I took this photo yesterday as the City Council works day in and day out on Mayor Tilghman's Budget.
While I normally don't like to head in this direction, there is something I'd like to mention to everyone. The Fat Man continues to rag on Councilwomen Terry Cohen and Debbie Campbell referencing Mayor Tilghman demanding all Council Members no longer receiving Health Insurance. The Fat Man feels they don't deserve it because he claims it's a part time job.
Now, where did he get such an idea. Well, Gary Comegys, Louise Smith and Shanie Shields have all stated it's a part time job for them. Gary even went public with the Daily Times and said so. Now, I can't speak for those three Council Members, I(since they did so for themselves) but I will say that Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen do in fact put in full time hours being Council Members and not one person here can deny that fact.
What truly ticks me off is that the Fat Man is sucking YOU the taxpayer dry by collecting disability from the State. He's also getting state medical benefits and it's been reported he lives in section 8 housing. Talk about a hypocrite! Oh, did I forget to mention that he's also Blogging at taxpayers expense, yet he can't seem to work a full time or part time job anywhere else. He collects a check, ON YOU, for sitting on his fat A$$ attacking Debbie and Terry and acting as the voice for three Council Members and the former Mayor and some have even suggested that Mike Dunn writes for his Blog.
What I also find ironic is how the former Mayor put Michael Day on the City's Health Insurance AFTER he was removed from the City Council. Now do you understand what I meant by a FOB? Her spite, (once she was leaving Office) was to take away any benefit Debbie and Terry might have. When things we so desperate last year for Police Officers in Salisbury, why didn't Gary, Shanie and Louise offer to drop their health insurance then?
Anyhow, I support paying for their health insurance through the taxes I pay in the City of Salisbury and considering just how big Terry & Debbie won in their elections, I believe the taxpayers feel they deserve it as well. Remember Folks, these Council Members work for all of us. They are supposed to make decisions based on our best interests. If they had given everyone fair warning about such a vindictive move, I'd say fine. However, there was no warning and quite frankly I don't believe they can actually legally follow through with taking away these benefits. I'll get back to you on State Law hopefully tomorrow.
It's time the SPD Snitch be reported for every meeting he attends and let the disability people know just how mobile and capable he is of at least working a desk job. After all, he is being paid by you to trash Debbie & Terry. I wonder if he has a desk on the 3rd floor?
THIS JUST IN:
The following appeared on Boston.com:Headline: Prognosis uncertain for health benefits
Date: May 6, 2009
"Waltham city councilors are girding for a fight to keep their city health benefits, after the mayor removed herself from the plan."
To see this recommendation, click on the link below or cut and paste itinto a Web browser:http://www.boston.com/yourtown/newton/articles/2009/04/09/prognosis_uncertain_for_health_benefits?s_campaign=8315
29 comments:
i just want to say....high waters.... get pants that fit.
I'm so sick of what the Fatman has to say. His website is so one sided and hateful that it makes you wonder who is really behind it. He obviously lacks any credibility because of his on again off again disability. The hate that he claims to oppose is all over his site and stops at nobody. He's the only person that I know who questions the effectiveness of Sheriff Mike Lewis. The best thing to happen in law enforcement in my lifetime. Daily rants and threats are the norm that dominate his site from top to bottom. Listing Joes sources and claiming to have the inside track is pure bull. Nobody cares who Joes sources are and unless you were in Joes shirt pocket, you would never know. This entire site is a product of the political left wing that fears the truth will come out. Shady land deals and turd farms that dont work are their worst nightmare. At least when I read it on SBYNEWS it damn close if not dead on accurate. Any man who wears a green grinch mask to state his beliefs is a sick puppy. Childish is an understaement. Get a job Fatman.
I'm wondering how it's determined that Debbie and Terry work full time as council people? I'm sorry Joe but I'm not buying it just on your say so. If you can provide proof than I'll buy it. Until then, they're all part-timers in my book. Now as far as the health inusrance issue goes, I don't have a problem with Debbie and Terry getting it. But I feel that if those two are going to benefit from it, then provide the other three with dollars that equate to the cost of the health insurance for D & T. I think that's a fair and equitable solution. What are your thoughts?
I support health insurance for city council. This was purely a vindictive move on Tighlman's part, and it is unacceptable. Comegys, Shields, and Smith should be ashamed of themselves if they go ahead with this. Mayor Ireton has asked for it to be restored, and they should do so. Take away Lore Chambers' raise and you have paid for one of their insurance bills, and surely you can find one more out there.
JT makes SBY News look like Two Sentz.
In other municipalities, such as Delmar, the elected officials are not entitled to health coverage from the Town's pool (even on their own dime) because they are part time.
Joe:
Didn't Michael Day get health insurance coverage paid by the City when he was on the Council?
It's an employee benefit. Council members qualify for coverage under the plan. It's as simple as that. The fact that the benefit is available to any member who elects to receive it is equal treatment. Council members pay the same contribution tot he benefit as any other qualifying employee. It's not you, me, or the council that determines if they qualify. As far as full time, that's determined by IRS guidelines.
anonymous 9:40,
Debbie & Terry are on the job 24/7. Of course you ask to prove the impossible, that's your style. You have never seen two more honorable people and or hard working in your life.
How you can sit back and challenge them is beyond me but that's your right and I'll respect that.
The most important thing here is this. They were elected knowing these benefits were available to them. Mind you, before the economy went into the toilet,Debbie's Employer reimbursed the City for all of her health insurance. I'd say that was pretty damn cool of them to do so.
Again, by eliminating such a perk, what does that leave you with when someone less fortunate financially cannot afford to run for City Council? After all, we desperately need people of all walks of life on the Council, not just the rich.
Now, all that being said, you're right in the fact that this means certain Council Members would be paid more than the others. I don't believe these benefits are a part of the City Charter, so they can easily be taken away. I personally don't think it's right that Barrie Tilghman offered it to a FOB and then recalled it.
Let me put it to you this way. If "I" were Mayor, I wouldn't pull this on any of the Members. I say this while I watched Barrie spend $14,000,000.00 on a Fire Palace, millions on the Zoo, you know where I'm going.
Anyhow, it is what it is and they have every right to pull it. I just think it's unfair. It may not be completely wrong but more so unfair.
In closing, I simply felt the attack from the Fat Man while he continues to such taxpayers dry on disability and health care was uncalled for. When he dies of a heart attack you'll probably be paying to bury the SOB too.
His mother must be so proud.
I can't stand the slob I'd never go to his blog to give him the jolley's of a hit.
A political pundent hahaha the Dirty Dozen were two votes away from sweeping his predictions. He's an idiot. Another puppet, it makes him feel important though hehehee
It is nothing more than spite!
Health coverage is a benefit to choose or decline.
Bubba gets it by sucking off the taxpayer through the state.
Louweasel gets it by sucking off the taxpayers of the state of Florida.
Cushy position to be hypocrites. Why compensate them extra when they had the choice to switch?
The part time vs. full time debate is bogus. They wouldn't make this cut last year while Shanie was on it. This cut ONLY affects Debbie and Terry.
How does a person who loses everything like Shanie did suddenly afford her own coverage?
I hate tax waste, but if we have to pay elected officials something reasonable, or else we'll just get people connected to the good ole boys who can make sure their people are "taken care of."
Look what Bubba tried to do to Jim Ireton about having to have part-time work to supplement his mayor's income.
Also, no offense but I've seen harder workers before in my life.
Thank you.
Speaking as someone who has to use a wheelchair 24/7, I resent this man trying to fool the governtment. I was not born having to use this chair, it's something that happened later after I was an adult. Anyone who has known me from childhood knew the chair was coming sometime in my future. When I applied for Social Security Disability it wasn't easy. Yes, people in chairs can work in most jobs thanks to the disability laws which were improved in the 80's. Other medical issues prevent me from working which I had to prove to the government. For a long time I even had to return to the Social Security office every four years to prove these medical issues were permanent.
If I could wake up each morning and face each day knowing I could return to work...well, lets just say I dream of those days. I miss working with the public and facing those long eight hour days. I miss looking forward to the weekends and having those free hours to do whatever didn't get done during the week. You see, now my life seems like a never ending weekend. Most days I have to think hard about what day of the week it is. I'm thankful for still being able to use my arms in order to work on my hobbies. Now I fill my hours sewing, cross-stitch and baking. I donate the things (mostly quilted bags & accessories) to charities. This is my way of giving back for receiving my monthly check. Yes, some days are a Bitch! BUT, there are so many wonderful days out there I love facing. I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends in my life who help me face those bad days and also help me enjoy those wonderful ones.
Mr. Taylor, you make me sick! Trust me, it's not a glamorous world living with disabilities. If your problem is your weight, I strongly suggest going on a strick diet or having surgery. Weight is not a disability. You can still sit at a desk and work an active job. Instead of spitting hate, you could do something positive. I could easily hate the world for me being the way I am. Instead I thank God every single day for allowing me to be able to continue to go on and face the world. It's not to late for you to change. Stop stealing from the government and the tax payers. Don't you want to hold your head up high when you leave your house?
Kimmie
Just another diversionary tactic by SMith, Comegys and Shields. They don't want to make any real cuts so they'll get people to focus on this rather than the cuts they refuse to make across departments. Does the WWTP work yet?
People are missing the point. Doesn't matter how hard anyone works. There's deadwood on your city staff, but no one is yanking their health insurance.
If they want to yank this, they should have done it before the election. This is an obvious abuse by your celebrated "council majority."
If it were my town and these were council members I supported, I'd be up at a meeting yelling about it.
Why people in Salisbury don't get up and fight for what's right, especially now that they have a new mayor, I just can't figure out.
I sure as hell wouldn't run or serve under these conditions.
What Johnathan is doing is wrong on so many levels. He surrounds himself with cowards who spew hate and he thinks that doing the same makes him important and popular. He, just like the rest of us will be measured by how we have lived our lives. Sounds like Kimmie has done well and John could take a lesson. He seems to think that in order to make himself more important he needs to tear someone else down. That is a sign of a very weak person who can't stand on their own accomplishments - no punn intended.
10:53 is exactly right--the council membbers ran and were elected under a scenario where they were provided health care coverage, and that should be honored as part of their contract. Now, if the council votes to remove it from future council members, who would then run for election knowing that health care is off the table, that is fine. Good luck getting good people to run, though, That will further reduce the pool to the rich, the elderly, or the nuts.
12:11 Council members don't have a contract. Employees have pay and benefits (including health care coverage) reduced or eliminated during the course of their employment all the time. In fact, several million employees have lost their job due to the recession.
I just called and reported him.
Let's get that number up again!!!
Shanie Shields does NOT pay for health insurance coverage. Her deceased husband was an employee of the state.I believe he was a security guard at the prison. That is a benefit because he died.
Joe,the whole SSI system is wrought with fraud and its a joke.They NEVER check up on recipients once they are approved.Entire generations of families exist on these checks.I know of someone personally who gets a check because "her nerves are bad",not only does she get about $1100 a month for her,she gets another check for her kid until it is 18,which adds up to almost 3 grand a month tax-free,plus her child support,PLUS she is automatically eligible for Medicaid,Food Stamps and housing aid.People with more kids get more money.
Now I know 3 grand a month doesnt sound like much to you,but when you do not have any bills(rent,medical,food) thats damn good "work" if you can get it.You ought to do an expose on this,you would be shocked at how many people get checks simply for being drunks,obese,or having "nervous" problems and even more appalled at how many get their kids diagnosed with behavorial disorders so they can hook them up with a lifetime check also.You see,once you get a kid on SSI,you can collect child support infedinitely,for the rest of their natural life,no cut off at 18.
Benefits should be just like raises and you cannot vote yourself a raise, or at least you're not supposed to. There should be guidelines in place on when this would have to be done which would affect those newly elected officials.
BUT, this is not something that Barry Tilghman could have done on her own as Mayor.
I could be wrong, but this could never have taken place where I live the way it did in Salisbury.
How much power does your Mayor have anyway? Is your Mayor OVER your City Council? If so, it should not be. Your Mayor should report to the Council, not the other way around.
Council sets policies and procedures, not the Mayor.
He looks like he has a shell on his back.
Time for JT to go to work and pay his way! He's no more disabled then me, and I work a regular 40 hour a week desk job for my income!
I am a bleeding heart liberal, but when I see The Fat Man collect disability from my tax dollars, I want to join the tea party.
A lot of jobs can be done from a home computer. He's got to give up some of his blogging time and get a damn job! Those home computer jobs aren't a free ride either, you have a daily quota.
People like that are a load on the taxpayers back, no pun intended, but it does fit. My backbone can't take no more, if the government wants to cut waste there are many people like this.
His blog is a joke. He dithers on about "content" and "his" public, but the majority of his so called articles are "Joey this" or "Joey that" followed up comments putting "joey" down. I think the best job for him would be gossip columnist; that is, if he could look around and find someone other than Joe to pick on. Hey, is tunnel vision a good reason to go on disability?
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