The Martin Chronicles reminds everyone that the monthly Villa Hills City Council meeting is this Wednesday evening. The meeting convenes at 7PM. As has been the case, the meeting will open with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. What happens after that is uncertain.
We are fairly sure that at some point the council will move to go into executive session. Why? Most likely to discuss the revelations from the Monday, April 30 Special Counsel presentation. The justification? Some of the issues raised by Special Counsel could have an impact on pending litigation. What pending litigation? The current serious lawsuit against Mike Martin filed by a City employee for LIBEL, SLANDER, DEFAMATION and RETALIATION.
We understand that the City-and the taxpayers-are in a very precarious position. There are certain things which should be privately discussed to protect the taxpayers as much as possible. But there are also certain things that absolutely should not be kept secret.
Will council take any of the "players" in the growing scandal behind closed doors? Will they want to question those "players" about the role they played in the Open Records fiasco? The document destruction? This may be a very bad idea.
Let's consider the issue of the document destruction. The Martin Chronicles has been relaying the facts of that scandal since it happened on January 5, 2012. Despite strong warnings from the City Attorney and the Kentucky League of Cities to preserve ALL City records during the lawsuit, a large volume of those records was targeted for destruction is a hastily dug firepit. Had it not been for the chance arrival of law enforcement, no one would have ever discovered what happened.
- We know that State statutes mandating the legal prcedure for the destruction of documents were ignored.
- We know that Martin told the Public Works Director to keep the destruction a secret.
- We know that Martin questioned the Public Works Director and the Police Chief on January 6, 2012 in an unsuccessful attempt to learn what documents had been recovered-and logged in as evidence.
- We know that a document was falsified that afternoon outlining what had been destroyed.
- We know that the falsified document was back-dated to January 3, 2012 and signed by a temporary clerk who was supposed to have been hired to "help out with tax season". Why didn't the Custodian of Records-the interim City Clerk-sign the falsified document?
- We know that strong evidence exists that the wanton document destruction continued even after January 6, 2012.
- We know that Martin falsely assured council that all of the records destroyed were on the falsified list.
- We know that Martin was rebuked by a judge on April 26, 2012 when it was proven in court that the falsified list was, how to politely put it, very incomplete.
The document burn is scandalous. It is potentially a Class D felony. It is mayoral misconduct writ large. Why hide the facts from the public? The proverbial horse is out of the barn and galloping into the next county.
Martin falsely campaigned on a promise of "transparency". The events of the past sixteen-plus months have demonstrated that was just another of Martin's many lies. We urge the council to deal with this issue in the full light of day.
The public has every right to know the truth.
The Martin Chronicles gets it. Villa Hill Mayor Mike Martin is a Norwood street brawler. "The Little CEO" has oozed through life by perpetually throwing so much (EXPLETIVE) against the wall he always counted on at least just enough of it to stick.
In Martin's mind, the truth is meaningless. His goal has always been to "make it through today" by telling any lie he has to. He will deal with tomorrow with a whole new set of lies when it gets here.
But when you have been foolishly entrusted to run a City government, and you are under investigation for all manner of serious misconduct-well, that strategy probably won't work. Why? Because people will ask follow-up questions. They will check and double-check your claims. Martin can no longer get by hoping that people will simply make the risky assumption that he is telling the truth.
The most recent example? Martin has been caught doing unlicensed electrical, plumbing and commercial work in Northern Kentucky. As other media outlets have also reported, contractors have gone to jail for that offense. Martin knows he is in trouble. So, he has started throwing (EXPLETIVE) against the wall again.
You see, Martin is claiming that he has performed no unlicensed work. Martin is claiming that all he has done is sell electrical supplies. Look out for the "Little Man From Norwood"! He's not gonna to take it! He's gonna get ya!
Uh, wait a minute. One problem with Martin's story. It's a lie. How do we know? Well, we have obtained a copy of the paper trail Martin left behind. We bet Martin absolutely hates it when that happens.
Let's take a look.
We have obtained copies of three invoices from Mike Martin Electric, Inc., located at 101/2 Anna Street in Reading , Ohio. It is clearly spelled out that Mike Martin Electric, Inc. specializes in residential electric and general contracting.
They are invoice numbers 2008168, 2009101 and 2009115. The "bill to" is the Villa Hills Civic Club. It is The Martin Chronicles understanding that the Villa Hills Civic Club is not residential, but a commercial building. That opens up an entirely different set of legal issues regarding licensure.
These invoices would certainly lead a reasonable person to conclude that Martin is lying when he claims that he only sold electrical supplies to the Civic Club. How so? Invoice number 2008168 bills the Club $150 for 2.5 hours of labor at $60 per hour. Invoice number 2009101 bills $150 for labor but does not specify the amount of time worked. Invoice number 2009115 bills $330 for labor for 6 hours of work at $55 per hour.
So how is it again that Martin makes the case he is performing no unlicensed electrical work? Unless of course he fraudulently billed the Civic Club for services he did not provide.
Invoice number 2009115 really got our attention. The invoice lists charges for $300 in materials and, as previously written, $330 for labor. And yet the total balance due upon receipt is $660. The Martin Chronicles freely admits that no one on our staff received a Mathematics college degree. Hey, we're all journalists. But we still figured out that Martin overcharged the Civic Club by $30.
The Martin Chronicles has also obtained copies of several canceled checks paying Mike Martin Electric, Inc. for work performed at the Villa Hills Civic Club. Take a quick look at yesterday's post. Two people signed the Civic Club checks. You know one of the people who signed the checks, right? Yup, it was the historically paid $15 per hour temporary clerk who Martin claims took it upon herself to destroy City records in the middle of a serious lawsuit after both the City Attorney and Kentucky League of Cities issued strong advice to the contrary on January 5, 2012, Mary Hardman.
Just as interesting, the other signature on most of the checks belongs to the wife of the man who received the unbid contact for fire extinguishers for the City. Isn't this a twisted bag of snakes?
Any reasonable person would have to conclude that the mayor is sitting on a reeking pile of corrupt activity. It should scare the stuffing out of those same reasonable people when they read comments from otherwise intelligent people who lament that the majority on council never gave Martin "a chance". If the majority on council had simply turned a blind eye to Martin's abject lack of truth and integrity, just how much more corruption would there be?
The bilious blowhard County Boss Steve Arlinghaus can beat his chest about a "witch hunt". Janet Martin's sister can wear her "I'm here for the witch hunt" hat to meetings. Phil and Regina Harmon and others can continue to steal the polite "Mayor Martin Please Resign Now" signs. The gaggle of pinheads with their heads buried in the sand can whine about the "bickering". Newspaper headline writers can incorrectly claim "infighting". Otherwise good-hearted folks can lament the need for peace. But Martin is the person solely responsible for this sordid mess. None of that poppycock really matters.
Look for things to really heat up at the upcoming council meeting this Wednesday night. The next step should be a removal hearing.
The Martin Chronicles is amazed at just how many ways Villa Hills Mayor Mike Martin's Civic Club crony Mary Hardman is connected to the current Special Counsel investigation. To use an old expression, Martin and Hardman seem to be as thick as thieves.
Mary Hardman is starting to seem a whole lot like movie characters Forrest Gump and Zelig. And not just because she is dumber than a vacated bee hive and has the personality of a gas station bathroom doorknob. Why? Because it seems that she is always nearby when Martin is caught perpetrating yet another fraud.
It's the darndest thing. Mike Martin has done unlicensed electrical work for the Civic Club. One of the two signatures on the Civic Club check to Mike Martin Electric belongs to-yes, you guessed it-Mary Hardman! In fact, Mary did such a good job of paying Martin that she actually cut a Civic Club check to him for more than he earned. How about that?
So, Martin decided to hire a "temporary" clerk to supposedly help out during last year's property tax season. Guess who Martin hired and paid the highest hourly rate for a part timer in the history of Villa Hills? Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding! We have a winner! Yup, Martin hired the same Mary Hardman!
Martin was frequently questioned by council about why Mary Hardman was not bonded. Martin said he was advised (by some never-named "expert") she was not required to be bonded because she didn't "handle money". Except that she did handle money. Several residents told Special Counsel that Hardman took their property tax payments. These residents did not use fresh eggs, goat milk, aluminum cans or rare baseball cards as barter to settle their property taxes. They used money.
As has now become the stuff of City folk lore, Martin was caught improperly destroying City records on January 5, 2012. He falsified a document in a feeble attempt to cover his tracks the very next day. In an odd twist, it wasn't the official Custodian of City Records who signed the falsified document that purportedly listed all the records that were destroyed. Guess who signed it? Sure. That was easy! Why it was the same Mary Hardman!
Gee. We now hear that Martin is claiming he knew nothing about the document burn. Why, he was busy unclogging a toilet somewhere. It wasn't the official Custodian of Records either. She is too lazy to do anything. Ever.
So who was it that-with no guidance whatsoever-decided to burn several truckloads of documents (the documents Martin has told us never existed). Okay. Pull the lever. JOKER! JOKER! JOOO-KER!!! We have a WINNER! Isn't that amazing?!? The whole inferno was Mary Hardman's doing!
Does anyone else see a pattern developing here?
The Martin Chronicles finds it ironic that there has yet to be a public discussion of Villa Hills Mayor Mike Martin's proposed FY2012/2013 City Budget. Martin announced that his budget proposal was ready at the March City Council meeting. That was nearly two months ago. So where in the wide, wide world of sports is it?
Does Martin plan to do a first reading of his budget proposal at the upcoming May council meeting? Will he then suggest that an in-depth discussion of his budget proposal can occur at an untelevised (transparency?) June caucus meeting? Then, will he expect council members to approve his budget at the June 20 council meeting? Is that his plan? Is that his timetable?
If so, Martin is a far bigger hypocrite than we already imagined. And that is truly saying something.
How so? The Martin Chronicles has talked to several former council members and others who had the misfortune to sit through Martin's antics during previous year's budget discussions. According to everyone we spoke with, Councilman Martin would have never tolerated waiting until May to see the next fiscal year's budget proposal for the first time.
To a person, people said that under those circumstances, Martin would have railed that the mayor was attempting to ram the budget through. One said Martin surely would have reminded everyone that, "the people elected me to look out for their tax dollars. I am not being given enough time to do my job."
There would surely be hours of chest-beating, huffing & puffing, paper-shuffling, pen-tapping and preening before the cameras. Martin would propose purchasing $800 worth of bullets now to save(?!?!?!?) the $800 in next year's budget. Martin would harshly question the budgeting of $1,200 for cleaning supplies when the City only spent $1,088 for cleaning supplies the year before.
Martin would suggest that perhaps it is time for police officers to buy their own uniforms and equipment. Martin would solemnly advise everyone that "the associates" (you know them as "employees") need to pay the City's utility bills because they are the ones who benefit from it. Martin would tell everyone he received some great budget advice from someone who flagged him down on his way to the council meeting. We would all be treated to Martin's best line, "My head tells me one thing. My heart tells me something else". Again, everyone would be subjected to hours and hours of such dreadful Martin nitwittery.
Now Martin is the mayor. Last year, his response to any resistance to his irresponsible budget proposal was, "I'm the CEO. It's my decision. Deal with it. We're moving on." Oh by the way, the budget never passed. Even still, the City is floundering in a rising tide of Martin's red ink. Martin is even publicly fretting about losing his wife's(?) house as a result of his profligate over-spending. It is a disaster.
This year? We don't even know where his budget proposal is.
The Martin Chronicles believes that the root cause for the embarrassments of Monday night is the tremendous turmoil created by Villa Hills Mayor Mike Martin. Every time you think it just can't get any worse in that devastated City, someone finds a way.
First, the sign snatchers. Phil Harmon (a Martin appointee to the City's Civil Service Board) and his wife Regina are caught red-handed grabbing a "Mayor Martin Please Resign Now" sign, throwing it in their truck and making a break for the City limits. We have learned that the police recovered the sign and returned it to the rightful owner.
How hypocritical is this? What kind of people can reach their hands into the serpent box on Sunday and get caught snatching someone else's political sign on Monday? Devout members of the First Church of Martin, that's who. Phil Harmon should resign from the Civil Service Board immediately. The City government doesn't need even one more sanctimonious, holier-than-thou phony.
He needs to get out and get out now. No excuses. No Martin-style double-talk. No defense for what he and his wife Regina did. Doesn't matter where the sign was. Could have been in front of the City sign. Could have been in from of the City Building. Could have been on the flippin' Moon. Could have been anywhere. They had no legal right to grab it. No authority. What they did was against the law. Zip it. Shut it up. Stifle it. Bag it. Sack it. Pack it in. And just go away.
And then there was Villa-Hills-made-a-nice-stepping-stone-on-my-way-to-the-State-Senate-"you-have-a-sexy-voice"- Councilfarce Jim Noll. Noll didn't spend his Monday night finally reviewing the forty-five page Special Counsel report. Noll didn't spend even a minute worrying about a legitimate way to bring an end to the mess in Villa Hills. No thoughtful consideration of his current sworn duties. Those duties don't matter to Noll. They never did.
No, Noll was campaigning for State Senate at the Ft. Mitchell City Council Meeting. He went so far as to dump criticism on his home town of Villa Hills while grabbing televised "face time". So digusting. So disgraceful. So sickening. So Noll.
Look Jimbo, if you can't find the time to represent the City you were elected to serve in November 2010, why don't you just get the (EXPLETIVE) out now. We don't need you. You are wasting everyone's time. We already have Martin.
Perhaps Martin is really moving the City downward? If so, it's still a long, long, loooooong way to the bottom. But he's well on his way.
When The Martin Chronicles learned of the most recent turn of events in Mayor Mike Martin's scandal-plagued Villa Hills, sportscaster Dick Enberg's famous catch phrase immediately came to mind, "OH MY!" You would think that a remarkably skilled liar like Martin would be more careful about telling lies to the media that are so easy to catch. But he wasn't.
Flash back to the media reportage of Special Counsel's April 30 presentation. What did Martin say? "There were several inaccuracies in Special Counsel's report. I haven't been given a chance to sit down with anyone from Phil Taliaferro's company(?)". You don't say? Is that a fact? Well, no it isn't.
You see, Special Counsel requested a sit down with Martin last December. Special Counsel has the email reply from Martin declining Special Counsel's request. Martin said "it wasn't in his best interest" to cooperate with the investigation. Doesn't that sound familiar? Martin declined to debate his opponent in the 2010 mayoral race as well. Why? Martin said "it wasn't in his best interest". Of course not. Martin couldn't dare allow THE TRUTH to interfere with his dirtbag campaign. Exactly what is in Martin's best interest?
Sources confirm that Mr. Taliaferro has just sent another invitation to Martin for a sit down. Mr. Taliaferro has asked Martin to clear up any of Special Counsel's alleged "inaccuracies". Special Counsel's request is for the interview to take place before next Wednesday's council meeting. To ensure that there will be no more claims of "inaccuracies", Mr. Taliaferro plans to videotape the entire session.
Here is the great question. What does Martin do now? Does he sit down with the investigators and get tangled up in more lies? Or, does he decline this second invitation and get tangled up in a separate pack of lies? What will Martin decide is "in his best interest" now?
While The Martin Chronicles knows Martin is incapable of doing so, perhaps he should base a decision on what is "in the best interest" of the City he was foolishly elected to lead. That decision? To resign.
OH MY!
The Martin Chronicles's sources say Villa Hills Mayor Mike Martin is preparing for the big fight as all of his enemies close in around him. He's lining up his lies, setting up his patsies and preparing his retaliation. Board appointees will continue to try to stifle resident's
expression of their First Amendment-protected disgust. Crony-hires will continue to make self-serving comments in the newspapers. Much like defrocked Mayor Steve Clark before him, Martin will not go with a whimper, but with a colossal BANG!
The reputation of the City of Villa Hills is being severely damaged in the process. While Martin believes he has made no mistakes and made all the right decisions, the REALITY is far different. Villa Hills has become the laughing stock of the Tri-State over the past sixteen-plus months. Yes, there are still bilious blowhards like County Boss Steve Arlinghaus who attribute the mess to "politics" and bed-wetting hand-wringers who wish everyone would sacrifice their principles in some empty-headed effort to make nice. But a growing number of people have figured Martin out.
The Martin Chronicles has frequently said that people get the government they deserve. We truly believe that. But that doesn't mean we don't have at least a little sympathy for residents who have too late realized that the "Little Emperor has no clothes". And Martin is as naked as the proverbial Jay Bird.
Watch for what is coming. The turmoil will be everyone else's fault but Martin's. He will be blameless. He is moving the City forward. He has made no mistakes. The buck never got to him. He has made all the right decisions. He was left no records to fill Open Records requests. He had so many records jammed into the City Building he had no choice but to burn them. He has had to endure and overcome so many challenges to destroy what was once the Number One City in Northern Kentucky. None of it is his fault. He goes to Haiti. He goes to church every Sunday. He received no mayoral training. He likes puppies and old people. He found the same $30K yet again. He's taking the high road. He was president of the Villa Hills Civic Club Golf League. He's the CEO. It all started with the strawberries. His head told him one thing. His heart told him something else. No one from Phil Taliaferro's "company"(?) has talked to him. He didn't know that then. But he knows that now (whatever the (EXPLETIVE) "that" is). And of course we will hear, they are simply all out to get him.
But as a wise man once said, "Even if you are paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't all out to get you." That's now true enough.
