THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SALISBURY'S LEADERS

As you all know, I am going to run for Mayor of Salisbury. While there are several reasons why I truly believe I make one of the very best candidates you've ever seen, allow me to express one of the main reasons why I'm more qualified.

I have spent the last 7+ years attending hundreds of Council Meetings and Work Sessions. Last nights Work Session was one of the most informative meetings I can remember.

I share this with you because 99.9% of you do not or can not attend therse meetings, which are far more important than the actual Council Meetings, when it comes to information.

Because I have attended so many over the years, I can see things most of you do not see. Starting with the Fire Department, last night was simply mind boggling. Each year I have questioned the volume of money the Fire Department continuously requests during budget time. I'll not get into all the details right now because this Post would go on forever and it's going to be long enough as it is. So let's talk about last night.

Chief Hoppes came to the Council asking for a budget amendment on two items. One was for money needed to upgrade radios they currently have that are outdated. The second was for janitorial services. The first thing that went through my head was, you mean to tell me these men and women can't pick up and clean after themselves? I then asked one of the Council Members after the meeting, is this for EVERY Fire Station or just Station 16. I was told it was for just Station 16.

So the other Fire Departments don't get these services, interesting. However, they were asking for an additional $3,000.00+ for janitorial services and around $7,000.00+ for radios. OK, some might say, so what, that's only $10,000.00 or so, right, WRONG!

Here's the deal Folks. Unless you attend ALL of these meetings and get a feel for just what kind of games are being played, remember that $2,000,000.00 that was found and then hidden by the Mayor recently. Funny how the sharks all come out wanting this or that out of nowhere. Public Works Employees filled the Council Chambers immediately once they found out the Police Department was possibly going to get additional money, (BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDERPAID SOME 18%).

Well, here's what you don't know. At the end of every year the Fire Department tends to RETURN back to the General Fund HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars. That's right, this happens every single year. So what does this mean, it means that they constantly ask for way too much money. OK, so what's the purpose of this Post. Why in the HELL would the Fire Chief come to the Council and ask for $10,000.00 when everyone in the know already knows they'll have a good $100,000.00 to $200,000.00 at the end of the year?

Talk about greed! Oh, and if you think that's bad enough, wait until you hear this. You know that new Fire Boat they recently got. Remember they said there would be NO additional cost to the taxpayers above and beyond what they had requested, WRONG! Guess what, the INSURANCE alone will now cost the taxpayers an additional $32,000.00 to $50,000.00 a YEAR!

When I become your Mayor, first of all I'd do everything in my powers to make sure something like a Fire Boat was never in the picture. Secondly, being a businessman AND a normal every day Joe just like the rest of you I'd say, what's the Insurance going to cost us on this puppy? NOPE, the Administration overlooked that little expense because they have NO experience.

Now, are you asking yourself the next question. If the Fire Department has around $200,000.00 a year floating around at the end of each and every year, why in the hell has the Police Department suffered so much. Or you might want to ask yourself, why have the Citizens suffered so much, (crime wise) because the Fire Department keeps a cushion in the hundreds of thousands that could have been used to RETAIN Police Officers?

Then you want to ask yourself, how many other Department Heads have been doing the same???

All in all, a vote for me will clear ALL of this up because like you, we ALL thought every department was cutting back during a very difficult recession. We though, employees were furloughed because this Mayor delivered an extremely tight budget which is obviously not true.

My goal is to retain quality employees in the City. My goal is to cut every damn dollar we can in order to build morale while NOT raising taxes. The Fire Department coming to the Council asking for $10,000.00 was an absolute INSULT to not only the Council but to the Taxpayers as well.

I'm going to FIX this Ladies & Gentlemen but I'll need your support and I'll need your VOTE.