Comments on: 2/25/10 WORKSHOP-TOILETS TO ATTORNEYS http://gulfportwatchdog.com/2010/03/22510-workshop-toilets-to-attorneys/ Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:35:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: mtober http://gulfportwatchdog.com/2010/03/22510-workshop-toilets-to-attorneys/comment-page-1/#comment-995 mtober Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:48:44 +0000 http://gulfportwatchdog.com/?p=449#comment-995 Purportedly there were 3 or 4 requests for low flow toilet rebates. Is that really worth an expenditure of $20K? Why is it that the City of Gulfport is perfectly happy to let St.Pete hold us hostage on the toilet initiative and more importantly reclaimed water? We are their customer. Why is G'port not treated the same as other of their customers? Purportedly there were 3 or 4 requests for low flow toilet rebates. Is that really worth an expenditure of $20K? Why is it that the City of Gulfport is perfectly happy to let St.Pete hold us hostage on the toilet initiative and more importantly reclaimed water? We are their customer. Why is G’port not treated the same as other of their customers?

]]> By: 2iveiw http://gulfportwatchdog.com/2010/03/22510-workshop-toilets-to-attorneys/comment-page-1/#comment-906 2iveiw Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:14:00 +0000 http://gulfportwatchdog.com/?p=449#comment-906 Our attorney cost $150 dollars an hours and we use him as we need him. We probably compile a number of issues and he is scheduled to addresses them at a time certain, say every week or two weeks and show up at meetings. A conservative 10 hours = $1500 per week or $6000 per month or approx. $72,000.00 per year. Our City Council cost us Approx. $4000.00 per month in salary plus expenses. Low side $50,000.00. For council and attorney fees we pay $122,000.00 per year and they spend most of their time addressing the contradictions that Council creates. Add to that the $500,000.00 dollars salaries and benefits paid the Fred Metcalf’s department, who, by the way, can’t seem to find their hands with either cheek. Wouldn’t it be better if we could dump the council, Fred Metcalf’s department and the attorney and hire a consulting firm at half the cost? $612,200.00 dollars seems to be a large expenses for the services they provide. Our attorney cost $150 dollars an hours and we use him as we need him. We probably compile a number of issues and he is scheduled to addresses them at a time certain, say every week or two weeks and show up at meetings.

A conservative 10 hours = $1500 per week or $6000 per month or approx. $72,000.00 per year. Our City Council cost us Approx. $4000.00 per month in salary plus expenses. Low side $50,000.00.

For council and attorney fees we pay $122,000.00 per year and they spend most of their time addressing the contradictions that Council creates. Add to that the $500,000.00 dollars salaries and benefits paid the Fred Metcalf’s department, who, by the way, can’t seem to find their hands with either cheek.

Wouldn’t it be better if we could dump the council, Fred Metcalf’s department and the attorney and hire a consulting firm at half the cost? $612,200.00 dollars seems to be a large expenses for the services they provide.

]]> By: 2iveiw http://gulfportwatchdog.com/2010/03/22510-workshop-toilets-to-attorneys/comment-page-1/#comment-905 2iveiw Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:44:17 +0000 http://gulfportwatchdog.com/?p=449#comment-905 Less demand for water and sewerage is a needed goal, and if we were growing as a community I could see the immediate need for this pilot program, but given the fact that many people have left the City, leaving empty housing in their wake, I see no accelerating demand for this program now. With populations diminishing in Florida in the coming years, demand for more water is in question. The cold spell we’re experiencing is just another expected reaction from the larger issue of global change. The seas continue to get warmer, the El Nino cycle is stronger, the possibility of devastating storms are increasing and the population will continue to migrate away from the coastal regions. Housing value will continue to decline, old housing stock will not be insurable, winter vacation destinations will be more affordable and desirable closer to the equator, and Florida’s future is looking dim. Tourism is down, agriculture is down, growth is gone and the population is shrinking, I don’t know why we need to address toilet size now, unless it’s to serve the plumbers of the region. maybe we can find out what exactly has compelled our manager to address this issue now? Less demand for water and sewerage is a needed goal, and if we were growing as a community I could see the immediate need for this pilot program, but given the fact that many people have left the City, leaving empty housing in their wake, I see no accelerating demand for this program now. With populations diminishing in Florida in the coming years, demand for more water is in question. The cold spell we’re experiencing is just another expected reaction from the larger issue of global change. The seas continue to get warmer, the El Nino cycle is stronger, the possibility of devastating storms are increasing and the population will continue to migrate away from the coastal regions. Housing value will continue to decline, old housing stock will not be insurable, winter vacation destinations will be more affordable and desirable closer to the equator, and Florida’s future is looking dim. Tourism is down, agriculture is down, growth is gone and the population is shrinking, I don’t know why we need to address toilet size now, unless it’s to serve the plumbers of the region. maybe we can find out what exactly has compelled our manager to address this issue now?

]]> By: 2iveiw http://gulfportwatchdog.com/2010/03/22510-workshop-toilets-to-attorneys/comment-page-1/#comment-873 2iveiw Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:33:48 +0000 http://gulfportwatchdog.com/?p=449#comment-873 One issue at a time: How a Workshop is conducted is up to them, I guess, and given the restrictive nature of the SunShine Laws I do suspect they need to gather to discus issues among themselves. I do not believe that the SunShine laws restrict anyone in that meeting from asking the opinion of the Humane Society on this matter outside of the confines of the Official Workshop. If they wanted or needed the information that this organization had to offer they could have sought it out beforehand and then brought it to the discussion. A letter can be presented or the Humane Society can attend Council Meetings. There are other venues that give access to citizen involvement. ---- While I’m as much an advocate of the humane treatment of animals as anyone at that meeting, and probably more, I see this tethering issue as a Straw-Man argument. Where is the Police records proclaim the need for such a broad resolution? Where is the abuse in Gulfport? Are they just going to decree that everyone that puts their dog on a tether is abusive? If there is a case of abuse, there is a County agency with State Certified Animal Control Officers http://www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices/ that address animal abuse specifically. If anyone in the City discovers that an animal is being abused they can call Animal Services as can the police department. A person walking their dog on a leash the wrong way can cause more harm to the dog than any tether, will they address the abusive nature of choke chains and collars on dogs? Should they now require citizen take classes and purchase a license to walk a dog? In my opinion this was just a City Council Women looking for an issue to pull on the Heart Strings of this community, maybe we need a Heart String Resolution as well. ;-) At a time when we are reducing the size and budget of the police department Michele King wants to build a redundancy into the City budget that is already paid for in County taxes. If she is suggesting that she will, school herself to become a Certified Animal Control Officer, respond to the calls and inspect every property for tethered dogs and abusive treatment, well OK, but we don’t need a resolution for volunteerism. ….to be continued… http://www.gulfportinflorida.com Note to self: Explain how the new attorney arrangement has built in a time delay and excuse for inaction. One issue at a time:

How a Workshop is conducted is up to them, I guess, and given the restrictive nature of the SunShine Laws I do suspect they need to gather to discus issues among themselves. I do not believe that the SunShine laws restrict anyone in that meeting from asking the opinion of the Humane Society on this matter outside of the confines of the Official Workshop. If they wanted or needed the information that this organization had to offer they could have sought it out beforehand and then brought it to the discussion. A letter can be presented or the Humane Society can attend Council Meetings. There are other venues that give access to citizen involvement.

—-

While I’m as much an advocate of the humane treatment of animals as anyone at that meeting, and probably more, I see this tethering issue as a Straw-Man argument. Where is the Police records proclaim the need for such a broad resolution? Where is the abuse in Gulfport? Are they just going to decree that everyone that puts their dog on a tether is abusive?

If there is a case of abuse, there is a County agency with State Certified Animal Control Officers http://www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices/ that address animal abuse specifically. If anyone in the City discovers that an animal is being abused they can call Animal Services as can the police department.

A person walking their dog on a leash the wrong way can cause more harm to the dog than any tether, will they address the abusive nature of choke chains and collars on dogs? Should they now require citizen take classes and purchase a license to walk a dog? In my opinion this was just a City Council Women looking for an issue to pull on the Heart Strings of this community, maybe we need a Heart String Resolution as well. ;-)

At a time when we are reducing the size and budget of the police department Michele King wants to build a redundancy into the City budget that is already paid for in County taxes. If she is suggesting that she will, school herself to become a Certified Animal Control Officer, respond to the calls and inspect every property for tethered dogs and abusive treatment, well OK, but we don’t need a resolution for volunteerism.
….to be continued…
http://www.gulfportinflorida.com

Note to self:
Explain how the new attorney arrangement has built in a time delay and excuse for inaction.

]]>