Both the Az Star & Explorer (online) have written about the 4-3 vote to "raid" our Contingency Fund in order to retain overstaffed positions.
The Star article quotes Town Attorney Tobin Rosen as saying that the council's action suspended a town policy that prohibits using contingency funds for recurring expenses.
In our opinion, that maneuver orchestrated by Mayor Loomis was bad enough. However, what was totally despicable was the fact that Loomis did NOT have the common decency to even discuss this with David Andrews, our Town Manager, and 17 year dedicated employee of Oro Valley.
As we said in a previous post, we learned to expect this kind of action from Loomis, and Al Kunisch pretty much does whatever the mayor wants, as he has trouble thinking things out for himself, which he proves time and time again.
What was really disappointing was the fact that Loomis obviously convinced both KC Carter & Paula Abbott to go along with him.
Anyone that listened to the meeting would have a hard time believing this "deal" was not put together by Loomis PRIOR to the meeting. (Having the 3 of them all looking to 2nd the Loomis motion without a moment of hesitation should tell us something.)
Regardless of KC & Paula's motives, and I believe in their minds, they were doing the right thing, it was undoubtedly the wrong thing to do.
I think KC felt if the council did not vote to layoff any police at the previous meetings, he was not going to vote to layoff anyone.
I also believe Paula's intention was to not let any employees go, if there was any way to save their jobs.
Honorable on their part? Some would say "yes."
BUT, and to me, it's the crux of the issue, this is where their rationality was totally off kilter.
To have "blindsided" David was INEXCUSABLE. He is too good a town employee, and too good a man, to have this done to him..
We RESPECT DAVID immensely. I am sorry to say I can NOT respect what his friends KC & Paula did to him.
Here are the two articles--The Star & The Explorer
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/295041
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/05/27/news/doc4a1e0836ee95d912455284.txt
