The power of the bully pulpit
Some insiders like to accuse me of grandstanding. I prefer to call it using the bully pulpit. Either way, for my first few years on the Council, I tried very hard to ask all my questions "one-on-one." Unfortunately, it was only with time that I came to realize some questions immediately get answered and some questions will never get answered.
It was only when I came to that conclusion about a year ago that I decided some questions simply had to be asked during public meetings... and boy-oh-boy... the power of images is something. Between the TV and the Tubes, by tonight's budget meeting a few Council members must've seen this clip:
And decided that it was going to be politically risky to ignore it. So without going into a whole lot of detail, I'll just say that you shouldn't be surprised to see both:
1) video cameras being installed at town pumps (Elizabeth's suggestion); and
2) GPS installed on all town vehicles in the near future (my suggestion).
I will add that during the meeting one person generously suggested that we could ask the departments if they would benefit from GPS. To which I responded... that was unnecessary.... after all, I'm concerned about the benefit to the taxpayer... and, though I'm sure no Cheshire employee would do this... if someone was taking gas for personal use... and using a town-owned car for personal use... would they really want a GPS on the car?
I'm sure the Bridgeport boys wish GPS was never invented:
BRIDGEPORT — Four city fire inspectors have been fired after a lengthy investigation showed they spent workdays visiting friends, taking care of rental properties and spending time at home and doughnut shops. Central to the investigation conducted by Fire Department officials were the readouts from GPS units in the inspectors' new city-owned minivans. The devices revealed that the four were spending much of their time at "unassigned addresses," often for hours on end, officials said. (Conn Post, by John Burgeson)
Tim White
p.s. Thanks to Cindy over at Underground Town Hall for helping spotlight this as an area that was just asking to be abused... and though we may still need to keep pushing this... I'm guessing that there won't be much resistance to reform... besides, if they don't... everyone's gonna get a big surprise! :)
5 comments:
I guess you didn't recieve the email you were promised. Sometimes it's a simple technical matter. When an answer can expose something that you should not know, the email can accidentally be misdirected into outspace where it just keeps going to the outer universe. Sometimes these may hit something and bounce back to earth and you get your answer. Since this might be a big problem, the chances of it coming back to earth are scant.
Another question might be, are council people allowed fillups?
There is something about Matt Hall that brings to mind Bill Lumbergh (The Boss from the Movie Office Space. Mmm,kay? That work for you?
8:32 Maybe that's where we'll find the answer to the pool?!
The TPS Report!
8:09 We did get the email... on Feb 28 I posted it:
Gasoline is dispensed at the Public works garage and the Police Department. Employees who are eligible to dispense gasoline have individual access codes which they use to engage the pump. The respective departments receive monthly reports indicating the amount and frequency of an individual’s fill-ups, which is monitored by these respective departments.
IMHO, an absolute recipe for disaster and a frankly a disgrace for anyone who has ever been called a "Controller."
A disgrace. An absolute disgrace... maybe not to have missed it... but as soon as the question was asked, anyone who has ever performed a control function would immediately see the flaws in that so-called "control."
It's a complete joke. "Departments" monitor themselves? No segregation of duties required? What if I'm a department head... and I fill up every Friday afternoon and Monday morning... and drive to Vermont every weekend... and I monitor myself?
Please. In the real world, if people are stealing from you and the controller provided this explanation... there'd be real consideration of firing someone... not for the stealing... but for the utter disregard for the control function. And if you have no controls... why bother having a "controller?"
And no, we don't have a controller. But the control function is still performed.
It's disgraceful.
As for whether any member of the majority will say one word about this and hold any accountable? Not a chance. This rubberstamp Dem council majority is about as useful as the GOP congress was with Bush... won't ever say a word or do a thing.
these aren't the droids you're looking for. move along.
The fox is watching the hen house. Good one Tim. Keep asking questions that's what you where elected to do. Thanks. As far as MH, it's not on their agenda and it's not the time?? I thought there was always time for "new" business. What's the problem Mr. Chair?
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