January 21, 2016 Scottsboro Board of Education Work Session in Multiple Part Presentations - Featuring - Thar be Sum Misconstru'n Go'n on Heear

On January 21, 2016 the Scottsboro Board of Education held a two and a half hour work session. My Presentation will consist of 4 segments, it is not the entire meeting. Part 1 is actually the end but an interesting part of the meeting which consists of the Alabama Association of School Board's (AASB) recommendation to end Board Member Comments on the Board's Agenda.

Scottsboro Board of Education President Daryl Eustice, Esq. (photo by G. Morgan)

 This writer certainly appreciated the Board President, Scottsboro Attorney Daryl Eustice comments regarding not legislating common sense, you can't do it. Not allowing elected official comments as part of a public bodies agenda runs a risk of squashing expressions of concern and minority positions on issues.

The AASB Attorney, Jane Williams, was contacted, she was not available according to the Association's Secretary; I left a voice mail regarding my questions on their position and requested comments on this matter; however, no one returned my call. Link to the AASB -  http://www.alabamaschoolboards.org/

Dr. Sandra Spivey, Superintendent Scottsboro School System

Mr. John Esslinger, Board Member (photo by G. Morgan)

Ms. Hollie Thompson, Board Member (photo by G. Morgan)

Dr. Judy McCrary Board Member (photo by G. Morgan)

Member Absent Mrs. Julie Gentry

Scottsboro Board of Education File Photo (Fair Use for Non-Profit News Reporting)

AGENDA

Click on image for an expanded view.

***********************************************

VIDEO Part 3

VIDEO Part 2

  

VIDEO Part 1

VIDEO Short Segment, "Misconstru'n Go'n On"


Other Videos Processing

Jackson County Commission Work Session, Citizen Presentation Regarding Meth Manufacture in Stevenson, Alabama January 19, 2016

Photo Courtesy of Drugs-info-UK; Fair Use Rights for non-profit news reporting.

Update: Jan 28,2016 - Related to the citizen complaint about the police chief of Stevenson - http://whnt.com/2016/01/27/stevenson-chief-of-police-charged-with-violating-civil-rights-assaulting-person-arrested/

AGENDA

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Meeting, Regular Session January 11, 2016

Monday was a short meeting of the Scottsboro City Council prior to the University of Alabama and Clemson University National College Football Championship Game. Final score - Alabama over Clemson  45 to 40.

                                                  AGENDA

VIDEO

Jackson County Commission Regular Session January 11, 2016

Short Session of the Jackson county Commission, one agenda item regarding the hiring of 6 temporary workers for the Public Works Department. The temporary workers will be utilized to help to improve county road conditions.

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Work Session - Citizen Presentation "Council Agenda Issue - A Dead Issue Is Not Dead if it Involves Millions of Dollars in Bonds & Debt," Jan. 4, 2016

Scottsboro City Hall, 316 South Broad Street, Scottsboro, Alabama (photo by G. Morgan)

AGENDA

Click on image for an expanded view.

Citizen Presentation with letter to the Scottsboro City Council President, Patrick Stewart -  "Council Agenda Issue - A Dead Issue Is Not Dead if it Involves Millions of Dollars in Bonds & Debt."

The City Attorney, Steve Kennamer, did not agree with my position on the issue.

LETTER

Click on image for an expanded view.

NOTE Roberts Rules Article X, Chapter 58-Chair or President (regarding committees): "The by-laws sometimes state that the president shall appoint all committees. In such case the assembly may authorize committees, but cannot appoint or nominate them. The president, however, cannot appoint any committees except those authorized by the by-laws or by a vote of the assembly. Sometimes the by-laws make the president ex-officio a member of every committee. Where this is done he has the rights of other members of the committees but not the obligation to attend every committee meeting."

The question is this - What is the Scottsboro City Council Rules of Order regarding the appointment of Committees? May the committee be appointed out of a dead issue? May the Chair appoint a committee at any time regardless of the council's agenda, and must a committee be approved by a vote of the Council?

It was stated that the City Council Rules of Order will be posted to the city's web site. As of this writing the rules are not posted.

Regardless, it is my position that a point of order should have been called by a council member when the issue continued with no motion placed forward. The council President should have sufficient knowledge of rules of order to conduct meetings without constant referral to the city attorney. This situation was a deviation from the meeting format and not in accord with normal meeting decorum. 

Jackson County Commission Work Session - Citizen Input on Drug Testing Program - Commendable Transparency From Commissioner Ledwell, January 4, 2016

Jackson County Commission in session, Court House Board Room. (Photo by G. Morgan)

AGENDA

VIDEO

Memorandum for the Jackson County Commission Regarding Employee Drug Testing
                              (click on image for an expanded view)

Excerpts from the Code of Alabama, 25-5-335 regarding employee drug testing.

(click on image for an expanded view)

Conclusion: Jackson County's Employee Drug Testing Program does not meet the requirement of the Code of Alabama as stipulated in 25-5-335

Commendable Transparency from Jackson County District 4 Commissioner Stacey Ledwell.

***** 

UPDATE: Jan 5, 2015 - I had received a call from a local concerned citizen about a County Commissioner, Mr. Stacey Ledwell, who is also a business owner, Mr. Rooter, a local plumbing service. Mr. Ledwell had sold a backhoe to the Cumberland Mountain Water Authority via a sealed bid process. 

I had discussed the concern with Mr. Ledwell last week and he assured me everything was accomplished in accordance with the law. Yesterday, prior to the County Commission meeting, Mr. Ledwell provided me with his bid submission document, attached below, and an Attorney General's Opinion regarding The Cumberland Mountain Water Authority's opening a bidding process for a backhoe. Alabama AG's Opinion 2016-09 Link: http://www.ago.state.al.us/opinions/pdf/2016-009.pdf

The invitation for bid was published in the November 25th 2015 edition of the Daily Sentinel on page 9 as an Invitation by The Cumberland Mountain Water Authority - "Taking Sealed Bids." Mr. Ledwell's bid entered via the sealed bid process, as indicated, was $42,000.00 which was the low bid which met bidding specifications.

Commissioner Ledwell's transparency about this issue is commendable and is appreciated that he provided the documents which demonstrates his concern for doing what is right regarding open, transparent government. I do not think there is any conflict of interest as the Cumberland Mountain Water Authority is a separate corporate entity of Jackson County who has a separate Board of Directors managing the affairs of the water authority.

Click on image for an expanded view.