Did you happen to notice that the vote was by a razor-thin margin? It wasn't like the Steve Brown blow-outs where a vast majority spoke in one very clearly for one candidate over the other. It won't take but changing a few minds for Dunn to win another election. With the track record of the present commission violating open meetings laws, dishonesty about the same, more pro-developer, etc. I think Dunn is going to win. I also think the dissatisfaction with the commission means any incumbent running may be in trouble, especially Pfeiffer, but also Frady. Here's hoping for a clean sweep of those three out the door.

A defined benefit retirement plan is so fiscally unsound for government and a luxury that I cannot believe that it somehow survived a serious discussion. Even Pfeiffer got that one right. Only in the public sector do these plans still remain somewhat popular, and they are a symbol of government waste and shifting the costs and pain to the future upon "someone else's" back. I hate to break it to anyone, but public sector employees on the whole enjoy MUCH better benefits, MUCH better job security, and more time off than the average employee in the private sector. You do not have to give away the farm to retain good public sector employees. It is also sometimes beneficial that the higher levels in fact LEAVE because they can be adequately replaced with a much lower-paid manager. In the private sector, management is paid on the perceived value to the company. When their compensation out-strips the value returned, that person is downsized out of a job or replaced in order to save money. This doesn't happen in the public sector. You keep getting raises year after year so the compensation increases regardless of whether your responsibilities or value increases proportionally.

Besides all of the above, you think Ballard is a great DA so don't think too many are going to be inclined with your opinions on the best candidates. Ballard is going to lose big. Ready for trial? READY FOR DEFEAT!

Most county employees enjoy job security simply because the jobs they do HAVE to be done. Its not because Fayette is some employment utopia. When you lose good people for better benefits elsewhere, you DO get to replace them with a less expensive person. However, with many jobs, if you factor in the cost to train these new people, the financial advantage is lost for the first several years. The truth is, Mr Dunn's thoughts about saving money have already cost this county plenty. Under his tenure, he closed the sick leave replayment plan. Unlike many organizations, Fayette County places a cap on accruable sick leave. Many years ago, the commission decided to pay the employees $0.50 for every dollar of accrued time above the cap on an annual basis, right before Christmas. This amount was roughly the same amount as the employees regular paycheck. Well Commissioner Dunn (and Wells) cut the program to save that $0.50 on the dollar. After that, there was no benefit for the employees to max out their sick time. Essentially, the benefit of "X" hours of sick time accrued each pay period was revoked when the employee maxed out. So what happened? Employees' sick time usage increased drastically. (not that I agree with this) In essence the employee was recieving $1 on the dollar for his/her sick time. Additionally, many of these employees' jobs had to be covered by another employee who was now on overtime (there's not alot of redundancy here) at time and one half, or $1.50 on the dollar. So to combine that, we have the employee on sick leave at $1 on the dollar and the employee covering for $1.50 on the dollar for a total of $2.50 on the dollar. All to save $0.50. It was a fiasco and they were warned. But their arrogance was astounding.

Sick leave is just that, a leave benefit allowed for the employee to be paid when he/she is sick and can not perform their work. You are right, the use of sick leave should be scrutinized by the employee's superior. However, there is a large gray area (mostly due to our litigious society) that employers are reticent to cross when it comes to employees.

When an elected official desires to change a policy, the policy should be thoroughly researched. It does not take an actuary to determine that if an employee reaches a maximum amount of sick/personal time with no opportunity to "bank" the overages at some percentage, the employees will take a fair portion of that time throughout the year instead of allowing it to be lost. Some of you may think that your morals and ethics are too good for that , but you are kidding yourselves. Put into the same situation, a large majority would be more likely to call in sick on days when you did not feel well, but could otherwise still work.

Under the plan, there is no incentive for the employee to save that time, which was EARNED time, to go toward an expected check or some other benefit later. I know that some other counties have put a portion of that time accrued over the maximum (I am specifically talking about sick leave) into a fund for the employee to use in the case of a catastrophic illness or injury. If that time is not used by the time the employee is reaching retirement age, then the employee can stop working early. For instance, if there is a total of 480 hours of this portioned time built into the "bucket" so to speak, that employee can literally stop working 12 weeks before his/her actual retirement.

This is an incentive for that employee not to abuse the sick leave benefit throughout their employment with the agency.

I realize that some of you are going to jump on the "I would not abuse my sick leave" bandwagon, and that may be true in some cases. The reality, though, is that put in the same situation most of you would use some of that time rather than let it be thrown away. Many of you have a vacation leave policy at work that utilizes a "use it or lose it" policy. Tell me, how many of you "lose" any of that time?

This is just one example of Dunn et al doing the wrong thing for all of the citizens of Fayette County.

Please don't misunderstand me, Mr. Dunn is a good person. He served this country honorably, and for that he is to be commended. I am merely opposed to his policies and flagrant disregard for the citizens of Fayette County. He has a thought in his mind of how things should be, and when he is opposed, he strikes back with a vengeance no matter how much it costs all of us who write that check each year to pay our confiscatory taxes (that is another thought altogether).

Let's just be smart about this primary cycle and keep Dunn retired (and the rest of his slate, too)!

I've not been paid for 1000's of hours on unused sick time in my working life and that's fine with me, I'd rather be healthy and at work. Unlike your sweeping(and unproven and inaccurate) generalizations of what people will/would do that you don't know at all, the average worker is not as dishonest and lacking in ethics as you apparently are since you think everyone else is. Calling in sick when you're not because you want to "use it instead of lose it" is also known as stealing and lying. Just because it's from an employer who gives you the opportunity to get away with it doesn't make any difference at all.

Sick time wasn't created to be an extra part of a compensation package, it was to pay you for when you were sick, very similar to how insurance works. If you don't file a claim with your homeowners' insurance company this year, do you expect to get back your premium?

The people who eventually get screwed by all of this are the ones who get a major illness or disease and don't have enough sick time to take for a long period because employers have had to reduce and marginalize their sick time policies and payments due to the dishonest and sorry employees who abused it.

I know for a fact that "most" wouldn't do what you are talking about because I've worked in a few organizations that gave you 100-200-even 300 hours of sick time per year on a "use it or lose it" basis and the vast majority didn't even use a fraction of it.

I don't know where you worked that had all of those "honest" people, but my experience has been where the majority take unneeded sick leave if they have it available.

Of course, the type jobs that I had were those where if I took time off when I could have worked, my job didn't get done and I had to catch it up with extra time at no pay.

I am for an allowance of sick leave providing any unused can be saved for a long illness if ever needed. There would have to be rules about this of course, but it may keep people from using it unnecessarily.
Those people who take everything they can as soon as they can will still do so, I'm afraid.

Where I have worked a few times would have probably shutdown if every employee used all their sick time that was allowed each year....there wouldn't have been enough employees to do the job. People would have noticed too, since I'm talking about government employees.

I don't know where you worked that had all of those "honest" people, but my experience has been where the majority take unneeded sick leave if they have it available.

Of course, the type jobs that I had were those where if I took time off when I could have worked, my job didn't get done and I had to catch it up with extra time at no pay.

I am for an allowance of sick leave providing any unused can be saved for a long illness if ever needed. There would have to be rules about this of course, but it may keep people from using it unnecessarily.
Those people who take everything they can as soon as they can will still do so, I'm afraid.

I, too, have not been paid for sick time not used. However, any reasonable manager/executive will realize that the system will be abused. That is just the way our society is these days.

Let me set one thing straight for you. At no time did I say that I would abuse such privileges. Obviously, you are floating around in some perfect world, or do not have any employees of your own, because there is a reality that is apparent. Our society allows for people to abuse our systems with no strict and costly punishment. In order to be an effective manager, one must realize this and institute policies that will discourage these practices.

In addition to the aforementioned error on your part, there is yet another. The "use it or lose it" situation was concerning earned VACATION time. The question is how many people let any of that SPECIFIC VACATION be lost.

You are correct that "most" do not "abuse" the sick leave that has been granted to them by their employer. Having said that, however, once again the reality of it is that our human nature has evolved into one that people will take a sick leave day when they are not well but do not want to work. I am talking about a minor malaise, not a full fledged sickness. Do you understand the difference?

I do agree that employees suffer because some abuse the system. It is the sad irony that everyone suffers because of the misdeeds of a few.

That is a poor management practice that is all to often utilized in our society. It is easer for managers and executives to change the policy than to address the few violators personally.

Just to let you know, the benefits are not better than private sector. My benefits when I was in the private sector were much better. Also my raise for this year was .067 cents, that's right not even a full penny. I do the job because it is what I choose to do, so I am not trying to complain, but don't make it sound like it is some federal job; it is a local and or county job. As for the retirement I would gladly go with the current system rather than the defined benefits I have more risk but stand to make a much larger retirement if things stay the norm,and the county kicks in alot more money. Also you are right-on with Job Security

Just the Facts Maam

Look at the benefits offered in local government in GA and then tell me that on average they are not far better than the private sector. There are several cities in the metro and surrounding areas where health insurance is 100% FREE to the individual and less than $100/month for a family of four, five, six people. A lot of local governments also give cost-of-living raises in addition to merit raises every year as well as a state retirement program that is free with the only requirement being length of service(5-10yrs), plus any 401/457-style programs that are partially matched. That's a bounty of benefits!

Look at what a Delta employee pays for benefits in comparison to any Fayette or Fulton county or city.....it's far more.

Are you really this A.R. with your spouse or significant other?

We disagree on an issue (or candidate as it is), so what!

If everyone agreed, we would not need elections. You know, sort of like Cuba for the last 5 decades or so. Fidel Castro was SO POPULAR that he received 100% of the vote for half of a century. Now wouldn't it be great for us to have someone so popular here?

I respect your opinion, but more importantly, I respect your right to have one. Please respect mine, even if you do not agree. You know, the decorum thing is back!

How much money did Done cost the taxpayers of this county for his
Personal battle with the sheriff.?? Done wants to bring back controversy to the commission. He is Not for the good of Fayette County, only him self. He keeps bring up the Georgia Open Meetings Law. I have looked at the YouTube video and it does not show that Mr. Horgan Covered up anything. Only his buddy Peter out in LA LA Land

The biggest offender was Maxwell, not Horgan in any event. Read The Citizen's stories on how they violated it, Maxwell lied about, the commission voted to change the minutes after the fact because they violated the law, etc. Youtube is NOT a source for news in this case.

While I understand and agree with Dunn, Wells and Pfeifer on the County Wide "Do Not Vote For" list, what is your motivation for including Fuhrman? Based only on the information included in this article, how do you arrive at this conclusion? What do you know we don't?

Trust me on this one --- This is a slate of candidates. Dunn is looking to keep Pfeifer on the board, replace Frady with Fuhrman, and win the seat against Horgan himself. When this happens, it will amount to the equivalent of a coup d'e tat of sorts. Dunn will once again be the chairman. He can then use his two cronies, Pfiefer and Fuhrman, to vote his way.

While Dunn may have won "by a razor thin margin" earlier (as was commented in another's blog), he still lost. It was a repudiation of him and his policies. Do not let yourself get fooled on this one.

Do not allow the elitist attitude of Greg Dunn carry us backward. I beg of you!!!!!

Not being contrary; but what specific do you know or have against Fuhrman? I am all for making the most informed decision, but I can't accept a "Trust me on this one ---".

I am certainly for you making up your own mind. That is the wonderful thing about our great country.

I am merely trying to influence your decision. Just think about it. Mr. Fuhrman is most likely a great person and citizen. I credit him for stepping up to the plate and offering his name in the ring for this position. However, he has also decided to be one of the slate of candidates that are on the "Dunn" (or "Done" ticket {that's funny{)ticket. That automatically raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

Under no circumstance can we afford to allow Greg Dunn to gain control of this board again. He is an elitist that thinks he knows right, and we are all just too ignorant to see it his way. It is really a concept most touted by the liberal elite in this country, but G. Dunn has absconded with it here in Fayette County.

Please make your own informed decision. I am making the argument as I see it. Just remember that after it is done (again) we will be stuck with the three of them for four years. How much damage can be done in four years?

Think about it!

that are on the "Dunn" (or "Done" ticket {that's funny{)ticket. That automatically raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

Were you not the character slamming me for lacking decorum in regards to blogging? Look at you now.

Why don't you go back and answer my arguements that not only did Predator Allen's family enable his child molestation attempts, she even approved of it by allowing him to become a middle school teacher in Albany where he last assaults took place. Go back and finish that arguement since you are the one responsible for dragging Ballard's pathetic record out for us to chew on some more.

You started it.... now you finish it and prove me wrong.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

When I went to college, I took several classes in the English language as well as writing and literature courses.

The main reason for informing you of this is so that you mighg read back to the earlier postings which stated that I would not discuss tht issue any further.

Thank you for having an opinion, but maybe you should get a better comprehension of the written word.

u mis poof reeeding
i tok it

Dude!

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

5. Insists upon decorum but displays none of his own;

4. Brags about his education;

3. Overlooks the major legal violations of his own friends;

2. Loves to hear himself talk while chastising others' "comprehension" and yet is too sloppy to proofread his own crap; AND

THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY DALMATION195 MUST BE A LAWYER:

1. No one other than a lawyer would defend the slimy twins Maxwell and Ballard !!!

And I also got a perfectly clear indication as to why you refuse to defend Ballard any further on this issue. Simply put... You Can't.

that you mighg read back

Too bad you didn't attend some them spellun classes in colledge.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

This is why these blogs are sometimes so useless. There are always those who hide behind the anonymity to spew hatred and nasty sarcasm.

I had almost forgotten how ugly it was just a mere two years ago during the last "Dunn Defeat."

My Momma always told me not to say anything if I did not have anything nice to say, and with that I am through with a dialogue with NUK 1.

You hammer him and then he decides he won't discuss anything with ME? That's a pretty good trick! Can you do it to a few other bloggers here?

It could be worse! Just be glad Dalmation the edumacated colledge boy isn't representing you in a courtroom.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

You guys tickle my funny bone. I made a typographical error, and you two can correlate that into stupidity.

I love this blog!

"Tickle me Elmo" ???

You guys are making me nervous.

You remind of the "Kids' Game" section of the Scotty Ballard DA website. Gee, that's where we ought to have our kids on-line.

Isn't the web master of that section Mr. Jeffrey Allen himself?

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

We didn't correlate it into stupidity. We correlated it into arrogance.

Now, you wanna discuss your defense of our predator protecting DA again?

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

That is really what it comes down to since Maxwell's seat isn't open but Horgan's is. Maxwell has benn a joke as chairman of the commission and I'd rather have to tolerate Dunn's arrogance and coarse demeanor than Maxwell. What Maxwell has done in less than 2 years a chairman is lead the commission to violate the open meetings law blatantly, try to go back and change the minutes and clumsily gloss it over with another lie, and then you can throw-in the bit about Maxwell attempting to represent a person in the same court that he is also a sitting judge for. UGH.

Dunn is way less-than-perfect and I wish there were better choices, but I'd take him over Maxwell any day.

What Maxwell has done in less than 2 years a chairman is lead the commission to violate the open meetings law blatantly, try to go back and change the minutes and clumsily gloss it over with another lie, and then you can throw-in the bit about Maxwell attempting to represent a person in the same court that he is also a sitting judge for. UGH.

You remembered! Great job!

And don't forget that fundraising letter that shows Maxwell as Scotty Ballard's campaign manager while he was a judge. Another big no-no. But, have no fear; When approached in regards to this issue, John Munford stated that he'd cover that issue when the campaigns got started. Welp! They've started and I'm sure Munford is about to release that story any time. :)

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"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

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It sounds like you are just against Maxwell. He is
Not the Chairman, Jack Smith is. Why do you want
To move backwards with Done. This county is moving forward
And you need people, who can keep focus, work with the Cities,
To save Fayette from King Pins like Done who are in it for them
Self.

For your information, Maxwell is not the chairman of the Fayette County Commission. That honor belongs to Jack Smith.

Please check your facts before you write your asinine posts.

Yes, Smith is chairman not Maxwell. Sorry about that mistake. It must have been since Maxwell was the main impetus to violating the open meetings law and then attempting to cover it up that I forgot that his lackey Jack Smith is actually chairman. Same difference.

NUK is right--- I'd take Dunn...Dunn and Janet are arrogant, sure. But Maxwell is worse. He owns land in East Coweta and that makes me nervous. All his shenanigans with the Open Meetings and then being a lawyer in the court where he was judge and then being campaign manager for Ballard while a judge--- it has sleaze written all over it. With Dalmation in love with Ballard and Maxwell it's hard for me to believe that Dalmation isn't a greasy trial lawyer himself.

First of all, as you pointed out, you do not get to choose batween Dunn and Maxwell. So, if you do not like Maxwell, why vote against Horgan? No logic there to me!

Second of all, and more importantly, Eric Maxwell is not the chairman of the Board of Commissioners. He not only is not the Chairman, he is not even the Vice-Chairman.

I suppose that you do not go to ANY of the meetings, but merely get your information from these blogs. Is that true?

If you are going to criticize someone, at least have it right before you speak up.

Or are you... are you.... oh just forget it.

________

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

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