When is it fair and lawful and when is it politics as usual?
Back in October of 2007, following the exit of the First Transit contractors from our CAT system, the CAT board voted to employ Joe Murray Rivers as a contractor in the capacity of Interim Executive Director of the system.
It was agreed that his pay for his professional services date back to September 10th of 2007.
It is not known why he was hired as a professional contractor for this position. While he did serve as a board member of CAT during and following his tenure as commissioner, what experience does Mr. Rivers have that would make him the choice candidate for this role? Politics?
In his position of professional consultant, Interim Executive Director of CAT, a salaried position, what would you expect his functions to include? Hiring a replacement Executive Director? No chance. Instead, the County Commission, the CAT Board, the human resources department, the job boards, the head hunters, are all silent. The CAT website doesn't list Executive Director as an available position and indeed a phone call to the CAT administrative offices revealed that no applications were being sought to fill this position.
This position of professional consultant, Interim Executive Director of CAT is a salaried position, where the professional consultant is bonded and insured by the County tax payers and to top it off, expenses are reimbursed on behalf of the salaried professional consultant.
I have to wonder why Mr. Rivers ever quit the county commission to begin with. What would make him step down after his years of service to the community? Surely it was too far out for Rivers to realize a potential position as salaried, professional consultant, Interim Executive Director for CAT so why exactly did he step down? We will pursue this question.
Another question, what is it in the Chatham County Purchasing Procedures Manual allows the hiring of a salaried, professional consultant, Interim Executive Director of CAT anyways?
If he is a salaried employee, which seems to be what he has been from the beginning, why wasn't this position announced to the public for other overly qualified job seekers and and even those looking for political paybacks? Why wasn't anyone else included in a pool of candidates? Were they? Can you hire a 40 hour a week salaried employee for $40/hour plus expenses?
If he is a salaried Professional Consultant, what experience beyond his years as a hat and cassette tape vendor on Broughton Street does Rivers have beyond his position on the County Commission? If he is a salaried Professional Consultant, why weren't the other salaried Professional Consultants in the area made known of this $1600/week plus expenses opportunity? Can you hire a 40 hour a week salaried professional consultant for $40/hour plus expenses? What happened to equal opportunity?
The County Commission Team is quiet about the matter. The partisan commission is content on their accomplishments through the last several years and cozy enough that party affiliations and party values don't mean anything anymore in Chatham County but what happened to equal opportunity?
What will the face of the 2009 County Commission look like? What will the resume of the new Executive Director of CAT look like and when will the invitations for these resumes start going out?
Think Taxes are too low? Help is on the way !!!
The Chatham County Commission continued their funding of the Creative Coast. The board or commissioners awarded a contract in the amount of $123,384.00 for the performance based project to attract technology and knowledge based businesses to the community, The Creative Coast. While this was a performance based contract there was no discussion. There is no measure? There was about 20 minutes of discussion over correcting the name of Whitefield Ave. but no discussion for this "performance based project"?
The Creative Coast is the brainchild of the Savannah Economic Development Authority. How much money does SEDA earn on their tax free properties? Is SEDA so much in the RED that they can't afford their own child? What are the deficits at SEDA that they can't afford to support their own coasters?
Not only is this SEDA brainchild funded by the county but the city as well each year. I think both the city and the county fund this group 2 times per year.
BTW, google says that this SEDA group has over 250 links to businesses in South Carolina that compete with our local businesses.
A NEW annual squander of your tax dollars - Pat Shay and the county commission feel the need to put a $50,000.00 "Green" library in the halls of the MPC. They must believe that this "Green" body of knowledge will somehow do something other than what good sense would dictate, build energy efficient buildings. The suffering does not end there. The city of Savannah is expected to fund the "Green" library with another $50,000.00 for months 7-12 of existence. Who will pick up the bill for months 13 and following? Again, the tax payers of course. Unless the building codes are changed what difference will this library make?
Next, the MPC will win "Brown Challenge" funding to have a lobbyist tell you how much paper they recommend you wipe your bottom with no?
Attention Savannah and Chatham County tax payers, think green, earn green, and pay your green in the form of higher taxes to sustain these ridiculous programs.
Chatham County Commission Meeting of February 22, 2008
There were several items of import to relate which were not covered through other media outlets concerning the meeting of the Chatham County Commission.
First, we will list what occured and follow up with some discussion.
WWII Vets are to receive $25,000 towards the construction of a monument to honor the sacrifices made by local citizens and US WWII vets from around the world.
Whitefield Avenue's name will be changed to Whitefield Avenue. The road named after George Whitefield, the founder of Bethesda Home for Boys. Mr. Whitefield was a famous orator and Christian Minister who crossed the Atlantic 13 times and is also credited for building the road to from Savannah to Bethesda, the first road of any length in the State of Georgia.
The name correction was sought after road signs were apparently made which dropped the "e" from the name Whitefield some time ago. Commissioners Liakakis, Ferrel, and Thomas felt that it was important that members of the community be advised of the correction before any vote to change the name. It seemed that those commissioners wanted to give the public the opportunity to challenge the correction and their input was sought. Harris Odell and Helen Stone pointed to the history of the road's name and argued that there was nothing that needed to be discussed as the name was spelled wrong and that a road named in honor of a person should have the correct spelling of the person's name on the road markers. Appearing quite bothered, commission chairman Pete Liakakis went forward with the vote which passed.
The Library Board provided an update on the construction plans on the new Library at Savannah Mall. The board reported that construction will begin in March 2008 and that the facility should be completed in between 12 and 16 months. Commissioner Kicklighter noted that the site of the westside library being constructed with SPLOST dollars was once said to have been donated by a westside municipal government. Upon investigating this claim of a donated site by the library board it was found that no such arrangement had been made. To date, the final site for the westside library construction is not known. The library board was requested to find a site for the new library that would comply with the SPLOST proposal approved by the voters.
The Chatham County Youth Commission will be going on a trip next month to Washington DC, New York City, and Pennsylvania. While in Washington the members will be able to attend some meetings and visit sites in the DC area. The youth will goto NYC to see a Broadway play and also visit Yankee Stadium. They will travel to Pennsylvania to visit the Liberty Bell then return to Washington DC and back to Savannah.
Dean Kicklighter proposed a county wide phone system that could be used to alert citizens of imminent harm in the case of tornado's or industrial accidents.
A $50,000.00 "Challenge Grant" was awarded to the MPC to jumpstart a "Green" program. You will have to ask Commissioner Shay about this as it is not clear what this program will accomplish. This $50,000 grant will sustain the program for 6 months and the next 6 months support will come from the City of Savannah. There was no mention of where the funding will come from for months 13 and following. You will have to ask Commissioner Shay and the other commissioners about those details.
The CAT board met for a few minutes and the only business discussed was the type of system the county wanted and what the plans were for the St. Patric's Day parade bus services. The question was asked if the future CAT wanted to become a public system, a public/private system, or a private system. The board decided to explore all options. Since the last CAT board meeting of January 8, Interim Director and former commissioner Joe Rivers didn't have any details of the CAT bus schedules that would accommodate both the regular riders and the parade and party goers. Harris Odell voiced concern about the federal CAT dollars that would be jeopardized if it was determined that CAT unfairly competed with the private transportation industry.
Joe Rivers is working on a $40/hour professional contract with CAT as interim director. Mr. Rivers, a former county commissioner who hand picked his succeeder and friend, James Holmes, is paid $1600/week plus expenses. Besides being a former county commissioner and chairman of the local democratic party, sources have also pointed to a sexual relationship with Dr. Priscilla Thomas while he was living with the late Gwendolyn Goodman. The interim executive director position with CAT was filled with Joe Rivers as there was no person better suited for the position any where in the United States. The CAT and County websites doe not list Executive Director as an available position with CAT. At a recent transportation meeting in the Commission Chambers, Joe Rivers said that there was not a vacancy for the Executive Director position.
The county's $17 million contact with Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Georgia was discussed. Commissioner Odell said that the situation was "critical" for the county. Mr. Odell seemed to catch the insurance representatives in a lie as they stated that at risk ensured members of the plan were contacted through a mailing letting the insured know about programs in place to address their health concerns. This was highlighted later when the concerns of privacy and HIPAA regulations were discussed. It appears that newsletters that were said to have gone out since July of 2007 never went out. The county department in charge of the county contracted health care program made the recommendation of awarding participants in the health promotion and wellness programs $15/month. Commissioners Gellatly and Kicklighter thought the $15 rewards proposal would not do anything to promote or encourage a healthy lifestyle. Odell and the county manager leaned on the insurer as they had made promises to implement health programs to reduce costs in return for maintaining the contract with the county. Commissioner Odell insisted that the health promotional programs by the insurer be monitored and that meaningful and measurable benefits of the wellness programs be demonstrated.
$350,000 of SPLOST money was allocated to the City of Savannah in their efforts to continue studies of DeRenne Avenue. The study is an attempt to relieve congestion on the road that connects to I-516.
The board authorized the chairman to sign paperwork to become a Certified Local Government. This will allow Chatham to qualify for federal Historic Preservation Fund Grants administered through the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
The board authorized funding of $139,100.00 related to the Hutchison Island Riverwalk's extension at Parcel 7/slip 3.
The board awarded a contract in the amount of $123,384.00 for the performance based project to attract technology and knowledge based businesses to the community, The Creative Coast. While this was a performance based contract there was no discussion.
Observations:
If the county was serious about the health and wellness of their employees they would have, a long time ago, partnered with a local college to develop an ongoing wellness program. Having gone through graduate school for heath care administration I found it ridiculous that there have been no attempts or very shallow attempts to improve the quality of life for the county's employees. Commissioners Odell and Gellatly proved their concern in their discussion of the matter with the insurance company and the county department in charge of relations with the health promotion program. Their concern will go without results unless and until the county gets serious about the $17 million health care program. It appears that the majority of the board know very little about wellness programs and show very little concern about making any difference in the lives of the county's insured. Harris Odell reminded the county citizens that Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Georgia has maintained the county's insurance contract "since God was a child". The county is looking to save money. Commissioner Odell said that the situation was "critical".
What the county fails to realize is that there is not much incentive for the insurer to lower rates as they have had the contract "since God was a child". Odell said that this contract was competitive which may or may not be true but one thing for sure is that if a wellness program was implemented by the county, bidding insurance companies will surely take this into account and should result in lower premiums. The county needs a wellness program that works instead of depending on the insurance company to provide that on their behalf.
The discussion of the name Whitefield Avenue was ridiculous. Liakakis, Ferrel, and Thomas were concerned about the the community having their say in the naming matter but show no such concern about community input when spending hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars. There was no discussion about the monies for the slip at Hutchison Island. There was no discussion of the "performance based" monies awarded to the Creative Coast. There was no community input concerning the monies used to pay for this "Green Challenge" introduced by Pat Shay. Liakakis, Ferrel and Thomas made themselves look foolish.
The monies given to the WWII Vets for the WWII Memorial is shamefully too little. If the county didn't throw money away at any crazy idea that came along the county could have paid for the monument long ago. The total cost of the monument is around $1 million. Sadly, many of the WWII Vets the monument is to honor will be long gone before the total funding of the project is reached.
$50,000 challenge grant to jump start a "Green Program" for the MPC is a fine example of ridiculous squander. This covers 6 months of the program. Shay says the next 6 months of funding would come from the City of Savannah. At the same time that this was proposed, Shay asked that the county join a not for profit, international body of governments that seek to become and promote "Green". He stated that this same body would be holding a convention in Italy the same time he would be visiting Italy for personal reasons. He did make a point to mention that he would be paying for the trip himself but I wonder how many folks in the City of Savannah Government or other members of the Chatham County Commission or MPC will insist on attending these international events. I know that there are many environmental groups in Savannah already and surely there will be more to come so I do not in any way see where this funding will lead to any meaningful change in this area. The powers of the MPC do not extend to telling builders what materials should be used in constructing buildings or dwellings. As long as the building code remains as is without requiring specific "Green" materials and fixtures, this will always be a educational extension of the MPC. $100,000 per year for this effort is a ridiculous waste of the tax payers money. Restraint should be exercised by the board and someone on the board should have challenged this proposal. This will become a liability to the tax payers for years to come. It should be stopped now before it begins. While the efforts are honorable, leveraging available resources would have been the more prudent course of action. This is now and always will be money down the drain without a change in the building codes which is not likely to happen any time soon.
The CAT Board meeting is a poster child for what is wrong with our current government. While $1600/week is paid to former commissioner Joe Rivers who is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with another board member, nothing is getting done to improve the failed CAT system. At the February 8th board meeting, specific instructions were given to Rivers and promises were made by Rivers concerning the St. Patricks' Day parade activities. Weeks later, Rivers had no plans that he was willing to share with the Board. No progress on the board's request of February 8th were evident. What were the plans over the years for this situation?
I can remember last year waiting on the bus to goto the office on the South Side. I waited with my bike and watched 3 full buses go past my stop. It is important for CAT to take care of the regular riders first then the parade goes next. I had to ride my bike to the office that day and while I am not complaining too much, I have to consider the other regular riders, the aged, the handicapped, and others who don't have a bike or are not able to pedal to work.
Joe Rivers was hired as a political favor by the board as is evidenced by their efforts to fill this position. There are no job postings for this position on the CAT website and I have not found anything in the county minutes to suggest they have a search underway.
The CAT Board is a joke. During this CAT meeting there was no mention of the rising costs of fuel. There was no mention of the 1400 gallons of fuel required to power the fleet of CAT Ferries every two weeks.
CAT is in need of extreme makeover. The CAT Board needs leadership and that has not existed in many years.
I think the Youth Commission is a good thing but I question some of the visits they have planned for their trips.
I think that there must have been a typo in the agenda for the commission meeting for the 22nd. The agenda said that the contract with the Creative Coast was to be "Performance based" but there was no discussion. I would like to see, read, and hear about the performance and benefits of this group. Just like Shay's "Green Challenge" this is an ongoing expense to the tax payers. Again, just like Shay's "Green Challenge" where the City of Savannah is expected to foot another $50,000 to sustain the program, the City of Savannah finances the operations of the Creative Coast. What is worse about this funding is that many of the beneficiaries of this program are South Carolina businesses. According to Google, there are approximately 292 business listing that benefit South Carolina businesses on the Creative Coast website. Most, if not all, of the listings for South Carolina businesses compete with Savannah and Chatham County based businesses that offer the same goods or services. It is a continued waste of money and lack of concern by the county commission. There was not one minute of discussion. There was not one presentation. Nothing. Try this search in Google " sc site:thecreativecoast.org/directory ". Many, but not all of these 292 listings are companies that compete with local businesses that provide jobs, pay taxes and raise families here in Savannah.
The Chatham County Commission seems to be oblivious to things going on all around. The County needs new leadership. There needs to be major change in a positive direction with the Commission.
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