Comments on: CAO’s super duper county czar agency

By: Kirk MacKenzie

Kirk MacKenzie — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:49:12 +0000

Mr E. — Good try, and good luck.

By: James E.

James E. — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:34:04 +0000

Kirt, I wasn’t setting a higher bar, I was merely answering your question. I will make a note to let Mr. McClintock know my preferences, to no good end
I’m sure.

By: Kirk MacKenzie

Kirk MacKenzie — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:25:39 +0000

Mr E. — so you set a higher bar for constituent preferences than you do to elect our president? I don’t. All I ask for is for everyone who cares to have the ability to make their preference known. If not enough people care, the representative should be free to vote their “conscience”. If *enough* people express their preferences, and there is a clear majority, a representative should vote accordingly…or contrary to the will of constituents in the light of day.

By: James E.

James E. — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:16:25 +0000

Kirt, reference the president, to get a valid majority, all eligible voters would have had to vote. Given less then 100%, then no. Unfortunately, many Americans don’t seem to think voting is important, so we had much less than 100% in this election, ergo not a valid majority. I doubt he will step down, or Mitt would have grounds to appeal.

By: Kirk MacKenzie

Kirk MacKenzie — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:21:11 +0000

Mr E. — was President Obama re-elected with a “valid majority”?

By: James E.

James E. — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:31:31 +0000

Kirk, I want to participate. But, tell me how we could get a valid majority. Comments on line by some undetermined number, or telephone calls to how many, or knocking on how many doors when people may not be home or who decline to answer the door. Tell me how this would result in a majority position? I think you have a great idea, but the execution of it is impossible unless you can come up with more than you have described. Sounds like you want hit and miss polling, and we all how how unreliable those can be.

By: Kirk MacKenzie

Kirk MacKenzie — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:13:21 +0000

Mr E. — I believe you can’t see how we could get a valid majority. Feel free to not participate.

By: James E.

James E. — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:05:07 +0000

Kirk, but what about those who don’t have computers, or land line phones, or don’t answer the door. Your majority preference would be fatally flawed. Sorry, I may be dense, but I cannot see how you would get to a valid majority preference.

By: Kirk MacKenzie

Kirk MacKenzie — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:34:52 +0000

Mr E. — Here we are discussing measuring preferences on *issues* to be voted on by the county *Board of Supervisors*. How we do the measuring is easy to imagine…on-line + telephone + door bells.

By: James E.

James E. — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:24:36 +0000

Kirk, I believe in majority rules (but, strangely the Senate doesn’t believe in majority rules — 60 votes required for most everything), and I believe in holding politicians accountable. However, and I have commented on this many times in the past, how do we determine the majority preference? How do we find out what you want or what I want or what Cookie wants or what Richard wants or what phil wants? And, how do we add up all these multiple wants to announce the 51% preference? Isn’t this what an election does? Or, are we to have monthly elections? Seems to me we have an election every two years and the majority preference is electing McClintock so the majority approves of his voting record.

By: Kirk MacKenzie

Kirk MacKenzie — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:12:12 +0000

Mr E. — *we* represents an aggregate. If a clear majority shares a preference, we should know if our representative chooses to vote contrary to that preference. I expect there is much more consensus on local issues than national issues. Do you take exception to “majority rules”, or holding representatives accountable?

By: James E.

James E. — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:52:45 +0000

Kirt, what “we want?” Therein is the problem. What you want is not what I want or what Cookie wants or what Richard wants or what Phil wants or etc., etc., etc.

By: Kirk MacKenzie

Kirk MacKenzie — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:18:19 +0000

Mr Kapson — This has nothing to do with party. Self serving greed knows no party lines. This is what happens when elected officials are not held accountable by their constituents. The only way to take back our county is to make the will of constituents on individual issues public knowledge, and vote out any “representative” that votes contrary to what we want.

By: Sam Kapson

Sam Kapson — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:56:11 +0000

This is what happens when you have a county entirely run by republicans.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 03:31:49 +0000

Melody, with Ron Briggs brother in-law, Judge Bailey, overseeing the EDC Grand Jury, do you think in your life time any complaint of this natural will ever be acted on by our Grand Jury?

By: Melody

Melody — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:51:41 +0000

Get the facts straight from the horse’s mouth at this link to last week’s BOS: http://eldorado.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=139 Click on OPEN FORUM and ITEM #43 (CONSOLIDATION) to go directly to that portion of the video. **Note as of this posting the items that were submitted for the PUBLIC RECORD have NOT yet been posted to the BOS website as requested. Apparently County Counsel is covering select public servant a$$es from Brown Act violations and other potential litigation. So where’s the CAO “transparency & accountability” we’ve heard so much about…hmmmmmm?

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:55:22 +0000

District 2 Supervisor Ray Nutting weighed in recently noting, “Like anyone I have concerns when information like this comes up. This position was hired by Terri the CAO and I would hope that she did a background (check).” And of course we all know that Terri is also came from Amador County as is Jim Abercrombie the new head of EID. Makes one wonder what’s going on in the world of water and land use.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:33:35 +0000

Melody Lane September 03, 2012 – 7:16 pm Phil – Your cousin Brian and opponent Richard Barb were present during the 7/23 Tax Payers meeting when Kim Kerr was our guest speaker. I’m sure the pubic would be interested in their perspectives. Kim’s topic was Economic Development Planning & Actions. Transparency & accountability were repeatedly mentioned. That is, until I read excerpts from the Amador Grand Jury report, Voice in Ione and Ledger Dispatch. When I asked if Kim would care to comment on the GJ report, Kim’s mood turned icy cold. Mike Raffety and Jack Sweeney had left the room unusually early. Perhaps that was because a member of the Grand Jury revealed his presence that essentially ended the meeting. Apparently some individuals are uncomfortable when their feet are held to the fire. Check out the people’s perspective of a very sensitive topic that hits too close to home in EDC: http://ionepd.com/

By: Kim Kerr

Kim Kerr — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:30:59 +0000

Jim Nevin September 26, 2012 – 12:19 pmIn September the Ione City Council responded to the 2011-2012 Grand Jury Report. They agreed with all of the findings regarding Ms. Kerr. Also, take time to google the Ledger Dispatch interview with Ione City Attorney James Maynard in which maynard talks about the former City Manager. It’s interesting to get another view of just whom is responsible for most, if not all, of the economic hardships the city of ione now faces.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:27:49 +0000

Phil – You made a good point about 2008, but facts are facts. Read the documents and you’ll find 11 specifics pertaining to Kim Kerr & City Council, all of which fall outside the economic chaos you referred to. Ledger Dispatch excerpt: “The GJ also accuses Kerr of providing insufficient or misleading information to the council on many occasions, making it difficult or impossible for the City Council to cast intelligent votes…Council & Kerr ignored complaints voiced by local citizens and disregarded findings & recommendations of the previous year’s GJ…Kerr is also accused of a conflict of interest…was alone in overseeing the unnecessary payments to the consultants and did not maintain proper payment procedures.” EDC voters demand transparency & accountability. Was there actually a proper HR background check? Question is whether the in-coming Supes will go along with the GOB status quo or probe into the EDC fiscal dysfunction and do what’s necessary to avert a similar disaster.

By: Phil Veerkamp

Phil Veerkamp — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 04:35:53 +0000

Colonel - Richard - Robert Van Gilder - The jury made findings that between 2007 and 2011, the city manager and City Council members developed the city’s General Plan based on inaccurate and overly optimistic growth projections. In October 2007 the DJIA was near 14,000. By February, 2009 the DJIA had lost nearly 50%. It lost nearly 7000 points. I suspect that the Ione city fathers abused the grand jury process. 2008 was an “economic inflection point” nestled between the years 2007 - 2011. Multitudes of community’s and organization’s capital projects were shredded by new economic realities. I strongly suspect that when Ione’s plans and projects became obsolete due to the new economy the CITY FATHERS went scapegoat hunting via the grand jury. Bubbles burst. This fact is not criminal. This fact is the ultimate result of exponential growth. How many other communities’ forecasts were shredded?

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 02:59:11 +0000

Section 919 (c) of the Penal Code requires the grand jury to inquire into the
willful or corrupt misconduct in office of public officers of every description
within the county. Where misconduct is found, the grand jury may file an
accusation leading to a trial. If the official is convicted, he is thereby
removed from office. Very few accusations are filed. Frequently, if there is
misconduct in office, it is of a criminal nature, and an indictment rather than
an accusation would be issued. It is also possible that an official would resign
rather than face an accusation.

By: Robert Van Gilder

Robert Van Gilder — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:15:10 +0000

Hey Board of Supervisors, just a couple of findings from, “City of lone’s response to the 2011-2012 Amador County Grand Jury
Report disseminated by the Amador County Grand Jury in June 2012.”

Finding #1: The City Manager for the fiscal period 2007-2011 did not demonstrate that she
possessed the proper qualifications and expertise to perform the duties required for that
position. (Facts #1 -3)
Agree. The City is working closely with both the Amador County Counsel and with the
Amador District Attorney to determine what, if any, action should be taken against
former City Manager Kerr.

Findings #3: That on many occasions the City Manager (Kim Kerr) provided insufficient
or misleading information making it difficult or impossible for the City Council to cast
intelligent votes. (Fact #3)
Agree. Former City Manager Kim Kerr’s budget documents were difficult to decipher,
were inaccurate, and contained errors. The City’s administration has made great strides,
however, during the 2011-2012 fiscal year to provide accurate and timely budget
information to the City Council and to the public. Budget documents are now presented
in a standard format successfully used by municipalities throughout California.
Reconciliation of past financial irregularities is ongoing and the City of lone intends to
retain a Certified Public Accountant to complete the reconciliation effort in the near term.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:47:02 +0000

Jim , you really think Ray is on the attack?

By: Jim Riordan

Jim Riordan — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:10:48 +0000

Good call Ray and Joe. The LAST thing we need here is another SUPER AGENCY staffed by the unknowing and overpaid as usual. . . throw the bums out and put their fat salaries back in the County funds. let’em go somewhere else for a handout . . .this is the last thing we need here . . .Stay on the attack Joe and Ray.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:35:16 +0000

Has a complaint been filed with the Grand Jury?

By: cookie65

cookie65 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:31:56 +0000

Since when have actual qualifications been a neccessity to aquire a position at the public trough? The public trough was invented for individuals with room temperature IQ’s. They can’t be expected to compete in the private sector. Celebrate diversity and add some people who represent the unqualified to local government.

By: resident

resident — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:43:03 +0000

County employed Kerr at least a year ago. Dunno answer to the ?. Supervisor Knight said he had heard about the Amador GJ Report but wasn’t interested in reading it. For some Kerr is the the perfect employee … she needs the job. In these “changing times” having a controllable person in the CAO position may be “convenient”. But lots of people are shaking their heads in wonder.

By: James E.

James E. — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:23:32 +0000

If Ms. Kerr has an alleged checkered past in Ione,
why is she being hired before an investigation that would protect El Dorado County. Is this a sweetheart deal, and who exactly are the sweethearts?

By: TAXPAYER ALERT

TAXPAYER ALERT — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:36:01 +0000

“Kim Kerr completely lacks the qualifications, credentials and experience to oversee this super agency and is under Grand Jury investigation for all of the problems she caused in Ione, Amador County, at her prior job where she was unqualified and unfit for the positions she assumed.”