AN EDITORIAL OPINION: 3 local governments flunk openness test

Wed, 01/09/2008 - 12:03pm
By: The Citizen

The new year traditionally brings a spirit of optimism in our local governments. The newly-elected politicians are sworn in, and they’re ready to get down to solving the people’s problems with a can-do spirit.

Sadly, three of our governments have already started the year off on the wrong course.

On Dec. 17, the Fayette County Board of Education approved a new set of boundaries for the system’s elementary school students. Unless you were one of the 100 or so crammed into the meeting room, you probably haven’t seen the final map.

This newspaper fielded a phone call from South Africa from an agitated parent who tried to find someone at the school system to email a copy of the map. The parent was frustrated, because nobody answered the phone system Dec. 21.

We understand it was the holiday season, but something this important should have been posted on the system’s website the next day, and disseminated to the local media. We finally got our copy this past Monday afternoon, nearly three weeks after the map decision was made.

Last Wednesday, the Fayette County Commission held its first meeting of the year and stubbed its toe.

Commissioner Peter Pfeifer wanted approval of the Aug. 1, 2007, meeting minutes tabled until the new county attorney could review the minutes. Pfeifer maintains the County Commission broke the law by holding an executive session without having an attorney present. He also received a ruling from the state’s Attorney General stating the meeting was illegal.

Pfeifer didn’t receive a second for his motion to table the issue, and the minutes were subsequently approved, without another thought or mention of the county breaking the law.

But perhaps the most egregious errors occurred during last Thursday’s Tyrone Town Council meeting. Since last November’s elections, some of Tyrone’s residents have proclaimed the government was being returned to the people.

That may be the case if you were fortunate enough to attend a December meeting at newly-elected Mayor Don Rehwaldt’s house.

During the meeting, apparently, the fate of two long-standing appointees in Tyrone’s government was decided. On Thursday night, without discussion, the Town Council appointed former County Administrator Chris Venice and former County Attorney Bill McNally as town manager and attorney respectively.

Do you know how much Venice will be making or how much McNally’s hourly rate will be? Probably not, because there’s no documentation supporting the appointments.

It’s ironic that one of the other moves the new Tyrone Council made was to call for a complete audit of the local government’s fund balances.

We totally support a system of checks and balances that an audit provides, but how about providing the public with answers about what you’re doing instead of trying to cast aspersions on the former council?

Conduct your business in the sunshine, instead of at somebody’s home.

The new council members may not know better, but Councilmen Grace Caldwell and Gloria Furr should have had better sense than to let this occur.

It’s only January, but we’re hoping that Fayette’s governments will soon start warming up — and opening up — to the constituents they are supposed to serve.

[The above is an editorial opinion of The Citizen.]

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Submitted by BaseballFan on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 11:28am.

It must be really bad if "The Citizen" slams Grace, Gloria, and Rehwaldt in the same article! What have these nuts in Tyrone done? My connections at the State have said Rehwaldt's days are numbered. Does anyone know what this is all about?

Submitted by PreciousStahr on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 5:54pm.

She knows everything.

Submitted by Shaquita on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 10:01pm.

Matildagene

Your postings are interesting but here is another side

1. You thought the question at the forum was inappropriate, I don't. Why would someone running for elected office be ashamed of their religion or lack thereof especially in a family values republican county such as Fayette?

2. Both sides had strategy meeting to decide who was running for election. This one is a draw.

3. Someone needs to tell the "new group" how to run a meeting since they apparently don't have a clue. Throwing things, catcalls, talking over the speaker; all from what I saw was their supporters is appalling.

4. Remember, the Alliance refused to provide information about who they represented.

5. Did not hear it, if it was said, it was inappropriate.

6. So you think it is o.k. for a Georgia citizen to register a RV in another state just to keep from paying Georgia tax.

7. I agree with this one but it appears tha Grace and Gloria are doing just fine demeaning themselves without him.

As far as your facts go

1. The "new group" all committed to look at the employeees personnel records and evaluations before taking any action, was this done?

2. Since Grace is now pulling all the strings what would have been the harm of at least going through the motions of selecting a new manager in a professional way?

3. How many people actually read the petition before they signed it? I did see one old white haired man badger a person at Founders Day for about 25 minutes before he got a signature.

Don't expect you to like this but drink a little more kool aid and all will be well.

bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 10:11pm.

Would you decide your vote based on a candidates religious beliefs?

If a candidate supported school prayer and abortion or federal funded stem cell research what would you do?

Just asking.


abeautifulday4us's picture
Submitted by abeautifulday4us on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 5:07pm.

Mr. Smola definitely deserves an apology from the newcomers and from The Citizen after this and the unkind words they said about him. It turns out that the newly elected people really don't "walk the walk".


matildagene's picture
Submitted by matildagene on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 7:46pm.

that I know.
1. It was his friend who asked the inappropriate question at the forum, which was very dirty and underhanded.

2. He was the one who had the strategy meeting at his house and tried to get the others at the meeting to run on his high density, we love you Barry, platform. One of those present was incensed and ratted him out.

3. It was he who stood up at the last town hall meeting and tried to tell them how he would run the meeting, oblivious to the fact that he lost by a landslide because no one wanted to see him sneer down his glasses and give his snide opines. Save those for Janet, thank you.

4. He was so outraged that citizens formed The Neighborhood Alliance, that he formed the Focus group and told the citizens that the Focus group was the only one the town would be recognized.

5. At Founder's day, he saw the Neighborhood alliance giving out material, and started with the snide remarks in public at them..How do I know..I was one of them hearing it.

6. The next town meeting, out of the blue from his seat on council, he told one of the citizens present whos RV was used Founders Day by the Neighborhood alliance, that the RV had improper tags and would dealt with. Barry and Thelma, were soon cruising his house.

7. He is the one who has done everything to demean and belittle Gloria and Grace in front of everyone at town hall.

8. I could go on and on but the list would take all night, end of story, he is a sore losser and probably goaded the paper into writing the story.

Look at the facts

1. None of the newly elected officals ran a campayne of getting rid of Barry. At the forum they were all grilled on that one. The strongest thing anyone said was that they felt employees should be accountable. What is wrong with that?

2. The night they made the annoucements of the new town manager and lawyer was the night they would have had to swear in the old two. They had to do something. Maybe not swear those in and have no one run the town or give them legal advice?

3. They were presented with a petition from the taxpayers to get rid of the people in question. If you feel so strongly about poor Mr Smola...get yourself a petition and go door to door and see how many signatures you don't get. If your response in anything like the election, they will probably seek their dog on you!


Submitted by PreciousStahr on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 6:07pm.

You're so fat...lol. A glimpse of a future. This is the results if someone will clone both Kathy & Janet. Scary!

dudleydoRIGHT's picture
Submitted by dudleydoRIGHT on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:09pm.

Look at the facts

1. None of the newly elected officals ran a campayne of getting rid of Barry. At the forum they were all grilled on that one. The strongest thing anyone said was that they felt employees should be accountable. What is wrong with that?

Answer: Many of the elected officers were behind the petition to get rid of Barry.

2. The night they made the annoucements of the new town manager and lawyer was the night they would have had to swear in the old two. They had to do something. Maybe not swear those in and have no one run the town or give them legal advice?

Answer: Doing something could have been posting the position in the a trade magazine where you could have gotten many applicants. Interviewing the positions as they should and not as they did.

3. They were presented with a petition from the taxpayers to get rid of the people in question. If you feel so strongly about poor Mr Smola...get yourself a petition and go door to door and see how many signatures you don't get. If your response in anything like the election, they will probably seek their dog on you!

Answer: No one needs to petition anyone. Their confidence that they can get away with anything will hang them in the end.

Let me know where the next party the Mayor is throwing because I sure could use an interview for a job.

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mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 7:44pm.

Here it is --
You were really, really bad for Tyrone, but you probably won't be as bad as the new guys. - How's that? Good enough apology?

Like I really care about Tyrone.


matildagene's picture
Submitted by matildagene on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 7:55pm.

there is the sweet sound of silence from the Taxpayers...they are glad he's gone. Except for Sybil and her many personalites that blog and long for him.


dudleydoRIGHT's picture
Submitted by dudleydoRIGHT on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:01pm.

which are you today. Hey, I heard that Grace's middle name is Matilda??? Any indication that is you?


matildagene's picture
Submitted by matildagene on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:13pm.

not even close, but you and Mr Smola are beginning to look ...hot...!


dudleydoRIGHT's picture
Submitted by dudleydoRIGHT on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:16pm.

I do not think you can call a man hot.


matildagene's picture
Submitted by matildagene on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:19pm.

You are a man...and so it Mr Smola...and if I think you be hot...well, you must be!


matildagene's picture
Submitted by matildagene on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:20pm.

.


dudleydoRIGHT's picture
Submitted by dudleydoRIGHT on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:24pm.

HOT


matildagene's picture
Submitted by matildagene on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:05pm.

the way you sit your horse, speaks for what we think comes out of your mouth and also your personality


dudleydoRIGHT's picture
Submitted by dudleydoRIGHT on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:12pm.

I never know who you are going to be next. Precious, Suggar, Matilda etc...?


Submitted by PreciousStahr on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 5:58pm.

I'm not Suggar, Matilda, OldbeachBear, etc.!!!

Submitted by helpful lawyer on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 2:53pm.

Georgia’s Open Meetings Act can be found at Code sections 50-14-1 to -6.

When the Fayette Board of Education made it difficult or inconvenient to find the new elementary school boundaries, it did nothing illegal or unusual. This is an old trick. When public attorneys such as county attorneys provide advice to public officials during a public meeting, quite often they whisper what they say so the public can’t hear. Same idea.

May the county commissioners hold an executive session without an attorney present? Sure, they can. Code section 50-14-3 (4), (6) and (9) provides for it with respect to real estate matters, employee evaluations, records exempt from public disclosure and security plans. Of course no one can claim attorney-client privilege under section 50-14-2 (1) if the agency attorney was not present.

If Peter Pfeifer is so unhappy with the other commissioners’ doings, why doesn’t he file suit as provided at section 50-14-5(a) and ask for his attorney’s fees under section 50-14-5(b)? Why is he leaning on a state Attorney General who is widely known to be short-staffed and thus often ineffective? (The Attorney General has higher priorities, such as protecting abandoned children and the mentally ill.)

The Tyrone folks did something clever. They met before they were sworn in. They didn’t break the law because they were not public officials when they met. What they had was not a meeting, it was a Christmas party!

Is The Citizen telling us anything new here? Not really. But it’s good to see it’s awake.

Submitted by wheeljc on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 1:29pm.

Poor public performances displayed by these three entities; the rather sophomoric display of arrogance; and the apparent disregard of law, or ignorance, OR BOTH; is a truly sad example of today's dysfunctional government and delivery of public services. It may be, that on a national scale, performances such as these are why Bloomberg and Nunn may be out to truly shake up the status quo. WHO WILL SHAKE IT UP IN FAYETTE COUNTY????

yardman5508's picture
Submitted by yardman5508 on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 3:46pm.

and "openness in government" just happened to be the second plank in the local Democratic Party's local platform. Maybe it is time for the local citizenry to take a long hard look at why they vote the way the do locally. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.


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