We’re not supposed to call it a bonus. Councilman Brown wants us to call this an “employee performance one-time supplement.” Vice-mayor Milteer mentioned that providing this will help morale and activity in the family go up. Mayor Johnson applauded staff for turning off lights, not idling cars, turning the air conditioning up and turning the heat down. She mentioned that the family has to take care of one another. Obviously all Council members will vote to approve the bonus since employees have done such an outstanding job. They’ve saved us money. They’ve been more efficient. They’ve done their job better. Johnson tried to tie the work of firefighters and saving streets to some sort of efficiency. I tie this to the incredible work ethic of our firefighters.
A couple of thoughts here. First of all – where are the citizens in this “family?” We’re just not feeling it. And why is it okay to take money from one family member and decide that another family member needs it more? And why hasn’t Council talked about giving the money BACK to the citizens from whom it was taken? Perhaps helping the budget crunch in our Constitutional offices would be a good use of the money.
We DO need to recognize employees, but a bonus is not necessarily the only way. How about making sure there is a cost-of-living raise in salaries for our employees? This would let them know that even in tough times we value the job they do enough to make a commitment in the budget – and not just when a surplus is available.
15 comments:
RECALL, RECALL, RECALL. This is socialism at its best.
The individual who reminded us that a budget surplus is no more than too much money collected from the taxpayers is quite correct. But, more than that, it's not "found money" to be spent in any way that tickles Councils' fancy. Legitimately, that money could simply be added to the Rainy Day Fund if just knowing it existed wouldn't drive overspending Council Members to distraction. But this city should also keep a list of the highest priority small projects that just haven't found funding yet. These should be legitimate, well documented needs, like completion of that road from South Boston to the Train Station, of installing portions of a sewer line to Hobson--or some other under-served section of Suffolk that hasn't benefited yet from the spending frenzy that has occurred in old downtown Suffolk.
With almost every town, city and state in America experiencing furloughs, layoffs, reduced hours and etc. Suffolk finds itself in the position of having more money than it knows what to do with so it starts to acting like its Wall Street with the bonuses. Once something like this starts it will be expected each year the same as Wall Street.
The bigger question is: Why was this not brought to light by the media with sufficient time to allow people to speak at the City Council meeting. A resident had to call Wavy TV 10 to inform them that they read a small article in the Suffolk News Herald. Only one person was at the meeting against this, and he had to call the press himself, but did not make the noon time the day before the meeting cutoff to register to speak. The agenda is so vague that no one can figure out what they are doing, and they don't discuss the agenda items at all, they just vote on all of them at once. They won't even say who is getting the bonuses.
It was interesting that so many employees showed up. I wonder how many were ALSO Suffolk citizens? Of course they are going to show up and support a bonus for themselves. But did anyone on staff or Council encourage them to attend? Would Council have voted for this bonus if the employees were not in attendance?
Contratulations to Linda Johnson, Charles Parr and other for continuing to reveal their true agendas - the redistribution of income from city family members to others and that clearly shows their socialist agendas. There are more voters than city emmployees on this issue.
Why complain, it is going to be anyway? Seems like there are some with the inside scoop and expect to be taken care of and then there is the rest of us.
The Suffolk News Herald also believes that making sure employees feel good is more important than the reality of whose money was given to the employees.
The SNH is definitely in the tank with Council - thus the usual public relations reporting vs. investigative reporting continues.
The city is NOT a private enterprise and you don't give bonuses using citizen dollars. It's called inappropriate.
The city does not give a rats ass about the employees that serve them. Another measley wage increase(bonus denotes a check made out to the individual city employee..not a fractional wage increase to be spread out over the year), probably coupled with an increase in medical insurance coverage, equals out to be an stalemate in regard to an actual raise in the employees pay rate. And as to the idling cars wasting money for fuel...the city does not pay the "at the pump" rate for gasoline. BTW, the city manager gets about 480 miles of gas for free as a perk thanks to us. And briefly, as to the bulk refuse...is there some city staff figure that shows that it is going to cost them 500 plus grand to re-provide pick up services, until June that is, when what happens...the tax reappears? These folks are clowns
It is more that inapropreate in this economy to hand out tax-payer's money for bonuses. If it is bad for Wall Street, it is just as bad for Market Street! What bothers most is the free way this was done and without much comment by anyone, especially those who had a real say in it, our representatives. The Mayor, whom I have and do support had an obligation to handle this in a much more open and transparent manner. She is wanting of late and I must reassess my support of her and those she says she relies upon in the future. This example was one that just makes no sense and is most imprudent or worse! Why and how was this done? Was this an idea from council or did it come from those who work for us all and will get the benefit there of? As the elections for council come on fast for 2010, there are questions to pose, but likley few answers to be had and that alone is telling.
Why expect more, this is Suffolk and this policy is the Suffolk Way! The mayor uses these things as political theater to support her next election. Expect to se even more theater from her and her clowns about the IP Plant closure and the 1100 poor souls laied off. She will twist that to her poitial needs too!
Sign me: Sorry I live in Suffolk, because I just can't seem to sell my house on Bridge Road. Maybe the mayor will help me too!?
You mean to tell me that a plant would not have sufficed?
Another nice payback for keeping their mouths shut and holding the party line, or as they say in Chicago, "Pay" for playing by our rules!
Suffolk is going down the tubes and I only want to sell my house and move!
Pathetic as it may be, it was predicted the SNH would herald the bonus to selected city employees. Not escaping notice the public school employees now are hot for their share. So council will give them their cut and in no time more and more will come demanding theirs.
Inside Suffolk should contact Mr. Reeves at the SNH and ask how big will their employee bonus be this year. Mr. Reeves needs to write
another thoughtful "opinion" endorsing a bonus for public school employees.
A bonus could be given if more of the lazy city employees got canned. Then we might motivate the others to do a better job! and we should start at the top first!
Post a Comment