"And the Price Is.......!!

What follows is a short series of Email exchanges that Steve and I have had over the past few days concerning his recent blog posts. Read, learn, enjoy!!

Steve,

FOR THE RECORD ONE MORE TIME! The Neighborhood Forum’s DID NOT ask for a full time city attorney!

We merely agreed to investigate the possibility of one. Our research into the subject proved conclusively that a city our size could not afford to pay an experienced attorney what he would require to do the job, and more importantly a one man legal department (even with ONE paralegal assistant) could not possibly address the issues that brought up the discussion in the first place!

CM Coffey, for political reasons of his own, jumped the gun to propose such without having either done his own research or looking at ours!

Most of the enforcement problems we have now are due to the lack of a fully staffed law department, not for the lack of officers citing the offenders. Pam Badger and the police Department are doing their jobs, but the prosecutions are not happening due to an overloaded law department!

These are the facts and I can show them to you in black & white and point you to those who can confirm them!

Lloyd,

I am glad that you found your way to my email address.

For your record, I DID NOT say that Ms. Padger was not doing her job. What I said was the enforcement of violations are not being done.

I attended the meeting at the White House, and heard Greg Roberts say the number one priority was a full time city attorney to get the ordinances enforced.

Upon the first draft of the Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) was reporting to the Director of Building Services. Shane preferred to have the CEO to report to him. We gave him what he asked for.

Further more the ordinance also states that the Building Commission has the responsibility for enforcement as well.

With regards to Shane’s workload; he somehow finds the time for bond issuance as well as other avenues for making money. But, wasn’t it his choice to accept the position of City Attorney? I am almost positive he knew what he was getting himself in to.

One last FACT with regards to not having enough money to pay a full time attorney. Ask Shane the amount of money he makes through Contractual Services.

Next ….

Steve,

Thanks for responding.

For your record, I DID NOT imply that you said Ms. Badger was lax in her duties. I merely pointed out that her actions were just one step in a process that is not being completed. It is my understanding that neither the Building Commissioner nor his employees have any prosecutorial power. They simply write the citations. Following that, it is up to the city attorney’s office to process it through the court system! Albeit stated otherwise in the ordinance passed by the council, I doubt seriously that it would stand up in a court test.

Secondly, you are correct that Mr. Roberts said the full time city attorney was 1st on our priority list. He then created a committee to research how to start that process. Said committee, of which I was a member, found that a one man legal would be neither cost effective nor able to meet our city’s needs as to prosecuting code violations.

Finally, with regards to what Shane makes however & wherever else in his practice, what does that have to do with what we the city pay him for handling the city’s legal affairs?

By the way, may I quote you on your responses?

Next…!

Lloyd,

I am glad that we got the clarifications out of the way.

With regards to the monies received by Shane from the city … rather he is receiving monetary pay from his salary, board affiliates or from contractual services, he is still receiving money from the city to handle “legal affairs”.

Thank you for extending me the courtesy of asking for my permission before posting my response. Permission granted.

Well, there we have folks. One on one with the Counciman himself. There is another old country saw that goes something like this;

It's a total waste of time trying to keep a pig out of a mud wallow. All that's accomplished is that you frustrate yourself and piss off the pig!

'Nuff said!