Just got a news release from the city of Billings announcing that Police Chief Ron Tussing has resigned "following a buy-out of his position today by the City of Billings."
Approval of the settlement is to be considered on Monday.
My take on last week's hearing is here.
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4 comments:
Once again, we'll be paying big bucks to a public servant who no longer provides us with a service.
Once again some well-paid jerk who has no interest in the long-term well being of the City has handed the city's taxpayers a huge bill simply because he has a fragile ego and no leadership skills.
The boy manager needs to go.
So, now we can all breath a sigh of relief since it’s “over.” BUt, before we all get too giddy from deep sighing, let’s take a look at a few grim hold overs from this mess that won’t be easily forgotten or put behind us. “Like what” you ask breathlessly? Well, for example, a totalling of the cost for “The City” and staff for research, document preparation, meetings, legal fees etc etc just for hourly wages over the past 15 months. How about a $17,000 “investigation” just to attempt legitimize the accusations? By the way, if the investigator wasn’t legally authorized to “investigate,” will “The City” get us a refund? How about an anticipated $75,000 or more for the planned investigation by the “Police Chief’s” organization? Or, at least $20,000 in attorney’s fees expended by Ron Tussing in defending himself. Question, does the “agreement” include reimbursment of his fees? Finally, the possible $100,000-$200-000 “buyout” to avoid even greater legal fees to defend “The City” against an anticipated “wrongful discharge” suit, most likely, for yet another out of state lawfirm. When we finally add up the costs of this financial quagmire, I submit that we wouldn’t have had to pass yet another “Public Safety Mill Levy” since that much dough would have paid for a number of new cops and fire fighters plus a hefty down payment for a new fire station. Or, was all this money just lying around with nothing to do? And let’s make it plain folks, in case you can’t read between my lines, I’m not the least bit happy about the loss and waste of this many of our taxpayer dollars by “The City” with no “closure” other than the buy out. Were/was/is the accusations against the Chief and the expenditure of “our” money justified? It’s just like a reading a mystery novel only to discover the last three pages missing! But, now that we’re into it for that much, let’s spend or waste a few more of our hard earned bucks and contact some organization such as “The American Society of City Managers” (if such exists) or, some other like organization to conduct an in depth investigation into the expenditures of “The City” and it’s administrator and elected Council to see if all these expenditure were justified, necessary and/or authorized. I’d sure as hell be interested in the results of THAT investigation! Wouldn’t you?
yes and all the while the City of Great Falls quietly plugs along under the leadership of former Billings Assistant City Manager John Lawton who has been on the job for nearly 16 years. No strikes. The biggest "controversy" is the City of Great Falls is trying to become the default power supplier to the Citizens it serves. Seems all is well in the Electric City while Billings continues to teter under the burden of mediocrity.
We can now add to my conserns, the $370 an hour for a “Colorado Springs lawfirm the “The City” hired as council in the Tussing dispute and other labor issues.” This statement raises other concerns that all lend weight to the necessity of a complete turnover or at the minimum, a trip to the woodshed of our elected “representatives.”
For instance...........
1. Under the FOA, I and my fellow citizens want to know the total paid or to be paid this lawfirm. Added to the rest of the costs I’ve outlined, at $370 an hour over a period of 15 months it would only take 10 days of work to total $160,000. Rumor has it that the law firm was hired at the insistance of Mr. Bauer and, that they aren't licensed to practice in Montana. Hope to verify this in short order.
2. Is our City Attorney and his staff so incompetent that "The City" has to hire outside and even worse, out of state representation? If so, what the hell are we paying him and his staff for and, who authorized this enormous expenditure?
3. This only leads to my previously stated conclusion that Montana is an “Expert Poor State,” and needs constant outside and expensive “Experts” to guide we Montana yokels in our uneducated and inexpert government and lives.
4. "They" are now saying, that they (the Council) have been on top of this situation from the outset and they have been approving all these expenditures, I submit that “they” and Mr. Bauer have to accept the responsibility and wrath of the electorate for what I call “Misrepresentatio by Ommission” if such is the case.
5. These questions and expenditures create serious damage to the credibility of those elected leaders who, at every budget session, claim they need more funds. This includes attempts by “The City” to impose a “Local Option Sales Tax” because of a claimed lack of funds. Especially since the “Grassroots” they are always appealing to, have repeatedly voted against any sales tax!
6. Once again, it appears that we expert deprived “Grassroots” have been the recipients of a hell of a lot of local governmental fertilizer spread both in this issue and God knows how many others.
Don’t breath a sigh of relief yet folks, it’s far from over!
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