Danielsville’s closed session produces confusion

Danielsville’s closed session produces confusion

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Wednesday, November 23. 2011

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Danielsville city council’s hour-long closed session to discuss the fate of their new police chief produced no action, but a lot of confusion, at their regular business meeting Nov. 14.

In fact, it was a matter of some debate by the council as to whether they would go into closed session in the first place.

An “executive session” was listed as the last item on the Nov. 14 agenda, though it did not list the reason, but when mayor Philip Croya called for a motion on whether or not to go behind closed doors, the vote was tied 2-2 between council members. Council members Junne Temple and Jamie Spurlin voted to go into closed session, while council members Janice Merk and Ron Faust voted not to.

Faust, who was defeated at the polls last week, said “I don’t want to be in this,” and “I don’t want to put him in that position,” without any explanation of just who he was referring to.

Croya, who votes only to break a tie, then surprisingly voted not to go into closed session and called for a motion to adjourn.

No motion to adjourn was received, but instead the council proceeded to hold a confusing discussion about whether or not they did, in fact, need to go behind closed doors.

During the discussion, Temple said she thought the closed-door meeting was to inform the council of issues that “we have been excluded from.” Temple also asked if she was the only council member “in the dark.”

But Croya disputed that assertion, telling Temple that he and she had engaged in a “two-hour conversation” about the matter over the phone.

In the meantime, the council’s meeting room was filled with audience members who also seemed confused over what was going on.

“Does it affect the citizens?” Todd Higdon asked the council about the closed-door matter. “What I want to know is, does it affect Todd?” he said, causing laughter. The council took another vote, this time agreeing unanimously to go into closed session.

Croya confirmed Nov. 15 that the closed-door meeting was held to discuss issues he has had with police chief Matt Pilkington. He said he met with Pilkington last week to discuss those issues, which include not covering the city as much as he feels it needs to be covered.

And Croya said he feels that the council got the matter worked out during the closed session, which included a discussion with Pilkington. He said the council plans to work to set up some guidelines and policies for the police chief to follow.

In other matters, the council heard the first reading of a change to the city’s policy of giving a $200 bonus to each city employee every December. The amended policy will leave the bonus issue up to the discretion of the council.

City attorney Dale Perry recommended the city consider contributing unemployment tax to the state. Governments have the right to exclude themselves from paying unemployment taxes, but Perry said he feels the city should pay the tax in case there should be a successful termination claim.

Perry added that if any of the three unemployment claims filed by the employees terminated in May had been successful, the claims could have cost the city approximately $9,000 each. “We’d have been in a pickle,” Perry said. “I didn’t realize we were in that position until we started dealing with those matters.”

In other business, the council agreed to purchase windshields and other equipment for the city’s backhoes at a cost of $1,193. They also agreed to purchase a well-sounder for $1,062. Temple explained that the sounder will measure the exact depth of the city’s wells and will meet the EPD’s requirements.

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#1 Just Sayin' on 11/23/11 at 09:57 AM [Reply]

Do these people not realize that it is illegal to enter into executive session to "work to set up some guidelines and policies for the police chief to follow"? Does the city's attorney not know? But then too how many attorneys do you know that say "in a pickle"? Just Sayin...

#2 Resident Redneck on 11/23/11 at 08:19 PM [Reply]

Well what I want to know is HOW can they just decide to go into a closed door session where the public is not allowed in to hear what is being said? The BOC, City Council, or any goverment that effects any or all the citizens shouldn't be allowed to do this? They go behind closed doors and make decisions that concern us that we have NO SAY SO in and then they come out and tell us and say they did this for US.
I think ANY and ALL meetings by the Government should be open to the public? BECAUSE if it wasn't for the PUBLIC these people wouldn't have a job? WE THE PEOPLE ELECTED THEM.

#2.1 Resident Whiteneck on 11/25/11 at 08:09 PM [Reply]

You need to keep out of this, if you know what is good for you. You stick your nose in to many places that it does not belong.

#2.1.1 Virginia Moss on 11/26/11 at 06:54 PM [Reply]

Why does Resident Redneck need to keep out of this discussion? This entire site is a forum to be involved with Madison County goings-on and to make comments about them. This is what Resident Redneck has done along with many others here. You have, instead, made a very rude comment directly to RR without offering any reasons for it or any opinion of your own. If you have an opinion about this topic, please offer it. And please leave the location of RR's nose to him.

#2.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 11/27/11 at 10:08 AM [Reply]

Virginia- ResidentWhite neck don't bother me I welcome the threats from shallow people like him. I thought Ihave is to make threats ask a well thought out question that I'm sure alot of people have wondered? And the ONLY come back shallow minded people can think of is to make threats. Ewh.. I'm SO scared can't you tell? Because I'm still posting comments. Whiteneck must have some kind of direct ties with the Mayor or the city councel? I know he may be a hit man hired by the Mayor to get people to stop talking about him and the city councel? I BET IF HE HAD MY CELL PHONE NUMBER HE WOULD SEND ME AN ANGRY TEXT MESSAGE.

#2.1.1.1.1 E.J. on 11/27/11 at 04:27 PM [Reply]

I'm thinking it's as simple as Resident Whiteneck having anger management problems. There have been quite a few commenters here with that problem, including yourself from time to time. We all want to emote, we just need to do it with reason. I've seriously lost it twice in words, one responding to the shootings involving Gabby Giffords and the other about pedophilia. I apologize for neither!

#2.1.1.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 11/27/11 at 08:05 PM [Reply]

E.J.- I understand what you are saying and I understand how emotions can get the best of you and you say something you may regret later but I have NO anger management issues I have been through the classes and as far as people thinking I'm angry I am usually sitting here laughing while I'm typing. I try not to get angry because when I get angry I usually end up going to jail.

#2.1.2 Resident Redneck on 11/27/11 at 03:28 AM [Reply]

White- AND just how do YOU know where my nose belongs? You also said "to keep my nose out of this IF I know what's good for mr"? I must not know so you tell me what's good for me? ALSO WAS THAT A THREAT? If so Oh. I'm so in this now? For your information I ask a question. The question was if the city councel is elected by US and are working for US looking out for the well being of US then WHY AIN'T US ALLOWED IN THE MEETINGS? And I ain't just talking about this meeting I was talking about ANY government meeting?

#2.1.2.1 Virginia Moss on 11/27/11 at 03:19 PM [Reply]

Wow, that was a surprisingly calm and reasoned reply from you. Quite effective and a little easier to read. Still, four too many question marks . :)

There are some needed circumstances for closed government meetings, like preliminary discussions with individual employees to protect their rightful privacy.

#2.1.2.1.1 Just Sayin' on 11/27/11 at 06:44 PM [Reply]

Sorry to correct you Ms. Virginia, but there are very few reasons a government can meet behind closed doors. They can meet behind closed doors to discuss potential litigation, acquiring property and employee evaluations (just to name three of the few). They stated they held a closed meeting and decided they needed to work on policy and procedures. There are "Sunshine Laws" that must be followed for transparency in the government.

#2.1.2.1.1.1 Virginia Moss on 11/29/11 at 03:24 PM [Reply]

Thanks for the additional information. Still employee privacy is one circumstance in the form of evaluations and maybe others.

#3 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA on 11/24/11 at 07:13 PM [Reply]

When you hire a lazy officer to be Chief, you get what you got. Matt didn't do crap at MCSO, thats why he had no rank or responsibility after years on the force. They should have contracted through the county and would have superior police service, but wait that would require Phillip getting his head on straight.

#3.1 Whatever on 11/27/11 at 12:29 AM [Reply]

superior police service, Dream on. If that protim had her way she would have done away with the police department. Man i think that if they would not give the fire department so much money they could help the police out more. Matt aint the right one for the job. go to the barrow county news and see what he was doing in arcade.

#4 onewhowonders on 11/25/11 at 07:23 PM [Reply]

Are you really out of the "pickle" regarding unemployment benefits? No wonder our "pro-temp mayor and her hive fight so hard to keep those fired from receiving unemployment benefits. Had the people of the city known that NO unemployment tax had been being paid by the city to the state months ago, there may have been other names on the ballot for elections held November 2. All in the name to save money! Danielsville city officials should be so proud of themselves or ashamed!

#4.1 The election was held November 8th. on 11/27/11 at 12:20 AM [Reply]

The election was held November 8th. But on the other, the Pro Tem thinks she runs things in that city. She needs to step down and move out of the city. Every time she turns around she has to put her big nose in to things she knows nothing about. Her old man thinks he runs the county, and the fire department. He needs to get out of there to. The people of that city need to do what they can to get her out of that city. If they get her out, the city will be better off. She had that Tim man run so he would be on her side. She is not in there for the city, she is there for her self.

#4.1.1 Resident Redneck on 11/27/11 at 10:13 AM [Reply]

Well the election was held and not many people knew about it ahead of time. I didn't know there was an election until the day after.

#4.1.1.1 E.J. on 11/27/11 at 04:38 PM [Reply]

How can anyone not know about an election? Most printed calendars have "election day" on them or the local newspapers note them or government web sites announce them or special intersts conduct get-out-the-vote campaigns. We all have the responsiblity to pay attention in order to participate in our government, you know, that "personal responsibility" thing so many conservatives talk about.

#4.1.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 11/27/11 at 08:18 PM [Reply]

E.J.- I just got up and looked and I have 3 calendars in my house and NONE of the 3 say election day on them anywhere in Nov. and I don't remember reading what date the election was and I don't go to government web sites to surf the site and read. I thought we elected these offices at the same time we elected a President? Everybody knows about the Presidental election I guess these little hick town elections ain't big enough news?

#4.1.1.2 Oh my God!!!!!!!!!! on 11/27/11 at 10:13 PM [Reply]

#1 Resident Redneck on 08/29/11 at 10:35 PM [Reply]

I have a feeling the Danielsville Mayor Mr.Croya won't be elected again? Buddy I think you ran a con to get elected the first time and you fooled alot of people including me BUT you have shown your true colors to soon AND you WON'T get my vote this time and probably alot of others.
HEY MAYBE THEY COULD TEXT THE ELECTION RESULTS TO HIM?

WAS THIS NOT YOU THAT WROTE THIS ???????????? MAN YOU ARE FULL OF IT. How can you say that you did not know about it? Now people should see what kind of person you are. You talk out of both sides of your mouth.

#4.1.1.2.1 Resident Redneck on 11/28/11 at 11:02 AM [Reply]

Hey Dick I didn't know an election was coming up. Yes I heard something about an election BUT I thought it was for the 2012 election. I thought they were just getting an early start trying to get votes. AND it don't really matter WHO we elect they ain't going to do what they said they would do to get elected?

#4.1.2 MC Redneck on 11/28/11 at 08:13 AM [Reply]

"her old man thinks he runs the county" : how come that animal control Huff still there ?

#4.1.2.1 MC land taxpayer on 11/28/11 at 02:42 PM [Reply]

Maybe her husband can get county busy on posting people behind on taxes again. Last time got taxes paid. heck if he can do this stuff let us know and we will run him against Dove.

#4.1.2.2 Stay on Topic on 11/28/11 at 09:01 PM [Reply]

Stay on Topic

#4.1.2.2.1 E.J. on 11/29/11 at 03:09 PM [Reply]

Thanks you!

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Danielsville’s closed session produces confusion

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