Sometimes reality is harsh. That's why there are days when it would almost be nice to be Mike Pope. Almost. Reality is not an issue for Mr. Pope.
The Martin Chronicles has obtained an e-mail that Pope sent to the city's Civil Service Commission chairman at 9:32am on October 19th. Pope tells the chairman that Mayor Martin has to use "the money for the eighth police officer and road funds" to pay for the activities of the commission. The chairman knows that is completely false. Here's a scary question. Does Pope really believe what he wrote? Because if he does he is crazier than we think. And we told you we already think he is DEAD-NUTS CRAZY.
The truth is that Pope and his ally Mayor Martin have displayed total disregard for the Civil Service ordinance. Martin's trumped up plan to use his "emergency powers" to hire a police officer just to keep the short-handed PD at seven members is the most recent example of that.
The Civil Service Commission has nothing to do with the failure to properly staff the police department. That was Martin's decision. Remember Mr. Pope? Despite deep concern expressed by the police chief, Martin simply said "Its my decision. Get over it. We're movng on."
And road work? Its not the Civil Service Commission's problem that Martin is devoid of leadership and planning skills. Perhaps your finance committee should have expressed some concern when Martin decided to use road money to construct a new concrete parking lot at the city building? Or maybe you should have suggested that Martin not hire two of his cronies and pay them a combined hourly rate of $62.50 and add the eighth officer instead?
But of course you did not.
Oh, that closing comment in your e-mail to the commission chairman. How did you put it? Oh yeah, "Hope that clears up the idea there's no budget this year". You are too clever by half, Mr. Pope. There is no NEW budget this year. Why? Because the mayor and finance committee FAILED to produce one that made any sense.
Now what do we have? We have a mayor that has THREE MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DO WITH WHATEVER HE PLEASES. And, thanks to your ineptitude as finance committee chairman, council doesn't even get the opportunity to review and approve monthly financials.
Now you don't think the council has the right to oversee how the mayor is spending the money?
