According to my sources, Nikki Whitty, from the confines of her convalescent room has requested a special meeting, asked Commissioner Stufflebean to hold a worksession, December 27, at 3PM to discuss ORC leases and payment of dues to SCDC. No word whether Whitty is planning on being present for the meeting or plans to attend by phone.
Kevin Stufflebean confirms Whitty requested the meeting in an email. Stufflebean’s usual grammatical errors have a sort of ‘encryption’ effect but it appears he asked for the meeting to be pulled.
My understanding as of tonight is that monday we will based upon Nikki’s request.
Just to discuss ORC stuff, I have asked to have it pulled
One has to ask who would pressure Nikki on her sick bed to hold a meeting this close to the end of the year. Additionally, she and whomever encouraged this move, must be confident Stufflebean will vote with her and not so confident about incoming commissioner, Andy Jackson.
Here is a copy of the ORC draft Lease
At the state and federal legislative level, all members of the governing body must be present to vote. Even the vice president, in the event of tie breaker, has to travel to the Senate chambers in order to cast his vote. There are plenty of good reasons for this. How does the public know for certain that a lobbyist or special interest group or even a terrorist isn’t holding a gun to head of a voting member of Congress or holding a suitcase full of money, unless they are present for the vote?
It is bad enough Nikki Whitty is voting on the payment of invoices remotely but to make major decisions involving multi-million dollar deals with public resources… is completely unacceptable and probably illegal.
Remember, Nikki has a history of lame duck actions. She takes credit for asking the road department layoffs to be voted on New Years Eve, 2008, because,in her words, Bob “might have voted NO”.
Almost doesn’t matter who it was, maybe it is her own decision. What is important is her apparent confidence Stufflebean will side with her, second any motion and pull another John Griffith last minute move.
The public also deserves the time to review this lease and I am not sure how old the draft lease revision is.
Wonder if Jon Barton and Sandy Messerle paid Nikki a get well visit? Or Dan Smith even?