|
Post by orrtannaexpat on Aug 13, 2013 4:34:52 GMT -5
The Times is reporting (as of 3 AM today) that Florence Ford, Ramona Overton and Karen Teel all resigned yesterday, info obtained from Jake Schindel. As I don't/will not pay for access to the paper, I don't know anything more than the bare bones of this story. Pray tell. Thanks.
I have some suspicions but will keep them to myself.
|
|
|
Post by Fire Marshal Bill on Aug 13, 2013 5:35:06 GMT -5
|
|
Dexter
Supreme Poster
Posts: 261
|
Post by Dexter on Aug 13, 2013 6:23:04 GMT -5
Didn't know they were running a $250,000 deficit? With a FULL TIME finance director?? What in the hell did Romona do? I hope the hell they don't re-fill that position.
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 13, 2013 7:59:33 GMT -5
It's about time!Over the many years here on BoroVENT, I've often wondered how Mona Overton had kept her job. She is probably the last vestige of the "Sterner Era" in Gettysburg Government. Has "Micro-Managing" become the buzz word for "Asking Questions"? I know that Butterfield can be a pain in the ass to those in the Borough Government (actually, to anybody), but he IS one of the Elected Officials. The Elected Officials are in charge of making the decisions, and they should always be kept in the loop. These Bureaucrats that are HIRED as Administrators of the Borough's Budget and Well-Being are there as "Employees-at-Will" (if I recall the term properly). That means they answer to the Elected Officials of the Borough. Granted, Butterfield overdoes it, and has pushed quite a few buttons - but in this case, I'll give him credit (or whomever "micro-managed" Overton to leave). But this is far enough! Any "Micro-Managing" to be done should be through an Oversight Committee (or in the case of Gettysburg a Myopic-sight, or Under-sight Committee) But, if you press Borough Secretary Sara Stull into leaving the Borough, you can kiss all semblance of sanity goodbye! And... you'll feel my wrath
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 13, 2013 8:03:29 GMT -5
As far as Borough Manager Flo Ford goes, I've always thought this was just a stepping stone for her - or a landing pad at least.
This should be an interesting time for Gettysburg. 150th is nearly over. New people at the helm to take us into the future.
I hope they use all of their senses to find the right people for the job.
|
|
|
Post by orrtannaexpat on Aug 13, 2013 8:29:11 GMT -5
Didn't know they were running a $250,000 deficit? With a FULL TIME finance director?? What in the hell did Romona do? I hope the hell they don't re-fill that position. 1. Thanks to FMB for posting the full article. It appears that some of my suspicions were correct. 2. Every council meeting that I attended during my Adams County days saw a monthly finance report distributed to the members. While I don't know anything more than what I have just read, it seems impossible to me that the BG council could have missed where they were headed last year. Whether or not Overton or Ford specifically warned them shouldn't have been necessary. Butterballs, as the chief micromanager, ought to have been on top of this like a coon hound with a treed raccoon. 3. Question for Venter (or someone else who might know): does GB have a separate position for borough treasurer or is it combined with another position? It wasn't until later this AM that I remembered that CPA Karen Teel used to do my taxes when I moved to Adams County. She closed her office quite awhile ago and I seem to recall that she signed on with a larger firm. I presume she was not an employee of the borough but a professional service contractor like Harry Eastman.
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 13, 2013 8:45:56 GMT -5
Chapter One: www.gettysburg-pa.gov/codes/code_ordinances.htmOO, to kinda respond to your question... He/She is the Borough Treasurer, but has a Finance Director to do the job, I guess. And, I'm sorry, but if you are going to make rules, cause issues, etc. - I believe that you MUST LIVE IN THE BOROUGH!
It's plain wrong to be the head of a Municipality that you don't even Live In!
|
|
|
Post by Alex Oreilly on Aug 13, 2013 11:31:47 GMT -5
Even if it means you dont get the best person for the job?
If I recall last year the Boro planned to spend money for the150th without having the income planned to pay for it. They were hoping the County and State would pick up the bills for it. Not sure why they thought they would when the State keeps shrinking the budgets
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 13, 2013 14:24:01 GMT -5
OO, I guess you can only work with the numbers you are given
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 13, 2013 14:24:56 GMT -5
BTW, there's nothing criminal in ineptitude, is there?
|
|
Dexter
Supreme Poster
Posts: 261
|
Post by Dexter on Aug 13, 2013 16:16:04 GMT -5
2. Every council meeting that I attended during my Adams County days saw a monthly finance report distributed to the members. While I don't know anything more than what I have just read, it seems impossible to me that the BG council could have missed where they were headed last year. Whether or not Overton or Ford specifically warned them shouldn't have been necessary. Butterballs, as the chief micromanager, ought to have been on top of this like a coon hound with a treed raccoon. Read more: boroughvent.proboards.com/thread/1070/world-happened-overton-ford-leave#ixzz2bt00mHuHWith a full time finance director, Overton should have been telling them about the problem. Shit, that is her job man!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by orrtannaexpat on Aug 14, 2013 4:23:56 GMT -5
I just read that the pot continues to boil in Gettysburg.
Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 12:08 am
BY JIM HALE Times Staff Writer
Gettysburg Finance Director Ramona Overton was asked to leave the borough offices on High Street Tuesday, prompting the ire of two members of the council's Human Resources Committee. Borough Council President Michael Birkner and council member Rebecca Brown said they served Overton with a letter directing her to leave and to turn in her keys. >>>>>>>>>>> Fun times at 59 E. High Street. Further comments and details appreciated. The council president and I have known one another for a LONG time.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Oreilly on Aug 14, 2013 7:05:44 GMT -5
So was this just these two council members decision or the whole coun il
|
|
|
Post by kyleleinbach on Aug 14, 2013 10:12:23 GMT -5
So was this just these two council members decision or the whole coun il Supposedly Michael conferred with 4 other memberes of council before escorting Ramona out, but the article said today Becky was only aware by happenstance, and Jake and Claire were not notified, and I was notified after the fact. So you can figure out the 5 council members who acted unilaterally.
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 14, 2013 10:36:14 GMT -5
Kyle, It does seem like "Standard Operating Procedure" for an Employee with access to vital resources to be "Removed" from their position asap.
I believe that Birkner did the right thing, considering the circumstances - especially after seeking Counsel. If anything, any attempts to save/destroy/manipulate/modify/etc. would have most likely been completed BEFORE the resignation was tendered. I'm not saying that there WAS any impropriety, but the actions by Birkner could have eliminated any future issues that could have resulted from an employee allowed continued access.
Talking about access - I wonder how much protection the Borough has to prevent these former employees from accessing the System Remotely! Passwords need to be changed.
|
|
|
Post by thats ogp on Aug 14, 2013 11:59:17 GMT -5
If you are running a $250K deficit into the next year, count on revenues that are NOT guaranteed (ie. the 150th celeb.) how do you balance the budget? And as for "micro-managing", every business has it in one form or another, however I understand that Gettysburg has this in the worse fashion.
|
|
|
Post by kyleleinbach on Aug 14, 2013 13:01:26 GMT -5
Kyle, It does seem like "Standard Operating Procedure" for an Employee with access to vital resources to be "Removed" from their position asap. I believe that Birkner did the right thing, considering the circumstances - especially after seeking Counsel. If anything, any attempts to save/destroy/manipulate/modify/etc. would have most likely been completed BEFORE the resignation was tendered. I'm not saying that there WAS any impropriety, but the actions by Birkner could have eliminated any future issues that could have resulted from an employee allowed continued access. Talking about access - I wonder how much protection the Borough has to prevent these former employees from accessing the System Remotely! Passwords need to be changed. Absolutely, but I also believe that all decisions should be made by all of council. If this was a situation where all 9 were consulted, and there was a 5-4 decision or a 6-3 decision, I would be silent now. But fact of the matter is that 5 members acted unilaterally and circumvented not just almost half of council, but, according to the paper, 2 HR committee reps and the chair of the Committee that Ramona operated under. That hardly seems like standard procedure. Secondly, I need to do research, but I was under the impression that council decisions needed to be conducted in public meetings and that Sunshine Act protected conversations had to be shared with the whole board. Even if that is not the case from a legal perspective, personally, those practices seem like a good idea in order to help keep governance open and transparent, imho. The alternative it seems to me is 5 council members to confer via email or phone and bypass the other 4, and that disenfranchises the 44% of voters that put those 4 bypassed members in office. Just where I'm at with it.
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 14, 2013 14:00:47 GMT -5
I believe that all Rules & Regulations fly out the window when it is a "Personnel Issue". At least that's the way it is in Gettysburg.
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 14, 2013 14:02:03 GMT -5
BTW, Can anyone name the Last Employee, besides Lawver, who left the Borough on their own terms - and in good standing?
|
|
|
Post by Deb G on Aug 14, 2013 16:04:59 GMT -5
From November 2012 by Dexter.... I've said this before and I'll say it again. Does any other boro or township have a full time finance director? What the hell does Romona do? AND given the continuous money problems the boro has, is she doing her job well? Finally, someone heard you Dexter!
|
|
|
Post by Venter on Aug 14, 2013 16:05:19 GMT -5
Evidently the Hanover Sun has a bit more to add...
|
|
Dexter
Supreme Poster
Posts: 261
|
Post by Dexter on Aug 14, 2013 16:09:59 GMT -5
I agree with Venter, that precautions need to be taken with an employee having access to the stuff Overton did. I also agree that those decisions should happen rather quickly and in fact should be part of SOP. It shouldn't have to go to the whole council. BUT, I don't think SOP should to be immediately dismissed the employee either. Change passwords, require a supervisor be present during anytime that the employee is handling money, check etc. It was a little drastic IMO to dismiss the resigning employee on the spot. Fire, then yeah, OK, out the door and we will arrange a time for you to pick up personal stuff. Granted, this resignation probably wasn't "voluntary", but, still it should have been handled differently. As far as the micromanaging issue: here's what I see happen in situations like this: the employees don't know who their boss is. Is each and every council member the boss? So, you have "boss A" telling you to do something and "boss B" telling you something else. Not to mention your regular workload that has to take a back seat all of a sudden because a council member wants something. There needs to be a chain of command and a clear understanding of what a council member can and can not request of the employees.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Oreilly on Aug 14, 2013 16:52:54 GMT -5
Since the Gettysburg Boro can't seem to figure out what they are doing , let declare bankruptcy and let the State take it over
|
|
davew
Poster Child
Posts: 308
|
Post by davew on Aug 15, 2013 6:34:15 GMT -5
Since the Gettysburg Boro can't seem to figure out what they are doing , let declare bankruptcy and let the State take it over Hire Kwame Kilpatrick! He can manage the affairs from the federal pen or wherever they put him
|
|
|
Post by thats ogp on Aug 15, 2013 8:14:41 GMT -5
Hope the city changed the passwords.
|
|