FRANKSMITHSAYSNB EDITORIAL:
The new Mayor's executive order instituting a city wide hiring freeze lasted only moments with his subsequent appointment of Phil Sherwood as his communication director for 45K annually.
The Appointment of Rosemary Klotz was prudent since he had to replace his predecessor's aid, but many are questioning the higher salary negotiated with this new employee by Phil Sherwood—who apparently has the sole authority to determine employee salaries within the new administration.
The Mayor appointing Manuel Reyes as the New Police commission chairperson was an excellent choice but--appointing the wife of an alderman to the police board, one that owes back taxes together with her husband, sends the wrong message to the taxpayers—that not paying your taxes is something this administration rewards or even applauds!
The hiring freeze continues to be vacated with the hiring of 18 new police officers with O'Brien stating that he decided to make an exception to his hiring freeze because these officers are funded by a federal COPS program that Police Chief William Gagliardi requested in order to alleviate the shortage of police staffing--which is greatly needed for the citizens safety. Another unanswered question is who pays for these 18 salaries when the COPS grant runs out?—a common problem with all COPS grants.
During the election process Mayor O'Brien opposed the Costco plans A & B and recently announced that he is reviewing the options for building the Costco Store on Hartford Road, but the busway has his full support. Of course we just learned of plans to build low rent public housing projects at or near each of the busway stops—a fact that was kept remarkably secret during the many public hearings.
The Mayor recently announced the appointment of a financial review task force giving full access to all city departments with all three appointees having great credentials. But the question arises will they be paid for meeting with the department heads during the daytime or will such meetings occur in the evening with the department heads and/or employees required to attend these meetings to answer operational procedures drawing overtime from the city for attending?
When we get our tax bills in January, we should all simply write on it that we will pay ours when the Aldermen and Constables pay theirs!
ReplyDelete"One of the fundamental responsibilities of government is to ensure proper and honest conduct by its own employees,'' Malloy said.
ReplyDeleteSOMEONE SHOULD ASK MALLOY WHAT HE THINKS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO DON'T PAY THEIR TAXES!
Governor Malloy Announces Tropical Storm Irene Fraud Probe; State Employees Suspected of double dipping for cash payments?
ReplyDeleteGov. Dannel P. Malloy disclosed that some 800 state employees obtained federal disaster aid through the state after Tropical Storm Irene, with an undisclosed number suspected of gaining the assistance through fraud. At an abruptly called news conference at the Capitol, Gov. Malloy said that staff at the Department of Social Services spotted the names of "more than a few" state employees" who appeared to obtain aid $$$$ without fully disclosing their income.
ReplyDeleteAccording to a requirements announcing the CT assistance program on Sept. 19, 2011 for Storm Irene, the maximum monthly "take-home income and liquid assets" for the covered 30-day period was $2,186 for a single adult, $2,847 for a household of two, $3,272 for three, $3,859 for four, $4,245 for five, $4,753 for six, $5,116 for seven and $5,479 for family of eight.
ReplyDeleteHe only thinks he can fire them.
ReplyDeleteWait until he tries to and the unions take him to task on it. The arbitrators will likely order reinstatement and full back pay whether Dictator Dan likes it or not!
This is a joke! Hiring freeze my dupa. The COPS grant only covers new police personnel above the 18 he plans on hiring. Secondly it isonly good for three years for those seven people. Who even knows whether the feds are going to continue the program given the budget issues they are facing. It stilltakes over a year to hire and train all of the recruits befrore they can be put on the road, can anyone say grow the deficit?
ReplyDelete