| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 09:47:44 AM
|
LOL . . . once again, massdee and justme . . . great minds thinking alike ;-).
|
 |
|
|
Fedup
Member
86 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 09:56:05 AM
|
I was also impressed with Carlo last night. I am a supporter of Joe and am pleased that Massdee will speak with him. I am not sure what has been going on in his head lately as he appears to be withdrawing from what could be the issues that push him over the top in the Mayor's race.
As far as key members of the administration and the department heads attending the budget meetings, they are told by the mayor's office whether to show or not to show. Think about it. What is the most important issue that faces any administration in addition to controlling spending? I believe it is the submission of the budget for the following fiscal year. Key positions should attend every meeting in case questions from the BOA or the CC need clarification. I believe the mayor, budget director, Personnel Director, treasurer, solicitor and Auditor should be present at every meeting. It appears to me that there is too much to hide in this administration. |
|
|
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 11:00:28 AM
|
| I had that thought as well, Fedup -- Joe seems to have lost that "fire in the belly" that he had at the beginning. It seems like once he realized that this wasn't going to be a one on one match up, he lost his ambition. Has anyone seen Joe in their neighborhood yet? I'm hearing from many people that Carlo has already been to their neighborhoods, but I've not heard the same about Joe. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 11:05:27 AM
|
| Citizen, I can answer that one, Joe has been out walking the wards about three nights a week since about April. In recent weeks due to the budget, he hasn't been out as often. I know he has done ward 2, ward 6 and part of ward 5. He has also been down the line in ward 1. |
Edited by - massdee on 07/07/2007 11:07:16 AM |
|
|
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 11:14:17 AM
|
| I'm glad to hear that, massdee. I'm very concerned about how he's running this campaign and the advice he's getting. Low key is not the way to go. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 11:37:56 AM
|
| I agree completely. I'm thinking he didn't want to give the impression that he was beating up on the mayor, and wanted to maintain control at the budget meetings. I think he needs to step it it back up, again. His views are not coming across the way they should be. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 2:41:29 PM
|
| I believe Dragone said last night, " as of right now, the city can't even buy a postage stamp," if that is so, then how did they put that $8 Miliion into the pension fund? |
|
|
|
Fedup
Member
86 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 2:47:40 PM
|
| Well, Massdee, good question. In addition to that, how did the employees get paid without a budget in place? Are the rules made up as the administration goes along? |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
 Posted - 07/07/2007 : 2:58:55 PM
|
Whether it is true or not I don’t know but it sounded to me that it “had” to be paid. Boy I am glad that’s not my retirement fund that had been underpaid all these years. It’s true that Social Security will run out buy then so why bother working?? I don’t have a problem paying that bill whether it comes from the budget or not.
|
|
|
|
Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 3:30:08 PM
|
| Tails....Of course you don't have a problem "paying a bill whether it comes from the budget or not"...you're completely connected to this administration. The fact is - the Hanlon administration ignored a June 30th deadline for the budget, in violation of state law. How they were able to pay a bill without the benefit of a budget defys logic...but that's the Hanlon Administration for you. The DOR had to finally step in and tell them the rules. As for the retirement fund - the city isn't alone in underfunding it's pension. It's a problem across the state, which is why the state is stepping in on some of these pension funds. Even the state's pension fund is underfunded. |
|
|
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 3:44:44 PM
|
I believe there's an exception to the "deficit spending" rule that says if a payment being made provides a financial benefit to the city, it can be paid even if the line item is not currently funded. In this case, the financial benefit is avoiding the potential loss of thirty days' worth of investment.
I don't have a problem with the bill being paid. I do have a problem with the fact that the administration claimed to be unaware that the full 8+ million had to be paid all at once. |
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 3:48:44 PM
|
| So did the DOR authorize the pension fund payment since we had no budget or did hanlon just take it upon himself to do it? |
|
|
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 5:11:37 PM
|
| That's a good question. But . . . Larry DeCoste had to sign off on the payment, and since he's the only one in that group with any credibility, I'd be willing to bet he sought advice from the DOR. |
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 5:20:55 PM
|
| You're right CK. We can all be thankful for Mr DeCoste. He doesn't talk out of both sides of his face and he isn't willing to lie or mislead anyone like hanlon and ventrano do. We could have been in real trouble if he hadn't been so forthcoming. |
|
|
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 9:18:38 PM
|
Tails, with all due respect, your posts have leaned toward defending the administration -- which is certainly your right -- but as you've surely discovered at this point, you're in the minority. And you post the same commentary on the Mirror.
And by the way, Lorrie Bruno represents ward 5. Your arguments might have more credibility if you had your facts straight. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Budget
