Why is our Fire Chief on suspension? Here's some speculation...
Maybe it relates to the brilliant idea that our CM had when he hired a consulting firm to do a study on our fire department? Now he wants to close down a fire station and decommission two ambulances.
I feel safe!
What does he need the money for anyway?
Wait! Didn't I hear something on the news a couple of weeks ago?
Yes!
Maybe we should ask just how he is going to pay for the new sports arena monstrosity at 145 and the Creek turnpike?
What's that, you haven't heard?
Channel 8 did a little number on it a couple of weeks ago. This will cost the city something like 12 MILLION dollars!
That will pay some firemen!
Why not ask where 2.4 million dollars came from to buy that piece of land already? It wasn't voted on by the people.Maybe someone should ask what "rumored" account that money came out of. Just a thought, was it maybe an old retirement account? Just passing along some hearsay (from a pretty reliable source).
This dictator needs to go!
Ask Pella how much infrastructure improvement they have done in the 5 years he's been our CM.... Ding Ding Ding. the answer is NONE!
WHY?
Because he did such a great job? NO!!!!
How about because they are paying back all the bonds he sold and trying to get out of a loan interest nightmare!! Sound familiar to anyone? Just do a little digging,the facts are out there.
Have we already forgotten the smoke and mirrors from just a couple of short months ago?
Layoffs imminent
City services diminished
Water rates going up
The list is endless, and the more he is questioned, the more he dances around the problem.
Perhaps our CM and Tulsa's mayor went to the same business school? At least she realizes that she screwed up bad enough not to run again.
His contract is up for renewal. In less than 30 days council will vote on his fate as our CM.
Twombly doesn't have to answer directly to voters of BA, he thinks he's safe. I think we should see if we can prove him wrong.
Do we really want to continue down this road?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Sales Tax Collected
A blog reader and fellow concerned citizen was kind enough to take the time to look up the data on the Oklahoma Tax Commission's website and graph the tax collected in BA since 2005.
Very interesting! Doesn't look to me like sales tax is decreasing, but what do I know? I'm not a city manager.
The graph, unfortunately, does not show up very large when posted, but you can click to blow it up.
Very interesting! Doesn't look to me like sales tax is decreasing, but what do I know? I'm not a city manager.
The graph, unfortunately, does not show up very large when posted, but you can click to blow it up.
A reporter investigates....
If you missed Fox news last night, you might be interested in reading Emily Sinovic's editorial on Mr Twombly.
She is currently investigating the way Broken Arrow has been managed under this city manager. Please continue to leave your comments here or on the Fox site beneath her editorial. If you feel you have information that may help Emily in her efforts you can email her at esinovic@fox23.com.
I also would like to let you know that the vacant positions within the city have officially been removed. No time was wasted there! I guess the administration is suddenly on the ball (again, insert sarcastic tone here). The meeting that was supposed to occur on the 24th has been cancelled.
She is currently investigating the way Broken Arrow has been managed under this city manager. Please continue to leave your comments here or on the Fox site beneath her editorial. If you feel you have information that may help Emily in her efforts you can email her at esinovic@fox23.com.
I also would like to let you know that the vacant positions within the city have officially been removed. No time was wasted there! I guess the administration is suddenly on the ball (again, insert sarcastic tone here). The meeting that was supposed to occur on the 24th has been cancelled.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A sigh of relief? Not really.
If you have been following the news, and if you are here I would imagine you have been, the council meeting was last night and the layoffs are not taking place...
"at this time"
So, we relax for a few minutes, and then the rest hits us...increased utilities costs, possible increased fines, increased recreation fees, and the loss of the 48 vacant positions that were already part of the hiring freeze.
I'm going to guess that the lack of logic within the city's administration has run rampant.
Is it in the over priced water they are drinking?
Probably not, the rest of us consuming the water have been able to put it all together.
So what is it that makes them think...hmm these positions that have been vacant, that are costing us nothing, well they have to go!! Most of us realize that cutting those jobs is pretty simple, but when we need to re-open them, well that is a process that takes time and a lot of begging.
We need to continue to voice our concern.
Congratulations and thanks to all of you who have taken the time to comment here, and to those who have passed this blog address and print outs around to your fellow citizens. We got their attention, and they magically pulled it all together at the last minute, in order to avoid the layoffs.
I bet Mr Twombly thinks he is looking good right now.
He saved the employees!
He is putting the city back together!
You know, the city that wasn't really in such a bad place to begin with. The city that has incurred a lot of unnecessary, and sometimes even suspicious, expenses all while under Mr Twombly's direction.
Yep, it was him. He is a hero.
(insert sarcastic grin here)
Surely the administration isn't silly enough to think that pulling it off without the proposed lay offs looks good on them? We aren't that naive. They would know we would see through that right?
I'd like to think that the pressure put upon the council and the management that was generated through our efforts to get the word out, and the citizens and employees who showed up to let council know that they were watching, they cared about their city, and they weren't going to stand for this administration's inabilities, are what led to the sudden halting of the proposed lay offs.
Or, just maybe we were supposed to be so focused in one direction that we miss what is happening over yonder? A little misdirection maybe?
Whichever one it is, even though they have held off on the layoffs "at this time", we need to continue voicing our concern for the other services that will be affected, and for the removal and overhaul of the current administration.
I liked this comment made last night..
"Anonymous said...
It seems to me that Jim Twombly and the entire city council missed the point on why there were so many red shirts in the crowd at the city council meeting. It wasn't about layoffs or eliminating positions. It's about the mismanagement that has been occurring pretty much since Twombly took office. Taxes and revenues are up (just look at all of the press releases and the state tax records), yet we've been in a financial crisis for three years!?!?! This "company" needs a new CEO."
Indeed, this company needs a new CEO.
"at this time"
So, we relax for a few minutes, and then the rest hits us...increased utilities costs, possible increased fines, increased recreation fees, and the loss of the 48 vacant positions that were already part of the hiring freeze.
I'm going to guess that the lack of logic within the city's administration has run rampant.
Is it in the over priced water they are drinking?
Probably not, the rest of us consuming the water have been able to put it all together.
So what is it that makes them think...hmm these positions that have been vacant, that are costing us nothing, well they have to go!! Most of us realize that cutting those jobs is pretty simple, but when we need to re-open them, well that is a process that takes time and a lot of begging.
We need to continue to voice our concern.
Congratulations and thanks to all of you who have taken the time to comment here, and to those who have passed this blog address and print outs around to your fellow citizens. We got their attention, and they magically pulled it all together at the last minute, in order to avoid the layoffs.
I bet Mr Twombly thinks he is looking good right now.
He saved the employees!
He is putting the city back together!
You know, the city that wasn't really in such a bad place to begin with. The city that has incurred a lot of unnecessary, and sometimes even suspicious, expenses all while under Mr Twombly's direction.
Yep, it was him. He is a hero.
(insert sarcastic grin here)
Surely the administration isn't silly enough to think that pulling it off without the proposed lay offs looks good on them? We aren't that naive. They would know we would see through that right?
I'd like to think that the pressure put upon the council and the management that was generated through our efforts to get the word out, and the citizens and employees who showed up to let council know that they were watching, they cared about their city, and they weren't going to stand for this administration's inabilities, are what led to the sudden halting of the proposed lay offs.
Or, just maybe we were supposed to be so focused in one direction that we miss what is happening over yonder? A little misdirection maybe?
Whichever one it is, even though they have held off on the layoffs "at this time", we need to continue voicing our concern for the other services that will be affected, and for the removal and overhaul of the current administration.
I liked this comment made last night..
"Anonymous said...
It seems to me that Jim Twombly and the entire city council missed the point on why there were so many red shirts in the crowd at the city council meeting. It wasn't about layoffs or eliminating positions. It's about the mismanagement that has been occurring pretty much since Twombly took office. Taxes and revenues are up (just look at all of the press releases and the state tax records), yet we've been in a financial crisis for three years!?!?! This "company" needs a new CEO."
Indeed, this company needs a new CEO.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Can They Do That?
For anyone that has taken the time to look at the posted agenda for tomorrow night's (17th) City Council meeting, you may have noticed the final note at the end of the agenda that mentioned a particular executive session. Many, no doubt, have asked, "What does that mean?" and "Can they do that?"
The executive session notice advises that the City Manager along with the City Council as well as the City Attorney and all department heads are going into executive session to discuss the "employment" of the listed employees. If you continued to read, you would see that the listed employees are every employee of the City of Broken Arrow. That's right, every last one of them!
Still, what does that mean? It means that the City Manager, who is ultimately responsible for the content of the agenda, would prefer to talk about your job behind closed doors. You see it is much easier to make his case with half-truths and false information if there is no one present that knows any better. He is much more comfortable recommending that your job is no longer needed if he doesn't have to look at you while he is doing it!!
Can they do that? NO THEY CAN'T!!
State Statute does allow for executive session in order to talk about the employment of individual employees, but what they are attempting to do is an obvious abuse of this law. Any public official that violates the Open Meetings Act can actually be charged with a misdemeanor crime. You can't for a second think that they are going to talk about the individual employment of over 600 listed employees.
Will they, or won't they? Ultimately no one knows. What we do know is that every single employee is listed on this list, so in theory they are going to be in there talking about your job. Are you going to sit at home and hope for the best, or are you going to take a couple of hours out of your life and go to the meeting and be seen. Every employee and citizen of BA needs to show up and send the message that we care about ourselves, those we work with and the citizens of Broken Arrow.
The executive session notice advises that the City Manager along with the City Council as well as the City Attorney and all department heads are going into executive session to discuss the "employment" of the listed employees. If you continued to read, you would see that the listed employees are every employee of the City of Broken Arrow. That's right, every last one of them!
Still, what does that mean? It means that the City Manager, who is ultimately responsible for the content of the agenda, would prefer to talk about your job behind closed doors. You see it is much easier to make his case with half-truths and false information if there is no one present that knows any better. He is much more comfortable recommending that your job is no longer needed if he doesn't have to look at you while he is doing it!!
Can they do that? NO THEY CAN'T!!
State Statute does allow for executive session in order to talk about the employment of individual employees, but what they are attempting to do is an obvious abuse of this law. Any public official that violates the Open Meetings Act can actually be charged with a misdemeanor crime. You can't for a second think that they are going to talk about the individual employment of over 600 listed employees.
Will they, or won't they? Ultimately no one knows. What we do know is that every single employee is listed on this list, so in theory they are going to be in there talking about your job. Are you going to sit at home and hope for the best, or are you going to take a couple of hours out of your life and go to the meeting and be seen. Every employee and citizen of BA needs to show up and send the message that we care about ourselves, those we work with and the citizens of Broken Arrow.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Did you know...
...Mr. Twombly's 5 year contract is up for renewal in a couple of months?
It is.
And, since there isn't an actual deficit or financial crisis occurring, holding off on the lay offs and the reduction in public services until Mr Twombly can be removed from his position and the finances revisited, seems like a good start to making things right again.
Once again, I urge you to contact your council members.
Ask for a hold on the lay offs and changes about to take place, and let them know we need answers, real numbers, and someone competent in charge of the City's future.
Give council members this link so they can see what people are saying.I'm confident that if this hasn't already been seen by Mr Twombly himself, as well as the council members, they will be seeing it soon enough.
Keep your comments coming. If you aren't inclined to comment yourself, you will still want to take a look at what your fellow citizens are saying. A lot of good points are being made.
Remember Tuesday is the next council meeting. The rules for speaking at a council meeting can be found here. Council meetings are held in the City Council Chambers located at the north east entrance of City Hall.
Broken arrow City Council Chambers
220 South First Street
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012
918-259-2400
Do we need 5 more years of this?
Should we disrupt valuable City services and jeopardize employees and their family's lives when we aren't certain what is really happening?
Broken Arrow isn't broken yet, but it is certainly headed in that direction if left in Mr. Twombly's hands.
It is.
And, since there isn't an actual deficit or financial crisis occurring, holding off on the lay offs and the reduction in public services until Mr Twombly can be removed from his position and the finances revisited, seems like a good start to making things right again.
Once again, I urge you to contact your council members.
Ask for a hold on the lay offs and changes about to take place, and let them know we need answers, real numbers, and someone competent in charge of the City's future.
Give council members this link so they can see what people are saying.I'm confident that if this hasn't already been seen by Mr Twombly himself, as well as the council members, they will be seeing it soon enough.
Keep your comments coming. If you aren't inclined to comment yourself, you will still want to take a look at what your fellow citizens are saying. A lot of good points are being made.
Remember Tuesday is the next council meeting. The rules for speaking at a council meeting can be found here. Council meetings are held in the City Council Chambers located at the north east entrance of City Hall.
Broken arrow City Council Chambers
220 South First Street
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012
918-259-2400
Do we need 5 more years of this?
Should we disrupt valuable City services and jeopardize employees and their family's lives when we aren't certain what is really happening?
Broken Arrow isn't broken yet, but it is certainly headed in that direction if left in Mr. Twombly's hands.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Speak up!
I have been trying to get the word out there by posting this link in various places. If you have made your way here, and like what you have read, pass it on!
Also, as admin of this blog, I have access to visitor statistics, and I can tell you that this blog has indeed been seen by City Hall.
So you,
YES YOU,
speak up!!
Hopefully they are listening.
Click on "COMMENT" below any post and voice your concerns!
Also, as admin of this blog, I have access to visitor statistics, and I can tell you that this blog has indeed been seen by City Hall.
So you,
YES YOU,
speak up!!
Hopefully they are listening.
Click on "COMMENT" below any post and voice your concerns!
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