Republican mayoral hopeful Ken Johnson just sent this along:
I’m unhappy that the initial hearing for Freedom of Information complaint about scripted meetings happened yesterday. I state again: we are all aware that the complaint served one purpose and one purpose only- to poke a political stick in the eye of Mr. Ward’s opponent in the Democratic primary. I’ve repeatedly asked my opponent to ask his friend Mr. Meisinger to withdraw the complaint and last Monday Mr. Ward publicly refused to do so. I’ve warned that this could cost the taxpayers money to defend this frivolous case. Sure enough, a hearing took place in Hartford yesterday and we’ve now running up the tab for the cost of outside counsel at taxpayers’ expense for the city to defend the case.
I understand that Mr. Meisinger showed up with no attorney and presented no evidence -- is the complainant even taking this seriously? I guess they’ve got to see it through to give it the appearance of legitimacy. Public disgust at watching our tax dollars being flushed away is completely justified.
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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
22 comments:
nice twist again ken -so are you saying that the taxpayers shouldn't be allowed to expect a rightful and just feeling of wanting to be assured of proper representation? what if your friend ellen used you as a pawn for her own gain? Think about it?
I am so sick and tired of reading Johnson's claims that this was nothing but politics.
Meisinger stood up for every citizen that has ever felt out of the loop - and this was one of those times.
That ordinance meeting was no different than any lines that Johnson has had to learn for the plays he has been a part of.
Leave the drama for the stage Johnson. The people need to stand up when the politicians are doing something wrong. And the City Council members that went along with this entire fiasco of excluding Ward and detailing everyone's lines for the meeting need to be held accountable.
What happen to a clean campaign?
Stop listening to Mocabee. He has totally screwed your campaign.
Give me a break. I'm a Ward voter, but it's obvious that the complaint was a political ploy, nothing more. Meisinger was only standing up for Ward. The whole notion of standing up for all Bristol citizens is laughable, right up there with truth, justice, and the American way.
Why wasn't Zoppo's testimony in today's paper?
The story about the FOI hearing isn't in the paper today? If that's true, I have no idea why.
Well Johnson's comments prove two things: 1) Zippo is on his side as he is sticking up for her yet again. and 2) Johnson has no idea what he the hell he is talking about. Meisinger is not the one costing the city money to defend the case. ZIPPO is to blame, because if she didn't script the meeting to begin with then Meisinger wouldn't have anything to file a complaint about!!! Johnson, if you want to blame anyone....it is not Art Ward or Meisinger. You should be blaming your buddy Zippo. Your a screw up and you don't have my vote. Ward is no better and he doesn't have my vote either. I think I will just write in Mickey Mouse this year because Disney World is 100 X's more orgainzed and better run than this City is.
What a shame.
for a guy who scammed the city out of $10,000 with his municipal energy company rip-off and a guy who milked the bugryn property deal for all that it was worth, ken sure doesn't show much humility
maybe ken will make a good faith gesture of a $10,000 donation to the FOI lawyer fees, at least then the taxpayers will know that they got something for their money.
Kenny,
Learn more about the process.
Yes, the taxpayers paid for ONE Attorney, the others are on salary.
I'll bet the one attorney cost about 10% of what you grabbbed on the Bugrin deal.
Gues Collins is your college buddy: he hasn't addressed that issue.
You can't have it both ways. Ward was an accomplice of the scripting when it suited him.
Johnson - you took $10,000 from the taxpayers and did not deliver on your contract!! Talk about wasting our tax dollars!
Keep it coming Ken. The Ward spin doctors are working overtime right now.
The Ward spin doctors working overtime? Probably on the city's dime, since a lot of them are city workers.
When the municipal energy calculations are done and the city receives much more than the peanuts the Dems were going to accept, I hope Ken Johnson and his partner take every dollar over and cram it up the backends of all you democrats who are trying to make political hay out of this issue.
Thank again, making money has never been a Democratic fortay, they only know how to waste it.
if Johnson was so concerned about this FOI issue and the impact on the taxpayer's dollars, why wasn't he at the Hearing to witness how many lawyers were present etc.? Wish that he was as concerned about producing positive results for the $10,000.00 fee that he abscounded with from the taxpayers.
the only dollars that were flushed away were the $10,000.00 which went down the toilet when Johnson plunged into the decision that he was going to forsake the city for his own political gain.
So now Mr. Johnson says that being a responsible citizen and attempting to correct a perceived injustice by following the proper channels is just "tax dollars flushed away?" and that "public disgust is justifiable." How about a candidate for Mayor who (as a means of furthering his own political aspirations)is attempting to humiliate and embarass a fellow citizen for pursuing his right to freedom of information...talk about justifiable disgust!
sTEVE i AM SO SICK OF HEARING ABOUT THE 10,000.00 PLEASE REPOST THESE ON THIS THREAD!
Anonymous said...
Johnson keeps whining about the contracts that he didn't get, why doesn't he talk about the contract that he did get, the contract that he promised to get the city hundreds of thousands of dollars from his former employer - CL&P, the contract that he grabbed the city for $10,000.00 and produced nothing, the contract that he never fulfilled for the city, the contract where he took the 10,000.00, divested himself of ownership in his company, leaving the city high and dry so that he could seek the more lucrative position of Bristol Mayor, the contract wherby the city was left with the closest Municipal Energy contact living and doing business from his Florida site?
Where's the money? Where's the results?
Talk about selling snake oil? Talk about taking your city for a ride down an empty alley? First time, shame on Johnson, second time, shame on us.
Vote for Ward.
October 30, 2007 9:54 PM
I Know what I am Talking about said...
9:54 PM BLOGGER
If you knew the solid facts about the Municipal Energy situation, you would shut up! Mayor Stortz was the one that pushed the conflict of interest envelope! Mr. Johnson and his friend/partner Jim Krone have been working on this issue with the streetlight overcharges for a number of years TOGETHER, they have compiled the info TOGETHER, Ken represents about 50 Municipalities in the state of CT and no one has a problem with him but BRISTOL. The project is in full force and progress is being made. This is not something that is resolved overnight, it is a work in progress.So unless you are educated in the field, I assume you are not that you take a step back and let the professionals do the job that they set out to do! This problem was going on with Bristol and Municipal Energy long before MR Johnson decided that he would run for Mayor! There was actually some conversation a while back in regards to a meeting that Mr J. had at cityhall re: Municipal Energy, Mayor Stortz sent out a blog that stated he had not had any communication with Johnson re: the streetlight refund in some time. Well guess what MR.Johnson was in the other room explaining exactly what the steps were going forward! BE CAREFUL OF WHOM YOU GET YOU INFO FROM, YOU ARE MAKING AN A** OUT OF YOURSELF!
October 31, 2007 11:17 AM
Anonymous said...
4:27 pm Poster!
Ken, if you had a better mind for business, you would have known to prepare a proposal for the Real Estate committee.
HE DID PREPARE AND SUBMIT A PROPOSAL!
So much for your gossip retention!
October 31, 2007 12:27 PM
The Stongest Link said...
9:54pm and 11:17 am
I do not know either of you(well maybe I do)
Anyhow,I have been copied in on some progress the Municipal Energy has made since winning the contract to represent The City Of Bristol in the Streetlight refund. Back in March of 2007 when the contract was signed by the city, CL&P had offered the City Of Bristol $87,000. As of August 27,07 the estimated amount calculated by Municipal energy was $176,000.00 The newest information that I have obtained shows a signifigant rise in the dollar amount in Bristols favor, the newest progected refund is $203,205.00 "And with the input from Bristol the refund number should significantly rise." This is true factual information. So to the 11:17 am blogger, you are on the right track, to 9:54 pm sorry, you ARE the Weakest Link!
October 31, 2007 12:47 PM
Anonymous said...
calculated by Municipal Energy? Is there any credibility or acknowledgement of validity of this or is it mere speculation? Soulds like another johnson sham to me.
October 31, 2007 1:03 PM
the strongest link said...
1:03pm I have personally seen the proof, it is a matter of new found lights and removals. I dont get caught up in this type of forum but this did catch my eye. I would expect that this is public knowlege, you could probably go to City Hall ask for the Contract, look at the figure, then ask for a press release dated Aug 27,07 then there is the latest 10/29 addressed to Mayor Stortz. Check it out!
October 31, 2007 1:15 PM
Anonymous said...
seems as though you have a lot of information for someone who is not connected to the issues at hand.
October 31, 2007 1:30 PM
The strongest link said...
Well you asked now didnt you!
October 31, 2007 1:42 PM
THE STRONGEST LINK said...
Hmmmmm Maybe I work at City Hall and I called out sick today! Maybe I hate my job and dont like deceit, just maybe I have the truth about a few issues that need to be clarified MAYBE YOU KNOW NOTHING!!
October 31, 2007 1:44 PM
Thanks Steve!
You 're the best!
Well this has nothing to do with this thread but..... did anyone attend the Humanitarian awards dinner? I found it interesting that Mr. Ward was sitting with our dearly beloved Mayor Stortz. im just saying.....ODD Ward is linked to Republican Stortz, and Johnson is said to be linked with Democrat Zoppo. I guess both sides of the playground have come full circle some way or another....Awww how sweet!
Meisinger did Ward the favor by filing the charges. Little did he know that he'd be left hanging our there when it came time for the follow through.
The damage was done by filing the charges. Now we're seeing the cost of the REAL damage.
The City has lost so much, and Ward and Meisinger have lost their last ounce credibility.
Did Ward not think the DIRT would stick to HIM?
Time to FLUSH DOWN Ward!
Talk about a losing credibility...You have Mr. Johnson, who is supposed to be a representative of the people, trying to publicly humiliate Mr. Meisinger for asking a legitimate question (it was deemed legitimate enough by the FOI committee who chose to investigate it). Unlike so many politicians today, Mr. Meisinger is a man of integrity and not some unwitting puppet who could be duped or coerced into doing someone else's bidding. If you'd like to sling mud, please make sure you're slinging it in the right direction. Talk to me about Mr. Johnson's handshake and his promise of a "good, clean campaign"...now you're talking about losing credibility.
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