City Council Meeting

I don't know the answer to that one, but it's time everyone becomes a " Portland Watcher" and asks questions.

I think Portlanders are fast becoming aware of the need for some big changes in how Portland is run and conducts its business.

And in response to Erwinn, I'm looking forward to the hot dog stand ! I'll vote for you and be your first customer.

To Tiffany --- keep up the good work and don't let anyone discourage you from speaking out. You're right, this city consists of many, but I'm afraid it only benefits a few. It's time now for everyone to get concerned and involved and become Portland Watchers.

As more things come to light and more people start speaking out, I think the apathy will turn to action for a better Portland. There are many who are just waiting for someone to be their voice.

And why does a fire truck respond to a call at the urgent care center when they need a transport to a local hospital. don't know just asking??

I agree with you. This was the whole point that I was trying to get across. Then it got a little personal (that's the way life goes). I may not live inside the city limits and be able to run for council but there are hundreds who can and the people need to let their voices and their desires/needs be heard. Where do we want to go from here? What were the problems that got us in this mess and how do we fix them? We all have to be a part of it. I didn't speak out to disapprove all together of the council. I spoke out to try and get answers to questions. Then I was criticized for exercising concern for this city!!! Concern is what we all need. This city is composed of many... not a few. The council should welcome anyone who takes time out of their lives to show intrest in this community.

What in the world does the fact that this person a "lady about 5'2" weighing about 100lbs" have to do with wether or not this was a serious situation at our high school. I suppose it takes a 300lb 6'2" man to sell drugs to our children, threaten a teacher, student or administrator with bodily harm or carry a concealed weapon, be a sex offender, have outstanding arrest warrants, the list goes on. Are you by chance someone connected with the group that is wanting to dismantel our police dept? You know is there a method to your madness here because your insinuation was way out of line. Do you have kids in our schools? and if so would you like it if our police dept took situations on school grounds as lightly as you obviously felt they should have in this case. Perhaps when you hear the window of your home getting broken in the middle of the night they will send the same 3 officers and when they find a deer had jumped thru it I bet you won't complain then right... of course not, You assumed and they assumed you had an urgent situation, when in actuality they could of got by with just one... oh geeesh!

No disrespect taken on my part. I have no idea what they were doing.... let's just think about this a little. Maybe the 3 officers were all sitting at an intersection and the small, attractive girl was parked at the 4th spot. Maybe they all realized that they wanted to pull her over and flirt with her, all 3 of them at the same time. Or maybe a call was taken from the dispatcher and 3 officers responded to the matter at hand whatever the case may have been. Now, I'm willing to bet your no rocket scientist (since you live her in Portland) but I'm sure you'll see that the later suggestion is more likely to be accurate. Or maybe it was one of their wives who baked them cookies for the life they saved the night before. Oh, let me guess, you didn't know about the blue 21yr. old accidental overdose that was litterally brought back to life by two of Portland's Finest!!! Furthermore it was done with no breathing apparatus for the mouth to mouth CPR for a girl that neither officer knew anything about. They saved her life regardless of the fact that they will have to be tested every 3 months for the next yr. to be sure they didn't contract any life threatening illness in the process!!! That thought never crossed their mind until it was over and she was breathing. That's why my husband is my hero and why I support the police dept. That job goes from 0-100 in about a half second.

No disrespect for the officers involved intended. they have a tough job and i respect that, just know what i saw, but don't know what was going on. As I said. maybe you can tell us what was happening??

I gave them credit waiting to hear what was going down just know what i saw nobody else in car

Well said truthhurt!! People never have any respect for the position of police officer unless they need one!! I bet the person making those derogatory comments regarding the police is the same one who posts a complaint because it takes too long to get one out to his house if he has trouble. The problem with all of America is that people have forgotten the price of they're freedom!! My husband has served this country in the active duty military, the national guard and the local police dept. Wonder what the people who want to bash him have done? It's a lot like the military, no one considers the price untill it's they're loved one who is deployed or injured. There is no respect for justice and authority but they want everyone to respect their opinions and rights. The coin is two sided and they just aren't bright enough to figure this out.

Cause he's a two faced crybaby..that's why (Hobdy). Bratton seems to have deep pockets. Alot of money and not enough respect for the people. You dont think he would bulldoze your home down, set up 3 trailers in its place to make a dollar?? You better wake up..and yes, JODY seems to be progresive and forward thinking..he's trying to do a good job. Seems the others cant stand it. And as far as 3 officers with the person in the school lot, what do you know about policing? Do they come to your work (if you have a job)and armchair quarterback you? Maybe she had an emergency and called them. or maybe she had A MURDER WARRANT OUT OF CALIFORNIA and there were 3 other people with prision tatoos inside the vehicle.....get a new hobby. Ignorant people should be made to wear shirts in public.

wasn't trying to be sarcastic just couldn't understand where Spence was coming up with all the rich councilmen and I agree on Jody and my commment had nothing to do with their ability to be good council members and why does Phil need to be taken out??

"Phil from landscaping and mowing", of Phil Hobdy Landscaping? He needs to be taken out of your sarcastic post. JODY is one of the more level headed, forward looking one of the bunch.

I just saw three Portland police officers and three cruisers in the parking lot at the East Middle School the lady was out of the car and appeared to be about 5,2" and weighed less than 100lbs. Didn't see a gun anywhere but I wasn't very close. Will give the Police Officers credit and assume this was a very dangerous person.

And Spence maybe two of those rich guys on the council are Steve and Kenneth former city employees or Tim from his salary as a school teacher or maybe Phil from landscaping and mowing do I need to go further. Oh it must be Joey who is the most talented.

Tiffany, I could not agree with you more. I have asked similer questions and have had no luck for an answer. If you run for council I will gladly vote. Honestly if anyone else runs i will vote and urge many to not vote the same people with all the money back in. It's time for this city to take it back from the strong hands of greed. Let people know that no matter your status as a rich man, that it will not be tolerated. I also am considering running but unsure if I am eligible. I'm not happy and I know that most of the comunnity is not as well. The meetings should be published in the papers for all to see, and I mean the numbers as well, along with the decisions.

I commend you, I truely do. I will back you and I will do my best to cure this problem if it costs me my job or whatever it takes. This American will NOT give up on what it means to be one. Apathy will fail in the end. We are the people that control our cities. It's time to let them all know that. God Bless you.

Thanks for the info. I briefly skimmed through it. Not sure exactly what you intended for me to take notice of. I did notice that it expalins in small detail how council meeting should be ran. Maybe you could send a copy to the rest of the council or have the FFA parlimentary procedure team come up and give a demonstration because it is not ran properly and it makes the council look even worse. Thanks again for sending the info.

That's one of the questions they have yet to answer or explain. The 1.3 million.
So the gas bills we pay go into the gas budget ...and the gas budget can be dipped into for whatever ?
That doesn't seem quite right. I really think an explanation of this should be out there for everyone to know. Maybe some confidence could be restored, at least.

Wish someone would explain that.

I did read the City Charter this afternoon --- thanks, Karen for sending the link to it.

LOL... .Portland willl never have a hot dog stand.....LOL

Wow. Appalled Citizen must have just fallen from the proverbial "turnip truck." If you check the city charter, im sure you will not find a trump card to the first ammendment. "The people may speak..." Also, I beleive her husband is a city employee. Im pretty sure that gives her every interest in what is going on in the city and entitles her to speak. What's wrong? Does the truth offend you too? Apparently it does. You and Mr. Meadows. I was at the Panther Den the other morning. Mr. Meadows proceeded to basically bash this young lady in the company of his "croanies". I WAS "appalled". Remember, there are ears everywhere, council. Some leader. But, what do you expect from a blithering idiot. He did not get my vote and never will. Maybe all you "appalled citizens" and city leaders (and I do use the tearm "leader" very loosely) can address Mrs. Isenberg, and your concerns with her exposing the truth, in open meeting. If you lack the testosterone, I understand that a primary care physician now offers a monthly injection. (maybe two if your over 50.) As far as her living outside the city, I have been told that its a WHOPPING 100 YARDS!!!! Im sure anyone opposing the truth will attempt to attack that. Or, maybe she just plain dont want to live in one of the roach infested properties in "Bandyville"..It seems that the city caters to this slumlord. CLEAN UP BANDYVILLE and the crime rate will plummett!! I do not know Mrs. Isenberg personally but I have talked with several who do. I understand that she has children in the schools here and also goes to church here. It seems that we need more people like her to get a little attention from the powers that be. But, im just "good ol' common folk." How do I know what is good for me...And Mr. Bratton.....another winner. I just sit back and laugh when I watch people babble on and on with big words that can't spell just to make themselves look intelligent. I can't recall the last time I heard that one say anything that makes any sence. Mr. Minnis was right about one thing (although he too is a complete moron)...they are running this place like Washington. As I heard another fine citizen of this community say, "These people (city gov.) have no business running a hotdog stand.." Don't beleive me? Then answer this..why is there a 1.3 million deficit? And please, refrain from using the crutch "budget crunch.."

Im sorry people, excuse my spelling in the last post....I was laughing so hard at "citizen" my eyes were watering..

First of all appalled citicen of Portland, I never said that Mr. Meadows didn't want to talk to me. I said that he didn't want to allow me to speak at the meetings. You may or may not know that I was born and raised here in Portland and brought my family back here because I love it. I don't want it to be run in the ground now!! I consider this my business because it directly affects my life, my surroundings and my husbands job!! I do live 1/2 mile outside the city limits and to be quite honest I purchased this home from another state and did not realize I was outside the city limits. I believe that the city council is everyone's business who is a patron as well as a servant of the community. I worship in Portland, my kids attend Portland shcools (which I am very involved in) and I do the majority of my household shopping in Portland. Therefore I would say..... it is my business. I really don't add a lot of value to your comment because you don't even have the nerve to leave your name.

Perhaps you should re-read Mrs. Isenberg's post. As the wife of one of Portland's Police Officers, she had every right to speak to the council. Her husband works in an extremely understaffed department, and (any more) cuts would greatly affect her family. One of the most appalling paraphrased excerpts from her post was Mr Bratton's "I hope you keep your woman in line, unlike Officer Isenberg." I realize this is the South, but is this not the year 2010?

Bravo to Mrs. Isenberg for addressing the council, to bad it took them 5 weeks to approve what was presented to them at the January Special Call Fiasco.

Mrs. Isenberg. Interesting comments you have made. The more I read the more concerned I grew. First and foremost addressing one very important thing you said that Mr. Meadows did not want you to speak. I would agree with him. I agree with him because you live in the county you selected your home at that location being part of the city limits was not important to you at that time...why is it now?

Secondly, the city is in bad financial shape. Look around the entire country is. The State of Tennessee, the Federal Government, the school system, businesses and families alike are all going through the same thing Portland is. Portland is not unique we are all facing TOUGH FINANCIAL TIMES and EVERYONE is looking for ways to make cuts and increase revenues. EVERYONE! This recession didn't just hit Portland. The task at hand is just like at home...figure out how to make ends meet...the Mayor and Council are working towards that. It's not going to be easy and everyone will be effected including employees, citizens, local business owner's...etc. I know they will make the best decisions for the future of Portland. The economy will turn around and we will see better days.

Third, you talk about specific positions and issues you have with certain positions/people in the city. Have you ever heard "I won't tell you have to raise your kids or run your household don't tell me how to run mine". Perhaps you shouldn't tell others how to conduct their business without knowing what it takes to accomplish that business.

Portland watcher, I feel the same way. It seems like a lost cause but I just can't sit by and watch it without speaking out. I agree that the people of this town need to get involved. They need to vote, speak and pay attention. We hand the council the money and trust them to do what is right!? This makes no sense, would you give your neighbor your check book and hope he pays your bills without being involved? I would not!!
I have no agenda against anyone person in particular, I do not know Ms. Johnson (city recorder) personally. I have merely been looking at the figures, not the people. We have allowed the White House to do the same thing. The main problem is complacency. Everyone thinks that someone else will take care of it. We all need to get involved and help manage this town!!
I have several ideas for increasing funding but there again I will be the minority on the suggestions. One person can raise some eyebrows but one person alone cannot end the arrogance and mismanagement. Anyone interested in getting together to speak at the next meeting just let me know.

Tiffany, that you went to the meeting and spoke is admirable. More of us need to do the same. Actually, I think that it's time that the mayor, the council, and whoever else knows the answers, hold a Town Meeting and took questions from the citizens. That the City is in debt over a million to the gas dept. is something that we deserve to know the answers to, along with any other questions anyone may have.

There are a lot of unanswered questions.

I'd love to see them all thrown out of office, but I know that is not going to happen. Portland, being the typical small town, is run by a handful of people who have a death grip ( control ) on things.
By virtue of their money, their family names, their connections in town, both in their business dealings or who they know, etc. it's inevitable to be business as usual for generations to come.

It would take a majority of the population here to demand answers and turn out and vote for change. That's not going to happen either - there is such apathy here. If you walk down the street and asked ten people if they knew what was discussed at the Council meeting, I am betting two at most would have a clue. The only people who know are people who are directly affected by what they are voting on right now.

There are people on the Council who have conflicts of interest and should not be there, but then.....that's why the ARE there. To protect those interests !!

I am outraged at some of these City salaries. Oh well...........

Maybe it's time for a Citizen's Action Committee to be formed. We need to hold them more accountable for the decisions they are making -- after all -- we are the ones who supply them with the money to fund the City.

The City of Portland owes Mrs. Isenberg a standing ovation. I would like to see Councilman Bratton come on to this blog and explain why he feels the need to admonish anyone who wishes to address the council with this information (the council cannot seem to exhibit even a fraction of Mrs. Isenbergs' intelligence). Shame on you Mr. Bratton. Voters, remember the arrogance of Mr. Bratton come election time. It is definitely time for term limits for the city!

Gotta agree with you on everything you said, Spence. That meeting was something else, wasn't it ?? I think we can understand better now how Portland is in the situation it finds itself. Leadership is definitely lacking, this Council does not work together,etc.
As for four of them not being able to run a hot dog stand, maybe that's why Portland doesen't have a hot dog stand ! LOL LOL

Oh, gosh.....after watching that Council meeting, I just hated paying my taxes the other day. I can only wonder how it will be spent. Maybe they will buy another house to put an office in. Hey, I have an old house...maybe I should offer it up to them. I'd like to see that budget too, after all it IS our money -- oh well.

I'm sorry, but I've lost all confidence and trust that anything is being done for the greater good of Portland.

I have so much to say that i'm not even sure I can type it, so i'll make it short and simple.I watched the Special Call Meeting held on the 25th of this February and my mind was blown away. First and foremost, I do not appreciate the whispering comments saying something like "oh my God, not again" when a council member was speaking of his beliefs. The camera was focused on the speaker, but will you please send the message to the appropriate person.

Secondly, I was astonished at the fact at how completely confused these meetings are. I do not mean all members of the council, but there are about 4 in that room that have no business even running a hotdog stand, let alone a city. I honestly say this in no ill way, but there was a straight hour or so that a 4% cut would be made across the board for the city workers, and for that hour not a thing was really said. It almost seems that the city plans aren't being planned until that meeting begins. Also the fact of not even knowing how to make a motion concerns me greatly, as it took almost 10 minutes to do so figuring it out, and half the time to figure out what is even being discussed. As a side not, please tell them to cut off cell phones during meeting, it makes the whole recording look very novice.

I have managed several resturaunts, and would like to say that budgets are started from the bottom up. In my terms that means, don't give them straw, lemon, napkin, condiments and so forth if they don't need or ask for them. I know it sounds stupid, but cutting your smallest costs can greatly increase your profit,alot more than getting rid of several employees actually, ask any manager/owner. I gaurantee I can perfect your budget alone like so many others, cause i'm willing to bet theres so many needless costs/properties that can be let go.

I would like to know where to see the budget as it is our money, and our right to know where it goes. I strongly urge the people of Portland to really listen in on the meetings and to take part in this blog. I know I don't stand a chance, but I will run for council next election with recorded facts of the present one in hand. Time to wake up some minds.

Penny Pincher,

Oh, don't worry... You won't miss anything because the council can't make any decisions in one night, they will just defer it to another meeting, then defer that meeting to another and so on and so on. Does anyone know if the council is paid for these meetings? And if so, how much??? I don't know, that's why I'm asking...

What private business did you see being salted, maybe the owner could contribute some money to the city?

There's the best case presented for the need for an unbiased, professional City Manager as could be presented. It's time to do things differently in Portland.

I know it'll never happen, but that's what the need is. I know y'all are doing the best you can with what you have, but it's really hard to understand how y'all can be fed incorrect revenue numbers, etc....who's keeping up with the money ...and how it's being spent ? Is money being spent before you get it ..and then ...uh-oh !

The overtime issue with the firefighters and that first responder issue just gets harder to understand everytime I hear it explained.

Shouldn't there be an on-call list and only those on call respond? Do they have radios and could they let someone know who is responding so that everyone dosen't show up and everyone have to be paid ?
How is that everyone responds to every call ?? Is that necessary ?

Thanks for taking the time to explain, but there's a lot here I'll never understand. Do other cities around here run their fire departments the same way ? How do they afford it ?

Tom, it's both interesting and enlightening, isn't it ?

Judy, you'll be seeing this a lot...it's not over....lol

Oh, be sure to read the front page article in the Progressive this week....it's really eye-opening.

Stay tuned...........

Every time I think about the time clock issue , the funniest lines in the meeting were that there would be a "mad rush" to the time clock and that was one of the reasons for getting rid of them. LOL LOL.
How much of a mad rush can five or six employees make ???

One of the last companies I worked for had 6,000 employees, of which, hundreds of them were in my own department..There were rules for clocking in and clocking out and everyone was fine with it. There was never a problem.....so it's just mind-boggling to hear some of these comments about the time clock being such a big deal. Honestly, I think they just got in the practice of letting people clock in whenever they wanted to, and now they see it's costing too much.....

I sure wish I could stroll in to my job now and clock in an hour early ( or write in an hour early on a hand-written time sheet ) and get paid for it....just because I like to be there early and get prepared for my day....LOL

Just curious --- is anyone else in town allowed to clock in whenever they want to get paid for all that time ? If so, I'm in the wrong job....LOL LOL. I only get paid for the hours listed in my contract.

Yes, the next election should see some changes made !

Everywhere I ever worked, the time clock was not the problem it seems to be here for the City. The companies had definite rules for when you could clock in and when you could clock out...and all overtime had to be authorized by your supervisor. I don't understand why time clocks present such a problem to the City.
Some of the rationale for allowing all the "on the clock" time they've been paying, just dosen't make sense to me.

Yes, that's the problem. Ten people, ten different answers. That's why an outsider is needed, someone not connected with anyone here to straigthen out the problems ....objectively.

PW,
It IS public. All you have to do is go to City Hall and ask. You can see the same audit the council was looking at and any other records you want to go to the trouble to ask for. Sort of hard to determine what is unnecessary isn't it? Ask ten people and you'll get ten different answers.

The more you watch that meeting, the more obvious it is, that it's definitely time for a City Manager.

It's time for tough decisions and objectivity -- something I don't see happening now.

I think it's time the City put the figures out there of what's being spent on things. Make it public.
There needs to be more accountability to the tax payers for how they are spending our money.

Before any jobs or hours are cut -- they need to cut out all unnecessary spending everywhere for everyone.

Thanks Eugene, Portland really does need a professional, and unbiased City Manager, for sure. I think they can afford it, too. Money isn't the reason we'll never have one, but we sure need someone to be able to take the books, look at them objectively, and be able to make decisions that will best serve Portland's needs. ( key word: needs ).
I just am still shocked that they would even mention or consider cutting back on police, fire, and most of all, first responders ! I just don't know what they are thinking.

Wow....all those great ideas PennyPincher.......I sure hope someone on the Council reads those !!

You are joking right shut down the police department for a week and 95% wouldn't notice.....I wish you would go and ask the city to do that and you stay here but I am leaving.....Look at the crime rate Portland has right now with the police 24/7.....You make no sense if you think this is Mayberry!!!!! Get REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think one of the more troubling parts of the changes suggested in the Council Meeting was the suggestion that the first responders pay per call be reduced from $25 to $12.50. That's a slap in the face to the most valuable people here ---- esp. since we don't even have an ER or a hospital anymore and have to depend more and more on these volunteers to help us till we can get to a hospital.
Seems it'd make more sense to try to cut down on expenses anywhere else besides things that are a matter of life or death. I just don't know what they are thinking about to even suggest this.

Shut down the police dept. for a week and it wouldn't be noticed ?? LOL LOL
Do you live here ???? LOL LOL

Well, how in the world did they ever entertain the thought of buying the hospital ?? Is the city really over 800,000 in debt or is this just a ploy to raise fees and taxes on us. I just don't trust any of this. One month we read in the papers about all the spending they are planning to do, and now ...here they are talking about such things as getting rid of time clocks: the rationale for that being that it will save money if they use hand written time sheets....( I thought that was the most absurd suggestion of the evening ), asking employees to take a day off each month, cutting employees, possibly....who knows what to believe ?
I sat and watched that entire Council meeting on tv the other night.....it went on till after 11....and at the end .... I concluded ......they have no clue what they are doing !!! I've concluded that the City needs a professional, unbiased, city manager -- someone who can look at things objectively and do what's necessary to stay in a budget. But, that is out the question....we can't afford a manager....LOL..or can we ?? Who knows ???
Was anyone even looking at the books all along......or were they just going along thinking...."it'll be ok".......guess it's time to think about finding a second job to pay for the upcoming increases I see on the horizon. No, I don't work for the City. ( just in case you thought I might ).