town’s management to also be representative of citizens’ desires?”

In his response, Matthews said the council should determine the issues involved and verify all signatures. Young said everyone should be allowed due process and the town should provide appropriate follow through, adding that the council should review the type of management citizens might request. Dial said the town must follow the law, making changes if reasons warrant such a change in management. Nascianceno said he did not know the extent to which a change is desired and that such a move would require review. Also responding, Shenkle said the number of signatures cannot be ignored but must be validated. Town leadership might be being denied due process in the same way residents are saying they are being denied due process. Shenkle added that charges of abuse by town management would require review.

Responding to the same question, Rehwaldt said such a petition would be considered and would have to comply with the law. The council would look at the job description and job performance and go from there, he said. Also responding, Smola said the city manager’s position is a thankless job, with accountability to everyone. You have to live it, he said. The council should never get rid of someone out of hand and must determine if the town is functioning as it should, Smola added.

One of the questions that did not relate to Amos, development or sewer capacity dealt with a recent topic at the town council, the sale of beer and wine at local restaurants on Sundays. The town council has the option at some point of having the measure included as a referendum item. Dial was first to respond, saying he would have to be convinced to have the measure included on the ballot, and that he was not yet convinced. Nascianceno said the council is here to help local businesses grow and that he would consider the initiative. Shenkle said he did not currently know how many businesses wanted Sunday sales.

Also responding, Young said a lot of people want Sunday sales while others do not. Young said he wanted citizen and business input more than his own before making a decision about a referendum. Matthews had mixed feelings on the issue, but was insistent that if put to a vote, the measure should not be allowed to cost taxpayers money. Rehwaldt supported a referendum, adding that the hands of business should not be tied behind their backs. Smola was also in favor of a referendum, noting that Sunday sales would provide a way for residents to eat locally instead of traveling to other cities. If approved for a vote, the measure should be placed on a regularly scheduled ballot rather than a special ballot to hold down the cost to taxpayers, he said.

Perhaps the most controversial question came from audience member Mark Darrow who asked Rehwaldt to respond to an article published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution nearly five years ago. The article quotes Rehwaldt as not being sure that Jesus rose from the dead and referring to much of religion as “folklore.”

Rehwaldt said it was interesting the issue was brought up five years later and he was running for a public office, not a religious one.

“The Bible was written by men, not by God,” he said.

All in all, the candidate’s forum was one of those events you had to attend to fully appreciate. The forum was sponsored by the Tyrone Business Association and The Citizen Newspapers.

End of Article

See Sheryl - Barry is the issue and you know it!!

Yes the TRUTH, it is a far cry of what the TNAG is saying about our preciuos Town and its people. We are tired of the TNAG and the negative spin they put on the twon just to take control. Just look at Grace's resposne to Smola, just to negative and that is what Tyrone will get if they elect the Tyrone Neighborhood Alliance Group.

TNAG Supports:
Don, Tracy, Gordon, Dial

Please don't treat the citizens any worse than you already have. You have gone back on all your promises. Furthermore, you have let Barry Amos control the town. The citizens have done research, it is all we have been doing!! Barry Amos is the problem, even the reporter at the Citizen called that one!!

But thanks for pointing out the Amos follows the town council - we already knew that Smola & Amos were in it together. But your statement that Amos is guided by the council puts Smola on the firing line. Great!!

As for the rest of your statement, I think Barry wrote it!

Thank you for not seeking re-election!!

Awwwwwwww, Mama Lee here, still protecting her poor spoiled-rotten old baby Barry Amos. Waaaaaahhhh waaaahhhh. I will not be surprise if she named the Library after his name.