More Bad News?; Looks like another overspent contract.
.Looks like another overspent contract. Will more heads roll? Stay tuned @ July 29th Council Meeting and let’s see.
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- Broward opens broad inquiry into misuse of property tax dollars by CRAs; millions at stake
- The staff shake-up continues in Port Orange
This is what got Mr Cinefro canned, Saunders and Yarborough walked and others were disciplined. If nobody gets canned on this one Cinefro gets his job back or will recover it in a healthy lawsuit. No wonder Mrs Lewis does not want the job. Who in their right mind would? Quick call Richard Kelton.
This situation looks similar to the 411,000 meter unauthorized spending. Someone is not tracking expenses. The change order request is devoid of details showing how this happened. They make it look like they are requesting anticipated additional funding for the rest of the year when they have already exceeded the authorized spending limit.
They also appear to be deflecting the blame to the individual departments. The divisions and departments submit their budget request, than finance, the CM and council cut the requested budget funding. The individual departments have to live with what they are allowed. IT manages the agreement for the air cards. Who the hell tracks the expenses? Maybe we can bring in the RANGE RIDER to do another phony investigation. Then they will have to figure out who is still there to blame it on or blame it on someone that recently left.
Concerned this administration will do nothing to Donna Steinebach she is like Teflon. She is an insider and can do no wrong. With 23 years of administrative experience how do you think she could overspend a contract to that extent? It doesn’t matter though, she will get special dispensation that Tom Cinefro,, or for that matter most any employee would not get. The sad thing is that as HR/IT director she would go for the juggler vein of any other employee that did the same thing. They either need to give Cinefro his job back or send her packing also. My bet is they will find a way to spin it, and it will be a prelude to the implosion of the rest of this disfunctional organization.
Leviathan,
I can’t imagine another whitewash. How can your City administer selective enforcement? Teflon or not they all get hot when you put them on the burner. I guess the outcome remains to be seen.
Yes, she gets hot when you put her on the burner but she slips and she slides like clams on Wesson oil and comes out unscathed. We shall see if she survives what she prosecutes and if her insider status gives her special dispensation. At the end of the day, this administration will demonize and mercilessly fire a one time employee offender for a D.U.I., taking $50 worth of gasoline, a few hundred dollars of scrap material one’s son takes, or refusing to alter a memo, but this $125,000 a year Teflon lady will probably skate on busting a contract this significant. As a matter of fact, not only will she skate, but if she busted another contract shortly thereafter, I predict they wouldn’t do shit to her even at that.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/81760877/Warren-Pike-Resignation
This looks like more than a few hundred dollars of scrap metal.
I think they will try to cover the significance of this malfeasance with a wink and a nod. The reason is if they represented just how serious this is they would have to act upon it. If another administrator was fired or asked to resign right now the media would have a field day. I think this whole Port Orange debacle is inching so much closer to a State Attorney’s office investigation. I think there is one particular individual that rues the day the City of Port Orange and its political/managerial stratosphere is opened up to Pam Bondi’s office. Thus you will see as much damage control and spin as possible to prevent another one from biting the dust. I am simply amazed that this did not get on Ted Noftall’s radar.
Perhaps, Ted is keeping a low profile. You know that post from Kisela might be construed as a subtle litigious threat to Mr. Noftall. Mr. Noftall has significant business interests, and as of August 1st Kisela is no longer a public figure. Maybe this is why the city cancel has voted to let him ride into the sunset. With all this disingenuous obfuscation from council, can any of their constituency have one iota of respect left for them. I would say Drew Bastian showed character, Ford did ok, and Margaret Roberts certainly demonstrated an understanding of her fiduciary responsibility. In all of this Allan Green, Greg Kisela, Don Burnette, and Dennis Kennedy showed their true colors. The question to their constituency would you ever want to vote for any of them in the future? I think they all sealed their future political fates tonight.
What was the $228,048.38 spent for Artesian pools for?
Did they do the remodel on YMCA pool possibly ?
Here again is an example of the laxity of internal controls in our Finance Department. What is mind boggling to me is that even though facts are presented to the Council they accept the feeble excuses and go on as business as usual. They need to get tough. If I buy a package of chopped meat at Winn Dixie and find it to be rotten I don’t eat it I take it back to the store and get my money back. The more I learn about how Port Orange government is being run the more disgusted I get.
Margaret, when they buy a package og rotten chopped meat in Port Orange, when its expiration date has run out in one position they reassign it to another position for $125,000 a year that it is not qualified for as a golden parachute. This is abundantly clear in this case of another one of the resigning city manager’s selections. We will see tonight at the council meeting if there is one iota of accountability or the mayor will make some untenable excuse. In this case the excuse that council and activists have over scrutinized this administrator will be non-applicable and unacceptable.
Another 62k hit due to piss poor planning and mismanagement ? This is beyond embarrassment.
Are they in bed with AT&T ? Can this be bid out with other servers for 2015 ?
FY 2014 is almost done. Are you going to tell me this just cropped up ?
Ms. Steinebach has 23 years of golden service – I guess we’ll have to string her along for two more ? She will come out clean on this without any accountability. Blame it on Cinefro, Saunders or some poor guy in public works and cover it up.
Will someone PLEASE ask for Green’s resignation publicly ?
I’m living on $20,000 a year. That’s not anyone’s fault. I was not a high wage earner but I did work for 50 years without compensation from welfare, food stamps or any other public assistance. Now you are asking us low income seniors who live within our budget to pay an increase on our water bills and an increase on our taxes. Meanwhile you are paying administrators in Port Orange six figure salaries and from what I can see by reading these blogs they are deficient in their jobs. What is going on here? The City Council is presented with facts but every council meeting goes that same way week after week with nothing substantial being done to correct obvious deficiencies within City Hall.
Air cards ? Wireless data service ? Why such a huge amount ?
Who is working from home or not in the office ? Is much of this attributable to Wayne Saunders working from home in Clermont ? Exactly how many employees have or need such air card capability ?
Ms. Steinebach is in charge of the IT department now ? A full and thorough explanation is needed on this one.
We continue to take hits on unexpected and unexplained fiscal items. If this city was a retail business, it would be closing it’s doors.
Donna appeared before the port orange city council 7 29 14 and forthrightly stated that a mistake had been made, and it won’t be made again. I hope so. But I think this is the first time someone from city staff has come forth and honestly admitted a mistake had been made. And she explained how the mistake was made.
If we had more transparency when city mistakes happen, and they seem to happen a lot, we would not have to go on and on trying to find out what really happened.
Yes, she was well prepared.
Maybe a synopsis of last night’s meeting is in order ? We saw the return of former Mayor Judy Anderson who blasted Ted Noftall and crew, the interim finance director who reports that everything is GREAT there, and of course the CM exit debacle.
Hank, don’t hold your breath. I bet another busted contract under her supervision will be revealed shortly. If that’s the case than the malfeasance is being trickle fed to you and I will bet you right now that whoever the city manager is, as well as council will let it slide with a wink and a nod. Prior to that occurring Donna will be doing her darndest to prosecute and dispense punitive action against an employee for a lesser offense.
Hank, you are a good person, a fair person and give everyone the benefit of doubt but in this case you are dealing with a wolf in sheep’s clothing. What else could she have possibly done to get herself out of this but admit the error publicly? A person who viciously condemns others for like errors should have a better excuse than “the lack of the new computer system made me do it”. I don’t see this happening in most other departments working with the existing system.
Mazie Dear, if you really are a Daisy, thank you for your thoughts. You probably know Donna better than I do, and her condemning others for similar mistakes I guess she does in her capacity as an administrator/supervisor? Any way I cannot refute what you say because I don’t have that kind of detailedl knowledge about her.
Yes, isn’t there an advantage to just admit a mistake has been made so that it is acknowledged that it is noted, appreciated and will be corrected? It does sort of help let one not have to defend what he/she cannot defend.
The alternative for Donna was to blame the IT system which did not push out alerts that payments for AT&T contract purposes were exceeding the known contract at that time. Who is responsible for a computer system which does not alert when financial payments go over a contracted arrangement? And alas, even more questions come from citizens watching all these distressful incidents. This is the time for all citizens to demand that internal controls in Port Orange City Government be effectively installed. For what ever the reasons, I think we need a Trouble Shooter in the job as next city manager. We have troubles in Port Orange city operations. We might want to refer to such a city manager as TS. Trouble Shooter, or Tough S..t!
We need a TS.
Another one bites the dust today! I will let you guess who. You will sure be surprised when you find out.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Youtube+Another+One+Bites+The+Dust&qpvt=Youtube+Another+One+Bites+The+Dust&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=453CDED6C234DC533DB6453CDED6C234DC533DB6
Lacey McLaughlin @laceyemc · 6h
Just confirmed @cityportorange Asst. City Manager Shannon Lewis resigned this morning. Will leave city late August.
Wow. I hope everyone is happy. Everybody wanted this “kind” of government. Well, this is whats left. Keep having fun with it. Who would want to work in this environment? Obviously not many.
Mr. Anon.
All of this is no fun. Shannon says she is not resigning because of Ted Noftall. And so we wonder, why is she resigning? Again we are left with more speculation and some consider suspicion. Wouldn’t it be nice if Shannon would tell us exactly why she is resigning. If it is Ted Noftall, say so. But I guess one would not be considered a team player to be hired in other future jobs if one was to say, the system I was working in at Port Orange was just administratively inefficient, and work ethic corrupt. Probably no other political network would want to hire such an outspoken individual.
But at this time, I really do not know why she is resigning. Maybe we will eventually find out.
I think Ted had a valid point about Shannon refusing to take on the interim city manager’s job. The idea that a person would not take a promotion because of citizens who are watching administration performances does not say much for those in administration.
I would agree that it is tough working in a city such as Port Orange that had neglected internal controls for a decade? two decades? And to take a job to hold the fort down until the next city manager arrives may very well be a career risk unnecessarily taken. The city of Port Orange is now unique among many local governments because it has a group of citizens who are demanding work performance and accountability. If that is the environment everyone is afraid of, then perhaps it is best that all who are not up to the job leave or not take the job.
There recently have been some comments made that public negative criticism about Port Orange City Government should cease. The arguments I have heard are, negative criticism is unsettling, gets little accomplished, and hurts the morale of city workers.
Negative criticism of our governmental agencies by citizens is a fundamental right and is a way of showing displeasure at negative findings. The freedom to condemn and criticize is fundamental to this democracy, and only under dictatorships are negative criticisms not allowed.
Some arguments are sometimes offered that the agenda of citizens offering negative criticism should be questioned. Questioning motives too is part of the democratic process, but does not adequately remove the impression of negative criticism which is founded on facts.
Many of the negative criticism directed towards the city of Port Orange governmental departments are based in negative findings of mistakes found. Such negative criticism was not imagined out of thin air.
Much of the negative speculation and negative suspicions have developed because city management has not adequately explained how and why negative revelations are appearing almost at a monthly rate, nor has city management assured the public that proper controls have been put in place to prevent the mistakes from happening again.
If the city council as a whole would ask for answers from the city manager about the questions that linger in citizen’s minds, perhaps depending on honest answers, speculation and suspicion will lessen.
If the city council does not ask the questions that need be answered, or not receive satisfactory answers to the issues, it is the right for citizens to appear before the city council and ask again for answers. This is what has been happening and it is part of democracy.
The alternative to citizens not asking the questions about negative findings, or not showing their displeasure at negative findings and non-transparency, is to return to the blissful days of ignorance, when all was not well in City Government, but everyone felt happy about themselves and their leaders. We have learned differently and if the reader of this editorial does not appreciate that fact, then more than ever it is necessary to defend the right of citizens to criticize, ask questions, and demand accountability. Others have the right to disagree with some of the criticism, and to offer arguments against such criticism, but certainly it is improper to expect that negative criticism cease. When the issues are resolved I would expect the criticism to stop. If ever there were more need for citizens to be discontented with its local government, it is now
Other then Gurnee ?
WOW another shocker, but then again not really. We have nobody left !
I think the root of the problem is the construction mayor Allen Green.
I saw the article online at the Daytona Beach News Journal. Shannon Lewis has resigned and will stay on board only until the interim City Manager is hired. What a mess. What the hell is going on? There has to be more to this story. I simply will not accept the irrational excuse that it is all Ted’s fault as mentioned in the article. It seems like something big is about to be uncovered and everyone is running for the door. Perhaps the grumpy mayor will follow. Wouldn’t that be something. We better review the city charter to find out who would be in charge if the interim CM doesn’t fit the mold. City council must take affirmative action asap. This is a serious mess that we are in and I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel quite yet.
Follow the trail of the dirt and that may reveal the reason behind all of this.
I believe that a LOT of employees know a LITTLE about the dirt hauling debacle and bit by bit if the information were pieced together what a tale it would tell. Maybe many of them don’t want to get pulled into what could turn out to be the scandal of the century for Port Orange??? More than likely the ones who have already exited or are now leaving know the true story.
Editor…the comment posted under the following heading…
Onlooker on July 30, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
was not from this Onlooker. I don’t want my reputation on this site tainted buy some of the aggressive language used in the post. This Onlooker has posted on this site about being respectful and working towards improving the city.
Thank you
What aggressive language are you referring to? Onlooker2 said nothing aggressive or improper.
Specifically “hell” and “grumpy”. I don’t think either of those are productive, professional and I don’t want to be associated with the comments.
Onlooker….Oh spare me. I hear worse than that on TV shows everyday. Hell, you may be the grumpy on because the blogs are not going your way.
You think hell and grumpy are unconscionably vulgar? Maybe you shouldn’t be here on a political blog. You should stick to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Casper The Friendly Ghost, and the Lawrence Welk Show.
Onlooker,
I apologize for assuming your identity. I posted as onlooker and apparently became onlooker2. I scanned a few local blogs and didn’t recall seeing your title. Lots of other crazy titles though. Lol It has taken my interest though and I will gladly post in the future as Observing. I fully respect your wishes as not to be associated with another’s views. If there is someone else out there blogging as observing please let me know. I respect everyone else’s views and please respect mine. I stand by my language as maybe I am more frustrated than onlooker. We are obviously on different sides of the street. I respect that as I am sure our exposure and knowledge differs greatly. I have learned a lot here and also seen a bunch of useless junk information as well. It’s not hard to spot information requests and documentation. These have benefited my knowledge vastly. Happy blogging Onlooker.
NewsDaytonaBeach
Listen Live .
Shannon Lewis Becomes 6th Port Orange Staffer To Resign
port orange sign
Port Orange, FL – The staff shake-up continues in Port Orange less than 24 hours before the City Council holds a special meeting about their open interim City Manager position.
Shannon Lewis – the woman chosen by the POCC to become the interim City Manager following Greg Kisela’s resignation – has resigned as Assistant City Manager.
She becomes the 6th high-level Port Orange staff member to quit her post since June. That list includes Kisela as well as Fire Chief Joe Pozzo, Finance Director Wayne Saunders, Public Utilities Director Jason Yarborough and Purchasing Manager Tom Cinefro.
Tensions between city staff, elected officials and certain members of the public who’ve publicly complained about how the city’s handling several key issues – namely the discovery of over $400,000 worth of unauthorized water meter purchases – are believed to be behind the majority of the resignations.
Port Orange Vice-Mayor Don Burnette told WNDB News that Lewis announced her intention to leave Port Orange on Wednesday, but has committed to staying until the City Council names a new interim City Manager.
“She told me it’s for personal and professional reasons and I didn’t really inquire too much more deeply than that,” Burnette added. “I told her that I’d certainly love for her to reconsider and stay, but I can tell she’s given it a lot of thought.”
Lewis’ decision came 13 days after the POCC tabbed her during a special meeting to fill Kisela’s shoes once he returns to Destin to become their City Manager once again. His final day at Port Orange is August 1st.
At that time, several POCC members expressed interest in having her possibly become the permanent replacement, but Lewis would only commit to becoming the interim City Manager until the city could find someone else to take the job.
Since then, the city has posted the job opening on their website and city officials say they’ve gotten 65 applications, including some from people who live out of state.
Thursday night’s meeting – which will take place at 5pm from POCC chambers on City Center Circle – will see all 5 members go over the candidates and decide on the various parameters related to the position as well as the process they’ll use to trim that list down to the point where they’ve decided on a candidate.
Burnette says they’d like to have the new interim City Manager in place by September 2nd, especially since Lewis will leave by then.
“It’s priorities 1, 2 and 3 to get stability [in the staff],” Burnette said. “I think that’s kind of important for us to make a good decision on an interim manager rather quickly.”
Whoever is hired as Kisela’s initial replacement will have the chance to apply for the job on a permanent basis, though Burnette says that they will likely not pick a permanent replacement until after the August 26th primary election.
3 POCC seats will be up for grabs during that election, including Burnette’s District 2 spot as well as Bob Ford in District 1 and Dennis Kennedy in District 4. Burnette and Ford are running for re-election. Kennedy is not.
“Interim” the most frequently used word within the confines of Port Orange City Hall.
Ms. Lewis is really the interim, interim CM until an interim is hired.
We got a mess, a real mess and won’t be near clean up as long as Mayor Green Jeans is in office.
We are still catching a falling knife. The bottom is not in yet and will continue to collapse until city officials come clean and stop trying to deflect blame on two councilmen, citizen watchdogs, rogue employees, and taxpayers. The reality is a new paradigm of open and transparent governance for the people is emerging and will not be denied. The spin doctors at city hall are dropping like roaches that have been bombed. This is a vestige of special interest and their few remaining self entitled team players that are desperately trying to deflect the blame of this organizational implosion and feed propaganda to the press to try and popularize this propaganda. I think that the press is starting to see right through this and as the implosion continues it will become abundantly clear that this is the desperation of the politicians of the old closed governance paradigm seeing their future special interest agenda dissolve. Their team playing support staff are jumping ship before many things that have been covered up are brought to light and are trying to get out with their pensions before their self entitlement is cut short.
Hey when you have one of those bad days at city hall you can always leave the toxic environment behind and go out for a fresh manicure.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+manicure+video+funny&qpvt=youtube+manicure+video+funny&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=951786F25BEA81344A79951786F258EA81344A79
My fingernails are VERY important to me, that’s why i’m always checking them.
There is some unfinished pending findings and accountability for past inquiries. Does this mean there is no one left standing to reveal those findings and account for them? This is a typical Port Orange political/managerial move. Put as much time between an inquiry and the findings to see if employees and the citizens get tired of waiting and forget the inquiry, but if pressed out of measure and the accountability hand writing is on the wall, resign with your pension and run for the hills.
I cringe to think what else could come to light now. But nothing would surprise me either.
No criminal investigations – YET