Mistakes are not what happened.
Mayor,
Your candidates and their supporters are characterizing what has happened in Port Orange government over the past ½ dozen years as MISTAKES — as in “ Sure we may have made a few mistakes, but it was really no one’s fault and the important thing is to move on “ or “ get back to where we were “ as you like to say. And when they grudgingly say “ some mistakes were made “ it sounds like they would rather be chewing glass.
Mayor, you and they have it all wrong ……. Mistakes are not what happened.
- *) When the then IT director’s resignation and the HR Doctor’s report from 2006 detailing serious problems between IT and Finance were ignored – that was not a mistake. That was an abdication of the Manager’s responsibility to properly supervise his staff.
- *) When years and years of audit recommendations addressing serious control deficiencies received little more than a wink and a nod – that was not a mistake. That was wholesale neglect to adequately safeguard taxpayer interests.
- *) When common knowledge tacitly approved that the former CSM had system wide access to water billing tables that subsequently lead to the million dollar SNAFU with Daytona Beach Shores – that was not a mistake. That was a wholesale breakdown of policy and control protocol
- *) When the union down in Utilities started asking why they were not getting their share of the time off gravy train that brought $ 250,000 payroll thefts to light – that was not a mistake.. That was payroll manipulation pure and simple.
- *) When well known problems with malfunctioning water meters were systematically kept from Council for years – that was not a mistake. That was fundamental deceit on the part of the manager.
- *) When required Council approval for a questionable grant application and subsequent grant acceptance was ignored by the Finance department – that was not a mistake. That was wanton disrespect for our political process.
- *) When Finance prepared in-accurate fuel tax returns for the past 2 years – that was not a mistake. That was a deliberate misleading of Council regarding promised enhancements were never implemented in the wake of the public works scandal from February 2012
- *) When Finance failed to reconcile City bank accounts for most of last year – that was not a mistake. That was non-feasance on the part of the Comptroller, Finance director and Manager.
- *) When Finance failed to properly record and accrue ancillary income from sources such as tow truck and bill board contracts – that was not a mistake. That was a failure to follow the most basic principle of accrual accounting.
- *) When a needed computer module is purchased and sits on the shelf un-installed for 2 years – that is not a mistake. That is apathy and incompetence.
- *) When it takes 3 or 4 months to prepare an accurate year end trial balance – that is not a mistake. That is the result of a cognizant decision to not prepare accurate monthly trial balances throughout the year.
- *) When a contract’s authorized spending cap was exceeded and the first 2 irradiations of the change order failed to acknowledge that fact – that was not a mistake. That was a deliberate effort to mislead Council.
- *) When Council allowed a life saver award winning carpet bagging Manager, Finance director and Utilities director to resign without accepting responsibility for their role in the un-authorized overspending , and tolerated the shifting of all blame to a long term dedicated overworked mid level employee based of a self serving report from an ICMA range rider – that was not a mistake. That was a cowardly and shameful action that needs to be reversed ASAP.
- *) And finally Mayor when you failed to inform Council of the payroll thefts and the Finance Director’s sweetheart retirement deal – that was not a mistake. That was a deliberate effort on your part to game the system by possessing greater inside information than your supposed co-equal Council.
So Mr. Mayor I would call on you and your supporters to recognize past happenings for what they were, And to commit to not allowing those occurrences to repeat by ensuring that competent qualified individuals are hired, AND that more than lip service is given to the commitment, for responsible accountable and transparent government in Port Orange going forward.
Ted Noftall
Old news!
On looker 2 you use a familiar term “old news” to play down what you prefer not to be reminded of.
If we do learn from the “old news” we will have “new news”, which will probably center around the same old things we all wish will go away. Accountability is always pertinent, then, now and in the future.
— hank springer
if we do NOT learn from the old news,
Tell it like it is Ted. It’s an embarrassment and a crying shame that it took a volunteer board to uncover and bring to light what has been going on for years. Please tell me what has the Mayor and Council been doing all this time? As to Onlooker 2…this is not old news.
Obviously most of council appear clueless as to what goes on within the city that they were voted in to protect the citizens interest….. OR possibly they knew about this mess the time and did nothing.
The Council needs someone to oversee the Council…ain’t that a kiss in the ass to taxpayers.
Kick in the ass is what I meant
Maisy, team players don’t let bad news get into the public. The captain of the team does not like bad news. Indeed that is why city council members were not advised of the pending Parker/Shelly legal deal and the Parker/LaCour intentions to buy a funeral home. That being said, let’s move on and await some positive years without the captain of the team. But let us never return to the good old days, with the good old boys.
— hank springer
Amen Henry!
Take that a step further Hank. If the captain of the team sees that someone within the organization is honest, transparent, and has personal character and is open to the citizens and does not hide bad news, that person is summarily blacklisted by the captain of the team and is either run out of the organization or is kept down.
I sure hope that Harden does not embrace this dysfunctional we are family team and enable its continuation. We can only hope he will see it for what it is and reward value, honesty, and transparency as opposed to cronyism, status quo, and obfuscation. I think we will know within 60 days if this interim manager is his own man with a healing plan.
Very true, but when all of the bad news is swept under the carpet and then the carpet is pulled up, it makes it twice as rotten. Nobody likes a coverup. Be open and honest and admit errors. Hold those making egregious errors accountable for their errors.
If you agree – vote Stiltner and Ford next Tuesday. Without disparaging other candidates, there is no others who posses the cajones to to so.
“that being said lets move on” is an absolute favorite saying of Mayor Green. My questions is what does that mean? He never precedes this remark with anything of substance…just a lot of mumbling.
Maisey daisy,
Are you referring to the budget and audit board that Ted was the leader?
When was this board established?
Ahhhhh hell just a few costly “mistakes”
Have some compassion – these screw ups have families to support.
The residents paying the fees and taxes that pay the salaries of these screw ups have families to support also.
How about some compassion for the taxpayers of Port Orange.
I am one of those residents. My comment was an attempt at sarcasm Mr. Not So Fast.
The things that did happen was very costly and I hope the right management team is put in to place.
I will never down play what happen but it is old news.