How confident are you in the officials we have elected?

“Citizens for a better Buckeye” (CFABB) echo Valarie Marquis’s request for the Mayor and Council to do the right thing. If they don’t they could find themselves in a very bad predicament. The public at large has been expressing their concerns on this matter for some time now. However, it seems to be falling on def ears. What’s going on? Does J. Guy and S. Rounds have something on each of you?

This week members from CFABB requested a meeting with the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilman Doster. At first it seemed a meeting was eminent or at least until the request for a meeting agenda was requested. Once the following agenda was announced the response form them through the Mayor’s Administrative assistant was; “They will not meet with you on this agenda. They are aware of your concerns.”

AGENDA: A discussion on the removal of J. Guy and S. Rounds from their positions of upper Town Management and replacing them with interims through the League of Cities while, an extensive search was done to find qualified replacements as Councilman Rioux had pointed out earlier a few month ago. We wanted to point out our reasons as per the research following why this should be enacted. We have no intent of grandstanding or making threats. We just want Council and Mayor to do what’s in the best interest of the town.

We have spoken to many individuals and conducted many hours of research. As a result we have found the following concerns to establish the true reasons for demanding their replacement;

1. These two do not have or meet the required level of education, certification nor experience to have such a responsibility which positions or this nature require in either a Good Economy or a Bad Economy.
2. Through our interviews with many, a common quote has been used, “J, Guy is just darn evil.” When asked what was meant by this, the response was that she surrounds herself with people consisting of family, friends or by people who fear her or fear losing their jobs. The 39 employee’s laid-off last year were very vocal to the unprofessional and unethical activities which posed a threat to J. Guy and S. Rounds. A smoke screen of budgetary concerns was used to misinform the public at large to hide the TRUTH why these employee’s were really laid-off.
3. We have learned J. Guy, S. Rounds and others not to be named at this time, used made unethical decisions on matters pertaining to tax revenue for the town, permitting and building code compliance. This affects the Town financially as well as places the public in danger not to mention the liabilities facing the Town in the event of an accident.
4. Grossly over paid solely based on their education, qualifications, experience based on a National Survey Study of Town Managers positions based on qualifications and Town size. This document was presented to the Mayor and Council at the first Council meeting in March 08 with a request for response which they have failed to respond.

We also want to point out that though the Town of Buckeye truly needs input from its citizenship, we question the true legitimacy of the most recent group called “We are Buckeye.” As earlier reported on the CFABB blog by Mr. Jorge Flores, he noted “It has been seven months since this committee has been convened and have “done much” but yet I just found out about them this week and my Town is still the same. Have you noticed any improvements so far?”

The truth of the matter is that this group “We are Buckeye” is one of J. Guy’s pet projects and it’s believed the sole purpose of this group is to make it look like the current Town officials and management are involved and concerned about what the citizens of Buckeye thinking. It is also suspected they feel this will discredit the CAFBB organization. This attempt to discredit is yet another Smoke and Mirrors game for which we will not take part in.

So in close…Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council members we the citizens of Buckeye respectfully request that this issue concerning the present Town Management be addressed immediately if you truly care about our town.

Mr. Mayor your refusal to address this problem makes you look very bad since all throughout your campaign; you stated one of your top priorities was to hire a qualified town management team to guide Buckeye into the future. Mayor Meck you have lied to me and to all the citizens of our fair town and I am afraid you could be facing serious consequences if you ignore this. This potentially could also be said for Vice Mayor May as well.

How confident are you in the officials we have elected? “Citizens for a Better Buckeye” are working on recall efforts. Get involved by e-mailing friends and speaking to neighbors to become aware of the issues. Google and Blog us: CFABB.

Ex Town Employees come forward

In case you have not read the following article we encourage everyone to do so. This is exactly why the Citizens for a better Buckeye are making the demands they are. The following is the exact article which was reported by Westvalley News uckeye Reporter Robin Clayton on March 20, 2009.

Former town tax auditor questions wisdom of Buckeye budget cuts

Despite possibly facing even more budget cuts in the near future, Buckeye has laid off revenue-generating positions, filled positions it previously eliminated and paid $24,115 in tuition reimbursement to employees. OK, 39 of you must goLast November, 39 employees were laid off and 31 unfilled positions eliminated from the budget in the face of a $6.9 million projected shortfall.

Finance Director Gail Reese has since suggested even more cuts need to be made in next year's budget.

Among the eliminated positions were revenue- and business-generating positions, such as tax auditors and economic development employees. However, since those positions were cut, Buckeye has posted job openings for positions such as lifeguards, seasonal recreational aides, a budget manager, librarian, recreational specialists, neighborhood services coordinator and accounting clerk as well as police dispatchers.

The librarian position was listed as eliminated in the November cuts, but has since been filled again. During those lay-offs, the tax collection division was basically dissolved, said Debbie Nunley, former tax audit manager.

The tax division was a revenue-generating division for the town, according to a memo Nunley sent to Reese, Assistant Finance Director Gilberto Villegas and consultant Pat Walker. In just the first four and a half months of the fiscal year, the tax division had collected more than $223,000 in revenue recoveries and issued more than $456,000 in audit assessments for the town, according to the memo.

Nunley also worked with the state to correct errors in taxes, and had so far this fiscal year corrected $27,674 and was working on correcting another $81,000, she wrote in her memo.

"This is money that Buckeye would not get if I were not monitoring the state's tax system and working with ADOR to correct errors. This is a continuous task that must be done on an on-going basis," Nunley wrote. Nunley, Villegas and another tax division employee, Dorothy Kreps, were among those laid off.

Read the entire memo here

Looking for places to cutAfter Reese told the Town Council more cuts were likely in the near future, Councilman Dave Rioux said he would like to see any more cuts come from upper-level positions.

As a result of Rioux's statements, Assistant Town Manager Scott Rounds filed a harassment complaint, in which he said he was seeking medical attention because of Rioux's behavior.

Since the town laid off 39 employees, it made sense that the fewer employees there are to manage, the less need there is for management positions, Rioux said.

Rounds also alleged in the complaint that Rioux said he "intended to cut tuition reimbursement for the PhD employee," which, according to Rounds, singled him out.

Rioux denies making the statement regarding Rounds' tuition reimbursement.

A records request for employee tuition and higher education reimbursements shows that Buckeye reimbursed 23 employees a total of $24,115.86 in education costs over the 2008-09 fiscal year.Of that, Rounds received $2,160.

Employees who received more than Rounds include former Community Development employee Teresa Ford, $3,464; former Information Technology employee Brandy Severson, $3,120; and permit technician Kim Price, $3,414. Severson and Ford were laid off last November. Sara Guy, Guy's daughter-in-law, was reimbursed $1,101 for education expenses.

New Evidence is Forthcoming

Information is coming in everyday which is very incriminating for the infamous four shown below. It is just a matter of time when the evidence will be enough to support a full blown investigation on the town's past affairs. If Ms. Guys, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Hardesty and Mr. McAchran resign now they may be able to live normal and quite lives elsewhere.

So come on folks...save yourselves and the town all the embarrassment. Resign now or face the music. Rumors have it Mr. Rounds might be thinking about it...

Also I want to thank everyone who has requested that I run for Council in District
1. As a result of your request, I am now seriously considering it and will make a decision sometime next week. I also hope others will come forward within district 1 as well.

I have heard there might be multiple candidates running in Hardesty's district. I personally know of one candidate. Everyone keep the faith...Buckeye Citizens will prevail. In a couple of days I will be able to show additional proof why these individuals must leave Buckeye.

Why is Buckeye’s City Officials any Different from the rest?

With today’s economy hitting budgets hard everywhere, many are being forced to take pay cuts and worst case layoffs. With this being said, I would like to know why Buckeye’s Town officials are any different. Many other town officials throughout Arizona are taking pay cuts and reducing employee’s hours rather then laying them off.

Over the last few months we have seen 8% of Buckeye’s town workers laid off as a result of budget cuts and talks of potentially more to come. Though this is what the Town’s citizens are being told, I find it odd the Town’s management was able to receive a pay increase.

The entire pay increase does not make much sense however; one pay increase which disturbs me the most is the 5% salary increase taken by Town Manager Ms. Guy. This is disturbing for multiple reasons beginning with her lack of credentials and education. First let's examine here experience…

Experience:

~ 1992 – 2001: The Town’s website states she was the Director of the Public Library, everyone knows she was the librarian.

~ 2001 – 2006: Director of Parks / Recreation and Libraries.

~ July 2006 – January 2007: Community Services Director and Interim Town Manager.

~ October 2007 – April 2008: Interim Town Manager.

~ April 2008 – Present: Appointed permanent Town Manager with stipulations to her ongoing employment.

Education:

~ High School Graduate

Taking her experience and education in mind I do not understand why the Town feels she is worth $168,000.00 a year. When she was appointed to the position by the Council certain requirements / stipulations had to be achieved in order for to maintain her position. The most critical was she was to obtain certification for town manager which was to be completed in December 2008. To date this goal has not been met. I find based on an email to the Council as well as the quote from Ms. Guy in an article in the Arizona Republic (Feb. 10, 2009) I feel the certification is not forth coming therefore she is in breach of her original agreement at the time of her appointment to her position.

The Arizona Republic quoted her "there is no particular certification required for a town manager." She said she chose to focus on completing her bachelor's degree at the University of Phoenix, which she is still pursuing, rather than get a certification. Additional statements were made by Ms. Guy and I would encourage all to read the article.

You can find this article here:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2009/02/10/20090210swv-certification0210-ON.html

So far Councilman Rioux is the only council person who has showed concern about Ms. Guy’s Breach of her oral agreement. I am sure Councilman Rioux’s has strong reasons why he made his statement in the same article about his desire to replace Ms. Guy and her Assistant Scott Rounds. He was quoted to saying the following;

“Rioux said the town could have interim replacements for Guy and Assistant Town Manager Scott Rounds, within 48 hours, from a pool of qualified individuals approved by the Arizona League of Cities and Towns. The interim managers would stay on while the town conducted a national search for permanent replacements, he said.

Rioux said that a more experienced manager might have been able to avoid the layoffs Buckeye implemented in November, when the town cut 39 employees.

"I want to act right away," Rioux said. "I've tried to be positive . . . We are lost in so many ways."

Since I have been following this I have found Ms. Guy is truly under qualified as well as overpaid

The following has been derived from my research;

QUALIFICATIONS 2008 RECRUITMENT

Through my research I have found the National basic qualifications for a Town/City Manager of which Ms. Guy does not even come close to are the following.


Education & Experience Requirements

~ A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Government, Political Science or Public Administration and related fields; a Master's in Public Administration is preferred, along with advanced education at senior management institutes/programs.

~ Certification as a Public Manager through ICMA or similar associations is also preferred.

~ Ten plus years experience as an City Manager in a high growth community of 50,000+ residents or as a Assistant Town Manager in a community of 75,000 residents or larger; or other combination of experience and training sufficient to perform the duties of the position. Such as Experience as an Executive.

~ Director or General Manager in a Special Services District, Utility, Economic Development Agency or similar environments would be beneficial.

~ Applicants must demonstrate ability to proactively engage community interests and collaborate on differences in opinion and philosophy, a strong background in employee and labor relations, innovation in community relations and communications programs a background in municipal finance and creation of alternative public financing mechanisms.

~ A strong public presence.

SALARY

Through research we have found that she is seriously overpaid her. Based on The Bureau of Labor Statistics State and Local Management Positions (March 12, 2008), Salaries DOE for Town Managers/City manager/Chief administrative officers ranged from $92,799 - 109,000 based on a town of 50K population.

Presently, as an example, The City Manager for Scottsdale’s salary is slightly higher $180K. Based on the demographics and current population of Scottsdale and the experience / education required we find this to be in line.

As tax payers of the Town of Buckeye we are responsible to speak up and take action when such issues present themselves. This is one case where we need to vocalize our concerns and demand what is right. I encourage each concerned citizen in this town to write, call or email the Mayor and your Councilman and demand the resignations for both Ms. Guy and Mr. Rounds immediately.

We need responsible, experienced and qualified personnel with the unique ability to think outside of the box as well as being able to plan into the future. These skills are not something you just learn but rather these are skills one acquires from experience.

If you agree then I urge you to pass this along to friends, neighbors and relatives within Buckeye.