Scottsboro, Alabama - September 16, 2021 Scottsboro Board of Education Work Session, Citizen Presentation About Scottsboro City Schools Facebook Site Blocking and Censoring Citizen Comments - Citizen Comments Reinstated on the SCS Facebook Site

 

Scottsboro Board of Education, Page Administration Building, photo by the Scottsboro Board of Education, Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

Scottsboro Board of Education Work Session, Citizen Presentation, 2 Way Communications On Facebook via Scottsboro City Schools Site, blocking /censorship of citizen comments. Facebook Reference: https://www.facebook.com/Scottsboro-City-Schools-201213873233894

After the meeting I spoke to the Scottsboro School System Superintendent Mrs. Amy Childress regarding the Scottsboro City Schools Facebook site blocking/censorship of citizen comments on the site. She indicated (paraphrased), citizen speech would be reinstated on the site in support of two way communications between the public and school officials.

Scottsboro City Schools has reinstated citizen comments on their Facebook site. Thank you.

AGENDA

(Click on Agenda to expand image.)

VIDEO

Scottsboro, Alabama - May 5, 2021 - More on the "Guffey Affair" - *** April 30, 2021 - Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts - Special Report on the Jackson County Commission*** UPDATE - May 10, 2021 - Commission Attempts to Censor and Limit Speech on Facebook Regarding Venable Video

Former Commission Chair Tim Guffey, resigned in December 2020 (photo by G. Morgan)

A study of history reveals the coverup of public corruption and/or criminal activity is often worse than the original corrupt or criminal act. When the Jackson County Commission received this official report they had a responsibility to report this to the public, the citizens of Jackson County Alabama, they failed to do so. The report was released officially via the Alabama Department of Public Examiners Friday, April 30, 2021, 5 days ago. Poor judgement on the part of the commissioners in this case is not a criminal act, it certainly is a consideration for the voters of Jackson County come time for reelection

APRIL 30, 2021 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EXAMINERS SPECIAL REPORT REGARDING NONCOMPLIANCE WITH POLICY AND LAW, MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS VIA ISSUED COUNTY CREDIT CARD INVOLVING THE FORMER JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR, TIM GUFFEY.

SUMMARY

April 30, 2021 -  Quote from the Department of Public Examiners: “Official demand was made on the former Chairman requesting payments totaling $3,918.11."

 The former Chairman failed to appear at a meeting before the Chief Examiner and show just cause why the amounts should not be repaid; therefore, relief is accordingly denied as evidenced by the Order of the Chief Examiner contained in this report. After the Order of the Chief Examiner was issued, the charges were repaid in full. Alabama Department of Public Examiners Report - 21-236 - 04/30/2021 - Jackson County Commission-Special - County Audit - 08/24/2018 to 12/04/2020   LINK TO AUDIT:  https://examiners.alabama.gov/PDFLink.aspx?IDReport=6098

21-236 A -  Department of Examiners of Public Accounts

SUMMARY

Special Report on the Jackson County Commission August 24, 2018 through December 4, 2020 

The Jackson County Commission (the “Commission”) is governed by a five-member body elected by the citizens of Jackson County. The members and administrative personnel in charge of governance of the Commission are listed on Exhibit 1. The Commission is the governmental agency that provides general administration, public safety, construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges, sanitation services, and health and welfare services to the citizens of Jackson County.

This report presents the results of a special examination of the Jackson County Commission and a review of compliance with applicable laws and regulations in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts under the authority of the Code of Alabama 1975, Section 41-5A-12. We performed an examination of credit card transactions and other expenditures made by the Commission to determine whether inappropriate use of public funds occurred. 

FINDINGS

Instances of noncompliance with state and local laws and regulations and other matters were found during the examination, as shown on the Schedule of Findings and they are summarized below.

♦ 2021-001 relates to the former Commission Chairman’s noncompliance with requirements prescribed by the Chief Examiner of Public Accounts and the county’s travel policy regarding credit card usage and documentation of credit card charges.

♦ 2021-002 relates to the former Commission Chairman’s failure to provide an adequate reason for mileage claimed for travel.

21-236 B  - CHARGES AGAINST OFFICIAL

As reflected on Exhibit 2, the charges against the former Commission Chairman resulted from noncompliance with requirements prescribed by the Chief Examiner of Public Accounts and the county’s travel policy related to credit card usage and documentation of credit card charges, as well as the failure to provide an adequate reason for mileage claimed for travel. Official demand was made on the former Chairman requesting payments totaling $3,918.11.

The former Chairman failed to appear at a meeting before the Chief Examiner and show just cause why the amounts should not be repaid; therefore, relief is accordingly denied as evidenced by the Order of the Chief Examiner contained in this report.  After the Order of the Chief Examiner was issued, the charges were repaid in full.

EXIT CONFERENCE

The Commission members and administrative personnel, as reflected on Exhibit 1, were invited to discuss the results of this report at an exit conference held via teleconference. Individuals in attendance were: Commissioners: Danny Rich and Jason Venable; and Bob Manning, County Administrator. Also, in attendance was a representative from the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts: Dixie Broadwater, Special Projects Manager. The results of this report were also discussed individually via telephone with the former Commission Chairman, Tim Guffey.

NEWS ARTICLES RELATED TO THIS ISSUE

Jackson County Sentinel:     http://jcsentinel.com/feature_story/article_211688d4-ada8-11eb-9d5e-dbf8c9f98ffd.html

WAFF-TV: Former Jackson County Commissioner pays nearly $4,000 back to county for misuse of funds (msn.com)

WHNT-TV: Former Jackson County commission chairman repays county for improper credit card usage | WHNT.com

WAAY-TV: Audit found questionable spending by former Jackson County Commission chairman (waaytv.com)

From the Clarion on Facebook, Statement of Jackson County Commissioner Jason Venable:   https://www.facebook.com/JCCommissionAL/videos/6281725705171203/

May 5, 2021 - "Guffey Affair" - Fair Use Copy of Jackson County Commission Acting Chair Person Jason Venable Video

  Mr. Venable does not accurately portray the seriousness of this event in his statement, Clarion's Facebook link above, and all that surrounds Guffey's resignation. Quote from the Chief Examiner in the audit report: "Instances of noncompliance with state and local laws. . ." The near $4000 of credit card abuse may have been repaid; who repaid the tax payers of the county for the auditors cost ($5,000-$10,000 maybe more), who has repaid the county for Guffey setting at home doing nothing for 4 months, December 2020 thru April 2021, at tax payers expense, approximately $19,000, per commission approval, for his alleged illegal and unethical behavior regarding sexual harassment and creation of a hostile work environment, including alleged criminal behavior investigated by state law enforcement investigators? What is the outcome of that investigation?  What type of actions is the county taking to insure sexual discrimination and creation of a hostile work environment will not reoccur?

COMMISSION ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT AND CENSOR SPEECH RELATED TO THE GUFFEY AFFAIR AND ACTING CHAIR JASON VENABLE'S VIDEO OF SPECIAL REPORT AUDIT

Photo capture on Jackson County Commissions Facebook site by G. Morgan. Identifying names removed. (Click on image to expand.)

Jackson County Commission attempts to limit and censor citizen speech relating to Commissioner Venable's questionable comments, discussed below, via a video he posted on the Jackson County Commission's Facebook site regarding the recent State of Alabama Department of Public Examiners Audit disclosure of former Commission Chair Guffey's misuse of county funds.

Unfortunately, the Jackson County Commission has placed this notice to the video posting of Mr. Venable on the Commission's Facebook Page, quote: ->"JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION LIMITED WHO CAN COMMENT ON THIS POST." <-

Commissioners, you are the stewards of the citizens of Jackson County Alabama. You have no right to limit the comments or censor speech from one or more citizens, unless it is a threat or violates law. Your page on Facebook is the Public Square and a Public Forum of the government entity.

The citizenry, whom you work for have every right to express their discontent or dissent with your actions. Including those actions when placed on a public forum, such as the Jackson County Commission's Facebook site. The limitation of speech regarding your actions are directly violating the Constitution of the State of Alabama, and your oath of office.

Quote: "Alabama Constitution - SECTION 4

Freedom of speech and press.

That no law shall ever be passed to curtail or restrain the liberty of speech or of the press; and any person may speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty."

The Guffey Affair:     https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Guffey%20Affair

 

Scottsboro, Alabama January 22, 2019 - Jackson County Commission Work Session - UPDATE - Jan. 25, 2019 Social Media Policy, Personnel System Woes, Some Job Descriptions 30 Years Old, Out of Date - 2 Part Video, After Meeting Discussion at End of Part 2 Video

Jackson County Courthouse, North Entrance (photo by G. Morgan)

UPDATE - January 28, 2019 - Proposed Jackson County Employee Social Media Policy - As of today's date at 4:45 PM there is no approved Social Media Policy. One of the county commissioners, Mike Sisk, District 4, had discussions with employees at the Jackson County Public Works and circulated the policy shown below last week without approval from the full Jackson County Commission, and without legal review from the County Attorney. Other commissioners stated they were not aware of Mr. Sisk's actions until today when inquiries regarding the social media policy were discussed by this writer with the commissioners prior to today's Jackson County Commission meeting.

UPDATE - JANUARY 25, 2019 - PROPOSED JACKSON COUNTY EMPLOYEE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY - Is this a policy which has received legal review?

EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE OR CENSORSHIP OF POLITICAL SPEECH?

(Click on image for an expanded view.)

Employees have informed me they are in receipt of the County Social Media policy, this policy has not been approved by the Jackson county Commission. The Commission Chair stated the policy would be reviewed by the County Attorney. Geez, is this the final work product after review? 

The proposed Social Media Policy for Jackson County employees has areas of concern, particularly since it appears to violate both the Alabama Constitution and rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court on what is and is not allowed regarding social media postings by government employees.

This policy appears to violate the Alabama Constitution and Supreme Court rulings on government employee speech, specifically political speech of Jackson County Employees. The policy also attempts to allow only supporting speech regarding a politician or political candidate, but would not allow non-supporting speech. Re: Negative or Positive labels regarding political speech of an employee.

The Chairman of the Jackson County Commission told me explicitly that employees discussing elected officials or political candidates on social media which did not agree with the candidates or elected officials political positions would not be a part of a social media policy, but yet there it is.

An employee may only support a politician's political position but never make a social media posting which does not support the politician or political candidate?

There is no mention of employee speech which serves a public purpose or the public interest.

Alabama Constitution, Section 4, Freedom of Speech and the Press.

"That no law shall ever be passed to curtail or restrain the liberty of speech or of the press; and any person may speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty."

American Bar Association weighs in, comprehensive discussion on the issue:   https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/events/labor_law/2017/11/conference/papers/Crasovan-Public_employee_Free_Speech.pdf

AGENDA

JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION WORK SESSION AGENDA JANUARY 22, 2019 

I. CALL TO ORDER, WELCOME 

 II. CALL OF ROLL TO ESTABLISH QUORUM, INVOCATION, AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

III. APPROVE AGENDA OF MEETING – JANUARY 22, 2019 

IV. AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS 

V. PUBLIC COMMENT - Garry Morgan , Proposed Social Media Policy

VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR COMMISSION 

1) DHR BOARD APPOINTMENTS (2) 

2) VOTING PRECINCTS - consolidation of smaller precincts inquiry

3) AUBURN UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL PROJECT - It was noted that the Auburn U. Consultation Project may cost $14-$15K; 

Presentation by Human Resource Director Michelle Willis regarding the Auburn University Project (photo by G. Morgan).

VIDEO PART 1

Presentations by County Engineer (4-7) part 2  video

4) HMT 1 RECOMMENDATION (1) 

5) TEMPORARY LABORER RECOMMENDATIONS (2)

6) FA RESURFACING PROJECT SELECTION 

7) ROADWAY STRIPING LIST PROPOSAL 

VII. REPORTS FROM STAFF:

 VII. ADJOURN –

 VIDEO PART 2

Issue discussion, Personnel Policy at end of video with Commission Chair and Human Resource Director. Confusion regarding objective performance standards system, unaware of modern system of Objective Performance Standards; many job descriptions not updated for 30 years.

Censorship, Pizza and Responsible Speech

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Fire Protection, Domino's style.

The discussion of the pizza and fire protection issue has resulted in censorship of political speech on al.com and another temporary ban for posting on al.com. This is not the first issue where government and/or corporate officials have been involved in removing political speech on al.com, government censorship in Scottsboro, Al.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Fire Protection or Pizza Advertising?
>>>>>Pizza or government mismanagement of resources??
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Scottsboro City Hall

>

Once again the issue of censorship arises. Censorship of political speech and responsible editing of media. This also concerns the removal of political speech by media on so called public forums and their support of one political party or issue. Advance Internet via al.com takes the position that if you question their motifs or their support of governmental censorship they attempt to show you who is boss, they censor, remove responsible speech which speaks and reeks of governmental irresponsibility and connection to a business corporation.

>>

I saved part of what is being censored. It appears mentioning of Domino's Pizza and the Fire Protection Advertising Scheme utilizing city equipment results in removal of some postings on this so called public forum. Other postings discussing the issue remain. This is the same type of censorship that occured during the Goose Pond Colony Censorship campaign. That one did involve governmental mangers requesting censorship. It appears the same situation may be occurring once again.

>>>

A part of what has been removed from al.com: A comment by a local poster who uses the #83 in his posting: "Garry, your biggest problem is that when you mention something unpopular, the Pizza thing, and people call you on it, you get ridiculously defensive. You begin to blame everything on a socialist conspiracy that makes you look foolish. We all have our own opinions. My support of Obama is not very popular in these parts, yet I don't blame it on some vast socialist conspiracy. I use facts and debate to flesh out my opinion. And, if people don't like it...tuff! It's not a conspiracy. "

>>>

My answer, which was removed by al.com, Advance Internet:

>>>

Conspiracy??
Once again the only person who is speaking of conspiracy is you, why is that? There have been others that have stated the same. Many seem to think that when one is attacked that the person receiving the attack should just roll over and say "sock it to me baby," remain complacent while lies are told. This is the standard local political Party's intentions.

>>>
What is so interesting about this type of political attack, it also occurs in areas of Alabama where the Republican Party is the dominant party, it also extends to other areas of our nation.
Truth and issues are not the issue. Shux, issues are not even the issue in our current political situation. It is who has the biggest pot of gold to buy media time.
>>>

Indoctrination. You have demonstrated part of the indoctrination in your comments within, "conspiracy." This is the standard mantra of both political parties when confronted with issues concerning political control. You are an intelligent individual 83, look thru the politics and see the underlying reason for the need of political party control. It is not to benefit our nation or area, it is to breed separation and control the populace thru political propaganda. That is not what our Republic is about. That is not a conspiracy theory, that is what I think is becoming of our nation as a result of division thru political parties. Why does an individual need a political party to tell them how or why one should vote for a particular political representative. I realize there is power in numbers, unfortunately the numbers in our political system also allow an individual to build power and momentum based on false assumptions and propaganda. Particularly when the media enters in in the support of the political party. My belief reflects the support of individuals ideas and politics, not the political parties mantra and propaganda.

>>>

About Pizza:

It is not about calling me on it. Get the facts straight if you are going to tell the story. It was the blatant and uncalled for attacks pointed directly at me, intentionally, as those individuals know that I will reply. Once again I will not sit idly by and allow others to threaten and call me hideous names. I do not curse them as they have cursed me, I do not make threats at them that have made threats at me. I will call them what they are or what they are supporting. That is socialistic dictates, political repression and tyrany. If folks don't approve of my speech. There is nothing I can do about that, I support all responsible speech, particularly those who do not agree with me. Unfortunately it appears some do not support the idea of open responsible speech. It appears they only support their ideas, regardless of the right or wrong of the idea.
>>>

Their ideas have been supportive of a national corporation who has carried forth an advertising scheme disguised as fire protection. Plus the pizza company does not deliver to all areas of our town, they were utilizing city personnel and equipment in their scheme. The pizza fire protection scheme did not receive the approval of the city council nor the scrutiny of the city attorney in an open meeting.This was a scheme originating from a national corporation to benefit that corporation, not provide Fire Protection. That is the way I see it. Individuals under took attacking me due to my stance on this issue. Once again, if I am attacked I will call them on their attack and endeavor to point out what they represent. (end of my al.com posting)

>>>>

This posting is representative of what is being removed. I believe it is representative of censorship of political speech. In some cases it has been at the behest of government officials, they done it once they will do it again. The result of discussion concerning not agreeing with government and a corporate scheme, censorship, and the blatant out right attacks on individuals who discusses political opposing ideas. We have witnessed this previously on the al.com forum, we have witnessed it at the Democratic Party Political Debate Forum at the high school where county politicians called those who expressed dissenting opinions "terrorist like Timothy McVea." We have also witnessed demeaning comments from our local news media in editorials where the managing editor calls people paranoid for expressing disagreement with local political actions. It is my belief that political extreamism in the local Democrat party is resulting in tyrany directly pointed at political opponents. This type of tyrannical actions on the part of local Democrats is typical of Jackson County and Scottsboro politics.