7/5/2011 council meeting

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Most of the semi-secret, upstairs work session was spent on rehashing budget woes for 2011 and 2012. It is anticipated that during the remainder of 2011, four police officers’ and four firefighters’ positions will be eliminated by attrition. Another four police officers and one more firefighter must be eliminated by Reduction In Force (RIF). Also one position in the Planning department will be eliminated as well as some other positions in various departments that I could not keep up with. This will leave another $65,000 worth of cuts required to be found somewhere in the 2012 budget. (My plan was to suggest that they “find” $9,900 of it by not approving the DECORATIVE lampposts on S. Mains St.)
A financial consultant mentioned that the City’s debt is increasing every year!!! Then the upstairs meeting was adjourned
Downstairs, we find that somehow the taxpayers’ “share” of the decorative lampposts, which had gone from “$7,700+” at the last council meeting to $9,900 in this meeting’s workbook, had now gone from “$9,900” in the workbook to “about $3,000” tonight!!! This is due to some new way to calculate each abutting property owner’s share of the cost. Due to this new method, the legislation was pulled from tonight’s agenda and rescheduled for the next meeting.  
No estimate was given for the taxpayers’ share for the next meeting. (Rumor has it that Jimmy the Greek is laying: 6 to 1 for $7,700+; 9 to 2 for $9,900; 3 to 1 for “About $3,000”; 2 to 1 for “$1,000 or less, plus extras”; 6 to 5 for “the sky is the limit--it's taxpayers' money!”. )
Mayor Mulligan announced his candidacy for reelection and gave a short campaign speech. Mulligan mentioned that he wants to “pursue our vision”!!! Does anyone know what that vision is??? If so, please be kind enough to share it with the rest of us.  (Hopefully, it is NOT decorative lampposts on every street!!!  )
Side note to Mr. Landen, Esq. (Officer of the Court): Please keep track of all time used by Mayor Mulligan campaigning during City Council meetings so that any other candidates for mayor can be given equal time at future council meetings.

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Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 7/5/2011 council meeting Posted: Jul 05 2011 at 11:46pm
	Most of the semi-secret, upstairs work session was spent on rehashing budget woes for 2011 and 2012. It is anticipated that during the remainder of 2011, four police officers’ and four firefighters’ positions will be eliminated by attrition. Another four police officers and one more firefighter must be eliminated by Reduction In Force (RIF). Also one position in the Planning department will be eliminated as well as some other positions in various departments that I could not keep up with. This will leave another $65,000 worth of cuts required to be found somewhere in the 2012 budget. (My plan was to suggest that they “find” $9,900 of it by not approving the *DECORATIVE* lampposts on S. Mains St.) A financial consultant mentioned that the City’s debt is *increasing every year!!!* Then the upstairs meeting was adjourned Downstairs, we find that somehow the taxpayers’ “share” of the decorative lampposts, which had gone from “$7,700+” at the last council meeting to $9,900 in this meeting’s workbook, had now gone from “$9,900” in the workbook to “about $3,000” tonight!!! This is due to some new way to calculate each abutting property owner’s share of the cost. Due to this new method, the legislation was pulled from tonight’s agenda and rescheduled for the next meeting. No estimate was given for the taxpayers’ share for the next meeting. (Rumor has it that Jimmy the Greek is laying: 6 to 1 for $7,700+; 9 to 2 for $9,900; 3 to 1 for “About $3,000”; 2 to 1 for “$1,000 or less, plus extras”; 6 to 5 for “the sky is the limit--it's taxpayers' money!”. ) Mayor Mulligan announced his candidacy for reelection and gave a short campaign speech. Mulligan mentioned that he wants to “pursue our vision”!!! Does anyone know what that vision is??? If so, please be kind enough to share it with the rest of us. (Hopefully, it is NOT decorative lampposts on every street!!! ) Side note to Mr. Landen, Esq. (Officer of the Court): Please keep track of all time used by Mayor Mulligan campaigning during City Council meetings so that any other candidates for mayor can be given equal time at future council meetings.
	“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 06 2011 at 6:54am
	I don't know if I want Mulligan to pursue any vision. The "our" in "pursue our vision" is him and that mouse in his pocket. It ain't the majority of the citizen's vision for this city. Would be almost criminal to put this guy back behind the council desk. He's part of the MMF Four Whorsemen of the Apocalyse and that vision he is talking about is the doomsday message for this town. He and the other three "sell your soul" whorsemen needn't be re-elected if this town is to have any chance of survival. Now Mike, you know old Leslie "Oliver" Landen, the MMF law lacky, will do the right thing while interpreting equal attention to the law. He is the consumate professional . Oh sure, sometimes he strays from the reigns of Judith Gee, but with a crack on the head, a suttle "good boy" tug on the rope, a hike of the leg, he drops back in line and continues his own interpretation of the law as the controlling entities in town say it should be. Downstairs, we find that somehow the taxpayers’ “share” of the decorative lampposts, which had gone from “$7,700+” at the last council meeting to $9,900 in this meeting’s workbook, had now gone from “$9,900” in the workbook to “about $3,000” tonight!!! This is due to some new way to calculate each abutting property owner’s share of the cost. Due to this new method, the legislation was pulled from tonight’s agenda and rescheduled for the next meeting WHAT'S THE MATTER, COULDN'T THEY GET THEIR LIE ON THE TAXPAYER AMOUNT STRAIGHT?

ground swat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Mar 31 2011 Status: Offline Points: 367	Post Options Post Reply Quote ground swat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 06 2011 at 7:14am
	Mr. P nice job last night and thank you for taking the time to followup on the upstairs meeting. Just a foot note, as odd as I think our council meetings can be I would encourage you to watch the last Carlisle council meeting. The Mayor vs the Law dir. over the definition of the word "Majority" when the Law dir. swears in a new council person since the Mayor refuses to. Our vision is to put out "Fires" and to ignore leadership issues at the city building.

Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 06 2011 at 7:36am
	Vet, Apparently, the Mayor’s “vision” for the future of Middletown is that of a “quaint, sleepy village of about 20,000 serfs on welfare, and with cobblestone lanes and a hitching post in front of the home of every member of the privileged class”!!! I would prefer to see a mayor and council with a vision of a “vibrant, *modern*, growing city, with economic opportunities for both blue and white collar workers of every description.”
	“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul 06 2011 at 7:43am
	Ground Swat, Some friends in Carlisle were telling me last weekend that the dust-up over "majority" was coming. I don't doubt for a moment that Mr. Landen Esq. will cite it as a precedent any time it suits his purposes. After all, he has based his "abstentions count with the majority" rulings on an 1800s ladies' book club by-laws!!!
	“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012