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Letters to the Editor
September 2, 2010
Dear editor,
When talking to friends last week I was told "Hey Tim you need to go to council meeting next Thursday night its gonna be goooood."
Since Thursday night television has become boring at times I decided to attend our local council meeting.
The gallery was packed with outraged people with limited information who immediately caught me at the door and asking questions of what I thought about the city ordinance being proposed.
I was amazed at how many people had not read the city charter or even knew what it was.
They, in turn, were amazed when I told them that the mayor actually never had the sole power they thought city council was taking away from him....I told them my father fought this charter 25 years ago when he was mayor because it took so much power away from his office.
And then the drama played out....there was shouting from the gallery and hallway, disruption in the meeting and a lot of tempers flaring.
I kept looking around to see if anyone had rope or tar and feathers.
It brings to memory the old joke that I decided to attend a fight and a city council meeting broke out.
To my surprise nothing was done to restore order - it was like this disruption was intentional.
Whether any citizen felt they were right or wrong; or even indifferent I was appalled in the manner in which a crowd portrayed themselves.
What everyone in Bay City needs to do is WAKE UP.
In reality, our city charter has never provided specific remedies for conflict between council and mayor.
It was designed that both parties work together.
Should significant conflicts arise everything comes to a grinding halt.
Its almost biblical when one thinks about it.
We have a $600,00 shortfall in our budget and we are arguing over who can expand the city's payroll.
We shouldnt be arguing over power, we should be arguing over dollars.
I think we are all ticked off at government these days, but the answer is participation and involvement not armchair politicians.
As a result I walked away early, disappointed and ashamed.
Next Thursday, I believe I will sit down and read a good book, perhaps even the city charter.
Maybe a Jerry Springer re-run will be on.
Tim Bell
Former Council Member
Bay City
Dear editor,
We read the article "Ordinance Causes Controversy" in Sunday's newspaper. The article failed to give a complete picture of the council session.
It does not point out the fact that there is an honest disagreement as to whether or not an ordinance is the proper method to "clarify" or essentially amend the city charter.
Specifically, the article does not mention the presence of a former city mayor in the audience or that several former city council members expressed their disagreement with the new ordinance.
Jerry Evans, chairman of the City of Bay City Home Rule Charter Commission, and some of the people who drew up the City Charter explained that the people had voted not to have a city manager type of government.
Instead, the charter established a strong mayor-council form of government.
The article failed to mention that the mayor first became aware of the ordinance when he was asked to approve the agenda for the council meeting.
There apparently had been no prior discussion with him about the proposed ordinance.
People of Bay City expect and deserve accurate reports of all events around our city and county.
Milton and Diane Rejcek
Bay City
Dear editor,
My husband and I want to support our mayor of Bay City.
It seems to me that city council and department heads have forgotten the overwhelming votes cast in favor of a new mayor.
What does that tell you?
That Bay City wants a change in the way this city is run.
The good old boys have run this city for too long.
The letter that Jacob Schultz wrote to the editor has several good points.
The voter has to have representation in the operation of the city and the mayor was given that authority by a large majority of the Bay City voters.
K&G Miller
Bay City
Dear editor,
Like many other citizens, I was astounded that the local elected city council displayed their lack of understanding of their place in the scheme of things last Thursday.
The voters elected Mayor Bricker to lead our city. How did they miss that?
Now four people who were elected to represent the citizens of our town have decided that they want to govern these same citizens.
What did the rest of us miss?
Many of us proudly watched our chosen mayor sworn in at city hall.
We listened as every member of the city council welcomed Mayor Bricker and pledged to support him so that Bay City could moved proudly forward.
Their recent actions certainly give the lie to their pledges, dont we all think now?
Were they listening when they were talking?
Did this new ordinance just become necessary because of the change in leadership?
Previous mayors must have cleared their preferences with councilpersons Enoch, Thames, Marceaux, and Hawkins, perhaps.
If Councilman Fenner regrets the divisiveness this generated at the council meeting, he may well not care for the public reaction.
I urge all concerned citizens to make their views on this issue known to the five city council members that we elect to represent us and to the mayor we elect to lead us.
Thank you,
Ollie Matthews
Bay City
Dear editor,
I was absolutely appalled to read the Tribune front-page article where Ms. Joyce Black who was charged with a felony theft compared herself to Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela did not go to prison for stealing and was never accused falsely of stealing.
Ms. Black needs to offer an apology to Mr. Mandelas family and to all who admire and respect the gentle giant and have followed his legacy.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison fighting for the rights of his people.
Is Ms. Black trying to imply that stealing is "right," or is she just trying to deceive the public into believing that because she filed a lawsuit to view open financial records that the city launched a criminal investigation into her personal affairs and found enough evidence to charge her with felony theft?
Considering her alleged actions she would have been more accurate to compare herself to the thief on the cross.
I am no lawyer but I took the time to look up possible causes for being charged with a felony three theft charge and this is what I found.
"If the value of the property or services stolen is five thousand dollars or more and is less than twenty-five thousand dollars, theft from an elderly person or disabled adult is a felony of the third degree."
Nowhere, does it state or imply that standing up for the rights of others is a felony theft.
Theft.
(A) No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services, shall knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or services in any of the following ways:
(1) Without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;
(2) Beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;
(3) By deception;
(4) By threat;
(5) By intimidation.
(B)
(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of theft.
Why is Ms. Black not filing an appeal?
What point could she possibly be making by spending time in prison.
Is that why she is comparing herself to Mr. Mandela?
If she spends 27 years in prison for a felony three charge she needs to sue her attorney.
Ms. Black's attempt to mislead the public on the real issues surrounding her arrest and charge by seeking to garner sympathy is a shameful comparison of herself to the integrity, image and legacy of Nelson Mandela.
Her name should not be mentioned in the same breath as such a legend as the Honorable Nelson Mandela.
Dora Rollins Duncan
Bay City
Dear editor,
In a world thriving on negativity, I take a stand for good in nominating Dr. Crayden Dennard a local hero.
My daughter recently required emergency dental treatment following a car accident.
The thought of locating a competent dentist "on demand" terrified me.
Dr. Dennard sacrificed his lunch hour and two more hours that day assisting her.
I apologize to his patients inconvenienced that day, but rest assured, he would do the same for you.
Thank You, Dr. Dennard, for restoring my faith in Matagorda County and humanity.
Sincerely,
Theresa Davis Milberger
Bay City
Dear editor,
To concerned citizens of Matagorda County:
I started coming down to Matagorda County in 1987 to enjoy the outdoors and made the move to become a resident in 2004.
My wife and I plan on retiring in the area. I have worked in the petrochemical industry for over 29 years and have an extensive knowledge in production, maintenance, water treatment, hazmat and emergency response.
I have met with White Stallion Energy management and reviewed their production process and waste treatment for using coal and coke to produce electricity.
This is going to be a clean and safe process that meets all EPA requirements.
If I thought that in my professional judgment it was not safe for my family, the community or the environment, I would be opposed to this project.
This is going to be a win-win project for the community for jobs and the tax base.
White Stallion Energy Center has our full support on this project.
Sincerely,
Mike Thomas & Tis Gaston
Matagorda
Dear editor,
A passing of a soldier. There were no sirens. Just a few stood with their flags waving. Overcome and overwhelmed by the wages of war, Specialist Armando Aguilar, Jr. was laid to rest.
As the volleys of gunfire in the silent sky, I was reminded because of this young soldier I can vote, because of him I can worship God, because of him I can write these words.
Thank God for Danny Lee and the Matagorda County Calvary.
They came through for this soldier. They made sure no one forgot his service to our great country.
As a grandmother of three soldiers actively serving out country, Mike in Iraq, Alex in Germany and Robert in New York, my husband and I pray this never happens to any soldier.
God bless our troops.
Sincerely,
Adelfa Lucio
Bay City
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