Council President Haas feels that the pressure to get this done before Feb. 2nd. deadline is necessary. A deadline that would allow them to place the matter on the ballot for the May primary.
Third Ward Councilman Nick Basham says because of the city's Charter requirements; we have to have 44 employees in both the fire and police departments.
The sections in our Charter that does state those figures are Sections 87 Police Force and Section 89 Fire Force. However, according to the city of Portsmouth's own website; the police department states their totals come out to 45. On another page the claim to have 29 patrolman instead of 26 which would put their totals to 48 employees. One to four employees could be cut from this department.
One other interesting thought came to mind when looking at these sections. Why, do we have to have the same number of firemen as policemen? How does the workloads compare? How many calls does the fire department get compared to the police department? My bet would be that the police department receives a hundred times more calls than the fire department, maybe even more! Then, why the same amount of employees? I would think that based on workload alone that the number of firemen could be reduced. To what number would have to be determined by a further study of statistics and data. That's something our "Think Tank" couldn't come up with is it?
Also, these Sections in the Charter were amended on November 3, 1987. I wonder what those numbers were before that? I'm sure the unions had something to do with the increase in numbers. Why else would you amend the sections, but to raise the number of employees!
Councilman Basham goes on to say; "We’re down to basic service, and the public needs to know we can’t afford basic services, there has to be a change somehow.
We are down to basic services as far as the Charter states at the current time about these two departments. With the exception of the possible additional employees in the police department. We may very well have to many firemen for our city's needs as well.
Before, I go any further with this article. I want to make one thing clear to the readers. I do not dislike or hate any fireman or police officers. I think that these men and women are a very important if not the most important organizations within any society, and are very much needed and often very much under appreciated. It is just a matter of tough economical times and every city employee is a bargaining unit when it comes to possible cuts and/or layoffs.
I think that every city employee should be and have every right to be; extremely agitated and apprehensive over the fact that your jobs and livelyhoods could be in jeopardy! But, that anger and concern should not be directed at the citizens and voters who will vote this tax increase down. Instead, it should be channeled at the very people who are suppost to be the good stewards of your tax dollars as well.
Here is a prediction for the employees of the city of Portsmouth. In the next several weeks and months. Councilman, department heads, union leaders, the newspaper and even loud mouth Steve Hayes will tell you all if you don't vote for this you might loose your job! Note: If any elected offical or department head makes these comments to you; please let me know! I will do everything in my power to help remove them from office because by law; they can't approach you or influence you about anything that is on aballot. If any flyers are circulated; please make sure a copy finds me.
Ok, so back to the "Think Tank".
Why? And, I mean a big why? Should the citizens of the city of Portmouth for one minute believe or think that the 6 city councilmen can come up with a honorable and legitimate plan to fix our city's economical woes! You have had this deficit problem for several years now and should have seen it coming several years before that. But, with the exception of maybe Councilman Johnson and Noel; occupy the mental capacity or aptitude to shell peanuts or shuck corn! You four councilman that I'm speaking of may as well mess in your pants and lick the windows. Because, you definetly are not doing this city or it's citizens any good!
If city council won't make changes to the Charter to help the city and the citizens within, then the citizens will have to force your hands! How? By the very means that you govern by. The Charter!
Because, we have a Charter form of government we the goverened have a more active say in what can and can't be done! Remember, Governments deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. We have to gaurd against the transgression of high powers, which we have delegated, we declare, that all powers not hereby delegated remain with the people.
I would like my readers to look at Section 14 of the city Charter. It's entitled; "Power to initiate ordinances."
SECTION 14. POWER TO INITIATE ORDINANCES.
The electors shall have power to propose any ordinance, except an appropriation ordinance,
and to adopt or reject the same at the polls, such power being known as the initiative. Any
proposed ordinance may be submitted to the Council by petition which, to be sufficient, shall be
signed by electors of the City equal in number to at least ten percentum (10%) of those who voted
at the last regular municipal election. All petition papers circulated with respect to a proposed
ordinance shall be uniform in character and shall contain the proposed ordinance in full.
Drink it in folks! It's the single most important portion of the Charter for the citizens! This means we the people have the right to govern the elected officials. You and I can insist that they govern the city the way that the majority of the citizens see fit. Of course as long as it does not violate Federal and State laws!
So, if you think the number of fireman and/or police officers should be lowered or raised. You have that power! If you think the Martings building should be sold or any other useless property of the city should be sold! You can make them!
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