In his letter to The Explorer, OV resident Keith Smith takes Salette Latas & Bill Garner to task for there extra efforts on behalf of the citizens.
In Salette's case, it about her attempt to try and help the pet owners.
In Bill's case, Mr. Smith evidently is not happy that Bill, along with John Musolf were able to trim the Oro Valley budget deficit.
Oh well!
Following is Mr. Smith's letter as published in the May 27 Explorer
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OV deserves better from the elected
There is an underground campaign being fought in Oro Valley, and council members Latas' and Garner's behind-the-scene efforts are causing a shadow effect on Oro Valley's policies and practice.
Latas has been taking private polls and using them to form justification for her crusade to bring animal control services from the county to Oro Valley. Garner is being lauded for his use of Oro Valley citizen John Musolf to do a line by line audit of OVPD's 2009 budget.
Why would Garner and Musolf together target just OVPD's budget? Why does Garner need the notably congenial and obsequious Musolf when Town Manager Andrews spent 17 years in the Oro Valley Finance Department? Doesn't Oro Valley already employ competent accountants to do the work that Musolf is doing for Garner and, by default, us?
In my recent contact with Latas, she told me she has found some support from residents to make the town the official body to license and register pets. Ms. Latas believes there are some 8,500 unlicensed dogs in Oro Valley, and by relieving the county of the burden of collecting the fees for licensing, Oro Valley could stand to gain that revenue.
Of course what Ms. Latas would not tell me in any of her e-mails was how she intends to accomplish the 100 percent compliance, the cost of boarding any strays, the cost of veterinary care (by their definition, strays are an unknown quantity possibly infected with anything from rabies to parvovirus to valley fever), nor the cost for the new bureaucracy.
Ms. Latas has determined that she has the support required to move ahead by polling only those individuals she deems worthy to forward her petition. Not very scientific, and if it lends itself to Oro Valley policy making, not a sound investment either. While the goal of alleviating even one suffering animal is altruistic, the method is pollyannish and duplicative.
The development of incomplete polling data to form policy initiatives, and the practice of using unelected, unaccountable accountants to decide our budget, is inconsistent with sound governance.
Oro Valley deserves better from our elected representatives. We deserve honesty, accountability, integrity, and excellence … hmmm, sounds a lot like our police department. Maybe our council members should look across the parking lot for an example.
Sincerely,
Keith G. Smith,Oro Valley
6 comments:
Keith claims there are underground polls, ohh, he sounds like one of the people who called ov1st cave people for protesting the 23.2 million give away that now looks like was unconstitutional in the first place.
Salette Latas has stated publicly that any resident is welcome to be on her email list and thus would be able to participate in these polls. I recall she said she sent polls even to those who disagree with her. Why not use technology to work smarter and not harder. Wow, what a cavelady she is :))
I don't think she is using polls for a justification or to set policy, I believe she is trying to get the public opinion. Shame on her for involving us(sarcasm intended
I read that John Mulsholf was invited by the chief of OV pd to get involved in the budget process.
Why would you have a problem with people serving the town , especially if they have the background and or knowledge to help?
Are you in favor of a closed door policy, most of us I hope prefer the open door policy.
Keith you say "We deserve honesty, accountability, integrity and excellence----m,,,"
I agree we deserve all this and think for the most part the majority of council gives us exactly that.
So, what is wrong with a Councilmember seeking a pulse relative to a particular issue from her constituency. Ms. Latas has never stated that her polls are scientific (as a few claim costly 'professional' ones to be), she simply is trying to solve a situation she deems important; what's wrong with that? Councilperson Latas does an incredible amount of homework on those issues about which she is confronted. How many caretaker politicians do what she is doing by her polling and study? Not many, 'cause they don't seem to care much about anything other than getting re-elected; right, Mr. Keith?
Mr. Musolf, I believe, was asked by the Police Chief to come in and perhaps assist in untangling the web of the budget applications. And, in the process, Councilmember
Garner, as I understand it, was brought in to assist and convey. Although not all of the facets of the OVPD budgetary facets have been concluded, a marvelous job of putting heads together from the community, the Council, and the OVPD was attained. Virtually all who attended the meeting at which the presentation was made, Union representatives, Police Department representatives, AND those who were merely Townspeople walked away from this meeting with a much more positive feeling of commitment and community involvement.
Where were YOU, Mr. Keith?
PS - Mr. Musolf has a generous
background in budgetary matters; what are your qualifications, Mr. Keith?
Keith,
Your accusation of Latas' and Garner's work as subversive is ludicrous. Each publically requested answers from OVPD.
They are transparent, candid and open with their views.
Salette produced a survey free of charge, saving the Town $17K which was paid for the last one. As Ms.Coyote said, Latas invited anyone who wanted to participate to contact her. Scientists criticize research methods all the time. However, no other Council member that I know of ever asked constituents for input. In a very short time she amassed a large volume of opinions.
Look at what she did. On her own initiative and expense, she took the issue to voters and got feedback.
Meanwhile, the PD with 100+ paid employees can't put together a study of police vehicles in a timely fashion for their administrative supervisors.
Salette focused and got results. I wonder if you are just jealous of her work ethic and integrity.
Garner requested an explanation for spending from OVPD. He dared to ask the tough questions of a department that sees itself above keeping the rules. Musolf, as Ms. Coyote stated, was invited by Chief Sharp to work with him.
Scuttlebutt has it that it is Sharp who resists the Town Manager's input, not the reverse. It was Musolf at the 5/20 meeting who suggested that Sharp might inform Mr. Andrews prior to submitting his request to use seizure funds to the PC Attorney General's office. Why was the suggestion made? Could it be that the leader of the PD avoids his own boss?
There is no plot afoot about the OVPD. The OVPD are publically damaging their own image with their behavior. What has changed is that more and more citizens are voicing their objections.
Kudos and thanks to Bill and Salette for working for integrity, transparency and fiscal responsibility.
What exactly is "underground" about sending out information to 2,000 people and inviting anyone else who would like to stay informed to participate?
What is "underground" about being invited by the Chief of Police to help rein in a budget that he couldn't control himself?
I think we have found the elusive "CAVE" man. It's typical for people who like the status quo to resist change.
Latas and Garner, along with Gillaspie, are the hardest working Council members we have. They're doing great work for little pay.
"First they laugh at you, then they ignore you, then they fight with you, then you win." -- Ghandi
It is a shame that Chief Sharp is acting like a three year old wanting a "BATMOBILE", when he is SUPPOSEDLY trying to keep jobs for the OVPD, while taking monies that could keep Officers employed. What does that say about our Chief of Police. It is obvious that Chief Sharp does not care who stays or who leaves. Sounds like he is self serving.
Mr. Smith,
Your comments are so off-base, you must not pay attention to what is actually happening.
Latas and Garner are two of the best informed and hard working members of TOV Council. Their honesty and pursuit of fairness is unsurpassed! We are so lucky to have them!
If you think the OVPD is worth admiring, you are delusional. Maybe you have not experienced their treatment. Perhaps you have not investigated their self-serving behaviors. They are the last department to be used as an example in Oro Valley!
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