Veto 130 and counting
Well I guess it was too good to last. Mayor Purzner has once again landed Overland in the pages of the post dispatch with her antics. What is going to happen next? Will Herman sue the city for non-payment? And who is gong to pick up the tab? Oh of course the tax payers. Wow, moving is looking better and better everyday.
Mayor rejects legal bills over police chief
By Norm Parish
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/07/2006
OVERLAND
Mayor Ann Purzner has vetoed a plan to pay for legal work to help a police chief she tried to oust.
In a letter last week to the city, Purzner vetoed a resolution that would have authorized the payment of legal bills from City Attorney Bob Herman, whom she also attempted to replace when she took office.
The City Council, by a 4-3 margin, agreed May 30 to pay Herman more than $8,000 for work dealing mostly with legal disputes over Purzner's unsuccessful attempt to remove the police chief. But at the council meeting, the mayor said she opposed the board's decision to pay Herman, questioning whether he was properly authorized by Overland to represent the chief.
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The council needs six votes to override the veto. But city officials said that probably won't happen because three council members agree with the mayor.
Herman said Purzner's veto sets "a bad precedent."
"This sets a precedent that the city will refuse to pay for the legal defense of their agents, servants or employees when they get sued while conducting their business," Herman said.
Purzner could not be reached for comment. In the past, Purzner has said she would pay for her own legal fees involving the police chief.
In the case, a judge ruled last month that Purzner had exceeded her authority by trying to suspend Police Chief Jim Herron and replace him.
The controversy came to St. Louis County courts when the county prosecutor, Robert P. McCulloch, filed a suit charging that Purzner exceeded her authority by installing former Frontenac Police Chief Ben Branch without approval from the City Council.
Until last week, the City Council had not completed a full meeting. Several council meetings had either failed to start because too few members showed up or ended abruptly because too many walked out.
Mayor rejects legal bills over police chief
By Norm Parish
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/07/2006
OVERLAND
Mayor Ann Purzner has vetoed a plan to pay for legal work to help a police chief she tried to oust.
In a letter last week to the city, Purzner vetoed a resolution that would have authorized the payment of legal bills from City Attorney Bob Herman, whom she also attempted to replace when she took office.
The City Council, by a 4-3 margin, agreed May 30 to pay Herman more than $8,000 for work dealing mostly with legal disputes over Purzner's unsuccessful attempt to remove the police chief. But at the council meeting, the mayor said she opposed the board's decision to pay Herman, questioning whether he was properly authorized by Overland to represent the chief.
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The council needs six votes to override the veto. But city officials said that probably won't happen because three council members agree with the mayor.
Herman said Purzner's veto sets "a bad precedent."
"This sets a precedent that the city will refuse to pay for the legal defense of their agents, servants or employees when they get sued while conducting their business," Herman said.
Purzner could not be reached for comment. In the past, Purzner has said she would pay for her own legal fees involving the police chief.
In the case, a judge ruled last month that Purzner had exceeded her authority by trying to suspend Police Chief Jim Herron and replace him.
The controversy came to St. Louis County courts when the county prosecutor, Robert P. McCulloch, filed a suit charging that Purzner exceeded her authority by installing former Frontenac Police Chief Ben Branch without approval from the City Council.
Until last week, the City Council had not completed a full meeting. Several council meetings had either failed to start because too few members showed up or ended abruptly because too many walked out.
posted by John Doe at 10:37 AM
31 Comments:
She will be Biotch slapped again, at our expense.
This effing Mayor is way out of control. Somebody seriously needs to step in and stop this Uber Furer.
The saga continues...........
I am in Canada right now and I just realized the similarities between this country and our beautiful hometown. The government here doesn't speak English.
I just address the "funny talk" the way Owenswig would. Everytime I hear it, I simply say: "Hey last time I checked we won the war.... and I don't speak German."
If Herman Munster has any sense at all, he will simply file suit against the City tomorrow.
I guess it doesn't matter how hard you hit her. She has no sense. Its sort of like beating a........ never mind.
This also sets a sorry other precedent. If it is known that the mayor (or council or whomever) will decide not to pay a legitimate bill because of politics, then noone will do business with the city.
Noone will sell us asphalt or concrete for street projects.
Noone will sell us salt for de-icing ing the winter.
Either that, or they will charge extremely high prices as part of the gamble on whether or not they will be paid.
I would certainly be apprehensive about doing any sort of business with Overland, because of the uncertainty of getting paid. Who the heck would want to replace Herman as City Attorney, knowing Uber Mayor Ann won’t fork over the dough.
I am sure she could convince Pleban or Tolen to be the attorney. She could guarantee them no vetos. That, and plenty of billable hours for her crime spree.
Suzyjax,
Oh my gosh, you are right. How could I have forgotten her partner's in crime.
I wonder if the Queen Bee has cigars in her office? Does the Wig own a blue dress?.....stay tuned as.....Overland Turns....
Sponsored in part by Tu-Wongs wig wam.
More advice from the Gravy Bowl for our Mayor. Yes, I know these facts and ideas will go ripping over her head like a Blue Angels fly-over at the County Fair and Air Show.
Law 47
Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop.
The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril.
In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat.
Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.
"By the way, I can tell you right now that you're wasting your time on a recall. How do you think you'll get the necessary signatures when only 1/4 of Overland citizens vote. It's a long drawn out process that you'll get tired of and restless with. Besides who's gonna pay for the signatures? You may get 2 signatures around October at a Council meeting. By that time all
protesters..will be home watching TV."-DannyTheInfector
See, I wrote that my advice for the Purzneristas was a little late.
Anyone know of an even longer drawn-out process that I have already grown tired and restless with, yeah that one is easy, .....Ann Purzner's Administration.
I smell a challenge from DannytheInfector.
Therefore here is a little advice for DannytheInfector: " Law 19
Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.
Oh, that advice is for you too MusicGoat........Gravy Crane.
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1) You know, someone has to be the "old meanie" on a block. Some of these folks must fill the bill on their streets. There the ones that yell at kids for being kids and the like.
2) The recall against Purzner will go forth. It may be pointless agaist Knode and Sellers as their terms expire this April. It would be easier to work to just vote them out of office.
Then again, if we can fill enough seats on the council, once could impeach.
3) I think the people want Purzner out so badly they will be extra careful to "dot their i's and cross their t's" so that NOTHING will derail the effort. We will organize now, so that we can hit the ground running in October. I predict by mid-November we will have enough signatures to put the recall of the mayor on the ballot.
BTW, I know I came up with it--but I like the term "crime spree" in regards to our mayor's actions.
Here here Mr. Fawkes, how right your are......During lunch I was musing to myself over DannyInfector's challenge.
He certainly has a point in regard to the low rate of voter registration in Overland. Given that only registered voters may sign a recall petition, the number of citizens with ability to sign recall petition is limited and getting a sufficient percentage does present a challenge.
Therefore, I would like to invite the Great Con Purzner and the Ort Cloud to join me in organizing a summer voter registration drive designed to extend the sufferage to all voting age members of the O.C.
When I finish typing this note I will begin contacting appropriate organizations to supply free voter registration cards and other "go-democracy" type literature. It will be a daunting task to stroll the streets of the OC to find the disenfranchised. But, to bring these new voters into the process through a recall petition,...what could me more exciting for the newly franchised voter!
And what do you know, the August primary will be coming up followed by the fall state-wide campaigns. Voter registration is always a big issue with the campaigns for state-wide office.
Who knows, maybe I could get some interns from local university political science clubs to help me organize a voter registration effort.
I am so full of freedom right now I may explode.
Suzyjax,
I loved your "crime spree" comment. Because all kidding aside, Purzner is on a crime spree. Your comment made me laugh.
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Appointment for Ward Three
A large number of residents have contacted me asking what is going on with the Councilmen not appointing my choices for the ward three Coucilmans [Sic.] seat.
They have related to me that ward three deserves equal representation under the law as do the other wards in our city i.e., that each ward have two Councilmen. They have also mentioned circulating a petition to sue the council because of lack of full representation.
Unfortunately Councilmen May, O Connell, Corcoran and Schneider are playing vindictive politics with the future of our City.
These Councilmen do not seem to care about the conduction of City business or the bad publicity that has been generated in our community from their attempt to openly vote down any appointments that I have made.
As Councilman Knode read in open session on May 30, 2006 – we must put our differences behind us and work for the benefit of the City and its residents-. [Sic.]
Unfortunately the reply from Councilman Schneider was on of vindictiveness over the election results. All his comments were on camera and the news media just loved it for the 10PM [Sic.] newscast!
Are these the kind of councilmen we need in Overland, ones who will do anything to cause trouble and bad publicity for our community?
Regarding the protesters who are backing the aforementioned Councilmen and who are trying to make a media circus out of our town I have but one question, are these people children?
What kind of examples are they setting for our children to follow? Their response is obviously,- [Sic.] If [Sic.] we cannot have our way we will throw a big fit and make life miserable for everyone around us until they give into our demands-. [Sic.]
This is the mentality of a two year old and should not be exhibited or tolerated in a rational mature adult.
What does this say about Overland when it is seen on television throughout the nation? I have personally received letters from Florida about the infantile behavior of these protesters.
Never in the history of our City has such a blatant display of –poor [Sic.] sportsmanship-[Sic.] ever occurred. My opponents need to realize that the election is over.
The will of the people was decreed by a free and democratic election.
Now the opposition to my administration [Sic.] wants to create havoc and punish all the residents of the City through bad publicity that they generate and try to force the same failed policies of the previous administration [Sic.] on the people of increasing taxes, reducing services and making the people pay for trash pickup.
This is [Sic.] the reason I was elected, [Sic.] to change the course of the City and return our community back to a prosperous and secure one. [Sic.]
I will do everything in my power to accomplish this task. [Sic.]
Gravy,
Mz. Purzner RN/Mayor is sick in the head. That message on her website made me sick to my stomach. She is mentally ill. I sure hope a News Paper or TV News Station, gets a hold of this BS.
I am trying to determine if the Mayor can break all 48 of my laws of power by years end.
Law 13:
When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to their Mercy or Gratitude
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.
A candy bar will be rewarded to the poster who can identify what type of grammatical error is being committed amoung the 14 or so identified in the Mayor's dispatch.
With every move I am actually beginning to hate her. She is no longer a casual amusement to me.
She is a bully. Ms. Purzner is simply a mean spirit ignorant bully.
Much like Joliet Jake said about Nazis, I hate bullies.
I will critique the letter this weekend for the audience. Right now my brain simply cannot comprehend how someone could be such a disagreeable, disingenuous and delusional person.
Thanks for posting the message. For some reason, my one computer crashes everytime I pull up her site. Then again, is that really all that surprising?
Hey AmuzingGoat. How does one supervise a nursing staff while not having the credentials to be a nurse?
You can split that hair anyway you want MusicGoat but it is a lie and always will be a lie. I guess the fraudulent diploma hanging in her office is for a supervisor of nursing degree?
What if the AmusingGoat would need surgery? Would the AmusingGoat request Supervising Nurse Purzner to handle her intubation?
Thanks to everyone who attended the Robert Dody Expressway dedication ceremony.
As many residents may know, Lackland Ave. west of the Curve Inn was re-built through Phase II construction which began over 1 year ago.
Lackland Avenue project culminated in a well attended dedication ceremony Friday in the Overland Heights neighborhood and loft district. Former Mayor Dody offered the following comments at the event:
"Phase II was the final piece of my vision for the Overland Heights Neighborhood and I am honored that the City would rename Lackland in my honor. Regardless of the uneven payment, tire shreading man-hole covers, several sets of fun-house style woop-di-doos, water run-off disfunctions and the simple fact that the road is less-smooth after paving than before paving, the Bob Dody Expressway will continue to allow cars without mufflers, Monster Trucks, roofing supplies, buses, Dollar General deliveries and of course the endless 120 decible parade of drunken Harley Davidson riders to race through the Overland Heights at 40, 50 and at times 60 mph. It ain't smooth and I wouldn't want to drive on it, but thanks to the 15 men assigned to the paving crew, the asphalt is down.
In closing, I hope the Phase II project demonstrates that inexperienced and unskilled City employees are fully capable of producing the same quality of work as private sector professional at half-the-price."
Later in the week we had a chance to catch-up with several motorists who had stopped to admire the degree of damage to their cars. Mostly flat tires, but several aluminum and chrome wheels were also destroyed during the first week of motoring on the newly paved surface. One motorist added, "everything was going good, we had made it through the woop-di-doos before destroying the undercarraiage by hitting unwittingly hitting the open man-hole cover hidden under a fresh layer of asphalt. That was a nice touch I have to admit."
I never thought of it, but that may explain the tire I have to air every few days.
IF I was going to the meeting tonight (or thought I could get in), this is what I would say during resident comments:
As one who was born in Overland, went to school in Overland and now owns a home in Overland, I must speak out against the mayor and her recent posting to her website.
Does Mayor Purzner realize the irony in stating that May, O'Connell, Corcoran and Schneider "do not seem to care about the conduction of City business or the bad publicity that has been generated in our community"? It is her illegal actions that have brought out the news cameras and reporters. It is her illegal actions that prompted the county prosecutor to act in the behalf of the interest of the citizens of Overland. It is her "contingency" that put a stop to more city business with Knode, Sellers and Owesnby refusing to show up to the April 10 and May 8 meetings, in addition to walking out of the April 24 meeting.
Mayor Purzner quotes Councilman Knode's appeal to "put our differences behind us and work for the benefit of the City and its residences". Yet, the mayor posts such a vitriol-filled statement she makes even more enemies. The mayor is supposed to be a leader and as such should set the example. Yet, she has proven time-and-time again that she doesn't have this important leadership skill.
Most importantly, the citizens of Overland will not stand for the disrespect of themselves or their laws. In regards to the protestors, Ann asks "are these people children" and likens their actions to the "mentality of a two year old". Perhaps the mayor would prefer a city of sycophants, similar to those in which she surrounds herself. Despite the mayor's ramblings, these are not the actions of two year olds, but actions that will be 230 years old this July 4. It is in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence that these people protest for an OPEN government that follows the checks-and-balances written into Overland law. These protestors are defending their rights, both explicit and implied, in the United States Constitution as well as Missouri statute and Overland ordinance. It is not only their right to do so, but their duty to protect democracy on the local level.
Purzner claims power through "a free and democratic election," yet chooses to not abide by the laws that are the key to such a "democratic" society. She ends her note by threatening to do "everything in your power to accomplish" campaign goals. Our problem is that Mayor Purzner has overstepped her powers and then stepped on the people she was elected to represent.
Suzyjax,
I hope you get in and are able to make a resident comment.
Your comment was beautifuly written and expresses my sentiments exaclty, except you expressed it better than I ever could. BRAVO SUZYJAX..... :-)
I would ask everyone at the meeting if they could explain why the Mayor seems hates children so much?
McWilliams is the Mark Brown dude. I do not know about any porno convictions. But, that is the name.
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Oh Gravy! She doesn't hate children. She was my Brownie leader. In the 1970's.
Hopefully, printing services will go out to competitive bid and not just handed to Mark-Marks Quick Print and Diploma Mill.
Who is on this committee? Is it all pro-Ann people? If not, content may not be as much of an issue.
Does this mean there will be no more Mayor's Message/Our Town Updates in the Localite?
Is the Localite or this newsletter route more cost effective?
Isn't the point of the city website to be a dynamic newsletter? I know that 100% of the city isn't online. But, you can redirect the rest of the message via the Localite or the Suburban Journal (both that folks get for free).
From Post.
"After the meeting's adjournment, police had to step in to break up an argument between two council members.
The confrontation between Owensby and May was spurred by a comment Owensby made about May's family during the meeting."
Epic.
Whoever the monkey is who is running the Public Works Department, Chuck Booner perhaps, stood up and said he wanted a raise or he was quitting.
Is he responsible for the horrific paving work on the Dody Expressway (fka Lackland)? My god man? Given the number of rough spots on Lackland, I wouldn't let this monkey frost a cake.
Not only should he not get a raise, but his pay should be docked for the cost of asphalt he wasted on Phase II. He should also be docked for allowing non-skiilled labor to operate the critical elements of the paving process. Such as running the paver. Such as driving the roller. Such as the 4 sixteen year old cell phone addicts working the lutes.
How do I know they are not skilled labor? Well results sort of speak for themselves.
FYI: Westbond drivers please beware of the large steel plate installed yesterday to cover the hole created from paving over man-hole without man-hole cover.
The stuff about motorist getting their wheels demolished by the hole was not a joke. Go see for yourself. You can't miss it. It is the spot in the road, now five days old, with the LARGE STEEL PLATE as rather than pavement.
Is the demand for the raise some sort of sick joke?
Now, now Gravy.... enough whining about the road. It is such a small price to pay for the free trash pickup that Con will be delivering. Why worry about the cost of you alloy wheel when your saving yourself $24 per quarter.
As for Chuck Boondoggle, apparently you have never worked with him. I have. The energy that man brings to the game is unparalleled. As an old friend used to say, he's like instant water... just add water.... makes its own water.
As for the "cell phone addicted 16 year olds", things are looking up on the Street Department. Back in the day, they used to huff solvents between loads. Now those same kids are on our City council.
Free John Doe. What happened to our host?
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