Louisville's own Muhammad Ali was one of boxing's all-time greats. Remember his famous tag line? He floats like a butterfly . . . and stings like a bee. Sure, Ali could throw a devastating punch. But the "floating like a butterfly" part of his approach to boxing was often a key to his success. The man once known as Cassius Clay would allow his opponents to wear themselves out, flailing away at an ever-moving Ali.
Is Norwood's own Villa Hills' Mayor Mike Martin employing a similar strategy? Watching council meetings and reading e-mail streams could lead you to that conclusion.
Martin dodges, dips, ducks, dives, and with apologies to the movie Dodgeball, dodges fair question after fair question after fair question from council members, committee chairmen and the public at large.
Assisted by willing accomplices like his city attorney and an interim city clerk whose head could serve as the cornerstone of a 100-story skyscraper, Martin refuses to give straight answers to any questions, provide council with accurate financial data, honor contracts or fill any legitimate open records requests. Martin will blame employees, the previous administration or the fickle winds of fate for these failures. He will always assure questioners that he is doing everything he can.
In the end, Martin will land on his pat answer, "I'm the CEO" as his rationale for doing whatever he wants and take comfort that his version of "god" will cover for him. It also helps that the city attorney is more than happy to provide the mayor cover as well. Why not? The worse things get, the more money the city attorney earns in billable hours.
Several sources tell The Martin Chronicles that council is growing weary of Martin's non-stop "rope-a-dope". We are told that one council member said, "What's the point? It won't do any good." when asked why no one made more of an issue out of the fact that Martin and finance chairman Mike Pope provided no financial reporting at the last council meeting. This is not a comforting sign.
In just ten short months Martin's actions have triggered a major lawsuit and the hiring of special counsel Phil Taliaferro. Now there are stories of alleged sexual harassment making their way around town. Martin has been handed three million taxpayer dollars to spend without the restrictions a current budget would provide. Why? Because Martin never got a current fiscal year budget approved by the council. If Mike Pope's odd inability to generate accurate-or any-financial reporting out of his committee continues there will be no way for council to conduct their oversight responsibilities.
But council must bear down. Council members must insist that the "CEO" follow through on his responsibilities. The taxpayers deserve that much.
The Martin Chronicles is also convinced that special counsel Phil Taliaferro will not fall for the "CEO's" "rope-a-dope" routine.
