Good job, Sam and Ann!!!
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown Community
Forum Name: People in Middletown
Forum Description: Discuss People in Middletown
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1018
Printed Date: Nov 24 2024 at 5:05pm
Topic: Good job, Sam and Ann!!!
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Subject: Good job, Sam and Ann!!!
Date Posted: Feb 24 2009 at 2:25pm
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From today's E-Journal:
At this week’s Middletown Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting, that board will have to ratify a previous vote from its October meeting when it approved a $154 expenditure in violation of Ohio’s Open Meetings Law, commonly known as the Sunshine Law.
According to the minutes of the Oct. 23 meeting, then-President Sam Ashworth “reported that the board had agreed by email to fund a year’s subscription for the Community Calendar website that Ann Mort administers.” Ashworth resigned from the CVB, “due to personal commitments,” according to minutes from the Dec. 11 CVB meeting. The state open meetings law prohibits the public’s business from being conducted outside of a public meeting, including email. Any actions taken in violation of the sunshine law are invalid and are usually required to be to redone in a public meeting. **************************************************
Here is the link if anyone cares enough to read the entire story:
http://www.middletownjournal.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownnews/entries/2009/02/24/convention_and_visitors_bureau.html - http://www.middletownjournal.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/middletownnews/entries/2009/02/24/convention_and_visitors_bureau.html ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Replies:
Posted By: Middletown News
Date Posted: Feb 24 2009 at 2:46pm
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This sounds like a witch hunt to me.
$154 is not a major expenditure or new expenditure. I believe the original decision to utilize the service constituted a grandfather clause.
Either way, its the little things that get in the way of the big picture. ------------- Please like our http://www.facebook.com/middletownusa" rel="nofollow - Middletown USA Facebook Page |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 24 2009 at 3:24pm
| Jonathan- IMO, this has nothing to do with the $154 amount as much as it has to do with the fact that there was a violation of a law and the fact that the public, if they care, have to constantly monitor these people to make sure that they don't violate the laws. Somehow, someway, when people are placed in elected or other important positions they tend to forget that other people are watching their activities closely and they may have a tendency to "bend the rules" a little.It is a big deal to some of us if these people are secretive in their behavior. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Feb 24 2009 at 3:36pm
Oh really? One might wonder if this is only the tip of the iceberg. When was the last time you saw any MINUTES of a CVB board meeting? Have they "voted" on any other expenditures by phone or email?
How much money has been "voted" right into a member's pocket?
It all could be nothing!! I certainly don't know. But I do know this:
There are way too many boards and committee meetings that have not submitted meeting minute to council in a long time!!! (Check the council minutes.) And how many have neglected to record the "yeas and nays", which is required by law, for each motion?
When people are dealing with the people's business, and spending the people's money. there just has to be RULES, and they MUST be followed.
There are 6 or 7 people on this CVB board of trustees, not counting Dave "I will not run again" Schiavone. The telephone seems to be an awfully strange way to hold a meeting!!
When was the last time YOU held a six-person conference call??? ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Jonathan Haller wrote:Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Feb 24 2009 at 4:44pm
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Mike you are correct!
To many of these back door meetings makes for bad business... Are Ann Mort and Sam Ashworth paid any type of salary from the City for CVB? If so how much? |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 2:31am
I sit corrected!! YOU are RIGHT, Mr. Haller!!
 The BIG picture is: "How did Sam and Ann end up sitting on a $120,000 stockpile of taxpayers' money?!!?!?" ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 5:13am
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"She also made a pitch for the CVB to consider becoming a partner with other organizations to fund a full-time coordinator to help revitalize downtown. However, that person would not be a city employee. Gilleland said she is hoping for the CVB to be a partner in funding the position for at least two years.
The board said it would discuss the matter at its March meeting." Several weeks ago we find that Ms. Gilleland went before the Middletown Comunity Foundation and requested that they fund a 3rd "Revitalation Director" for just the downtown area for an annual salary of $60,000 for 2 years. Now we find that she has made the pitch again to CVB to fund this 3rd director. Why do we need another Director for just downtown? Who is this director that is going to do such great things to the downtown area? |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 6:25am
What is Ginger Smith doing these days in her role as Revit. Director?She now has help on loan from the legal department and now Gilleland wants to place a 3rd for the downtown??? Is this job that overwhelming for one person and their staff, or is it an indication of the lack of abilities of the people who have been placed in these slots? Do you think Billy Murphy's coming back as a "Director/Consultant" to help us in the downtown area?  If so, good idea- he did a great job as the Econ. Director.  As to Mort and Ashworth's bed tax nest egg of $120,000- must be alot of folks stopping in the old Hacienda to enjoy our hotel ammenities.  With a two year stint at $60 grand, wonder what makes Gilleland think that someone will make great strides in two years in the downtown area when there ain't been nothin' happening of any significance in the last twenty? 
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Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 7:09am
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February 22, 2009 NSP Funds"According to our advisor, HUD guidelines do not permit the NSP funds to be used entirely for demolition and at least 25% must be used for housing to assist those under 50% of the median income guidelines. We will continue to explore the options. Just as with all new federal programs, it takes quite a while to roll out all of the rules for usage. As we discussed at council, we would prefer demolition since we do not have the staff to undertake or supervise rehabs. I did talk with Senator Voinovich’s staff about this topic and they are working to assist in this area as well." Vet I'm having a really difficult time understanding any of what is going on with this program.
In the comment above the City Manager states that we don't have the staff ..???? I don't understand this statement at all.??? In the past the demo jobs were completed by sub contractors. Why wouldn't you sub contract out the rehab also? What did they do the last time with this rehab program. Don't we have someone on staff that are making these big bucks that has the ability to act as a super to over see these rehabs? Please tell me why I can't understand this program and the problems they are having?  QUESTION: When is the next Housing Sub Committee Meeting? I think we all need to show up and get a few answers. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 7:57am
| Vivian- if you go back and review the Feb 17th Council meeting, Scott-Jones, when Council is discussing the Section 8 authorization to give Ginger Smith permission to use the money to purchase qualified properties,reads a passage that said that the money could be used for demolition. The document gave a list of choices of what to do with the money. Again, all Council members approved the authorization to free up the money to allow Smith to purchase qualified homes for rehab/resale WITH- WITH- the stipulation that Council could channel the money from rehab to demo. at 100% and left the door open to change their mind. |
Posted By: Middletown News
Date Posted: Feb 27 2009 at 9:10am
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Do you see no good in people?
Are Sam and Ann in a conspiracy to benefit from $120K?
You make some accusations I would not state in public for fear of reprisal of libel.
Sam and Ann have done more for this community than most. I for one am indeed grateful to both Sam Ashworth and Ann Mort.
Just read a MUSA Google search on Sam Ashworth:
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http://www.mainstreetmonroe.com/view_news.asp?nId=1050 - CONCERT AND ART AUCTION TO BENEFIT ALS AND MEDICAL ...
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Sam Ashworth , is a professional trombone player who has worked with most of the area musicians throughout the past 30 years and is a graphic designer by ... www.mainstreetmonroe.com/view_news.asp?nId=1050 |
http://www.middletownusa.com/view_news.asp?a=3492 - Artists & Authors Series Features
Browse through the displays and take a few minutes to talk with graphic designer, author and local history buff Sam Ashworth about his work on Tuesday, ...
www.middletownusa.com/view_news.asp?a=3492
www.middletownusa.com/view_news.asp?a=3492