Comments on: Love Is In The Air, Acclaim For Mario, Plus: Shays On Sohn Plea, And Meet David Walker http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/ with Lennie Grimaldi Mon, 21 May 2012 18:42:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: BEACON2 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/#comment-19369 BEACON2 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:02:49 +0000 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/?p=9919#comment-19369 Ron, Isn't the question if the City Attorney has the power, and uses it, then why does the BOE budget propose an attorney position? And if the BOE budget proposes legal expenses to be paid for from the BOE budget estimated at $500,000, what is that estimate based upon? (Presumably the City Attorney must be consulted.) And if the actual amount spent last year was $1,400,000 or more (that presumably passed across the City Attorney's desk at one time or another, was approved, kept track of, etc., why are some members of the Board having such difficulty in getting answers that they have to resort to FOI procedures to discover what the $$ were spent for, paid to whom, for how much work (representation, court room, labor negotiations, etc.)? And if the BOE does not put enough legal expense in its own budget, when the City Attorney approves a legal course of action with outside legal expense, does the City end up responsible for payment, or not? Finally, if the BOE needs legal help and the City Attorney decides that it can be provided in the City legal office, is BOE charged for that work? You can ask the question, and get an "on the one hand or on the other hand" answer but at the end of the day, the City Attorney has only two hands and needs to provide an answer, if you persevere. For old time's sake: Remember when a former Mayor (and a few top aides) got a single premium life insurance policy paid for by the City when things were spinning out of control? Remember that the money came through a Harbormaster's account handled by a member of the City Council at that time who happens to be chairing the BOE budget issues these days? Well it was a more innocent time for many in those days and when the City Attorney was asked whether any taxable income had been reported on these transactions in the form of a 1099 on more than one occasion, he passed on providing an answer. Today I would persevere. Perhaps use a lot of energy, take a lot of time, but if you run a kingdom, you have to deal with an expectation of accountability these days. Why hold up answers when public money is being spent. Fear of scandal? Some real wrongdoing? Or something plain stupid? Aren't the Feds still interested in Bridgeport??? I know many readers are! Ron,
Isn’t the question if the City Attorney has the power, and uses it, then why does the BOE budget propose an attorney position? And if the BOE budget proposes legal expenses to be paid for from the BOE budget estimated at $500,000, what is that estimate based upon? (Presumably the City Attorney must be consulted.)
And if the actual amount spent last year was $1,400,000 or more (that presumably passed across the City Attorney’s desk at one time or another, was approved, kept track of, etc., why are some members of the Board having such difficulty in getting answers that they have to resort to FOI procedures to discover what the $$ were spent for, paid to whom, for how much work (representation, court room, labor negotiations, etc.)? And if the BOE does not put enough legal expense in its own budget, when the City Attorney approves a legal course of action with outside legal expense, does the City end up responsible for payment, or not? Finally, if the BOE needs legal help and the City Attorney decides that it can be provided in the City legal office, is BOE charged for that work? You can ask the question, and get an “on the one hand or on the other hand” answer but at the end of the day, the City Attorney has only two hands and needs to provide an answer, if you persevere.
For old time’s sake: Remember when a former Mayor (and a few top aides) got a single premium life insurance policy paid for by the City when things were spinning out of control? Remember that the money came through a Harbormaster’s account handled by a member of the City Council at that time who happens to be chairing the BOE budget issues these days? Well it was a more innocent time for many in those days and when the City Attorney was asked whether any taxable income had been reported on these transactions in the form of a 1099 on more than one occasion, he passed on providing an answer. Today I would persevere. Perhaps use a lot of energy, take a lot of time, but if you run a kingdom, you have to deal with an expectation of accountability these days. Why hold up answers when public money is being spent. Fear of scandal? Some real wrongdoing? Or something plain stupid? Aren’t the Feds still interested in Bridgeport??? I know many readers are!

]]> By: Ron Mackey http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/#comment-19368 Ron Mackey Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:49:03 +0000 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/?p=9919#comment-19368 BEACON2, I think you answered your own question. The City Attorney has powers that are unchallenged, the BOE, Civil Service, Police Commission, Fire Commission and more, he makes those decisions and then there are the issues that the mayor beings to him. The City Council has NO power over him. He's a kingdom of his own, just ask him. BEACON2, I think you answered your own question. The City Attorney has powers that are unchallenged, the BOE, Civil Service, Police Commission, Fire Commission and more, he makes those decisions and then there are the issues that the mayor beings to him. The City Council has NO power over him. He’s a kingdom of his own, just ask him.

]]> By: BEACON2 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/#comment-19367 BEACON2 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:55:06 +0000 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/?p=9919#comment-19367 Lennie, I see nothing from TC, just about him. Perhaps you can commission a brand new local parade and get TC to accept being Grand Marshal of same. Then he can speed home from Timbuktu or wherever, and begin to let us know his thoughts. They have been among the most valuable contributions to OIB for some time. Fireworks on the BOE!!! They had a day of reflection and one hopes it can lower some of the tension reported. Practically speaking, tension is often what leads to movement. For instance: For several years slow movement on the problems of financial accountability have been addressed by a series of inquiries, let's call them audits, that have resulted in reports, but little info has come out in the press as to the actual effect of the time, effort and money expended. Money has been spent/raised by the City, by the State (courtesy of Governor Rell requested by Senator Rob Russo) and locally raised by the BRBC. How much and for what phase might make for a news story. I understand that the third phase was actually broken into two parts, let's call them 3A and 3B. Supposedly if 3A review revealed possible opportunities for efficiencies in operation (therefore $$$ and educational results one would hope) then 3B would be conducted. Or I believe that's what Paul Timpanelli said about one year ago. Today I was told that 3A was conducted but no one has seen the results (although from the BOE budget just released, it would seem that a sum of $250,000 is recommended for such an audit. Wouldn't Pat Crossin, Finance Chair of the BOE be wise to have that 3A report? Wouldn't all of the members of the BOE benefit? Shouldn't the public know, especially if positive efficiencies may become possible? Bridgeport taxpayers only pay for about 20% of the funds spent locally by the BOE. Since nearly 80% of the funds come courtesy of CT taxpayers like Paul Timpanelli (Trumbull) and BRBC officers (most live in the suburbs) as well as CT income taxpayers in Bridgeport, shouldn't they be most interested in the audit results and direction? Shouldn't the State who deploys these funds and supposedly look for accountability? I would think so, but the slow process has a former grammar school student (when the audits started) in college today. Private business would not work that way, and there is no reason elected trustees of community treasure (over $1 Billion every five years or more when building costs are included) should settle for that pace. BOE and Legal services and expenses: I have looked at the City Charter comments about representation by lawyers inside City government and those in private practice (available for hire based on specialty, etc.). It seems everything must pass by the City Attorney at one time or another. The City Attorney makes assignments, rulings and pays, too, maybe (or do available funds come from BOE budget?) The 2010-11 BOE budget includes an attorney position as well as legal expense money. Why? Does not look legal per the Charter. What is the reason? Fertile ground for reporting it would seem. And looking back one year, why is there no ready explanation of the $1.5 million for outside legal expense, reason, conclusion, vendor??? And when approved by City Attorney. Are such things put in writing, or is everything done verbally, by nods, winks or high fives? I am a big believer in "open, accountable and transparent"as foundational. Then I hope that the CT Post and/or Bridgeport News find the subject worthy of coverage, or possibly Rob Foley, WICC reporters or the people on this blog who have broad experience and wide range of opinions. Here is one area of questioning all of the folks in the suburbs should know about and start complaining until the audits are available and reasonably posted. If you are paying taxes for the schools, directly or indirectly and paying for the audits, or part of them, as well, don't you want to see the results? Wouldn't you hope that somebody with authority like the BOE members who ran for election to step into stewardship shoes, would share them, would act on them promptly and report on the results after a time? Suburban residents/taxpayers this is your money too!!! Come home TC ... Lennie,
I see nothing from TC, just about him. Perhaps you can commission a brand new local parade and get TC to accept being Grand Marshal of same. Then he can speed home from Timbuktu or wherever, and begin to let us know his thoughts. They have been among the most valuable contributions to OIB for some time.

Fireworks on the BOE!!! They had a day of reflection and one hopes it can lower some of the tension reported. Practically speaking, tension is often what leads to movement. For instance: For several years slow movement on the problems of financial accountability have been addressed by a series of inquiries, let’s call them audits, that have resulted in reports, but little info has come out in the press as to the actual effect of the time, effort and money expended.
Money has been spent/raised by the City, by the State (courtesy of Governor Rell requested by Senator Rob Russo) and locally raised by the BRBC. How much and for what phase might make for a news story. I understand that the third phase was actually broken into two parts, let’s call them 3A and 3B. Supposedly if 3A review revealed possible opportunities for efficiencies in operation (therefore $$$ and educational results one would hope) then 3B would be conducted. Or I believe that’s what Paul Timpanelli said about one year ago.

Today I was told that 3A was conducted but no one has seen the results (although from the BOE budget just released, it would seem that a sum of $250,000 is recommended for such an audit. Wouldn’t Pat Crossin, Finance Chair of the BOE be wise to have that 3A report? Wouldn’t all of the members of the BOE benefit? Shouldn’t the public know, especially if positive efficiencies may become possible?

Bridgeport taxpayers only pay for about 20% of the funds spent locally by the BOE. Since nearly 80% of the funds come courtesy of CT taxpayers like Paul Timpanelli (Trumbull) and BRBC officers (most live in the suburbs) as well as CT income taxpayers in Bridgeport, shouldn’t they be most interested in the audit results and direction? Shouldn’t the State who deploys these funds and supposedly look for accountability?

I would think so, but the slow process has a former grammar school student (when the audits started) in college today. Private business would not work that way, and there is no reason elected trustees of community treasure (over $1 Billion every five years or more when building costs are included) should settle for that pace.
BOE and Legal services and expenses: I have looked at the City Charter comments about representation by lawyers inside City government and those in private practice (available for hire based on specialty, etc.). It seems everything must pass by the City Attorney at one time or another. The City Attorney makes assignments, rulings and pays, too, maybe (or do available funds come from BOE budget?) The 2010-11 BOE budget includes an attorney position as well as legal expense money. Why? Does not look legal per the Charter. What is the reason? Fertile ground for reporting it would seem.
And looking back one year, why is there no ready explanation of the $1.5 million for outside legal expense, reason, conclusion, vendor??? And when approved by City Attorney. Are such things put in writing, or is everything done verbally, by nods, winks or high fives?
I am a big believer in “open, accountable and transparent”as foundational. Then I hope that the CT Post and/or Bridgeport News find the subject worthy of coverage, or possibly Rob Foley, WICC reporters or the people on this blog who have broad experience and wide range of opinions.
Here is one area of questioning all of the folks in the suburbs should know about and start complaining until the audits are available and reasonably posted. If you are paying taxes for the schools, directly or indirectly and paying for the audits, or part of them, as well, don’t you want to see the results? Wouldn’t you hope that somebody with authority like the BOE members who ran for election to step into stewardship shoes, would share them, would act on them promptly and report on the results after a time? Suburban residents/taxpayers this is your money too!!!
Come home TC …

]]> By: Local Eyes http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/#comment-19366 Local Eyes Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:31:34 +0000 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/?p=9919#comment-19366 OIB Rumor Mill: Local Eyes will join other Cool Dudes and own his own web site to <em>prove</em> it! <a target="_blank" href="http://www.IAMACOOLDUDE.com" rel="nofollow">www .IAMACOOLDUDE.com</a> (wink) OIB Rumor Mill:

Local Eyes will join other Cool Dudes and own his own web site to prove it!

www .IAMACOOLDUDE.com

(wink)

]]> By: Up On Bridgeport http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/#comment-19365 Up On Bridgeport Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:31:17 +0000 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/?p=9919#comment-19365 Local Eyes suffers from Big Foot in Mouth Disease. I'm looking forward to Local Eyes moving to Bridgeport. Based on the "documented truth," Where do you put these extra 25k people? How do you support them? How do you educate and care for them? People are fleeing Connecticut. Sounds more like the "Demented Truth!" Although I do like your OPIC concept, but you can do that in Shelton for 18.8 mils, or on your sailboat and pay no property taxes. Local Eyes suffers from Big Foot in Mouth Disease. I’m looking forward to Local Eyes moving to Bridgeport.

Based on the “documented truth,” Where do you put these extra 25k people? How do you support them? How do you educate and care for them? People are fleeing Connecticut.
Sounds more like the “Demented Truth!”

Although I do like your OPIC concept, but you can do that in Shelton for 18.8 mils, or on your sailboat and pay no property taxes.

]]> By: Local Eyes http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/#comment-19364 Local Eyes Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:36:34 +0000 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/?p=9919#comment-19364 The HELL with principle, that's $1300 missing from an innocent lady's purse! The HELL with principle, that’s $1300 missing from an innocent lady’s purse!

]]> By: Local Eyes http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/love-is-in-the-air-acclaim-for-mario-plus-shays-on-sohn-plea-and-meet-david-walker/#comment-19363 Local Eyes Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:32:40 +0000 http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/?p=9919#comment-19363 Demographic & economic trends ALONE will increase Bridgeport's population in the near future. Facts overwhelm opinion. Growing suburban poverty is a documented truth. The Mayor of Bridgeport understands this and is using it to The City's benefit. UOB's post is full of conjecture and should be ignored by the blogosphere. Local Eyes has identified UOB as an uninformed "carbon footprint snob." Demographic & economic trends ALONE will increase Bridgeport’s population in the near future. Facts overwhelm opinion. Growing suburban poverty is a documented truth. The Mayor of Bridgeport understands this and is using it to The City’s benefit.

UOB’s post is full of conjecture and should be ignored by the blogosphere. Local Eyes has identified UOB as an uninformed “carbon footprint snob.”

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