Council Member Smith, photo by G. Morgan
AN EXAMINATION OF FAILED LEADERSHIP, NEGLIGENT ACTIONS AND POLITICAL EXTORTION
Council Member Keith Smith stated he wanted to remove the Mayor from the supervisory chain of Mr. Eddie Blizzard, Department Head of Streets and Sanitation Departments.
Mr. Smith's Comments Video
Mr. Smith may suggest anything as a seated council member, he may not act in violation of the laws of the State of Alabama. It appears there is an intentional effort by Mr. Smith, Mr. Blizzard and outside influences to interfere in the legal day to day operations of the City of Scottsboro in a strange political extortion attempt by removing the Mayor of Scottsboro from supervising the Street Department and Sanitation Department Director/Department Head by attempted improper, if not unlawful action.
The City of Scottsboro has serious Personnel Policy issues created by past Mayors and City Councils. The current relationship between the current City Council and the Mayor is hampered by the actions of Smith, Blizzard and others who have a misguided, vindictive political agenda. This vindictive agenda does not have the best interests of the Citizens of the City of Scottsboro at heart.
IMPROPER/ILLEGAL CONDUCT
Documentation regarding Mr. Eddie Blizzard and Mayors actions.
(Click on image for an expanded view.)
HEALTH-DISABILITY OR CIRCUMVENTION OF PERSONNEL POLICY, LAW VIA A POLITICAL EXTORTION SCHEME
The sick leave excuse from Mr. Blizzard's attending physician should be called into question, it is not a physician's expertise to state that a hostile working environment is a reason to excuse an employee from work for medical reasons, for an indefinite period of time. The sick leave excuse now appears to be utilized by Blizzard and Smith as an unscrupulous plan to remove the Mayor from Blizzard's supervisory chain. If there is a hostile work environment, as Blizzard and Smith claim, this is a legal/personnel issue and there is no proof offered in the open council meeting that a hostile work environment exists.
Council Member Smith does not seem to realize what the resulting actions would be on the efficient operation of the City of Scottsboro, nor the requirements of law regarding the Mayor's responsibilities, duties, including fiscal responsibilities. The Mayor MUST NOT SET SILENT regarding these wrongful, attempted actions on the part of Blizzard, Smith and other unstated parties.
This question must be asked - Is there a serious medical problem regarding Mr. Blizzard, or is this a political extortion attempt? If Mr. Blizzard is suffering from some sort of stress or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), shouldn't he be evaluated by a qualified person such as a Psychologist or Psychiatrist, then City Officials or appropriate authorities should consider permanent disability so that Scottsboro may fill the job if there is a true PTSD issue. If the issue is heart related, then a Cardiologist should provide input and permanent Disability should be considered if medical evaluation warrants. Has the Mayor caused this one Department Head all of these problems?
Because of Smith and Blizzard's actions, there should be a large question if Blizzard's problems are medically related or an action of unscrupulous political extortion?
LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, DUTIES OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL
This article from the Alabama League of Municipalities, The Duties of the Mayor and City Council, very clear and concise duties regarding the Mayor and Council including their relationship as stated by the Code of Alabama (Current Code References listed). http://trussville.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Duties-of-the-Mayor-Council.pdf
UNNAMED SCOTTSBORO OFFICIAL SOURCE REPORT OF MEETING BETWEEN MAYOR SHELTON, MR. BLIZZARD, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Paraphrased quote from Mr. Blizzard: 'I do not work for you Mayor, I work for the City Council, you can't fire me.'
FAILED LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT
It is beyond ridiculous that one person manages the Street and Sanitation Departments. This occurred as a result of unprofessional management practices of the former Mayor, a broken personnel management system, an uninformed City Council, and personal favoritism benefiting an unqualified employee by the former Mayor of Scottsboro.
The lack of a trained replacement, second in command in the Street and Sanitation Departments separately is a demonstration of a lack of leadership on the Department Head, Mr. Blizzard; fixing long time standing problems with equipment function and breakdown is the responsibility of the Department Head, Mr. Blizzard. The Mayor and City Council are also responsible for this failure of leadership and personnel management.
The failure to provide Capital Expense oversight for equipment replacement and repair is the responsibility of the Department Head, Finance Director, Mayor and City Council.
INVESTIGATION NEEDED
There should be a full investigation by an outside agency to determine if law was violated and-or if legal/criminal actions should be pursued, and the extent of problems in Scottsboro's Personnel Management which still exist and exasperate the current personnel and legal problem. The investigation should also determine if there is a valid or bogus medical claim regarding Mr. Eddie Blizzard.
Investigation should also include violation of Bid Laws of the State of Alabama. Information has been obtained from a source that the invoices listed below were all on one invoice. It has been reported that a Scottsboro City Official requested the breakup of the invoices so they would not appear to violate the State Bid Law.
SEPARATE ISSUES - PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT REPAIRS
Equipment Repairs
Five separate invoices with one date - July 17, 2018 All invoices are from one vendor, "Tractor and Equipment Company" of Birmingham Alabama, Decatur, Alabama location.
1) Invoice W21531 D61EX12 Crawler (Komatsu Bulldozer) Repair - sticking brake; cost $1410.46
2) Invoice W21530 Same Equipment as above, bulldozer - Repair - broken bolts, removal of rock guard and rollers; cost $769.50
3) Invoice W21529 Same equipment as above, bulldozer - Repair - cab air conditioner and heater; cost $8868.47
4) Invoice W21528 Same equipment as above, bulldozer - Repair - radiator, clean, repair, re-core; cost $9126.92
5) Invoice W21526 Same equipment as above, bulldozer - replace undercarriage; cost $17,210.49
Total for this equipment repair, a 2006D61EX12 Crawler, Komatsu Bulldozer - $37,385.84
A similar Komatsu D61 Bulldozer Fair Use rights for non-profit news and commentary, photo by machinerytrader.com (photo crop by G.Morgan)
Click on image for an expanded view.
Invoice sample, there are 4 more multi-page invoice documents as noted above. Note date and time stamp, they are all the same, also note name as purchase order block.
CAPITAL EXPENSE PLANNING THROWN OUT THE WINDOW?
A question that must be asked, what has happened to the City of Scottsboro's Capital Expense Program planning?
AGENDA
A short Budget Meeting was held after the council meeting, the video will be provided later.
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VIDEO PART 1 OF MEETING
VIDEO PART 2 OF MEETING
4 comments:
Whose name is on the invoice, could not tell/
Where you said an unnamed source on the meeting about Mr. Blizzard, since there were only 4 peopled named as being there, could it be one of the 4 is the source and could it be they have a selfish reason for saying what happened? Since 2 of the people are elected and the other 2 appointed, why not go on record with the allegations. LET THE SUNSHINE IN!!!
"Let the Sunshine in," absolutely. There are several problems: 1) There is a question regarding violations of law and misconduct on the part of public officials. 2) All of this is the citizens business, public officials are being negligent. It is not a difficult task to do what is legal and expected, there are guidelines, there is a staff to assist in decision making. At this time we find ourselves as citizens, once again, faced with the realities of failed, negligent and unprofessional leadership in city government. Instead of teamwork where folks work together to accomplish the peoples business in a professional manner, we are witnessing intentional vindictiveness, ignorant application of policy, and a complete failure of the City of Scottsboro's Personnel Management System as it applies to select Department Heads. I agree with our City Council President, Mr. Wallingsford, there is a communications failure, big time. Our problems with leadership and unprofessional conduct goes beyond communications.
I agree they have a communication problem, it's not like they meet once a week all together where they can communicate or all the times they meet in between when they actually discuss matters because is definitely not during session when they rarely discuss anything. It would be nice to understand their thought process on being over budget on nearly all their projects. This group has been together almost 2 full years several a lot longer, it is a little late to be learning their jobs. Maybe a training session of their duties would be a help. Major ego's in play, hear a lot of I did this, I did that, very rarely or none at all WE.
Seems like there are two voices during these, what I like to call the Six O'clock Follies.The other 4 sit there with nothing to add even though it is about city finances waste and abuse which they are suppose to be in charge of overseeing. It would be amusing if not so pathetic. By all means LET THE SUNSHINE IN.
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