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S. Smith
Moderator
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 03:05 am |
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WB wrote: First, I hope that during the long intermission while Council went into closed session, that everyone had a chance to go look at the newly finished playground next to the Community Center. WB - I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to go check out the park. Since the meeting was held at the school, it wasn't just a matter of stepping out the door to check it out like if it had been held at the Community Center. If I'd had any idea how long that executive session was going to last, I would have not only checked out the playground, but probably taken a walk on the trail and maybe even swam a couple of laps while I was at it (just kidding about that last part. No swimming with beavers for me!)
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Cracker Jax
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 10:10 am |
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S. Smith wrote: Dwayne was delaying the meeting because he had some kind of "technical difficulties," actually just the opposite was true -- he was doing the town a favor by letting them use his recording device.
Thanks for clarifying that Sandra. I was wondering about that. Oh, and thanks Dwayne for sharing your recording with Ms. Rumley.
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StewartM
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 11:02 am |
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Lacka wrote: Scuba Jane, or Mike I do have two questions that you might be able to answer since you have served on council.
Question 1
If they are being paid a salary to be a town employee does that mean that the town will no longer have to continue to make them copies of everything and print everything out for them? Wouldn't this now fall under their own expenses. I really don't want my tax dollars to pay for something twice. If we are allotting money for them to do this themselves then we are paying for someone to do this for them at town hall aren't we paying for it twice?
Question 2
If BS had the argument about the 1099s and W2 Forms and argued how it was going to effect her personal taxes then does this tell us that she is out for BS and not the town?
#1 The clerk will still have to make them copies. There is too much info coming from all sides (planning, budget, etc...). This would be for what they print or copy at home and other expenses.
#2 If it is income you pay taxes on it. I have never got a check from the town and do not want one. We are a small town and do not need a paid council. The town will pay (if you want it) any expenses doing town business.
BS has already said she would not vote for the budget. She said she would listen to the voters. The public hearing for the voters to speak on the budget is June 22. Looks like she has already made her mind up and will not listen to the voters.
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FatPappy
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 12:35 pm |
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They knew the job was unpaid when they took it. (And I do mean "took".) I can understand wantin' to be reimbursed fer expenses. Why don't they just keep up with receipts fer any expenses and tarn 'em in at the end o' the month, up to a certain limit, instead o' givin' 'em a "salary"? Some months they might not spend as much an' it makes it more accountable. Just a thought.
George Holub an' a lot o' others know the meanin' o' "volunteer." We couldn't pay what they're worth.
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How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
--Abraham Lincoln
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S. Smith
Moderator
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 02:36 pm |
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I'll put my two cents worth in here, even though I don't live in Summerfield and don't have a dog in this fight.
In all honesty, I don't see anything wrong with council members getting paid a little. It's not really a salary, it's a stipend. I'm sure Jane and Mike can attest that there is a lot more to being a council member than just coming to a meeting once a month -- there are meetings required of council members, they use their personal cars, talk on their home or personal cell phone or use their own computers to contact other council members, town personnel or constituents, print out things on their own printers, volunteer/participate in town activities (everything from hauling off trash to riding on a float), speak to the media, make appearances on behalf of the town, etc. etc. etc.
The amount they receive can in no way compensate them for all they do. It's just like an allowance to help offset some of the costs they do incur (many of them are impossible to track). Yes, they voluntarily took the job. But to my knowledge, none of the Summerfield council members asked for this -- Dana and Michael realized it was being paid elsewhere and put it in the budget. The average was something like $350 per month for council members and $500 for the mayor. Summerfield even asked what had been recommended ($200/$250) be lowered (to $150/$200). Oak Ridge and Stokesdale council members have received a stipend for years.
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Hairbrush
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 03:08 pm |
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| I certainly don't have a problem with them getting paid. Some of them do a lot of work. It sounded like the town was already paying reimbursements so this should help a little also. I even applaud BS for wanting to drop the amount the council would receive as payment, but then discussion after about personal taxes seemed petty to me.
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S. Smith
Moderator
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 03:13 pm |
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FatPappy wrote: George Holub an' a lot o' others know the meanin' o' "volunteer." We couldn't pay what they're worth. I agree 100%, Pappy.
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FatPappy
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 03:13 pm |
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| Sandra, you make good sense, an' you know, I don't mind council members gettin' a little money fer expenses outta the deal either. That's a tough job. I was just bein' onery earlier, an' tryin' not to make it too easy on certain folkses, which is sorta my self-appointed volunteer job. As far as Pappy's concerned, it ain't no big deal.
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How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
--Abraham Lincoln
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WB
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 04:16 pm |
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S. Smith wrote:
Dwayne volunteered to let the town use his recording. The only problem is that his device only has capacity for about 4 hours of recording before it is full. As a favor, he asked me if he could download or "dump" the stuff off his device onto my computer.
The same thing happened Monday night because the town's recording equipment was not yet fixed. After that extremely long executive session, no one knew how long the regular meeting would last, so Dwayne used my computer to transfer the information (this time he had brought his own storage device along, but he still had to use my computer in order to do so). So while it may have appeared that Dwayne was delaying the meeting because he had some kind of "technical difficulties," actually just the opposite was true -- he was doing the town a favor by letting them use his recording device.
I appreciate your taking the time to clarify the issue and it makes a lot of sense now. My apologies to any and all for making any disparaging comments.
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WB
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 04:20 pm |
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| I'm struggling to conclude how I feel about the Town Council getting paid rather than submitting for expense reimbursement. My tummy tells me that Council members asked for and ran for their positions knowing that it is unpaid. It just doesn't feel right to be changing the structure right now. It may make better sense to propose making this change effective for the next Council which would start after the next election in 2008.
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Cracker Jax
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Posted: Jun 14th, 2006 04:39 pm |
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Good point WB.
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macca
Member
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Posted: Jun 15th, 2006 02:28 am |
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Skiddles wrote:
I would love to see Summerfield children playing soccer in Summerfield. One of my little Skittles has to play in High Point. He did play for GYSA (Bryan Park) which is on the other side of the world also. Gosh ... playing in our own town, what a thought... hummmm!
Stokesdale has a fall soccer league. Registration is going on now. Practice begins in August, with games beginning right after Labor Day and going on thru the end of October. There is a link to Stokesdale Parks and Rec from the Town of Stokesdale web site (http://www.stokesdale.org)♥♥♥
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A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright
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FatPappy
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Posted: Jun 15th, 2006 12:24 pm |
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WB wrote:
I'm struggling to conclude how I feel about the Town Council getting paid rather than submitting for expense reimbursement.
It may make better sense to propose making this change effective for the next Council which would start after the next election in 2008.
I know what you mean, WB. I felt the same way first time I heard about it. Speakin' fer myse'f, I think there's enough good involved that it ain't worth opposin' either way. But, Pappy's always got a open mouth, I mean, a open mind.
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How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
--Abraham Lincoln
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zippitydoodah
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Posted: Jun 15th, 2006 12:47 pm |
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FatPappy wrote: But, Pappy's always got a open mouth, I mean, a open mind. Freudian slip, Pappy?
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DOGGETTJA
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Posted: Jun 15th, 2006 12:56 pm |
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I really think to expect our council members, even if they did volunteer, to keep the schedule that our representatives need to keep, should include some compensation.
I found being on the Town council to be like having a second job and it really took a lot of time. Also by receiving this stipend of tax payers money maybe there is a stronger argument for expecting council members to participate in activities other than just attending council meetings.
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