City manager getting $25,000 raise

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   Go ahead and email me and I'll set up a time for you to come in and tell me what you would like me to know.  I'd be happy to sit down with you. You pick the topics...

My email is douga@cityofmiddletown.org

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Doug Adkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Immigrant Joined: Jul 25 2009 Status: Offline Points: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote Doug Adkins Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 19 2016 at 1:48pm
	Go ahead and email me and I'll set up a time for you to come in and tell me what you would like me to know. I'd be happy to sit down with you. You pick the topics... My email is douga@cityofmiddletown.org
	Doug Adkins Community Revitalization Director

What A City Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Resident Joined: Nov 06 2009 Status: Offline Points: 115	Post Options Post Reply Quote What A City Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 19 2016 at 12:04pm
	Shouldn't surprise anyone that only three people came. We all know this is a done deal. We all know that council is going to rubber stamp it. We all know that it is a waste of time to go to the council meetings as they are going to do what they want to do despite any opposition. Council has always conducted themselves this way. Have for decades. City leaders have never listened to the people nor taken any suggestions we have made. What else is new? Everyone knows that it takes little time to voice one's displeasure with city leaders on this forum or in comments in the Journal. Everyone here, and who participate in the Journal discussions, know that when city hall announces what it plans to do, it is an already done deal. It is only announced in the paper to appear as if they are giving people notification and an opportunity to disagree, but it doesn't matter from the beginning. From the Journal: "Of the more than 100 commenters online and on social media reacting to news that Middletown’s city manager would be receiving a $25,000 raise, only three people attended Tuesday’s city council meeting, where the salary increase was introduced. And only one resident spoke in opposition of the increase." See, even the Journal plays it out to act surprised at the poor response when they have seen it many times before when information they know will irritate the public is mentioned. Just surface fluff. They know it will be a small turnout for these situations. Everyone does. There is apathy because the residents know that anything said or suggested will be ignored. Same with these so-called "community involvement" meetings scheduled by the schools. A certain few are listened to while the vast majority are not. It's "just the way it is" here in good old Middletown. A small percentage of inclusion and a large percentage of exclusion. It has never been balanced. Now, what would really impress the hell out of me is if Adkins and city council would have a community invite where the people and the city leaders could talk out their differences where the leaders would actually take the time to listen to the people rather than dictate how it's going to be. No city rules of engagement. No time limits of three minutes. No nonsense. Let the people have a say-so. I challenge Adkins and his council to announce their intention to listen to the people for once in their lives. ALL THE PEOPLE. It is so easy being around people who you know are your friends. Break your comfort zone Adkins and council. Join those who are not considered your close friends and who don't believe in the city gospel. Listen, you just might learn something about what this city is all about and what it expects from you people.

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 18 2016 at 10:02am
	Posted: 3:56 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 Scarce opposition at meeting to Middletown city manager’s raise By Ed Richter Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Of the more than 100 commenters online and on social media reacting to news that Middletown’s city manager would be receiving a $25,000 raise, only three people attended Tuesday’s city council meeting, where the salary increase was introduced. And only one resident spoke in opposition of the increase. Mayor Lawrence Mulligan announced last week that council was in agreement to give City Manager Doug Adkins a $25,000 raiseas well future $5,000 annual raises over the next four years as part of a contract amendment. The salary increase would bump his annual salary up from $125,000 to $150,000. During the citizen comments portion of the meeting, resident John Soppanish said while he thinks Adkins is doing a good job, he should have completed the current contract. “My problem is that Mr. Adkins agreed to a five-year contract,” Soppanish said. “He’s doing a terrific job, but I say why are we amending a five-year contract? He agreed to it. Why don’t we wait until the five years are up then offer him the substantial raise you are offering him?” He said the city’s infrastructure “is going down the river on a raft. You know it. I know it.” “I believe myself that the contract should not be amended until it’s up,” Soppanish said. “This money should go to infrastructure, go to the police department or go to the firefighters. Give the man what is due to him after the five years are up. This town needs more of a facelift.” COMMENTARY: Adkins right manag er to lead Middletown Mayor Larry Mulligan “clarified” some information about Adkins’ contract to the resident, saying the city manager signed to an intial two-year contract and this lays out the pay to his future compensation. “I think there have been lot of merits and the great progress we’ve made,” Mulligan said. “We were in agreement in executive session that Mr. Adkins is deserving of this and it’s well earned and well deserved.” The salary increase was introduced as an ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting and council is expected to approve the measure at its Sept. 6 meeting. Council did approve Tuesday an emergency ordinance to pick up the employee contribution of Adkins’ contribution to the Ohio Personnel Employees Retirement System, which was another provision of the contract amendment.

whistlersmom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Mar 11 2016 Status: Offline Points: 722	Post Options Post Reply Quote whistlersmom Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 15 2016 at 9:54am
	If Atkins were paid minimum wage with no benefits he would be over paid for the job he does. Does council really think that running all the lawyers out of downtown was wise? Does council think that losing the income taxes and rental income from the lawyers’ office spaces is wise? Does council think that violating the law and not properly taking bids when selling city owned property is wise? Does council think that tearing down everything in sight and losing the property taxes is the smart thing to do? Does council really think that stealing and misusing all the money from all the funds (Auto and Gas Fund, sewer separation fund, street fund, etc.) is the smart thing to do? Does council think that totally ignoring their fiduciary responsibilities is the way to run a city? Also, reinstating the fireworks is the result of having prevented the community from putting on their own fireworks. Don’t forget the thirteen police cars (loaded with jackbooted thugs) driving through the park (filled with children) to stop the high crime of having safe fireworks for the children. Remember how they told everyone to leave the park, even though our Constitution assures us the right of freedom of assembly. This is the tip of the iceberg of the corruption that goes on in our city building P. S. - to the Journal-News. Your removal of negative comments about Atkins and council and replacing them with another saccharin piece is why Middletown citizens don’t trust or believe your one-sided newspaper.

Dean Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Resident Joined: Apr 15 2014 Status: Offline Points: 162	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dean Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 13 2016 at 10:13pm
	City council made no effort to seriously interview any candidates for this position. Why? Because Doug Adkins works for Mulligan, Picard, and Bohannon. He is their shill. Its easy to dump $25,000 for doing nothing when you have done a good job of protecting the Mulligan interests in Main, and Fenwick's interest on east end. I have seen enough. Putting house up and if I have to take a huge loss, its time to leave Middletown. No progress, and for throwing $25,000 away for AKS staying in Middletown when it had no place to go, and bringing in fireworks, its just a headfake to pay off Adkins for letting the city take taxpayer money and protect Mulligan's property, and Fenwick. This is OUTRAGEOUS conduct.

What A City Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Resident Joined: Nov 06 2009 Status: Offline Points: 115	Post Options Post Reply Quote What A City Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 12 2016 at 7:10pm
	If you haven't done so as yet and if you are interested in what others are saying about this, go to the story in the Journal and see the overwhelming opinion that Adkins isn't deserving of this raise, the city is still in desperate need of some help under his guidance and the city council needs to be replaced as they continue to be the rubber-stamping puppets who are told what to do by the city building. Like other city managers, Adkins isn't the answer for this city either. The town is totally without correct focus as to what is really needed here. The comments are not flattering for Adkins and reflect the attitudes and opinions of this city, and it is not a pretty picture painted by those responding.

Vivian Moon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 16 2008 Location: Middletown, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 4187	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vivian Moon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 12 2016 at 8:52am
	Posted: 2:56 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016 Middletown city manager getting $25,000 raise By Ed Richter Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Middletown City Council is expected to significantly raise the city manager’s salary at its meeting next week. Mayor Larry Mulligan said council will amend its contract with City Manager Doug Adkins to raise his salary from $125,000 to $150,000 a year. In addition, over the next four years, Adkins will receive annual increases of $5,000 along with additional contributions toward his Ohio Public Employee Retirement System retirement account. Mulligan said the other provisions of Adkins’ contract will remain the same. RELATED: Perks contribute to salaries of Butler County’s highest paid administrators Mulligan made the announcement via a news release on Wednesday. “After reviewing the progress made over the last two years, council agreed that a new contract was needed,” Mulligan said. “In surveying compensation for city managers in the area and in similar-sized cities, it was apparent we were well-behind the median averages. Mr. Adkins’ progress and performance warrants an adjustment to reflect the value of the position and to recognize the contributions he has made to our progress. The future increases planned to provide assurances to Mr. Adkins and recognize his efforts. City Council will continue to periodically review performance and make adjustments as necessary. Among the successes over the past two years that council and Mulligan cited were the new AK Steel Research and Innovation Center, NTE’s new $600 million natural gas fired power plant, the development of new apartments on Towne Boulevard, improvements of the Towne Mall Galleriaand the opening of new businesses downtown. Council also cited the quality of life improvements such as fireworks on the Fourth of July, the establishment of the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area downtown, new downtown concerts, and improvements of the city’s appearance through beautification and code enforcement. Crime, including serious crime and thefts, are also down, according to council. MORE: Middletown wants to be All-American City in 2020 When Adkins applied for the position, he presented council with a five-year plan to return the city to sustainable revenues. “… Two years in, he has done what he said he would do, and we look forward to finishing the five-year plan under his leadership,” Mulligan said. RELATED: Middletown seeks ideas for future of downtown

City manager getting $25,000 raise

Scarce opposition at meeting to Middletown city manager’s raise

Middletown city manager getting $25,000 raise