April 09

PPO lifted, Marv is Victorious
I just got word that the PPO against Marv Reinhardt has been lifted. I have no more details and have made a call to get more info. I would be interested in the whole story as to what occurred at the adjudication. When I get more information I will be better prepared to make a comment.

But I will leave you with this. What Gaul the Mayor has shown this past Monday by promoting the need to "INSTITUTE" new protocols on the language used by the public in their comments about management, staff and others while at the same time showing such TOTAL DISRESPECT for the public with management's institution of the new policy of only showing the backs of the public speaking. I have dealt with management and staff and guess what......there are times they deserve the comments made by members of the audience. Go back and review the tapes on issues I have raised in the past.

But before the Mayor gets so uppity about others, maybe she should watch herself in action. All you have to do is watch and listen to the comments made by the Mayor and you will see what dissing she does to other members of council and the audience but she does it in such a polite way. Always using the language prefixed by "I only mentioned it because...' or "I only questioned it because..." and then cites such a lame reason or excuse that the moment you hear her say "I only..." it's time to tune her out. Trouble is she often says it AFTER she stabs the person with her razor sharp comments or just some plain snide remark which if it was a member of the public making a similar comment about staff she would say was uncalled for. That's our Mayor for you. A firm believer in "Don't do as I do, Do as I say" philosophy. I on the other hand follow the "If it's good for the Goose, it's good for the Gander" philosophy.


10:21 PM GMT  |  Read comments(1)

April 21

When will the cheerleading stop?

Is it true that the building inspectors were willing to take a 35% pay cut and the city manager said that it wasn’t good enough to keep their jobs while the Police have refused to take one penny in cuts and they are untouchable? At least the city will not replace those policemen that are going to retire next year and as a result the total number will be reduced.

We need to have city management provide the COMPLETE DETAILS of what the building inspectors [that will be with out a job come the end of June] were willing to offer in competition to the private company that is going to take over. We need this information because we need to know what the OTHER employee groups are offering in comparison [we know the police are offering zilch because management and council have stated they are UNTOUCHABLE]. We need a complete fiscal accounting of what the costs would have been to the city accepting the building inspectors offer. We need this so an outside person can look at what the new private contract will cost the city in comparison. {If the initial information concerning the contract is true, it will cost the city more than what the city management has stated]. Do I trust the city manager to provide us with accurate information? Just about as far as I can throw him. Getting on up in years, that’s only a few feet.

Wake up Troy. We are being sold a bill of goods. We have 4 council people, Schilling, Kerwin, Slater and McGinnis that are nothing but city management cheerleaders. They don’t have an ounce of wisdom between them. Hell, a few meetings ago, McGinnis rambled on for 10 minutes and not one sensible idea, not one meaningful statement did she make. I’m still trying to figure out her point other than she was confused and didn’t know how to phrase her concerns. Kerwin and Schilling are more concerned with voting against excusing council members than holding management accountable.

Rah Rah Ree. That’s all I hear from those four. Yes, I didn’t forget Slater. But what has he added to the conversation. Nothing. So what can I say? He’s just a place setter until he decides to resign before his 4 years are up. At least that is what the rumor is: Slater will pull a Palin. Two years and he is resigning from council. If that’s your plan, do us a favor, do it now.

9:45 PM GMT  |  Read comments(2)

February 24

Troy Residents have spoken - NO Tax Increase
The residents of Troy have spoken loudly and clearly, get your house in order before you come asking us to bail you out. The unofficial results are in: 12,631 – NO; 7,316 – Yes. The “up to” 1.9 mill increase was defeated.

What does that mean as far as the THREATS made by city management and 4 members of city council [Yes 4 not 5, Robin Beltramini did not support all the closings]? First, there is no longer a budget deficit this year as initially portrayed by Mr. Szerlag. The Troy Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has decided and voted to: 1) stop collecting TIF Revenues for the Revolving Loan Fund and 2) Return 80% of the funds collected back to the taxing jurisdictions. These actions, along with the recent 7 jobs that were eliminated, will more than cover the $1.6 million deficit projected by city management for this year. If they say otherwise, let them provide written data as to the amount of money that these actions will produce in increased revenues as well as reduced expenditures. Provide that data for each job position eliminated and each action done by the TBRA. I will be more than willing to scrutinize the data as to its validity. There is NO FINANCIAL CRISIS THIS BUDGET YEAR, 2009/2010.

Next year is another matter. However, not the crisis that management portrays. First, the 15% of General Fund budget that the city wants to maintain in the undesignated, unreserved fund is not necessary for the AAA Bond ratings. As Mr. Lamerato has previously stated at a city council meeting, There is NO specified per cent that is required to keep a AAA rating but that 10% is recommended with some stating that it could go as low as 8% before it would be detrimental. So the 15% is a policy decision of the city council. So in these bad times, we can reduce the amount by 1% each year until we reach 10% if need be. That frees up some money to balance future budgets. If push came to shove, you could use it up in one year and reduce it to 10%. There is also money in the Budget Stabilization Fund that could be used immediately instead of being spread over the next 5 years. The point being that we still have a cushion that gives us time to trim expenses as we wait for the economy and housing to turn around. It isn’t Armageddon yet.

Then there is the matter of the 90 positions that were to be eliminated during the 2010/2011-budget year. This was going to happen regardless of the millage result, yet management has never stated how much this would reduce expenses. Why? Was it because they didn’t want the voters to know that the millage increase was not needed at least not the 1.9 mills they were stating as being needed? The savings could range between $2.5 to $6.5 million. So the question becomes, do we really need to close the Library? Do we really need to close the Community Center, the Museum, and/or the Nature Center? If they were honest, the answer would be NO. But I sense that they will be VINDICTIVE and do just that to spite the voters, even though it won’t be necessary.

Have you noticed; I haven’t even discussed the employee’s sitting down and addressing the out of control pension, health care and other benefits. If the employee’s don’t want to honestly address these matters then let the layoffs begin, especially the police department. They should bear an equal amount in the concessions. There are no sacred cows when employees are asked to sacrifice. If they want to go to arbitration as they have constantly reminded the residents, let the layoffs begin there first.

10:19 AM GMT  |  Read comments(1)

April 05

Judge Mester to rule on PPO this Friday
On April 9, 2010, Judge Mester is scheduled to issue his ruling concerning the PPO filed against Marv Reinhardt by Mayor Louise Schilling. Scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM, it will be interesting to see how he rules.

I have to admit, there are many facets to this issue. On one hand, was this PPO filed to shut Marv up because of the comments he makes before city council. His comments can go beyond the issue at hand and one might say has no relevance to the issue. Sometimes one must ask what the Hell does that have to do with the issue. Is he just ranting and trying to stir up the hornets nest. The answer is probably yes. The off handed comments often make no sense other than to stir things up, which he has accomplished. Is that the real reason for the type of comments he makes, to just stir things up and get people riled up against him? If that is the case, he has succeeded as evidenced by the PPO action.

Or was this PPO filed to try and stop him from visiting city departments and tying up city personnel with his requests for information. I hear that he has visited many departments multiple times and management wanted to stop him from taking up valuable time of city employees from assisting other residents or doing their main job. Were the city employees feeling threatened or just fed up with his nonsensical requests. Probably the latter and not the former. Yet, a PPO could prevent him from his daily visits to city departments thus accomplishing managements goal of stopping Mr. Reinhardt of taking up city employees time.

Judge Mester has an interesting case before him. He has taken the time to give both the complainant and defendant the opportunity to bring out all their issues and responses. A PPO has a proper usage. Has the defendant's actions justified a PPO or is the plaintiff using it to shut up a pest [or some would say a big pain in the ass]. From what I can gather, he has become one big pain in the @#$.

I await Judge Mester's ruling but more importantly his reasoning behind it. Given the time he has given each party to present their case, I would expect him to give a full and complete reasoning behind his ruling. On April 9, 2010, we expect that to occur.



10:52 AM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

March 14

It's time to Party!!!

It’s just amazing how New Party’s are just springing up everywhere. Hell, I’m thinking about starting one myself. We just recently had a special millage election where several groups were opposed and several were for it. One opposed included the relatively new and Nationally organized “Tea Party”. This Fiscally Conservative Anti-Tax group now has a counterpart to counter their actions. Let me introduce you to the “Coffee Party”. I just recently heard of them and if you would like more information you can visit their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/coffeeparty?ref=mf.

I don’t know about you but I’m all for more parties. I love to party. Trouble is most party’s have agenda’s they push that promote their welfare over the welfare of others. Me, as an Independent, my agenda is to do no harm and as much good as we can for everyone. So with that agenda in mind, let me introduce you to my new party, it’s called The “BEER” Party. Yes, we will have monthly meetings (or more often) where we all can bring a 12 pack of our favorite beer and sit around a campfire talking about local, state and national politics. If interested, drop me a line.

Well there you have it folks. Join the party of you favorite beverage. Be it “TEA”, “COFFEE” or “BEER”, drink up and let the politicking begin.

2:47 PM GMT  |  Read comments(1)

March 13

Is the puppeteer on Sabatical???

“But Schilling said there was simply not enough time to prepare for the address after a Feb. 23 millage election and the following Troy City Council meeting March 1.”

That is the most stupid excuse that the Mayor can give for canceling the “State of the Cities” address as reported by the Troy Times. How stupid can you get? What a joke. Here’s why.

How long in advance did she know that she was going to give the address? Let’s see. She has been doing this each year for a few years so it’s not like she didn’t know about it well in advance.

How many possible outcomes for the election? Let’s see. One, the voters could have passed it. Two, the voters could have defeated it. Oh Boy, just too many possible outcomes to prepare for in my speech.

How long in advance did I know about the election? Geese, last November is not enough advance notice to prepare for all of those possible outcomes. There are just too many variables to discuss. If it passed, no deficit, but at least $3,000,000 in surplus for the next budget year. Oh my, so many possibilities to spend that extra money. If it failed, way too many alternatives to talk about, even though I have had all the options since last September laid out for me by the city manager.

Oh yeah, we had that budget study session on March 1. Was there really anything new discussed? Let’s face it, the Mayor just isn’t up to leading this city. If the speech isn’t written for her in advance and the slide presentation put together for her by the city’s staff, she would have NEVER given a speech in the past. I guess her city speechwriter was one of those laid off.

Come on Mayor, own up to it. The puppeteer pulling your strings and dictating your words was on Sabbatical and you didn’t have a clue what to say or do.

8:42 AM GMT  |  Read comments(1)

February 24

False information, You ought to know Mayor Schilling
I just read an online article from CandGNews.com [http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2010/02-24-2010/Troy-no-millage-hike.asp] where the following is stated:

Mayor Louise Schilling said that while the City Council has to respect the voters’ decision, she believed the outcome was fueled by “false information and lies.”

She ought to know since it was the city [herself included] and the "Vote Yes" promoters that were spreading the bulk of the false and misleading information. I had a resident state “Who in the Hell does the city think their talking to, dummies. When is a 1.9 mill increase a Tax Decrease?” That says it all. I would strongly suggest to the Mayor before she starts throwing around the manure, she should remember the old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” Well, it happened to the good old “Vote Yes” promoters. They shoveled it and the residents heaved it back in spades.

1:31 PM GMT  |  Read comments(2)

February 14

Look who's complaining about misinformation.
I just read the online article

Officials worry about 'misinformation'

By Mike Scott [http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2010/02/14/news/srv0000007604030.txt] and left the following comment to his article:

Speaking about misinformation being spread. A 1.9 mill increase will increase the average homeowners tax bill by $195.70 based on the city assessors $103,000 average taxable value for the residential homes in Troy. Mr. Szerlag has no problem misleading the residents while complaining about misinformation from those opposed. Do the math. $103,000 divided by 1,000 times 1.9 is the amount that the average residential tax bill will increase if the millage passes. This does not compute to $38 as Mr. Szerlag states. Who is misleading whom? The city tries to justify their numbers by saying we are comparing to last years taxes paid. Why not compare it to next years taxes when the value of the homes are supposed to drop further. That would make the tax increase seem even larger so they won't. The HONEST way is to compare what your taxes will be THIS YEAR with the millage increase and without the millage increase. Deception has become the standard in Troy so you won't see honesty around this city for a long long time.

9:34 AM GMT  |  Read comments(2)

February 12

When will the lies Stop? Never with this current management team.
I began reading the city manager’s letter in the Troy Somerset Gazette [Front page of the Feb. 8, 2010 issue] and nearly puked as the lies he is promulgating just jumped out at me. I say LIES because he isn’t telling you the whole story. He conveniently leaves out all the facts leaving you with a false impression of the truth. That is the secret for those that want to mislead you and then can say that they weren’t lying to you. Well John Szerlag is in fact lying to you by not telling you the whole story.

Let’s take his statement in the third paragraph, “If the millage increase passes, the average home in Troy will see an increase in the Troy tax portion of $38 in the first year.” Can you Say LIAR. That is a lie and Mr. Szerlag knows it. No where does he clarify what the $38 increase is compared to in that paragraph. The comparison should be, if Mr. Szerlag were to be honest, is “How much will I pay this year in Troy taxes if the millage passes and how much will I pay if it fails?” That is the True and Honest comparison. But then city management and staff would have to tell you the truth. Using the city assessor’s value that the average taxable value for a home in Troy for the 2010-2011 tax year will be $103,000, the average increase in the city tax portion would be $195.70 more in taxes if the millage passes than if the millage were to fail. That is the truth and not the LIE of $38.

Mr. Szerlag, do us all a favor. Either STOP LYING OR RESIGN.

I have had enough of the city’s BS that I am seriously considering resigning from my position on the Troy Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. I can’t see continuing my volunteering to be on a Board to help this city when the city is so bent on misleading its residents. Enough is enough. The poison of deception has promulgated into a way of life within our city departments including the police. Can you trust anyone working for the city to be honest? From my perspective they are few and far in between. The actions of city staff and city management in their deceptions concerning this special election are proof of that.




8:33 AM GMT  |  Read comments(1)

February 11

First the Police, Now the Friends of TPL
I have been a supporter of the Troy Public Library for years. The library and its staff have been wonderful. They have provided a valuable service to the community. It sickens me that they have allowed themselves to be used as pawns by city management to promote a tax increase that exceeds what is needed and is being touted as the libraries saving grace. It further sickens me that the Friends of the Troy Public Library would put false and misleading information concerning the tax increase into an Ad in the Troy Times.

Making factual statements concerning what the Troy Public Library has done in the past does not excuse the Friends from then making a Blatant and False statement as to the amount that a 1.9 mill tax increase will be. Instead of being honest and truthful, they have taken the BS put out by the city and put their stamp of approval on it.

Residents of Troy, wake up. If the tax increase supporters have to manipulate the data, twist and incorporate a smoke screen to hide the real effect, then obviously the right thing to do is vote it down. In a nutshell, what effect will a 1.9 mill tax increase on your tax bill? Using the average taxable value of $103,000 for homes in Troy, how much will your taxes increases. Is it the $38 dollars that the Friends of the Troy Public Library insinuate? NO!

A 1.9 mill increase will cost the owner of a residential home with a taxable value of $103,000 - $195.70 more in taxes than they would otherwise pay. Not the $38 as the Friends portray, Not the $38 as the Police portray, Not the $38 as city management portrays. Do the math. 1.9 mills generates $195.70 on a home with a taxable value of $103,000.

So where does this mystical $38 come from. They are using the old sleight of hand trick. Something they would not be doing if home values were rising. They are using last years higher taxable value and saying that based on what you paid last year in city taxes, the average homeowner would only paying $38 more in city taxes this year. Of course they fail to mention that if the millage fails you would be paying $157.70 LESS in city taxes than you did last year. Of course they wouldn’t dream of using last year as a base if home values were rising since it would then be $195.70 PLUS whatever increase in taxes do to the increase in taxable value. See the deceitfulness being used by the tax increase supporters led by city management’s data.

Send a message to City Management. Vote NO this February 23. We don’t want deceit. We want honesty.

10:01 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)