There aren’t a whole lot of people eager to read through the Government Accounting Standard Board’s volume on Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Post-Employment Benefits Other than Pensions.
But two of them are city councilors.
Two Democrats – Kevin McCauley and Kate Matthews – have requested that Mayor Art Ward order the $20.50 books for them to plow through in a bid to better understand the issues involved in the proposal to shift some of the city’s excess pension funds into a fund that aims to pay for post-employment health care for city workers.
Ward told the Press that $20 a copy “may not sound like much,” but expenses add up. He said the city has to pare spending everywhere it can.
For the whole story, follow this link.
PS: To answer a comment on the story, Ward did not tell me about all of this. I'm quite sure he would have much preferred that nobody knew any of this. I learned about it elsewhere.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
40 comments:
So much for Open Government and Transparency.
Normally, I agree with the Mayor on most of his decisions, but I have to disagree with this one. The problem is that Mr. Klocko is not an impartial person on this issue. He has already taken a stance on what the city should do and not do with the money. I understand that he is an intelligent person with regards to finacial matters, yet once someone has dug in and has taken a position on an issue such as GASBY, his summaries are not going to be objective and will certainly support his interpretation of the documents. I think it is rediculous not to spend the money to purchase the books and let everyone who is entrusted with making the decision have a look for themselves.
Mr. Mayor,
You're being petty. You and Klocko both know that the city is required to supply those documents to all city council members when requested. Let me see ... that's six council members and one request. That's $20, by my count. Oooo, big expense! Give me a break!!
What are you hiding, Mr. Mayor? This has nothing to do with cost cutting and you know it. It's an extremely nominal amount and by the way, it's one council person who requested it, Councilwoman Matthews, and she obviously would like to get educated and find out what this is all about instead of taking what Klocko says as Gospel and sitting there like a mindless robot elected to do your bidding. You and Klocko continue to try to pull the wool over everyone's eyes and continue to keep everyone in the dark. Well, Ms. Matthews will have none of it and that just eats you up inside, doesn't it!
I agree with the mayor on this one - is the city expected to purchase everything that any one in city government wants, where would it stop?
the council gets over $10,000 a year so why should us taxpayers need to pay for this?
lETS START THE CUTS.
Mr. Mayor,
I need copies of all of he owner's manuals for all of the public works vehicles. I know that you say there are people who do maintenance on them already and that they are paid to do so and be experts on this, but I want to double check so that I can be informed myself. I want to do my due dilligence. Oh by the way, I will also be requesting copies of many many other things - you know due dilligence....
Thanks,
Katie M.
$20.00? c'mon councilwoman, 10 grand a year should make the purchase of this book easy enough.
what are you gonna ask for next, note paper for the council meetings?
12:50pm, can't matthews go to the library or read klocko's in his office?
2:30
Most Council members work, Kate does.
And would YOU want to spend time in Klokos office with Kloko?
Kloko is stonewalling, at the citys expense, and it is more than $20 worth!
If he is so great, why didn't he give the city a heads up with the then impending fiscal situation?
Doesn';t he read the financial news that he city buys for him?
Let Ward take it out of HIS $300/month expense account!
How about his one - Ward pays an appointed friend $13,245 a year on city taxes and the guy lives in Florida for 6 months - how is that, or WHY is that happening?
The position is director of Emergency Management. I think the tax payers are getting ripped off for on this one.
Ward needs that $300 for beer.
12:13 - the mayor gets 100K a year, he should read it to, so why doesn't he buy the damn book or pay for it from his expense account so that the taxpayers don't have to, and so that one or two city councilors don't have to pay for the materials required to educate the entire administration?
2:39
If he didn't spend so much time on the computer booking his fishing trips, maybe he could be the citys financial advisor!
Steve,
This is not the first, or only time, that city officials have been denied information.
Check around, you might find it interesting.
And it doesn't always have to do with spending money!
Ward has always been contemptuous of the City Council so I'm not surprised he bitch-slapped them over a $20 book.
But I think this goes deeper. There is something he doesn't want the Council to know about GASB 45. What are Ward and Klocko hiding? And why are they hiding it?
do-doo-do-doo...gee odin, I don't know...maybe they're hiding aliens and elvis behind the grassy knoll???
3:29 PM, bet that's a drop in the bucket compared to the money you spend for those antipsychotic meds you're supposed to be taking!
Mayor, This is an extremely important issue so I believe it is important that all the cards are out on the table and all information is given. by stating that you will not buy the book is showing that there are things in there you do not wish for the councilmen to see. I do not trust Klocko and I'm sure he would only give them what he felt they should see. I'm glad that there are councilmen who refuse to just go along with whatever is placed in front of them. It just looks bad by denying the request. what will it hurt? Obviously in your mind it will hurt a lot. I think I want a copy!
poster 4:39 hit the nail on the head. This has nothing to do with spending money. $20 is a ridiculous amount of money and EVERYONE knows it! Klocko is the only one with the book and obviously the council doesn't have time to sit there and read it cover to cover. Secondly, there are copyright laws so there is no way he could copy it for them so forget that idea. This is all about denying information when it is requested and trying to put up roadblocks so that the people who represent us can't do it in the proper way. Those of you who believe it has to do with the money are Ward loyalists and it's shameful that someone, once again, signed Kate's name to a comment that was clearly not made by her. Steve, you need to start screening those more carefully even if it is supposed to be sarcasm. It's uncalled for and should be stricken from this blog. And by the way, poster 12:50, this is not about something as mundane as fixing vehicles. There are people's pensions involved here not to mention taxpayer funds and her request is not an unreasonable one. You must be a Ward lackey! Actually, perhaps that posting should be signed Glenn Klocko!
6:12 -- Whoever wrote that from Kate M. was clearly being sarcastic. It wasn't an attempt to pretend to be her.
Artie, I have to hand it to you; you actually make Frank Nicastro look good!
Amazing.
Steve,
Are you going to follow up on the claim that the controller is not cooperative with other officials too?
Or is he just not cooperative with those that are not followers of Ward?
Kudos to Kate!!!
Dont insult ART nobody could make frank look good he wae probably the dumbest mayor next to stortz in the state of CONN.
1:22
Art not only makes Stortz look good, he makes him look better and better!
Bring him back!
4:54, If you think Stortz looks good...you need new glasses. Wait, maybe a cane and a guide dog would be your best bet!
7:43
My eyesight is 20/20 without glasses, and I do not need a cane or any other assistance.
Maybe you do.
4:54
Right On!!!
There are a lot of us in City Hall who would like him back!
3:16 - why, is ward making you do what you are supposed to be doing or is the reality that you aren't getting the free ride that you thought you would when he got elected becoming too much for you? just do your dam job and get over yourself.
3:16 PM, any many, many more that wouldn't!
OK bill go back to sleep. Your political days are behind you. Maybe your wife will give you some more money to destroy another venture.
Fill me in please:
What venture did Stortz destroy?
How would YOU know where he got his money?
YOU are ALL TALK and no substance, and prove it every time you post!
Ward is a user and a loser!!!
Stortz you know what venture. you couldnt run your buisness and you really proved it trying to run the town.
8:38
Maybe Stortz knows what you are talking about, but I don't
Fill me in please.
Poster 4:29~You Hit The Nail Right on The Head!
Now,They Think Mayor Art Ward and Klocko Are Hiding Something Because He Won't Allow The City(Taxpayers) To Pay For The Books Requested By McCauley and Matthews...And If He Did Allow The City(Taxpayers) To Pay For The Books He Would Have Been Tarred and Feathered...With Some Of These Posters The Mayor Is Damned If He Does Or Damned If He Doesn't...Quityourbellyaching!
7:35 - suck it up.
This keeps coming up and Klocko is pulling the wool over the new peoples eyes Dave and Kate do your own homework please. Don`t cost the tax payer more money down the road please.
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