In Michigan a law approved by Republican Governor Rick Snyder gives the state authority to appoint a financial manager to run communities deemed “too broken” to be run by elected officials. The emergency financial manager’s powers are so broad that public parkland has been wrongfully sold and classes with sixty one children per teacher proposed. After a valiant grassroots effort gathering 200,000 valid signatures the Supreme Court has agreed the law must be referred to the people for repeal in November. Coos County may see a similar battle this election voting to accept or reject a county charter proposal or a new ordinance to appoint a county manager with similar wide reaching authority. Watch the video for a report on the consequences of the emergency management law in Michigan.
A draft ordinance, DIVISION SIX – STRUCTURE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION, that commissioners may put on the ballot this November would increase the number of commissioners from three full time to five part time commissioners and grants “broad authority” to an unelected official or manager.
It shall be within the specific authority of the County Administrator to perform all day-to-day functions necessary for the administration and management of County affairs and the affairs of County service districts, if delegated. Such authority includes but is not limited to the following:
1. Direct and coordinate the overall management of County government in accordance with policies set by the Board and applicable laws.
2. Provide for the proper administration of all ordinances, orders, and resolutions of the County and its service districts, all contracts and franchises entered into by the County and service districts, and provide for the enforcement of all policies, rules, procedures, orders, and regulations adopted by the Board.
3. Keep the Board informed of pertinent matters related to the administration and management of the County and its service districts.
4. In cooperation with the Budget Officer, if other than the County Administrator, prepare and submit to the Budget Committee a recommended annual budget and to the Board a recommended long range capital improvement and expenditure program, along with a financial plan for raising revenue, covering a period of not less than the five ensuing years, and administer the provisions of the budget as adopted by the Board.
5. In cooperation with the other elected County officials, with the exception of the members of the Board, prepare and submit to the Board an annual report on the finances and administrative activities of the County and its service districts for the preceding fiscal year, together with recommendations for the betterment of the public service.
6. After consultation with the Board, select, appoint, supervise, discipline, and dismiss all heads of departments, except elected County officials and County Counsel, in accordance with federal and state laws and guidelines, applicable contracts, and policies adopted by the Board.
7. Manage and administer the County and service districts personnel programs. Prepare and recommend to the Board employee compensation plans.
8. Coordinate the work of all departments, divisions, offices, districts, and agencies, both elective and appointive, and devise ways and means whereby efficiency and economy may be secured in the operation of all departments, divisions, offices, districts, and agencies.
9. Formulate and present to the Board plans for the implementation for goals adopted by the Board.
10. Administer the risk management program for the County and its service districts.
11. Direct the use, maintenance, and custody of all County and district property, buildings, works, and improvements according to any policies adopted by the Board.
12. Unless excused by the Board, attend meetings of the Board, participate in the discussions, and make recommendations for action by the Board.
13. Conduct such other activities and assignments as may be required by the Board.
14. Exercise such other authority as delegated in writing by the Board.
Amongst the arguments in favor of hiring an administrator presented by the governance and structure advisory committees is to free up the commissioners’ time to enable them to work on policy decisions and find additional revenue for the county. It is clear from the July 10 BOC meeting that neither administrator proponent, Cam Parry or Fred Messerle, have any strategy for how to bring in more revenue and could not agree on what policies they need more time to enact.
The proposed ordinance grants almost limitless authority to an unelected administrator minimizing the role of the commission while a county charter developed by ARRRG which is also expected to be on November’s ballot puts more control into the hands of voters and in doing so seriously curtails the scope and authority of the commission. Both scenarios indicate a lack of trust in the elected commissioners’ judgement and decision making. Ironically, in the case of the ordinance, it is two commissioners who interviewed for the job now claiming they can’t do the job.
The first of two required hearings before putting “DIVISION SIX” on the ballot is now available at Coos Media Center although you have to sit through Parry’s calorie laden, cavity forming pep talk about exercising democracy and people getting together and moving forward, etc….
http://youtu.be/YCBZOdBqMgo
And THIS is where little al and Big Barton, really, really BIG Barton and their mouthpiece, another messerlie, want to take us. Watch this, then go back and re listen to exactly WHO this news team was following and why.
Then ask yourself, after seeing our own elected Sheriff remove an elderly man from a BOC meeting, by an UN ELECTED public official, just who exactly law enforcement is working for. A cop who is the permanent “driver” for the “administrator”, that’s who, which is probably what the cops and the pols. didn’t want the people to see. Why the F does a pencil pusher need a uniformed, armed cop to drive across town? Indeed, don’t bother asking, these Welfare Queens masquerading as politicians are just like little al, sucking up every buck they can of Other People’s Money, then calling a cop, or Freds’ skirts, to protect them from The Rabble. Perhaps The Rabble should start hanging out in front of THEIR new windows in the bike shop downtown? Just so every tax payer driving by can see what their hard work did for widdle al pettit, who obviously can’t pay his own bills for his private business, needs welfare, but wants to tell US what a stellar business person he thinks he is.
And people wonder why No one want to move their business to pretty Coos County. The fools and crooks occupy all the space.
Mr. Wiley wins. The prize, a private lesson from the verbose commssioner in defensive public speaking. Answer – if both pass – the charter wins. The ordinance is an advisory vote only pursuant to todays county charter. If the ordinance wins or looses, Parry and Messerle can still join forces and hire an administrator.
Or both the charter and the ordinance will be rejected by the voters.
I think the charter would override the ordinance this my opinion because the charter creates new rule Rickey Wiley
Who will be a payin all them there lawyer fellows if both the ordinance and the charter pass?
It appears to me the American voters are going to have to pull on their Big People Panties and start pushing back against these people who loath the representative form of government. Including Democrats in name only. This is beyond acceptable behavior. These local yahoos haven’t even a cost analysis to show. It’s nothing more than furthering their hands around the necks of working people, because in some far away land they were taught they and they alone can run this nation. Well I’ve had enough of this manipulation from barton and pettit, and now knudson and Sauce buying, in my humble opinion, just like I buy onions, votes to put a forty year competitor out of business. Slick as a whistle, having your kid write the damn thing is just a coincidence? Come on Coos Countians, you see it all laid out for you, you don’t even have to research what these businessmen and women are doing to the future of Coos County. They ain’t even hiding it now, they’re showing you what they’re doing, they’re so arrogant they’re betting on the ignorance of every working stiff in this county. Who knew it was so cheap , what five grand, to buy a congressman and put a competitor out of business? I thought they were job creators? These are my opinions, backed up by nothing more than facts as I see them. With their war chest intact, they’ll start suing anyone who speaks out against them. Watch and see. These people have no respect for workers, they’ve done nothing but push paper their entire lives.