would it be possible to have each posting double posted to the selected category as well as "The Latest" so participants could check in to see the action without having to "name that category" but could go directly to a given category if that was their interest? I frequently look for the most recent posting without regard for subject.
I understand the request, but unfortunately, I have to work within the confines of this blogger software. I'll make every attempt to figure out the best and most effective way to manage this, though.
What is this about? England Authority skirts meetings law to accept questionable bid By Robert Morgan
The England Economic and Industrial Development District skirted the state's Open Meetings Law, according to the Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office, when it accepted a construction bid during a specially called session Wednesday.
((Smells fishy))
The board voted Wednesday to go into executive session at the request of attorney John Munsterman to discuss two bids for hardscape and landscape of the new Alexandria International Airport terminal under construction.
In urging his request, Munsterman said, "Mr. Bruser (attorney Henry Bruser) has given me a letter (saying) that whatever action we take here may result in litigation." In response to a request from The Town Talk under Section 10 of the Open Meetings Law, the District Attorney's Office said the law requires a public body to hold a roll-call vote to go into executive session, which the England Authority did not do.
((Go Town Talk!!))
Section 42:7(a)(1)(b)(iii)(bb) of the Louisiana Revised Statutes requires that any discussion of a lawsuit be included on the meeting agenda, the DA's Office said.
The board had authority to meet in secret session to discuss strategy for a possible lawsuit, such as that implied by Bruser's letter, under 42:6.1(a)(2), according to the DA's Office.
However, if the issue was not on the agenda and was to be discussed on short notice, it should have been added to the agenda by two-thirds vote taken by roll call, the DA's Office said.
In the meeting, the board voted to add the item and to go into executive session without taking a roll-call vote.
Munsterman was hired as special counsel to look at the bids because of a conflict of interest cited by the board's attorney.
John Doggett, acting as the board's attorney, advised the panel "has the right to go into executive session" to discuss litigation.
Before going into closed session, the board was given a four-page letter by Munsterman recommending that bids from Ratcliff Construction Co., LLC and LaMay Group, LLC be rejected because neither contained a certificate of builder's risk insurance.
In his letter, Munsterman stated, "The requirements that a bidder include such bidder's bid proposal verification of builder's risk insurance with (a) a certificate of insurance or (b) a notarized affidavit from an insurance provider that the required insurance coverage would be provided if the contract was awarded is an unwaiveable requirement in the bid package.
"The England Authority cannot waive this insurance requirement being part of the bid."
When the board emerged from its closed-door session, it unanimously passed a substitute motion to give the contract to Ratcliff because its bid was $200,000 lower than LaMay, the only other bidder.
The contract award now must be approved by counsel and Executive Director Jon Grafton.
Anonymous said... Everyone trashes the Town Talk but I think their coverage of city politics and politicians is excellent. We probably should not bite that hand.
If you missed the City counsel meeting today on tv look for it on rerun. Delores Brewer sweeps the floor with Everit Hobbs just like he sweeps the floor on the 6 -12 shift at his regular job. Thank goodness we have a future Mayor who is not afraid to stand up and speak honestly and clearly.
Hobbs aint no janitor...thats the convicted felon counselman Louis Marshall... Hobbs drives a bus. Aint that great. 100 million dollar budget and we got a busdriver deciding complicated issues on planning and budgets etc.
That Louis Marshall is a janitor is not disgrace. That he is employed full-time for doing nothing by Mr. Patel at the city-owned Holiday Inn while serving on the council that leases the property to Patel - that is the shame of it.
You will notice that the rest of the council remained silent and let Hobbs twist slowly in the wind. Hobbs will figure out the nature of his suicide mission soon enough.
Alexandria Councilman Everett Hobbs says Mayor Ned Randolph should consider resigning the office he has held since 1986.
“If the mayor can’t perform his duties, he needs to step down,” Hobbs said, alluding to an illness he said Randolph might have that prevents him from fulfilling his mayoral duties.
Randolph, who announced earlier this month that he would not seek a sixth term, denied today that he suffers from or has been diagnosed with a debilitating illness. “No, absolutely not,” said Randolph, who will relinquish his office in December after the election this fall. He said he would not resign.
Hobbs’ comments today, made in a telephone interview with The Town Talk, followed allegations he made at the end of Tuesday’s council meeting, where he said three aides close to Randolph were making the decisions, not the mayor.
For more on this story, please see Thursday's Town Talk or visit this Web site Thursday.
Mr Hobbs is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but he got it right this time. Ken and Albin along with "Martha Stewart" have been making all the decisions for the past two years. Ever notice that Ned sits and stares blankly in committee meetings while Kelvin or "Martha" do the talking. Before that it was Harrold or Darrall or Sonny who kept the City running, never has been Ned.
oh since our local cops couldnt find richard lee mcnair he must have had help right? only problem is where is the proof? see how the clown talk tries to cover up for and go along with the establishment b.s.:
Local law enforcement officials say it appears that Richard Lee McNair, who escaped April 5 from the U.S. Penitentiary at Pollock, had help from people, perhaps living in this area.
This is not good news. There is no excuse for someone, even a family member, to harbor a fugitive. Doing so puts everyone in danger.
The truth is that McNair is a murderer who remains on the loose. It also appears to be true that we have other dangerous people in our midst -- those who think nothing of choosing to become criminals by helping one.
Ball Police Officer Carl Bordelon made a mistake when he stopped someone who turned out to be McNair, but didn't take him in. But his decision was not a conscious choice to allow McNair to escape.
It's a shame to have to worry that someone -- perhaps a friend or neighbor -- does not believe in following the law and doing the right thing to help keep the community safe.
The people who helped McNair are now criminals. Let's hope the police are able to find and arrest them, in addition to capturing McNair.
14 Comments:
would it be possible to have each posting double posted to the selected category as well as "The Latest" so participants could check in to see the action without having to "name that category" but could go directly to a given category if that was their interest? I frequently look for the most recent posting without regard for subject.
I understand the request, but unfortunately, I have to work within the confines of this blogger software. I'll make every attempt to figure out the best and most effective way to manage this, though.
What is this about?
England Authority skirts meetings law to accept questionable bid
By Robert Morgan
The England Economic and Industrial Development District skirted the state's Open Meetings Law, according to the Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office, when it accepted a construction bid during a specially called session Wednesday.
((Smells fishy))
The board voted Wednesday to go into executive session at the request of attorney John Munsterman to discuss two bids for hardscape and landscape of the new Alexandria International Airport terminal under construction.
In urging his request, Munsterman said, "Mr. Bruser (attorney Henry Bruser) has given me a letter (saying) that whatever action we take here may result in litigation."
In response to a request from The Town Talk under Section 10 of the Open Meetings Law, the District Attorney's Office said the law requires a public body to hold a roll-call vote to go into executive session, which the England Authority did not do.
((Go Town Talk!!))
Section 42:7(a)(1)(b)(iii)(bb) of the Louisiana Revised Statutes requires that any discussion of a lawsuit be included on the meeting agenda, the DA's Office said.
The board had authority to meet in secret session to discuss strategy for a possible lawsuit, such as that implied by Bruser's letter, under 42:6.1(a)(2), according to the DA's Office.
However, if the issue was not on the agenda and was to be discussed on short notice, it should have been added to the agenda by two-thirds vote taken by roll call, the DA's Office said.
In the meeting, the board voted to add the item and to go into executive session without taking a roll-call vote.
Munsterman was hired as special counsel to look at the bids because of a conflict of interest cited by the board's attorney.
John Doggett, acting as the board's attorney, advised the panel "has the right to go into executive session" to discuss litigation.
Before going into closed session, the board was given a four-page letter by Munsterman recommending that bids from Ratcliff Construction Co., LLC and LaMay Group, LLC be rejected because neither contained a certificate of builder's risk insurance.
In his letter, Munsterman stated, "The requirements that a bidder include such bidder's bid proposal verification of builder's risk insurance with (a) a certificate of insurance or (b) a notarized affidavit from an insurance provider that the required insurance coverage would be provided if the contract was awarded is an unwaiveable requirement in the bid package.
"The England Authority cannot waive this insurance requirement being part of the bid."
When the board emerged from its closed-door session, it unanimously passed a substitute motion to give the contract to Ratcliff because its bid was $200,000 lower than LaMay, the only other bidder.
The contract award now must be approved by counsel and Executive Director Jon Grafton.
From CenLamar:
Anonymous said...
Everyone trashes the Town Talk but I think their coverage of city politics and politicians is excellent. We probably should not bite that hand.
I also firmly believe this. What's the beef?
No real beef from me. I just want to encourage them to seek out more stories.
If you missed the City counsel meeting today on tv look for it on rerun. Delores Brewer sweeps the floor with Everit Hobbs just like he sweeps the floor on the 6 -12 shift at his regular job.
Thank goodness we have a future Mayor who is not afraid to stand up and speak honestly and clearly.
Hobbs aint no janitor...thats the convicted felon counselman Louis Marshall... Hobbs drives a bus. Aint that great. 100 million dollar budget and we got a busdriver deciding complicated issues on planning and budgets etc.
That Louis Marshall is a janitor is not disgrace. That he is employed full-time for doing nothing by Mr. Patel at the city-owned Holiday Inn while serving on the council that leases the property to Patel - that is the shame of it.
You will notice that the rest of the council remained silent and let Hobbs twist slowly in the wind. Hobbs will figure out the nature of his suicide mission soon enough.
I still can't pay last month's utility bill.
Wait a minute. Hobbs works for the Rapides Parish School Board? Can the City of Alexandria enter into Contrats with the School Board if he is?
Hobbs says Randolph should consider stepping down
By Billy Gunn
bgunn@thetowntalk.com
(318) 487-6378
Alexandria Councilman Everett Hobbs says Mayor Ned Randolph should consider resigning the office he has held since 1986.
“If the mayor can’t perform his duties, he needs to step down,” Hobbs said, alluding to an illness he said Randolph might have that prevents him from fulfilling his mayoral duties.
Randolph, who announced earlier this month that he would not seek a sixth term, denied today that he suffers from or has been diagnosed with a debilitating illness.
“No, absolutely not,” said Randolph, who will relinquish his office in December after the election this fall. He said he would not resign.
Hobbs’ comments today, made in a telephone interview with The Town Talk, followed allegations he made at the end of Tuesday’s council meeting, where he said three aides close to Randolph were making the decisions, not the mayor.
For more on this story, please see Thursday's Town Talk or visit this Web site Thursday.
Originally published April 20, 2006
Who would benefit from Randolph's resignation at this late date?
....and who would become the Council President?
Mr Hobbs is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but he got it right this time. Ken and Albin along with "Martha Stewart" have been making all the decisions for the past two years. Ever notice that Ned sits and stares blankly in committee meetings while Kelvin or "Martha" do the talking. Before that it was Harrold or Darrall or Sonny who kept the City running, never has been Ned.
oh since our local cops couldnt find richard lee mcnair he must have had help right? only problem is where is the proof? see how the clown talk tries to cover up for and go along with the establishment b.s.:
Our View: Those who aid escaped killer hurt all of us
Local law enforcement officials say it appears that Richard Lee McNair, who escaped April 5 from the U.S. Penitentiary at Pollock, had help from people, perhaps living in this area.
This is not good news. There is no excuse for someone, even a family member, to harbor a fugitive. Doing so puts everyone in danger.
The truth is that McNair is a murderer who remains on the loose.
It also appears to be true that we have other dangerous people in our midst -- those who think nothing of choosing to become criminals by helping one.
Ball Police Officer Carl Bordelon made a mistake when he stopped someone who turned out to be McNair, but didn't take him in. But his decision was not a conscious choice to allow McNair to escape.
It's a shame to have to worry that someone -- perhaps a friend or neighbor -- does not believe in following the law and doing the right thing to help keep the community safe.
The people who helped McNair are now criminals. Let's hope the police are able to find and arrest them, in addition to capturing McNair.
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