City selects commission members with secret vote
read more recent story comments Reader comments| A Hoosier Sunday, May 1, 2011: 8:31 pm More from A Hoosier  | Here it is. |
| A Hoosier Sunday, May 1, 2011: 9:07 pm More from A Hoosier | Vote: Deckard-no Buskirk- hell, no Spina, no Go with Danny, it is logical. |
| Liberty Sunday, May 1, 2011: 9:27 pm More from Liberty | A secret ballot vote during an open public meeting is a violation of the open door law, according to Steve Key, general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association. Here you go again. Mayor Deckard breaking the law again and ordering His band of good old boy to break the law also. The mayor has a criminal history in regards to breaking the open door law and thumbing his nose at the citizens who the law gave them the right. He knows exactly of his crime because he's broken the law before and gotten caught. The problem is nobody took him to court so now he feels he's above the law. His boys who gave a 10% raise also know what the law says but are just to afraid to go against the boss. Our mayor seems to have a problem with breaking the law. How can he be in charge of the police and not corrupt them too ? I'm not being judgmental because he is purposely doing it in the face of the towns people. With his history of breaking the voting laws in the past I can only say folks as a community Unbelievable CORRUPTION AT THE TOP. I hope someone files a complaint with the state attorney generals office and makes this a do over. I'm extremely disappointed with the council to tarnish their reputations just because of their fear. Also does this mean the Clerk-Treasurer Mary Lou Peden also broke the law by accepting this ? I of the opinion with this continued criminal corruption in our city's administration and council that Brooklyn is starting to look virtuous. Now let see what the town has to say about it and is this community as corrupt as the boos hogs group or will they take care of it. Sorry mayor for you having to be in the spot light but you have put your self there and we are just point the light on the crime explosion in our town. If you haven't been so blatant and repetitive we would have thought you just make a mishap and would have a do over to make those appointments legal for as of yet they are not and can be contested. JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS HERE ARE SOME MORE ARTICLES FROM THIS PAPER FROM OVER THE YEARS WHEN HE COMMITTED THE SAME CRIME WHILE VOTING ON THE SAME EXACT APPOINTMENTS. ALMOST ONE YEAR TO THE DAY. READ ALMOST WORD FOR WORD SO THIS IS A PREMEDITATED CRIME AND IN THE JUSTIS SYSTEM SHOW CONSPIRACY. ---------------------------------- May 18, 2010 Ronald Hawkins rhawkins@reportert.com City selects commission members with secret vote Ronald Hawkins MARTINSVILLE After taking a secret ballot vote during its Monday meeting, the Martinsville Common Council voted to select its two representatives to the new Martinsville Redevelopment Commission. The Martinsville Common Council gave Mayor Phil Deckard the authority to establish the commission of five members, three appointed by the mayor and two by the council. At a previous meeting, council members were directed to propose two members each for the commission. Those names weren’t made public Monday at the meeting before the secret ballot vote was taken. A secret ballot vote during an open public meeting is a violation of the open door law, according to Steve Key, general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association. Deckard told the council members to fill out the ballots and return them to Clerk-Treasurer Mary Lou Peden and that the council would recess while she counted the votes. After an objection to the procedure, the mayor said there would be no recess while the votes were counted. http://www.reporter-times.com/stories/2010/05/18/news.qp-2829683.sto --------------------------------- AND AGAIN 2008 Council gathering may have violated law Mayor says open door law violation was unintentional Ronald Hawkins rhawkins@reportert.com February 1, 2008, last update: 2/1 @ 12:00 am Martinsville The legality is in doubt of an unannounced gathering Monday afternoon by Martinsville Mayor Phil Deckard with the architect for the city's new fire station, city attorney, city superintendent and engineer, that also ended up attracting all seven members of the Martinsville Common Council. Since the entire council attended the gathering, it might have been a violation of the state open meetings law, Indiana Public Access Counselor Heather Willis Neal said this morning. Deckard said he was in the process of preparing for his mother's funeral and might not have been thinking clearly about the meeting. http://www.reporter-times.com/stories/2008/02/01/news.95904.sto ------------------------------------- Just another day of the world satan controls. |
| Liberty Sunday, May 1, 2011: 9:36 pm More from Liberty | Wow, this is a comment on another comment made on an old story from a year ago from a different blogger. Though true and should be remembered it is a year late. |
| A Hoosier Monday, May 2, 2011: 12:04 am More from A Hoosier | Read this and comments. You will see all is true. |
| DANNY NEWMAN Monday, May 2, 2011: 12:24 am More from DANNY NEWMAN | Nope,, dont care to read,, I looked,, ya didnt leave nothing to read!!! Well,,ok,nice hearin your name Sherrie,, glad ya did that,, again proud of ya~~ Hope we can be friends!! Nite hon,, past my bedtime,, Later |
| The Mayor Monday, May 2, 2011: 4:40 pm More from The Mayor | To DANNY STEWART and LIBERTY: Danny, I couldn't let the day go by without commenting on your recent blog concerning my actions, and accusing me of not telling the truth on several items. Please, again, let me give you some facts: 1.) Yes, Danny, in my "State of the City" address, I did state that the crime rate was down, as reported to me by my Police Chief. My report was for the previous three (3) years in office of accomplishments. Yes, later in the week, Chief Davis did report to the news media that "certain crimes" (not crime overall) were up over last year in the early months of 2011 (not 2010). However, the current police officers are working very diligently to bring the rate back down....and doing a great job, I might add. But, crime was down in 2010: 2.) When I stated that I had nothing to do with the investigation of Mr. Buskirk and the possible violation of the "Hatch Act"...that was a true statement! Mr. Coffin made the contact on his own discretion...and did not inform me of his actions until after he had made the contact. And, I think he was proper in doing so. Danny, I will be happy to take you to Mr. Coffin's Office and let him give you the accurate information from his own mouth. Or, better yet, perhaps you would allow me to bring Mr. Coffin to your residence where we can discuss it with you in person; 3.) Yes, Danny, you have been to a few Council Meeings during my administration; however; not once that I can remember have you ever participated in anything constructive for our city, other than early reports from the Rediscover Martinsville Committee and, that didn't last very long; 4.) Danny, again, I invite you to come to the Council Meetings and I will give you the microphone to publicly discuss your accusations, or ask me questions, in front of those who attend. As I told you, face-to-face, when we met at the Administrative Building last week, I've had a certain amount of respect for you in the past; however, my feelings have somewhat changed with your recent unfounded blogs. And, to Liberty: Liberty, to set the record straight regarding your recent blogs about my taking advantage of the Open Door Policy...and violating the Open Door Law. Where do you get your information from???? Certainly, not everything you read in the local newspaper is accurate. And, you were not at the meeting in question, when the appointments to the Redevelopment Commission were made. FIRST OF ALL, the selection was not made by a secret ballot. To spare feelings of some outstanding community people who were going to be nominated by some of the councilmen (according to information given to me during the week by said councilmen), I simply asked the council members present to please write the names of those persons they would like to see on the committee...and hand them to the Clerk or myself, and then I would publicly give out the names of the ones with the greatest number. I also stated...in addition, you could place other names in the nomination process, along with the names submitted on paper....and the vote would take place immediately. (MAY I ADD...THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY SUBMITTED THEIR CHOICES TO ME BY MAIL, OR IN PERSON, AT MY OFFICE PRIOR TO THE MEETING). Liberty, regardless of your blog...I also checked with Mr. Steve Key, General Counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association...and, representatives at the Indiana Public Access Office.....WHO ALL AGREED THAT THIS WAS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN DOOR POLICY. NO MEMBER WAS SELECTED BY A SECRET BALLOT. And, for the Record: To those persons who are misinformed about the discontinuation of the DARE PROGRAM: National records now show the DARE Program is no longer as effective as it once was....and, other programs have been introduced that are believed to be better for our young students. Chief Jon Davis, and myself, made this information known to our School Supterindent's Office and gave them other choices available to the schools. They declined to try the new programs (for whatever reason) that have proven to be beneficial in other school districts. Thank you. Mayor Phil R. Deckard |
| Liberty Monday, May 2, 2011: 5:44 pm More from Liberty |
Mayor, As I posted this was a comment on an old article that hit the feed from another poster commenting on it. I probable wouldn't have commented otherwise because I'm sure what ever was said at the time was enough. But lets take the opportunity to address something important. You said : Where do you get your information from???? Certainly, not everything you read in the local newspaper is accurate. First of all, where do you think you are posting this at/on. This is the Reporter-Times Newspaper and it's their article I was commenting on. They are the protect source of public information our founding fathers gave us to trust concerning government happenings. They are the keeper of records. They are the one who publicly implied you broke the law. So if you proved to them otherwise it was your responsibility to ask them to set the record straight and print a retraction. I'm sorry Phil but nobody can do that but you. I hope you aren't asking the public to believe the government over the paper. We have to trust them to what ever extent one trust any media information. So people on this comment section comment on what is in the articles based on and what the papers writes. I think that's what the papers intended reason was for in the first place for providing this comment section at the bottom of each of their articles. I understand you are running for a political office and all that. I know you want to keep your record as clean as possible and I respect all that but I also know that if you have a problem with what the paper tells us it's your responsibility to deal with them to get it streight and not hold us responsible to pay for an expensive investigation instead of trusting the provide constitutional method intrusted to them in holding you folks responsible. I can imagine how much a pain they can be but it go's with the job and I'm sure you respect that. Again, this is old news that resurfaced by chance and not designed by me for some political reason. I'm serious about having the paper make a written retraction. If I was a Politian running for office that's exactly what I would do. If what you say is correct you have every right to one. These kind of "open door" things are very important to many citizens who are , and should be, weary of government. I know you respect that. Good luck in your elections. Maintaining public trust as a Politian can't be the most attractive part of the job but must be done. Call Brian Culp. He's a good man and will vindicate any wrongs. Peace :) |
| Liberty Monday, May 2, 2011: 6:08 pm More from Liberty |
Mayor, Do you think it's because the districts superintendent didn't step down as our communities top leader of students when he was convicted of Drunk Driving in a school vehicle and now is serving his sentence for it. The school board also supports this environment for our children so do you think this kind of makes a DARE program or like program kind of hypocritical? I'm glad to see other programs offered but it's a shame the city can't bypass the current system and make them provide them to the students. What do you think ? Peace :) |
| voter Monday, May 2, 2011: 6:08 pm More from voter | liberty: wow are you clueless! |
| Liberty Monday, May 2, 2011: 6:10 pm More from Liberty |
What clue are you talking about. Please share it with us :) |
| nobodyimportant Monday, May 2, 2011: 10:14 pm More from nobodyimportant | I wondered the same thing, Voter. Just want we need, city government running the schools. I supopose then, if the State government didn't like what the city was doing with the schools, they could take over. Of course, then the State would have to be looking over their shoulders. The feds might think it was time to get in the business of running schools. Ok, I'm kidding. But seriously, one of the hardest things to do is measure the effectiveness of prevention programming of any type, and it is especially difficult when looking at a program like DARE that concentrates on a narrow age group. Over the past 50 years or so, we have struggled trying to find ways to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among children. The reason is that we can't control the vatiables. DARE programs have impacted children in a positive way, but any attempt to attribute success or failure to prevent use is spitting into the wind. Educators are bombarded with interest groups who think education should contain more of this or less than that. I understand the drug prevention specialists when they contend that education becomes expedentially difficult when the student is under the influence of drugs or their home environment is not conducive to learning because of drug use at home. It makes perfect sense. So, we should do more drug education. Maybe we need drug treatment, support groups, family therapy. Where do the responsibilities lie? What do we give up in order to do those things. Then start multiplying that by the myriad of other issues like sex, mental illness, crime, bullying, poverty, child abuse......on and on. Should the schools become health and social service agencies? There is an old African saying, "it takes a village to raise a child." Over-used as a cliche, it does have something to offer. We cannot look to any single element of our culture....schools, families, churches, social service agencies, law enforcement, health and behavorial health agencies....to be the instrument of accountability for safely bringing children into adulthood. All have roles to play. And I prefer not to get into an argument about which one or ones have the most responsibility. Of course, it starts at home. No, forcing schools to adopt programs isn't the answer. |
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