How about we play nice?
No, actually the City Manager did not drop a nuclear football. As a past paralegal for a municipality I can clearly state the following:
• Some of the boys on the City Council are not allowing Mr. Johansson the chance to acclimate to his job.
• They want answers for the mess the previous City Manager left behind and they want change before he has even had a chance to get his feet wet.
• Councilman Bob cannot get the raises he wants AND not get these past water bills paid. You cannot represent ALL people. It is impossible. Therefore, you have to meet in the middle. You cannot be everyone’s savior and you definitely cannot expect to have expectations without full knowledge of the budget. As a Union Rep myself now, I know you should always go into negotiations expecting to compromise, not get everything you asked for. Councilman is the same way. You could have split those bills from the past water in half or only had them pay a percentage. A percentage that could be used to up the ante for contract negotiations but Mr. Johansson is right, it all comes down to taxpayers no matter which way you slice it. And Bob, just for the record, the term Ex post hoc is not proper Latin. You mixed two prepositions.
• You absolutely CAN make a law that goes back.
• The reason Mr. Johansson wanted to take it OFFLINE with Ted. It was so he would not to embarrass him in a City Council meeting. Something which Ted has no issue doing to anyone of the esteemed members sitting on the podium. I watch Ted in these meetings and it is clear that he is someone that needs to be heard….A LOT….
• Nowhere did I see the Mayor lecturing Mr. Johansson but rather guiding him as is his role as his superior. It being a new position, I would hope that he would do that instead of allowing Council members to run amok with all their comments and unwarranted banter to Mr. Johansson.
• I am chagrined and dismayed to hear Councilman Don call a 34 year Navy Veteran, who fought for our rights and for all Councilmans’ rights to even sit on a Council and have a meeting, Tonto. For all those readers who don’t know…Tonto is slang for Village Fool in Spanish. This man was a CAPTAIN in the Navy and fought for your rights. Name calling is low, but even more so when someone blantently disrespects a soldier.
• Not once did Mr. Johansson appear pompous to me. He seemed professional. He seemed focused. He has only been in that position 4 months. He does not have it in with the cool boys yet. He has to watch his every move because he is an innocent man paying for the actions of another.
• Watch some of the other meetings where he graciously says “I could comment on that but I would rather leave it to my expert in the office” and he hands the question over to the woman in charge of that department. A pompous man (solemn, conceited, self- important) does not hand over questions but rather answers them all himself as a know it all.
How about we play nice? Quit name calling. Quit with the frat boy banter because you are threated in some way.
How about you start over? Let the man get into his job and actually listen to his ideas. This man has lead pilots and ships through war. HE CAN CERTAINLY LEAD A CITY INTO ITS NEW VISION. You just have to give him a chance. Show him some respect. Maybe, instead of pinning him with the sins of another, you can sit and listen…I see him listening in the meetings….there are a few of you who are not listening but rather planning your next response. Watch him. He sits, listens and takes his time to answer questions and give you an answer. Not once, in four months, has he called any of you names or misled you. He has shown each and every one of you respect. He deserves the same.
Blessings.
• Some of the boys on the City Council are not allowing Mr. Johansson the chance to acclimate to his job.
• They want answers for the mess the previous City Manager left behind and they want change before he has even had a chance to get his feet wet.
• Councilman Bob cannot get the raises he wants AND not get these past water bills paid. You cannot represent ALL people. It is impossible. Therefore, you have to meet in the middle. You cannot be everyone’s savior and you definitely cannot expect to have expectations without full knowledge of the budget. As a Union Rep myself now, I know you should always go into negotiations expecting to compromise, not get everything you asked for. Councilman is the same way. You could have split those bills from the past water in half or only had them pay a percentage. A percentage that could be used to up the ante for contract negotiations but Mr. Johansson is right, it all comes down to taxpayers no matter which way you slice it. And Bob, just for the record, the term Ex post hoc is not proper Latin. You mixed two prepositions.
• You absolutely CAN make a law that goes back.
• The reason Mr. Johansson wanted to take it OFFLINE with Ted. It was so he would not to embarrass him in a City Council meeting. Something which Ted has no issue doing to anyone of the esteemed members sitting on the podium. I watch Ted in these meetings and it is clear that he is someone that needs to be heard….A LOT….
• Nowhere did I see the Mayor lecturing Mr. Johansson but rather guiding him as is his role as his superior. It being a new position, I would hope that he would do that instead of allowing Council members to run amok with all their comments and unwarranted banter to Mr. Johansson.
• I am chagrined and dismayed to hear Councilman Don call a 34 year Navy Veteran, who fought for our rights and for all Councilmans’ rights to even sit on a Council and have a meeting, Tonto. For all those readers who don’t know…Tonto is slang for Village Fool in Spanish. This man was a CAPTAIN in the Navy and fought for your rights. Name calling is low, but even more so when someone blantently disrespects a soldier.
• Not once did Mr. Johansson appear pompous to me. He seemed professional. He seemed focused. He has only been in that position 4 months. He does not have it in with the cool boys yet. He has to watch his every move because he is an innocent man paying for the actions of another.
• Watch some of the other meetings where he graciously says “I could comment on that but I would rather leave it to my expert in the office” and he hands the question over to the woman in charge of that department. A pompous man (solemn, conceited, self- important) does not hand over questions but rather answers them all himself as a know it all.
How about we play nice? Quit name calling. Quit with the frat boy banter because you are threated in some way.
How about you start over? Let the man get into his job and actually listen to his ideas. This man has lead pilots and ships through war. HE CAN CERTAINLY LEAD A CITY INTO ITS NEW VISION. You just have to give him a chance. Show him some respect. Maybe, instead of pinning him with the sins of another, you can sit and listen…I see him listening in the meetings….there are a few of you who are not listening but rather planning your next response. Watch him. He sits, listens and takes his time to answer questions and give you an answer. Not once, in four months, has he called any of you names or misled you. He has shown each and every one of you respect. He deserves the same.
Blessings.
Mayor Green makes the City Clerk read the city policy on the proper decorum at all Council meetings. Then the Mayor during most council meetings turns right around and makes some smart ass disrespectful comment to public speakers that are not part of his clique
I have not seen The Mayor call anyone names in any meetings. I cannot say that I am 100% right on that.
And listen, there is no doubt, all municipalities have boy’s clubs. Let’s not even pretend they don’t. My comment was about name calling and giving Johansson, who is not in any boy’s club, a chance instead of calling him racial slurs.
I don’t want to get into a shopping list of what is wrong. It starts with one drop of change to create a ripple effect that will enhance the whole community into more productive meetings and change which will lead to the vision that the community has as a whole and isn’t that was this is really about? A vision that the citizens have for Orange City?
It would benefit us all to play nicer.
Orange City?
OMG this guy may not be on the wrong planet, but he’s defiantly in the wrong city. LOL
Oops! That’s what I get for talking to my son while I’m typing. I apologize LOL
Port Orange+City Manager+interruptions = Orange city
Sidney, Got what you are saying, however it takes two to disagree, it is rare that a new City Manager runs into such opposition from council so soon, what do you think Jake is doing wrong to so alienate the very people that voted for him just a few months ago?
Don’t forget 4 of the Councilmen voted against Jake and wanted to re-advertise for the position. But Ford saved the day for him
Aw yes Ford worked his sound bite magic that day on 4 village idiots who gave up their very strong reservations when they should not have.
Shaky Jake is a dead man walking at this point.
So again, why the insults. Did you run for Council? Have you done the job? Dead man walking is a strong statement towards someone who has barely had enough time to settle into his home, let alone his job.
I’m convinced that until there is a climate change in the community, no one will be happy with anyone ever. We are all on the same team, wanting a lot of the same things but everyone is too busy wanting to get their own way and point fingers.
Shaky Jake is unnecessary. I doubt you know him well enough to call him anything but Mr. Johannson but if everyone would like to continue with the finger pointing and name calling and continue to make Port Orange and it’s vision adversarial…have it it, you won’t accomplish much and you can expect it to continue with a new mayor. Personally, I would rather see a change in attitude and set us up for success.
Maybe he’s questioning the wrong people and looking for answers from people who don’t want to give them because they have something to hide. I don’t think he has done anything wrong at this point but go in and try to do the job he was hired for.
MAYBE, he isn’t bending to their ideals because he has the taxpayers in mind…again, I never assume someone’s job unless I have done it.
AND my question to everyone was: Why the insults? I want to keep this in the original comment which was: Give the man a chance and why the name calling?
Because these people act like a bunch of children. Do what I want, think like it do or else
By the way Sidney, your original statement is excellent. Give the man a chance!
Thank you. I appreciate that you took the time to read my response.
Your fresh approach and participation is welcomed (by some)
I for one may not agree with all opinions but damn sure respect your right to state them ! Others should too.
AMEN ! The manner in which the Mayor treats citizens and council members has always been short, sarcastic and condescending !!!!
Only a few more months of enduring this thankfully.
i was out in our community today. People are talking about me to me. I chose a fictious name so I could sit by quietly without provocation or judgment in the meetings and in public. I’m glad my post has sparked conversation. It has done exactly what i wanted it to do. Funny….no one mentioned Ol Timer to me or anonymous….but my fictitious name has sparked some interesting theories.
I’m just a concerned citizen who has been lucky enough to see municipal government put aside their political BS and boys club mentality and get some serious work done once they chose to do so.
You have a vision…..bring it ti fruition!