The news raced through City Hall last week: as reported in the Register today, IT Director Alan Olenick was suspended, allegedly for calling Finance Director Robert (Robber) Barron a "liar". (Barron, in case you didn't read my earlier post, now grabs $140,408.00 per year -- $2.17 per minute -- from West Haven taxpayers for his financial wizardry. I thought our MAYOR was the "proven financial manager"!)In truth, he was punished for revealing a state secret.
The list of, um, misstatements, obfuscations and other misinformations made by Mr. Barron is legendary, as is his haughty attitude to other elected officials (especially members of the City Council).
But beyond the fact that Mr. Olenick was essentially disciplined for speaking the truth (which of course is verboten these days in City Hall), the whole episode speaks volumes about how Picard realpolitik is practiced. You see, Alan Olenick was Rich Borer's executive assistant before taking the IT job (and before that, he was the publisher of our local litterbox liner -- wonder how Billy will cover this?); in Picard's eyes, he was essentially "grandfathered".
Adding to the unsavory odor of this affair, the steward of Alan's employee union is none other than Thom Reilly (father of Tara Reilly Picard); the company hired to install new servers in City Hall belongs to a family member of Picard's Human Resources Director (the problems with this company was the subject of the conversation between Olenick & Barron.) This town doesn't have a problem with nepotism....our current administration has a problem with inbreeding !
Smells like the fix is in, doesn't it?
But, the saddest aspect of this sorry story is that Alan is truly one of the good guys: he has tried mightily to run his department without political interference or motivation. He spends much of his free time studying to keep on top of innovations in the IT (computer) world, so that he can provide the best solution at the cheapest price. He is the poster boy of the type of City employee we want.
So, the word has been spread: if Johnnie ain't your BFF, he'll find some book to throw at you.
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4 comments:
" I think Robert Barron should be permanently suspended w/o pay. What they guy do? Did you catch him posting comments on the mayor's Facebook page on Twittering? LMAO! Without the IT guy around how is this beancounter (NOD - Numbers only data) guy Barrons going to format his spreadsheets.... "
" Oh I almost forgot when is the city's financial report due this year? Is Barron going to book another vacation then? LOL "
Hey Bob did you know they just started property valuations this week over in West Shore, apparently they will be doing inside valuations this years as well. Leaving a pamphlet for homeowners to schedule an appt. with appraisers. taxes should be going down based on market values around town. Got any info on this. There was supposed to be a schedule for the appraisers activity posted on the city of west haven website too.
@Anonymous #1: Barron doesn't need to go; oversight has to be brought to bear on his office. West Haven is in such a financial toilet that it would be hard to find a sufficiently masochistic individual to run that office.
@Anonymous #2: Sadly, as property values DECREASE, the tax rate will INCREASE: sadly, the city needs a certain amount to pay its bills (and its, um, current friends).
I have asked about this apparent oversight on the City's website (regarding where and when the reval's were to be performed); the only answer I got was that the company hasn't "as yet fixed it's schedule...but as soon as we [the city] het it we will post it."
You can bet I will, too....
Bob (the robber) Baron strikes again. The over paid jerk suspends one of the best employees the city has had in years because he told the truth. This is another example of how the Picard administration views the taxpayer. Baron get a king size raise and the city's finances are going down the toilet. Remember come November!!!! Dump the bunch of them.
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