The Martin Chronicles needs a very brief break from all the current lawsuits, document destruction, computer removal, special counsel investigations, sexual harassment, finger-pointing, tax increase proposals, lies, fear and loathing. So, we are going to examine the words and actions of the suddenly-elusive Councilman Mike Pope. Once ready and willing to shoot his mouth off at the drop of a hat, Pope has almost completely vanished from the radar screen.
Ever since the rumor mill has been spinning about the pending class action libel, slander and retaliation lawsuit against Councilman Mike Pope, he has transformed into the will o’ the wisp. Even his “alternate reality” website has disappeared. Unlike Martin’s libelous, dirtbag mayoral campaign website, Pope or a legal representative has carefully ensured that no trace of the “alternate reality” exists on Al Gore’s World Wide Web. That’s why it is a great thing that numerous attorneys possess “screen shots” of the libel Pope’s vanished site contained.
We have obtained a copy of a recent “Dear Mayor” e-mail Pope sent designed to cover his tracks since having a complaint filed against him for his antics as Chairman of the City’s fouled-up Finance Committee. As is The Martin Chronicles’ policy, we have reprinted Pope’s e-mail in its entirety and left in all misspellings and grammatical errors. ENJOY!
Dear Mayor…
Recall our conversation at the Finance meeting regarding the funding of special counsel from reserves. While the council may be able to cause funds to be expended from reserves with a simple resolution (although that is being questioned), there is some concern that it takes a BUDGET AMENDMENT for you to be able to actually spend more than what was approved in the original budget.
The same arguement would in theory apply here. You might fund the radios from surplus, but when you spend that money it will count against your existing budget for the year and in the absence of a budget amendment you would have to reduce spending in some other area so as not to exceed your budget.
PLEASE don’t spend any more money other than what is specifically budgeted in the current budget without a budget amendment. A budget amendment requires public notice and two public readings from the ordinance.
Going from memory, I think the police department has overspent or spent everything allocated for the year for several budget items as of the end of December.
Thanks,
Mike
Here is what is so funny about Pope’s ridiculous e-mail. THERE IS NO APPROVED BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR! Mayor Martin has carte blanche to spend roughly $3 MILLION any way he wants. Given the fortune Martin has wasted in overtime alone, the mayor is spending with gusto.
By the way, a BUDGET AMENDMENT is typically enacted at the end of the fiscal year. A sane Finance Committee Chairman would not recommend the enactment of a costly budget amendment every time a particular line item is overspent. But then, sanity is not an issue for Mr. Pope.
Attorneys representing the soon-to-be-plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit against Pope are also particularly thrilled that Councilman Pope once again decided to single out the police department for baseless criticism in his e-mail.
