City Manager - One Donham Abbey Heads Need To Roll

One Donham Abbey Heads Need To Roll

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Manager
Forum Description: Discuss the city manager administration including all city departments.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6749
Printed Date: Nov 23 2024 at 6:11pm

Topic: One Donham Abbey Heads Need To Roll

Posted By: Analytical
Subject: One Donham Abbey Heads Need To Roll
Date Posted: May 04 2018 at 11:58am

A former city department head continues to have extraordinary clout given the actions of the two most recent city managers and the blessings of city council. Just think of the generous taxpayers financial subsidies and land give-away's for "downtown" exploits of his over the past number of years!

His handiwork is on the $300,000 bailout of the what little is left of the former Rose Furniture Building. The same holds true for for the long-lingering Goetz Tower deal. And, then, consider the $300,000+ city sweetheart deal involving the former city-owned Woodworking Shop (Vail Ave.) plus 1300 block of Central Ave. vacant land.

Out of nowhere, faster than a speeding bullet, the demolition of the Strand-Studio city-owned building became the city's highest priority requiring immediate action. As taxpayers, I ask you to consider the most recent post of swohio 75 which sums up the sad state of governance involving Doug Adkins, Kyle Fooks and a former city department head.

Posted: 19 hours 7 minutes ago at 3:53pm by swohio75

Whomever at the City authorized this work to commerce WITHOUT City Council approval needs to be fired ASAP.

Posted: 2 hours 55 minutes ago at 8:05am by swohio75

This whole fiasco is embarrassing.

The original council packet posted toward the end of last week did not include this piece of legislation.

https://www.cityofmiddletown.org/AgendaCenter/PreviousVersions/_05012018-215" rel="nofollow - https://www.cityofmiddletown.org/AgendaCenter/PreviousVersions/_05012018-215

Not sure when it was updated, but I can tell you the packet wasn’t uploaded until Friday or Saturday.

The original article in the J-N with the bid amounts ran back on March 16. There were THREE Council meetings between the article and the last May 1 meeting. You mean to tell me staff was unable to draw up legislation for council to consider PRIOR to May 1 but staff was able to authorize work to commence?

It’s also worth noting that the repair to the roof to stop the damage was under $100,000. Yet the city decided to proceed with the demo order.

Also to note:

- It was under Mike Robinette’s tenure that the city acquired the Studio in a back-door deal with the Finkleman family and property around the train station.

- The city sat on the property without actively soliciting bids until the last six to nine months

- The city repeatedly has stated that this building does not qualify for and is not a listing on the NRHP which is a FALSE statement.

Middletown taxpayers shouldn't be at all surprised if the soon-to-be cleared Strand/Studio Theater property is conveyed to Liberty Spirits LLC via another $1.00 city sweetheart transaction. If this scenario hold true, the city will have "donated" $485,000 more for this demolition thereby furthering the Liberty Spirits LLC proposed Phase II redevelopment of the 1300 block of Central Avenue.

It does pay to have friends in "High Places". Who needs equity partners (silent or not) when One Donham Abbey doles out taxpayers funds so freely?

Replies:

Posted By: Analytical
Date Posted: May 04 2018 at 12:04pm

What do you have to say about all of this EDDIE RICHTER??

Posted By: buddhalite
Date Posted: May 04 2018 at 3:39pm

I don't believe that you're going to get Ed involved on this.

If Ed pisses off Adkins and his ilk - forget Ed's job. He needs them to be friendly with him so he can report the news.

The only way that he'll report on this is if we get enough stink raised about it that it is brought up before council - that it is somehow in the news or worthy of reporting in another way.

Ed will report things - and he'll even quote people who disagree (he'd done it several times with me) but he's a reporter - not an investigative reporter.

Anyone know a good investigative reporter? Or perhaps a letter to the editor of a paper no one in this city reads?

We don't have a good outlet for this stuff - except here. Thanks to Beagle and his staff!

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"Every government intervention [in the marketplace] creates unintended consequences, which lead to calls for further government interventions." -Ludwig van Mises

Posted By: Analytical
Date Posted: May 04 2018 at 6:11pm

The principal focus of this topic is the absence of prudent city management actions and the surreptitious last minute manner in which the Vickers Wrecking resolution was presented for city council approval after the fact.

Posted By: whistlersmom
Date Posted: May 04 2018 at 11:15pm

The assessment of Mr Richter is spot on.

The Journal News for some reason lives in fear of Mr Adkins. Shameful isn't it? This is a free press? Here's some real fake news!

The solution?? Ignore them. Hand this matter to Channel 9"s investigative reporter Cheatam. He will have a field day. Have you seen where Adkins' refusal of an agreed upon interview is recently being used to advertise 9's sharp reporting?

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing" Edmond Burke

Posted By: MattR
Date Posted: May 05 2018 at 9:47am

Getting fired by the city involves refusing to go along with this kind of nonsense, not doing it. The search will be for any workers responsible for this information coming to public attention. As I was told at a mandatory city training session,"Ethical conflicts are only in your mind, you just need to focus on getting your paycheck".