Executive Session Must Go (My Response To Mr. Howard)

If you have not read Mr. Howard's response to my letter to the editer, please scroll to the next post before reading this one

Mr Howard,



Thank you for your quick and informative response. As many know I have been working for open government in Camden for the last two years. I have fully researched both the open records and open meetings laws. I totally agree with you that the commissioners can meet in private for the reasons you stated. My point is that it is not required by law, reasons were put in the open meetings law to protect the elected. And who wrote the law? Yes the elected, but they left it open for the people to choose. I believe the majority of Camden County would vote to end executive session in Camden County for all governing bodies, not just the commissioners. Our school board breaks the law at every meeting, just by what their agenda says. It says, that if someone has a complaint that the board feels they should not address in public, they will take that individual back into executive session with them. As I am sure you know that is an illegal action, as only the members of the board are allowed in executive session. If they take that individual back with them, then they are hearing evidence in private, which is once again is illegal. Here is the link to the most recent agenda, just click on the public participation link on the side bar. https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=4025&MID=8775



Mr. Howard, I am glad that you are our County Manger. I think you have done a wonderful job thus far, But you don't know the history of Camden County. Our government is filled with friends and family, and that is to be expected in such a small community. What is not expected, or maybe it is, is that they will lie, cheat, and steal for each other. This is what needs to stop, and the only way for that to happen is complete and total open government.



I have made a few comments under the portion of your email where you talked about reasons for executive session. My comments are in red.



From your e-mail:



Additionally, I would like to provide you with some additional information regarding Executive Sessions. Although there are a number of reasons the Commissioners can hold an executive session, our Commissioners generally hold such a session for one of three reasons: to discuss litigation, personnel, or real estate.

An executive session for litigation allows the Commissioners to seek legal advice from their counsel on pending or potential litigation, settlements, administrative proceedings or other judicial actions. Such discussions wherein the Commissioners are seeking advice from the County Attorney are attorney-client privileged, and the open meetings law in no way repeals the attorney-client privilege. However, after speaking with the County Attorney on a pending claim, for example, if it is the desire of the Commissioners for the County Attorney to proceed with the negotiation of a settlement, that action for negotiation must be taken in the open meeting. Likewise, once both parties agree to a settlement. The acceptance of the terms of the settlement must also be approved in an open meeting.



Attorney-client privilege, Who is the client? Are the Commissioners being sued? NO, the taxpayers of this county are. If the commissioners did no wrong why keep secrets? Isn't the attorney paid for with tax dollars? Holding these meetings in public will end all the "he said, she said" that always surrounds these proceedings. For example the Penny Woodard case. If the defendant does not want their side of the case made public, then I would suggest they not communicate with the board, as by our "new local law" that communication would have to be made in public. Otherwise the court will determine the out come. I believe this would actually lower the number of lawsuits and save the taxpayers money on unnecessary settlements.

Also, the Commissioners will hold an executive session to deliberate on the
appointment, employment, hiring, compensation, disciplinary action, or dismissal of an employee or public officer. For example, the Commissioners will hold an executive session on personnel to discuss qualified applicants for a vacant position. The Commissioners generally do this to protect the applicants from possible retribution from current employers. However, once the Commissioners have narrowed the field and have qualified applicants they are seriously considering hiring, the names of those applicants are made public, and of course, the action to hire is taken in an open meeting.



This is an interesting one, as when anyone applies for a job, the application always says "May we contact your current employer". So I don't buy that one. I am more concerned about compensation, disciplinary action, or dismissal of an employee or public officer. Disciplinary records are open records, so why not the proceedings. Why can't we hear what our commissioners think about the problem or situation? After all they do work for us. If an employee is wrongfully accused, they may be railroad in executive session and lose their job because of one or two commissioners dislike for them, or maybe that employee spoke out against them. It has happened before, and will happen again without open government.



Additionally, our Commissioners will hold an executive session to discuss the acquisition of real estate. One reason for this is to keep the value of the property from being artificially inflated. Once the acquisition of the property has been completed, terminated or abandoned, the location of the property is made public.



This one is a shocker, as America was built on Capitalism. Under Capitalism competition is what fuels the American economy. Yet when you do land deals behind closed doors, where is the competition. If there is no competition then land prices are inflated. I believe you will get lower land prices, if you open the door to competition. Otherwise someones family member will get rich on the backs of the taxpayers, and yes this has happened before.

Although the Commissioners may hold discussions or deliberations in executive session on these matters, any action on these matters is always taken in an open meeting.



In closing, I can't understand why anyone would be against doing the peoples business in front of the people. Who are you protecting? I will tell you who gets protection under the current law. It is the board members. Why do they need protection, when each of them took an oath to work for the people.



I would still like to hear the views of those elected. With all due respect Mr. Howard, we didn't elect you and I asked to hear from those who we elected, not the man the elected hired. As I stated above, I think you are doing a good job, keep it up.



Mr. Berry, Mr. Rhodes, Ms. Sears, Mr. Rainer, Ms. Zell,

I would still love to see a letter to the editor from each of you on your views of ending executive session in all of Camden County. Let the past election be a learning tool for all of you. You all are "at will" employees as well. At the will of the people.

My Unedited Letter

No, it was not edited by the T&G. I had to shorten it for the papers 500 word limit.

This letter is followed by a response by Mr Howard, County Manager.

Gregory Supporter Reaches Out To Smith Supporters!!!

Dear Editor,

I know many of those who supported Bill Smith are very angry. I know they all think that Steve Berry is going to grab all the power and control this county. I have a way to ensure this does not happen. We need a County Ordinance for OPEN GOVERNMENT. With the help of those that voted for Gregory and those that vote for Smith, we can achieve another historic victory on taking back our government. For those who are wondering what open government is, simple put it is completely open. We would have no more executive sessions, no more meeting certain people behind closed doors, no more keeping the people in the dark. In an open government, everything is out on the table in front of the people. This ordinance would be for all meetings of any government body in Camden County. According to the Georgia Sunshine Laws, the elected boards may meet in private for several reasons. These exemptions can be accessed at http://www.rcfp.org/ogg/item.php?t=short&state=GA&level=M2A2. The key word in each of these exemptions is the word may. If the elected were required to meet in private the law would say they are required, but it does not so our elected have the choice to meet or not to meet behind closed doors. Yes, it is their choice. They chose to leave us out of their conversations. WHY? They are there to do our business. If everything is on the table no one will be able to hide what they are thinking or doing. Tommy Gregory has already promise an open Sheriff's Office, it is in his six-point plan. That is why I voted for him. Now is the time to get the rest of the county open and in the sunshine. This is the time of year to get these things done. We have an election for County Commissioner in November between Chip Keene and the current Chairman Preston Rhodes. Which candidate will embraces open government? The candidate the runs on an open government platform will win this election and we will be on our way. Unless Mr. Rhodes wants to get started on it right away, then he could add it to his resume. Mr. Rhodes wouldn’t it be nice to campaign on the fact that you got the ball rolling on open government. As for Mr. Berry, I have good news; you Sir are now officially my Commissioner. Yes, I moved to your district, so I could urge you as my commissioner to bring open government to Camden County. I hear you quote to Sunshine Laws all the time at meetings, now is the time to take those laws and make them work for the people. The time has come for the people to take back this county and make it fair and equal for all. Ms. Zell, Ms. Sears, and Mr. Rainer, You all must want open government as well, I do not know how anyone could be against doing the people business in front of them. Do you? In the next few weeks I would ask, each Commissioner to write a letter to the editor, explaining his or her position on open government. Mr. Keene, your comments are also welcomed.

The bottom line is if you want more accountability from our elected officials, then you must demand an open government. This way, everyone will be treated equally and fairly. How could anyone be against OPEN GOVERNMENT?

Click on pic to enlarge:

My comments to follow shortly, what are yours?

Their Open Government still includes hiding in executive session.

The Big Announcement

Folks,
I have several BIG announcements. It started as just one, but now I have several.

First,
I plan on reaching out to the Smith supporters and ask them to help bring open government to Camden County. No I don't mean just follow the current open government laws, I mean a complete open government. No more closed door meetings. No more "you can't see those records". No more "we have personnel issues to discuss", don't the personnel work for us.

Smith supporters are concerned about Steve Berry grabbing all the power. A complete open government would not let that happen. Everyone would be treated equally. If we had this during the Smith years, he would still be in office come 2009, and he wouldn't be in trouble today.Open government will keep all elected honest.

I am going to do all I can to bring this to Camden County. I selected a candidate for Sheriff that campaigned on an open Sheriff's Office, one point of his six point plan. I also moved so I could be in Steve Berry's district and urge him to get on the open government bandwagon. He answered my call when I asked the Commissioners to speak out against Smith, hopefully he will do the same this time.

Folks in District 1, you will have a choice this fall for your commissioner, pick the one that wants open government. Asked both candidates if they believe the peoples business should be done in front of the people.

I am asking the County Commissioners to draft a new County Ordinance making all of Camden County open to the people. This includes city government, the school board, and all these little boards that pop up to waste our money.

Open government hurts no one and helps everyone. Call or email your commissioner and tell them to vote for open government!!!!

District 1 Preston Rhodes e-mail lbrhodes@tds.net

District 2 Katherine "Nisi" Zell e-mail zellblnt@tds.net

District 3 Steve Berry e-mail writersteveberry2@yahoo.com

District 4 Charlene Sears e-mail cjsears@co.camden.ga.us

District 5 David Rainer e-mail drainerga@earthlink.net

Together, let's make this a county, the county that leads the way for open and fair government across the USA.


Other big announcements are not yet complate, but here is what I have been working on:

Did St. Mary's hand out contracts, before a vote was held?

Is the local radio blackout on two away games, just an attempt to make more money?

Will let you know soon.

Thursday, Big Anouncement

Thursday will be the day. If you all agree, this will change Camden forever.

To hold you over, did anyone know we have a yacht club in Camden?

School System's Overcrowed Buses Puts Student Lives In Jeopardy

My latest email:

Ms. Cox, Members of the Camden County BOE, BOE Employees, and News Media,

I would like to take this opportunity to voice my opinions on issues that affect every student in the school district of Camden County.

Camden County School buses are very overcrowded. Students are forced to sit on the nasty floor; and are seated four students to a seat- intended for only three persons. At Open House, parents were informed buses would be crowded due to high gas prices, but this is ridiculous. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. What if these buses were in a minor fender bender and these kids on the floor got hurt, or even worse. Could you live with that for the rest of your lives? Would you allow your kids to sit on the floor of any bus?
My teenage son told me today that he could not find a seat this morning to sit down in, even though there were four empty seats in the front of the bus, that only a selected few students are permitted to sit in, and they are then sat two to a seat on these selected few seats. Why?
There is also one high school student that rides this bus, and he gets the entire seat to himself. This is happening on morning bus # 73. Also, other parents are complaining of the same things happening on their children’s buses as well.

I understand gas is expensive and cuts need to be made, but if I can find a way to manage things on my small budget, I think this school system should be able to manage on a multi-million dollar budget. Maybe some of the employees at the B.O.E. could take a pay cut, or jobs eliminated.


I would also like an answer as to why so many students fail the Math portion of the C.R.C.T.
I find it impossible to believe that the state and local officials expected a high number of failures in the beginning of the year, as they explained. That answer is a lie. No one ever told parents to expect their children to fail the test that I am aware of. The other answer, that the test was more difficult than the past, is also impossible to believe. 8th grade math, is 8th grade math. If you make it harder, wouldn't it be 9th grade math? Why wasn't our students taught what was on the test?
This letter will be posted on www.schoolpolice.blogspot.com and your comments as well, or the lack there of. But you may want to read what others will have to say on these subjects.

Stop The Sheriff, Before He Bankrupts The County

This was a post I made back on August 30, 2007.

amazing how things come true!!!!


Dear Commissioners,

You must ask the Georgia Sheriff's Association to ask the Governor to appoint a panel to investigate our Sheriff. He is attempting to BANKRUPT our county. He is having budget problems and yet continues to hire new people. It has been brought to my attention that Mr. Smith has hire St. Mary's councilman L.J. Williams. Why? What was the Sheriff's Office missing that they needed to hire more people? Or are the taxpayers paying for more political reasons.

He continues to spend, spend and spend, and he was over budget last year. Do you really think he cares how much he goes over this year? We need to have him removed from office for the sake of the county finances. The taxpayers should not be held responsible for a renegade Sheriff.

But if you don't take action it will cost us, the taxpayers.

Rick Rogers
The Real School Police

Indictments To Be handed Down This Week

If you are reading Topix, and wondering why Bill Smith is firing everyone insight. Well, I have been told that the indictments will be read this week. Yes indictments, that is more than one. My sources say that there are at least 15 counts. I have not been able to confirm this from my three usual sources, only two are saying this. So it might not happen this week, but it will happen. I was told it took so long, because every time the feds talked to someone they gave more information that needed more investigations and more interviews.

So why is Bill firing everyone? Because all these people have to go to court and testify at Bill's trial. How many of them are going to plead the fifth? The one I can't wait to see is my favorite County Commissioner Charlene Sears. Remember she is nothing more than a dumb file clerk, Oh I am sorry that is a simpleton file clerk. I would love to see her on the stand. She is just as guilty. Charlene maybe you could be a file clerk for Dr. Chua when he gets out. Are you the reason Bill never could find the permission from Janet Reno. Of course not, you can't file what you don't have.

Look for the indictments this week. Should be interesting.

And this is not the big announcement, I am still waiting on others to confirm things. Just thought I would pass on the indictment news. I sure hope it happens. Once again 2 out 3 sources have confirmed it, so take it as you want.

For those of you that emailed me about the school board, I will be looking in to what you have said, and will post my findings when complete. Thanks for the emails.

Stay Tuned

Shortly I will have a huge annoucement that will change politics in Camden forever.

Please stay tuned!!!!!