Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm!

To pay or not to pay! Apparently, that is the question. I thought the drama for the day was finished, but then things got worse, if you could believe that. For some reason, the city clerk did not want the city workers to get their paychecks before the Thanksgiving Holiday. Why is there such a power struggle at city hall? Employees have always gotten paid before the holiday, so what has changed? Is the budget not balanced? Or is there something else going on? I just wonder why is it that every time Mayor Holder instructs our city clerk to do something, it is a battle? When Bobby Gibson signed the checks, he told the clerk that he was not going to sign any checks that included overtime pay for the police officers, and Stephanie complied with what he said, and did not include the police officer's overtime pay (despite the fact that the officer's actually worked those hours). But when Mayor Holder told her to have payroll prepared so she can sign the checks today, you would think there was a congressional hearing about to take place. Stephanie got on the phone and started calling this person and that person and told the Mayor that according to this person, we are not supposed to pay before the holiday. Where was the willingness to comply with what the mayor had told her to do? Our clerk likes to portray herself as being the victim, but she's part of the problem. Contrary to what others want you to believe, I have no qualms with Stephanie. But she's been in this position long enough to know the ins and out of what is legal and what is ethical in the day to day operations of city hall.
For instance, at the special called meeting, Kent Crider made a motion to override the mayor's veto. I'm not the city clerk, but I have attended enough meetings to know the guidelines for over riding a veto, so I would like to presume that a certified city clerk would also know the guidelines for over riding a veto. But our city clerk sat there while Kent Crider, Bobby Gibson, Rebecca Hale and Timothy Johnson voted in favor of over riding the mayor's veto to allow Susan Guidry to work 40 per week at the discretion of the city clerk. I'm just interested to see if this information makes it into the official minutes since their action took place prior to the adjournment of the special called meeting.
I know there are some that are happy to see the lack of respect that is shown towards our mayor, but these personal issues against the mayor do not reflect well on the City of Lumberton. Why are they selectively choosing to give pay raises? They voted to get rid of Betty Speights, who has more training and certification than Susan Guidry, they decided to let our court clerk, Melissa Pack, leave because they didn't want to pay her for all the work she's done to clear up court cases, and they fired Harry Wilkes because he was earning too much money. But now they find it necessary to give Sue a raise b/c she's been calling everybody in Lumberton, threatening to quit. When will it all end? They've stripped the pay of our police department. I've said it before and I will say it again, they risk their lives so that we can be safe and the board (Gibson, Crider, Hale and Johnson) have such disregard for what our officers do. But this same group feel that they are doing the right thing by giving Sue a pay raise. Please remember that while we're at home, enjoying dinner with our families, we have police officers that will be here, patrolling the streets of Lumberton. Enjoy your thanksgiving holiday.