Happy New Year to one and all!
Will it really be a "NEW" year in New Albany?
WELCOME TO NEW ALBANY - Douglas B. England, Mayor
1992 - 1999 and January 1, 2008 -------
After winning the election in November 2007, Mayor England said there will be no more dog and pony shows (at Council meetings). Will he perform the same old song and dance, as he did in his previous terms as Mayor?
How many of the same old faces are returning, including those behind the scenes? Will they perform the same old song and dance? Are "they" more organized now?
Is it true - history repeats itself?
Time to get out the New Albany history books.
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12 comments:
I've been asked how long I think it will take for the new Council members to find their own voices and speak out. I think it will happen, when their constituents get those increases for services. There is so much for them to learn!
Susan
I have no choice but to believe that things will be different this time around.
After all the majority of the registered voters who take pride in their civic duties elected him, and I respect that.
I am sure there will be more than enough watchdogs out there eyeing his every move.
but I must say in the 2 days of open business with this new year, I have personally seen more action from the administration downtown than I did in the last 2 two years of the previous administration.
Coincidence, or a sign of things to come? We shall have to wait and see.
2008 Salary increases.............
How can they increase the salaries with such large amounts ? Is there written documentation from the State to show their approval for those salary increases ?
Who else is being given large salary increases above the amount approved in the 2008 budget ?
Has the submitted 2008 City Budget been given approval ? If not, then, how do they know what they can spend in 2008?
What percent salary increase was
given to the rest of the employees ?
My guess on their 'take' for the salary increases is to go on and pass as much as possible, worry about it later and then hope no one stops it. I don't know, if a citizen's call to Indy would bring any clear answers. But the reality will set in, when the 2008 Council members must stretch the monies (are told how to do it by the administration). What will they do when they discover there is more money going out than what is coming into the city coffers? There is only so much Riverboat money. Who is writing for Federal Grant money?
Do you think the Council will cut back or stop giving tax abatements - and stop making TIF areas? That would cause a royal battle with Mayor England and Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz. How many TIF areas did Carl help to make? Surely he won't try for any more.
Susan
THEY WILL PROBABLY TRY TO "TIF" THE
WHOLE TOWN. THAT MEANS THEY CAN
DIRECT THE PROPERTY TAX MONEY INTO
SEPARATE POTS THAT THEY WILL HAVE CONTROL OVER.
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW MANY "TIF" AREA THAT NEW ALBANY NOW HAS?
WHO CONTROLS THAT TAX MONEY?
Oh, my gosh!
Well, what is it they say, hindsight is always 20/20?
I believe they've seen their mistakes and will move forward in a positive and effective way!
Happy New Year.
If there is such a thing, this is observational philosophy. I share the hope with csid619 that things will be different this time around. I do have the hope that this version of the City Council will be more of a practice what you preached type of council. The entire idea of getting new faces on the council was to bring about a positive change in the city that would benefit the residents, and make life a little easier for them. When I was considering running for the 4th District seat on the Council, I presented my ideas, told what I thought should be done, presented a vision and new ideas that would make life a lot easier and better for residents of New Albany, and make people want to come here. It is my belief that any candidate, at any level, from a City Council seat to Presidential (i.e. OBAMA), who runs, and structures their candidacy upon "change", should lay out exactly what type of change they are talking about, and how they want to do achieve this "change". If the only "change" is going to be the first black guy being President or the first Woman being President, it's time to look elsewhere. A few of the elected Freshman Councilmen, embraced a few of my ideas that I was presenting early on, before the personal issue that forced me to withdraw came up. I hope that the "new blood" will live up to their beliefs, not be bullied by the senior members of the Council, and live up to your beliefs and listen to your constituents needs and act in their best behalf. This Council needs to recognize how to properly set a budget. This Council needs to think about annual events that could raise new revenue for the city, such as a Spring Festival, and adding smaller festivals and concerts downtown, to raise revenue for the city. I wish the new Council all of the best, from the outside looking in, and I wish Mayor England success always. Please find a way to work together with the Council. New Albany needs to make it known that we're coming back, we're up an running and growing, tired of being in the shadow of Louisville and Jeffersonville and even Clarksville, and make downtown New Albany, a competitor for 4th St Live in Louisville, the riverfront in Jeffersonville, and make NEw Albany a destination, and a place people want to visit and stay, and not a stop over! and nightspots in Clarksville.
Ditto's John Alton, Great response. My new years wish is to see all these "concerned" bloggers that have good issues that need brought forward and discussed to show up at the city government meetings. We won’t make much a difference if our comments stay in the blogs.
well now we see the rubberstamping that's going to go on with this city council based on last night's lack of performance: approval on first reading for new administrative positions the city can not afford and whats more discouraging the new council persons who appear to be lambs for the Gahan / Coffey dictatorship.
You elected them New Albany, good luck
As I agree with the statements I do not wish to come out negative againt the new Administration, I want to thank MY Councilman STEVE PRICE for asking the right questions and not ramrodding things through.
The Legal stated a 3 percent raise; once the ordinance was amended -- the public DOES HAVE A RIGHT to have another Legal published, so we may comment on same - God help us.
The LAW DOES NOT LIE SILENT ON THESE ISSUES; CERTAIN LAWS DO NOT GO IN TO EFFECT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR -- THEY ARE ALREADY THERE...POSTED EARLIER.
All I asked of Steve Price was to make sure things were "legal" and "taxpayers" (who?) have a right to speak.
Thanks for all of the comments, as I have been out of town and have been having "frins" take care of things. Thanks to them, also. Mucho Gracias!
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