Your Opinion Counts

Please take a moment and click on the following link to complete our latest survey "Your Opinion Counts Part One ~ 07/18/2009".

If you would like to recieve prior and present survey response data, please send an email requesting these results. Send your email to CFABB.main@gmail.com.

Again thank you for taking part in our surveys.

OUT OF TOUCH & RELUCTANT TO GET IN TOUCH!

This blog is a follow-up to a previous blog posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 and response to the following article in the AZ Republic web site: Click Here


***For purposes of full disclosure, Mr. David Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator, has invited me on more than one occasions to attend the "We Are Buckeye" meetings and due to my demanding work schedule and family obligations, I have not been able to attend.***

Citizens For A Better Buckeye have been following the activities of the Town of Buckeye pet project "We Are Buckeye".

Although as we have looked into this group, we have seen that there are genuine and honest residents that believe in what they do and how it will ultimately help the Town. God bless all the residents that took part on this effort and we hope that they would not be offended by this blog since it was not intended to criticize them. However some citizens we talk to are concerned the Town's leadership is unwilling to consider a different point of view from our group.

Ultimately, Citizens For A Better Buckeye and "We Are Buckeye" are two groups that are passionate about the Town and have the deepest concern for the future for all. Let us recall some important details before we continue with the new information.

The main purpose/objective for this group is to find out form residents what they would want the Town of Buckeye to be in the future. The intention behind the group is to include residents in the decision of a 5 Year Strategic Plan. Below are some facts that we know to be true:

• The group is to be comprised predominantly of residents and Town staff just as support as needed.
• The group does not have sign-in sheets documenting events, those people who are participating and attending the meetings (as we were informed by the Town).
• The group does not have minutes to document the ideas and the contributions residents have provided to the committee (as we were informed by the Town).
• There is no accountability and communication between the staff and the Town manager regarding the developments of the committee (as we were informed by the Town).
• The purpose of the group is to collect information from the residents to develop a 5 year strategic plan which means lots and lots of tax dollars

The following presentation will provide you with a summary of information found about "We Are Buckeye": Click here to view this media presentation.

If you have not had a chance to view the presentation above, the following points are the main and pressing items that we found to be concerning and we strongly disagree with what this whole project has unfolded:

• The "Focus Topics" are out of touch with the residents opinion.
• 200 interviews are not enough and do not fully reflect the opinion of the 40,000 to 50,000 residents who have a stake in the Town.
• There are more methods that can be used to assist residents to provide feed back and not limited to just in "person interviews".
• The types of people listed as stakeholders are limiting and should be open to all residents and businesses who have an investment in the Town, not just a select group of people.
• There is very little evidence which demonstrates the residents who were given the chance to participate were the very people who arrived to the concluding "Focus Topics". If the Town can not prove it through documentation... it did not happen.

Although we firmly disagree with these items, CFABB hopes that "We Are Buckeye" and Town government as well as management would be open to stop. Stop and take a second look and discuss possible adjustments to the process with the purpose of working together and reaching more residents. CFABB and "We Are Buckeye" working as one for the same common goal... produce a comprehensive 5 Year Strategic Plan that embraces the relative opinions of most residents and something we as a Town can defend.

Having stated this, I have asked Mr. Johnson to consider the items listed above that we disagree with. So far, we have not had a response that resembles an opportunity to discuss them in detail. We remain hopeful that the door will open and there will be an opportunity.

The following documents were used to gather information for the following media presentation and we have made them available to you so you may also make your own conclusions. We would also appreciate your continued support as well by asking you to take part in the second of many forthcoming Surveys which CFABB is hosting so we may learn more about the residents concerns / comment on this topic and others. To take this survey please click here.

Staff Summary Report - The Town Manager Jeanine Guy

We Are Buckeye Report - Group spokesman March 17, 2009
Interview Questions - We Are Buckeye

In conclusion, the original intention to reach as many people has been limited to 200 interviews that will decide the fate of millions in tax dollars. This is another unfortunate sign that the Town is out of touch and reluctant to be in-touch.

A shout out of gratitude goes out to Mr. David Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Town of Buckeye for his patience and professionalism. We are very lucky to have this good man working for the Town!

We need more people like David Johnson in Buckeye!

We want to also acknowledge the Town Clerk Office and staff for their flexibility and awesome customer service!! Thank you!!

Jorge Buckeye Citizen

~ Neighbors Helping Neighbors"

To Those Whom are Concerned

It has been brought to our attention that someone in our town has been spreading a rumor that our group would like to clear up and set the record straight once and for all.

The rumor that Michael Todd is spearheading CFABB is absolutely false. As much as we respect Michael he is not or never has had any affiliation with our group. We find Michael to be very tuned into the town and has great hopes as well as great vision.

Unfortunately as a result of his hectic schedule and family life he does not have any extra time to spare. If and when he can take part in any form CFABB would be honored at that time to have Michael join us.

Any further questions on this matter should be directed to our group by email at cfabb.main@gmail.com.

We Welcome Interim Town Manager Stephen Cleveland

As a group and citizens of the town we want to welcome Stephen Cleveland to our town and congratulate him on his new position. This town has needed an experienced individual like Mr. Cleveland since the departure of the last Town Manager.

Many that we have spoken to about Mr. Cleveland have stated nothing but praise for his knowledge, skills and vision. Some individuals we spoke with in Goodyear stated that if Mr. Cleveland had stayed in Goodyear their town would not be in the shape it is today. Though we feel bad for Goodyear, based on this type of information we we are even more excited for the Town of Buckeye.

We hope as part of his first couple of months while he assesses the town's current operations and it's affairs, he also take the time to meet with CFABB's board so we can share with him the vision, goals, concerns and suggestions that we have been able to collect from the many who support the town. As always we will make ourselves available to share this information anytime which is convenient to his busy schedule.

Once again we welcome you Mr. Cleveland and we look forward to assisting you in anyway to achieve the ultimate mission..."A better Buckeye for ALL".