Print
Comment
Rate
Council meetings 'pathetic, embarrasing'
Benson City Council meetings are not only pathetic-they're embarrassing. It is evident that these people have no idea what they are doing, that most of them either haven't read their packet of materials or don't understand what they have read, that they consider their primary function to be support for the city staff instead of the other way around, and that if Brooks and Sacco support something, everyone else opposes it without pausing to consider what is best for us-their public.
It is pathetic to hear Mr. Moncada and Mr. Lambert whining that they don't want to discuss the public's business (attorney Massee's contract) in public, but think they should hide behind the closed door of an executive session. Wrong! As a contractor, Mr. Massee has no rights to a closed discussion of his performance, which by anyone's assessment, except that of Maldonado, Moncada, McGoffin and Lambert, is at best incompetent and at worst spiteful and self-aggrandizing.
City Finance Director Jim Cox's eyes glinted with dollar signs as the Council blithely threw away five years' hard work by the Benson Chamber on the Bluegrass Festival, deciding the city would take it over. I assume Council thinks staff will take care of it, yet Tourism Director Bob Nilson admitted he has no experience and is, in fact, legally unable to solicit financial backing for the Bluegrass Festival-a crucial first step to success.
It's a classic example of cutting off your nose to spite your face, and at the rate they are going, this City Council-with the exception of Brooks and Sacco-have taken the eyes and ears as well.
E. Kathy Suagee
Benson
It is pathetic to hear Mr. Moncada and Mr. Lambert whining that they don't want to discuss the public's business (attorney Massee's contract) in public, but think they should hide behind the closed door of an executive session. Wrong! As a contractor, Mr. Massee has no rights to a closed discussion of his performance, which by anyone's assessment, except that of Maldonado, Moncada, McGoffin and Lambert, is at best incompetent and at worst spiteful and self-aggrandizing.
City Finance Director Jim Cox's eyes glinted with dollar signs as the Council blithely threw away five years' hard work by the Benson Chamber on the Bluegrass Festival, deciding the city would take it over. I assume Council thinks staff will take care of it, yet Tourism Director Bob Nilson admitted he has no experience and is, in fact, legally unable to solicit financial backing for the Bluegrass Festival-a crucial first step to success.
It's a classic example of cutting off your nose to spite your face, and at the rate they are going, this City Council-with the exception of Brooks and Sacco-have taken the eyes and ears as well.
E. Kathy Suagee
Benson
 |
||
| Letter writer 'misinformed |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Susan wrote on Jan 25, 2012 2:19 PM:
" Wow, so sad to see that nothing about the Benson city council has changed in 50 years. Still the small-town, petty, back-biting group of individuals that has run it since the late 1960s. Give me back the people who actually cared about the town because they grew up here or had businesses here. This is Benson, not LA or New York. I've watched this city go downhill for a lot of years because of the infighting, etc. Wow, just like Congress, I guess. "
Not surprised wrote on Jan 27, 2012 9:10 AM:
" Bob Nilson has experience putting on the Bluegrass Festival, actually starting it with the former Chamber Director, Bev Stepp. Since then, Bob has continued to be involved helping each new Chamber Director learn how it's done, assisting with art work, etc. Bob Nilson is a person who TRULY cares about this community and the people in it. His actions in helping with events speak way louder than other people whining when things don't go their way. Thank you Bob, for all your hard work and dedication. The majority appreciates you! "
D. Dan Mcgrew wrote on Jan 27, 2012 9:54 AM:
" I am not sure why Mr. Massee retains his job. I know the Council are are bright intelligent people. Could it be that they are receiving very bad advice from the City Manager? It is possible to be a good policeman and not have a clue about being a good manager. With regard to Mr. Massee, I don't know how a sports team could justify retaining a coach when the record is 0 wins and many losses every year. Council, you are wasting the taxpayers money by retaining a loser. In the case of Mr. Nichols, I question that he is a big enough man for the job. It would be easy to release him. Benson now has a highly qualified Police Chief in Paul Moncada. I don't think Mr. Nichols would be missed. Think about it. The easy way for an inadequate employee to be unnoticed would be to keep his bosses so busy fighting that they don't have time to notice the incompetence. MASSEE AND NICHOLS SHOULD GO. Council start acting like a team as those who elected you expect.
P.S.-Bob Nilson is a good man and will be capable of assembling a good team and doing the job. "
P.S.-Bob Nilson is a good man and will be capable of assembling a good team and doing the job. "
To Susan wrote on Jan 30, 2012 4:34 PM:
" Don't kid yourself, there are petty, back-biting people everywhere. But there are also a lot of "small-town" kind, friendly people in Benson who would help their neighbor with no hidden agenda. I'm glad I live here. Could it be better? You bet, everything everywhere could. Why don't you join in and help make it better? "
Kathy Suagee wrote on Feb 1, 2012 10:59 AM:
" Just to set the record straight, I did not disparage Mr. Nilson's ability to run the Blues Festival--he has done a terrific job at this and all events held in Benson since WE hired him when I was on the Council. By his own admisstion, however, at the meeting in which I was in attendance, he said he is legally unable, as a city employee, to solicit sponsorship for the event. As for Susan's remark, yes, I do everything I can to help make it better, and drawing the public's attention to elected officials who are not doing their jobs is the only option open to me at this time. Thank you for your good thoughts. See you at the City Council meetings! "
Set the record straight wrote on Feb 7, 2012 9:27 AM:
" In your letter you state, "Tourism Director Bob Nilson admitted he has no experience and is, in fact, legally unable to solicit financial backing for the Bluegrass Festival-a crucial first step to success." I was at the meeting, Mr. Nilson said he has worked on Bluegrass with the Chamber since it began, that he knows how to do it, and has done the artwork for the posters and the programs since the event started. What he did say, Kathy, was that he wasn’t really involved in setting up the sponsorships or selling ads in the program. Mr. Nilson said he didn't feel "comfortable" as a City employee getting sponsorships and selling the ads in the program.
You then turn it into, "By his own admisstion, however, at the meeting in which I was in attendance, he said he is legally unable, as a city employee, to solicit sponsorship for the event." No he didn't. If you say you're going to set the record straight, then set the record straight. "
You then turn it into, "By his own admisstion, however, at the meeting in which I was in attendance, he said he is legally unable, as a city employee, to solicit sponsorship for the event." No he didn't. If you say you're going to set the record straight, then set the record straight. "
Nana wrote on Jan 25, 2012 9:51 AM: