Warren Turner Wins Wrongful Termination Lawsuit! Re-Hired! Next: His Council Seat?

Former Charlotte Councilman Warren Turner reinstated to state probation job


Former Charlotte City Council member Warren Turner, fired in July 2010 from his job as a state probation officer, has been reinstated.

Turner began working again with the state probation office earlier this month as a judicial services coordinator in Gaston County.

Pamela Walker, the N.C. Department of Public Safety's deputy director of communications, told the Observer in a prepared statement Friday that Turner had been reinstated after the N.C. Department of Correction reviewed the appeal of his firing.



"After careful consideration of the issues raised by both Mr. Turner and the DOC, the parties have reached a mutual settlement agreement," Walker said in the statement. "The department reviewed Mr. Turner's level of career experience and agrees to his reinstatement."

The settlement agreement calls for Turner to receive back pay between the time of his firing and reinstatement. The state also will pay $10,000 to Turner's legal counsel to cover the cost of his appeal.

Walker said the settlement that led to Turner's reinstatement was reached before the appeal came before the N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings.

She also said Turner's annual salary of $41,451 is the same pay he received as a probation officer.

Judicial services coordinators are responsible for the intake of new probation cases, preparing pre-sentence reports and conducting initial risk-needs assessments.

Turner, 47, could not be reached for comment Friday. His attorney, Eric Montgomery, declined comment.

Montgomery said in 2010 that Turner would appeal his firing. He said the reasons listed by the DOC in the letter to Turner were "procedural BS."

Montgomery said the DOC decided it wanted to fire Turner and then looked for a way to do it.

Turner and his attorney have repeatedly said Turner didn't do anything wrong.

Turner, after eight years on the City Council, lost his bid for re-election in 2011. His last term was marred by accusations of sexual harassment.

A city investigation in 2010 found Turner had made sexually inappropriate comments to at least five female staff members. Turner denied the allegations. The City Council declined to censure him.

Turner was fired from his probation officer job for missing meetings or drug screenings with at least 14 probationers, according to a termination letter released by the DOC.

The DOC said Turner falsified at least one record of a home visit with a probationer. The agency also said Turner reported visiting with probationers on days that he was on leave or wasn't scheduled to work.

Turner also had been told not to conduct city business on state time, but then spent hours on his city-issued cellphone conducting city business during state work hours, according to the DOC. His actions, the agency said, were a "blatant disregard" of the earlier warning.

The DOC said it didn't find any evidence that Turner had made sexually inappropriate comments or harassed female probationers.

The Observer reported that in 2009 Mecklenburg County officials told Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton that they believed Turner had misrepresented himself as a county building inspector.

A woman told the Observer that Turner visited a construction site on South Tryon Street and showed his gun to laborers working there. She said he told them he was a building inspector and threatened to put them in jail if they didn't stop working on the house.

After the report, the DOC moved Turner to a desk job and took away his state-issued gun and car pending an investigation. The termination letter didn't address the allegation that Turner showed the laborers a gun.

Turner began his new job as judicial services coordinator Feb. 6. Coordinators do not carry weapons.

Turner has said repeatedly that he did nothing wrong.

Turner, a Democrat, had been a probation officer for 20 years. He was first elected to the City Council in 2003.


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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, Youtube, Google Maps

Curt Walton Gets Another Raise In Looming Recession

Last Night Most Of Charlotte's City Council Members Voted To Give Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton A 4% Pay Raise In A Recession Might I Add!

This Current City Council Being Led By A Black Mayor (Anthony Foxx) Has Done Less For Charlotte's Black Community Than Any Of His White Predecessors.

In Fact Mr. Foxx Has Completely Sold Out Charlotte's Black Voters For Personal Gain.

He Would Sell Out His Wife, Kids, Grandmother & Blood Cousins If It Means Keeping Charlotte's Pre-Dominantly Wealthy White Power Structure Happy And His Pockets Full!

So Sad.

Check Out The Related Article Below. Peace


Charlotte City Council Narrowly Approves 4% Pay Hike For City Manager Curt Walton


Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton was given nearly a 4 percent raise over his pay last year - to a total compensation package of $234,537 - the City Council narrowly voted Monday night.

Walton's base salary last year was $200,312, plus he was given allowances for a car and other expenses that raised his total pay to roughly $210,000. In addition last year, he received a $16,000 bonus that pushed his compensation to roughly $226,000.

Despite the poor economy, Walton lobbied council members for more money, believing he is underpaid compared with other city managers as well as other local government officials. The council voted 6-5 to give him a flat salary, which includes bonus money and an allowance.

Voting for the pay increase were Democrats Nancy Carter, Patsy Kinsey, David Howard, James Mitchell, Jason Burgess and Republican Edwin Peacock.

Voting against the pay hike were Republicans Andy Dulin and Warren Cooksey, and Democrats Michael Barnes, Warren Turner and Patrick Cannon.

Mayor Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, doesn't vote on pay issues, said City Attorney Mac McCarley, who also received a pay increase Monday night.

Foxx said he wouldn't veto the pay hike, even though he's against it because the timing isn't right in a poor economy.

"I disagree with it," Foxx said. "But there are certain issues that belong to the full council. This is one of them."

Council members who voted for the pay package said Walton was doing a good job.

Said Carter: "We appreciate our manager and all that he's done."

While Mecklenburg County made steep cuts to schools, libraries and social services to balance its budget, the city's financial picture was less severe. Charlotte balanced its budget with smaller cuts, and was able to give city workers a 2 percent raise for the current fiscal year.

Peacock, the only Republican who supported the pay hike, said he felt the manager deserved more money when compared to other managers. He said that if the city had hired an outside candidate to replace then-city manager Pay Syfert in 2007, Charlotte would have had to pay significantly more than what Walton earns.

The City Council discussed Walton and City Attorney Mac McCarley's pay during closed session Monday afternoon. When they took a vote on their pay Monday night, the city briefly showed a slide of what other city managers make, but that wasn't made available to the public before or after the vote.

McCarley's pay for the upcoming year will be $194,596. A year ago, McCarley received $175,781 in salary and a $15,000 bonus.

The bonuses were controversial a year ago. Walton had cut all pay raises and bonuses for city staff for fiscal 2010, and then accepted a bonus at a time when his employees weren't receiving any pay increases.

At the time, Walton said the $16,000 bonus was for fiscal year 2009. Monday night's decision was an evaluation for fiscal year 2010, and Walton received more money.

Walton earns less than some peers in Mecklenburg. County Manager Harry Jones is slated to receive $283,011 this year after commissioners voted to shift most of his bonus into his base salary. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman's total compensation last year was $302,000, and he declined a bonus.

Michael Smith, president and chief executive of Center City Partners, received just under $300,000 in total compensation, including retirement benefits, according to the group's 2008 tax return. Center City Partners, which is funded primarily by a special tax uptown, is tasked with promoting and developing uptown.

A year ago, when the council voted for Walton to receive a bonus, Barnes and former Mayor Pat McCrory voted against it.

McCarley said Monday night that technically McCrory's vote didn't count because the mayor is only allowed to vote on the status of a manager's employment - not his pay.


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Sources: Charmeck.org, McClatchy Newspapers, Google Maps

Anthony Foxx's "Rookie" Bailout Idea vs Charlotte City Council (Harry Jones)

Anthony Foxx's Bail-Out Proposal For Charlotte-Mecklenburg Is Uncertain, Most City Council Members Say No


Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx has proposed that the city give schools and libraries a one-time financial bailout, but city staff isn't working on a rescue plan and some council members said they don't see any momentum behind the idea.

"There hasn't been any formal or behind-the scenes discussions about it," said Charlotte City Council member Patrick Cannon. "We have to get our own ducks in a row."

On April 26, Libraries Director Charles Brown met Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton and managers of other Mecklenburg municipalities and asked them for $3 million total to stave off some library closings.

If the libraries received that cash, along with $5 million from Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, Brown said he could keep from closing 12 library branches in early July.

Brown said two members of the library board also met with Foxx and asked the mayor for the same financial help. Brown said he hoped the towns could donate $1 million and the city of Charlotte give $2 million.

The city didn't discuss the request at its May 3 workshop. On May 12, during a budget meeting, Foxx floated the idea of helping the county, even though it technically wasn't the city's responsibility.

Anthony Foxx said he was uncomfortable with a proposal to spend $6.1 million to give city employees a 2 percent raise when the county was making such steep cuts.

The council's three Republican members are against giving the raises, and Republican Edwin Peacock suggested the money be placed in contingency. Six members voted to discuss that option further, and council members will take a straw vote on the idea on Wednesday.

Peacock said he might support Foxx's proposal to help the county.

"Under these dire times, how can we not consider lending a hand and throwing them a line on this one occasion?" Peacock said in an e-mail Friday.

But Walton said Friday that his staff hasn't done any work on financial assistance "because council didn't ask us to." He said the council only directed him to consider placing the $6.1 million in reserve - not to possibly give money to the county.

Curt Walton has been cool to the idea of bailing out the county, and has said the city must concentrate on the services it must provide. The city's budget is in far better shape than the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County budget, in part because the city saved more money to pay off debt.

Anthony Foxx said Thursday that there is still work being done to possibly help the county.

He said help would have to include other Mecklenburg towns. It would also have to be for one year only, and be targeted so city taxpayers could see a direct benefit.

Foxx said he has been speaking with Mecklenburg County Commission Chairwoman Jennifer Roberts.

Roberts said Friday that the county hasn't put together a formal request for help, though she said the library system has had a pending request for several weeks.

Brown said he has had two additional meetings with the town managers but that Walton wasn't able to attend. He says time is running out.

Mecklenburg County adopts its budget June 15. The city has a public hearing on its budget Monday. The City Council's final budget vote is June 7.

He said July 3 is the tentative date to close the 12 branches. After the closings, Brown said six regional libraries would remain open, as well as ImaginOn and the Main Library uptown. Hours and services would be reduced at those locations.

It's unclear if and when the City Council might consider any financial help.

Several council members insist that city employees get raises, which would make it difficult to use that $6.1 million to help the county.

Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess said on May 12: "Libraries are a county function, not a city function. It's not fair to the people of Charlotte."





Anthony Foxx Seeks To Bail Out His Buddy Harry Jones


Anthony Foxx wants to bail out his buddy Harry Jones.

That's right Charlotteans your eyes did NOT deceive you!

Newly elected Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx is attempting to use millions in City funding to help bail out his good friend Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones.

You know the same Harry Jones who gladly accepted a whopping $38,000. Bonus last year while denying the rest of Charlotte-Mecklenburg county employees a Cost of Living Increase.

The same Harry Jones who due to poor financial management allowed Charlotte-Meck.'s DSS Department employees to embezzle more than $162,000. in Federal Funds intended for Foster Care children.

Yes! That Harry Jones!

I wonder what kind of "Dirt" Harry Jones has on some of these North Carolina Politicians?

Didn't I warn you about Charlotte becoming the new "Dirty South?"

My publishing these type of posts can perhaps explain why some Charlotte Politicians are trying to get rid of me or shut me up.

Doesn't this all sound like more Corruption and another case of "Pay for Play" politics?

I don't know read on then you tell me.

Let's keep praying for God to put the right kind of Leaders in Public Office.

Vote Responsibly in 2010 & 2012!


On yesterday I read an article published by the Charlotte Observer (nickname: "Charlotte Disturber") which states Charlotte City Council members voted NOT to give City Employees a raise including Police & Firefighters, but will instead give millions of dollars to the County.

How is it that last fall Charlotte City Council members voted to give City Manager Curt Walton & City Attorney Mac McCarley FAT raises (totaling $31,000) but yet can't come to terms about granting City employees well-deserved raises when they haven't had a Cost of Living increase in several years?

And why are City officials giving the County money when they have wasted so much in the past?

Remember last year's Charlotte DSS "Fraudgate"?

Remember Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones' FAT $38,000 Bonus?

City employees can hardly pay for their Health benefits yet council members are throwing money away to the County??

Is this a Political move to save their seats or what?

We'd like for them to explain why because inquiring minds want to know.

This stinks to high heaven!

I'll remind you going forward to please vote intelligently and responsibly.








Raises For Charlotte City Workers Could Be Cut But Not Bonuses


Raises for City of Charlotte employees could be cut for the upcoming fiscal year, with the money possibly placed in contingency or given to Charlotte-Mecklenburg County to stave off steep cuts to libraries and schools.

Six City Council members - of 10 who attended a workshop Wednesday - voted to consider not giving the raises, which would cost the city $6.1million.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, said that he's uncomfortable giving even modest 2 percent raises when hundreds of teachers could be laid off and libraries closed.

The city isn't responsible for funding libraries or Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

"I think we need to think about those net reductions," Foxx said. "Will they have a permanent impact?"

In his concern about raises, Foxx was joined by the council's Republican minority.

Republican council member Warren Cooksey proposed not giving the raises and then giving Charlotte residents a small decrease in property taxes - equal to $5 annual savings on a house with a $200,000 tax value. Cooksey said it was important to give some money back to residents, who will probably face increases in their fixed rates for water and sewer usage.

Cooksey's proposal didn't receive enough votes to move forward.

But Republican Edwin Peacock's proposal to cut the raises and place the money in contingency did get six votes - Republicans Cooksey, Peacock and Andy Dulin, and Democrats Patrick Cannon, Michael Barnes and Nancy Carter. Foxx's proposal to give the county one-time financial help will be discussed under that plan.

Carter is a staunch proponent of giving city employees a pay increase. She's worried that their cost of living is going up, due to having to pay higher health insurance premiums. But she voted with the five for a "discussion."

The city's budget is in much better shape than Mecklenburg County's. That's due, in part, to the city being more conservative as to how much debt it assumed. At the start of the budget process earlier this year, the city had a shortfall of roughly $10 million in a $500 million operating budget.

City Manager Curt Walton proposed a number of small cuts, such as reducing the staffing hours at the 311 call center and suspending installation of new streetlights.

The city also proposed giving employees a raise, in part because the private sector is beginning to rebound and some companies are giving raises again.

Dulin said he didn't think the city would be at a competitive disadvantage if it didn't give raises for fiscal 2011 after not giving them in fiscal 2010.

"I don't agree we will lose employees," he said. "I can't support pay raises for them now."

Help for libraries

Facing a possible $17 million cut, the cash-strapped library system has proposed that local municipalities chip in to close to deficit.

Foxx proposed that the city could put up a certain amount of money and ask that the county's other towns match its efforts. He said it would be like a "challenge grant."

He said the money wouldn't necessarily have to come from the same pot of money saved by not giving raises. He said the city could shift money from capital funds.

It's unclear if there is political support for such a plan.

Council members Carter, Patsy Kinsey, David Howard and Susan Burgess were strong advocates Wednesday of giving raises.

Said Burgess: "Libraries are a county function, not a city function. It's not fair to the people of Charlotte."

Peacock countered that residents have trouble differentiating between city and county government.

"People view us as one," Peacock said. "They don't know that this is a county library. They just know that they are picking up a book. I support the mayor's idea on this."

The council will discuss Foxx's and Peacock's proposals May 26 when it takes straw votes on items for the budget, which will be approved in June.




Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton Receives $16,000 Bonus


Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton this summer cut pay raises and merit-based bonuses for city employees due to the recession.

On Monday night, the Charlotte City Council awarded Walton a $16,000 bonus, and the city manager accepted.

Council members said they were pleased with how Walton has navigated the city through the economic downturn. But Democrat Michael Barnes and Republican Mayor Pat McCrory voted against the pay package because of the bonus.

"I thought he did a very good job - I told him that," said Barnes. "But I didn't think it was right to pay out bonuses. My concern is that there are a lot of people struggling. It would be beneficial for us to show restraint."

McCrory, who is allowed to vote in personnel matters, said Walton did a good job.

"But I was opposed to the bonus because of the economic circumstances in the public and private sector," McCrory said.

Walton, whose evaluation was approved Monday for work in the previous 12 months, will see his total pay remain the same as a year ago. He will receive a salary of $200,312 and the $16,000 bonus, based on his 2008-09 performance.

But a number of city employees whose evaluations also came after July are seeing their pay decrease. The city awarded 314 bonuses, or merit payments, between July 2008 and May 2009 for a total of nearly $400,000. As the financial crisis deepened last year, the city froze positions and cut back on travel and other expenses. The city decided against stopping merit bonus payments in the middle of the fiscal year to avoid punishing employees who had later review dates.

Typically, most city employees can receive up to 8 percent of their salary as a merit-based raise, a bonus, or a combination of the two. When the new fiscal year began in July, Walton said he would recommend stopping the bonuses due to the downturn.

Human Resources Director Tim Mayes, for instance, was paid a salary of $149,555 for 2008-09 as well as a merit bonus of $14,955. For this fiscal year, Mayes will receive only his base salary.

He said Walton was given a bonus by council members because of an "understanding" that's been in place for five years.

"(Council members and the city manager) liken the one-time payment as the first cousin to base pay," Mayes said. "It's not contractually based, but there is a good faith understanding between them."

Mayes said in an e-mail that cutting the bonus would reduce the manager's pay, which would be "inappropriate."

Walton was out of town Tuesday and couldn't be reached for comment. A city spokesperson, Kim McMillan, said Walton declined to talk about his evaluation because state law allows those discussions to take place in private.

In a June Observer story, Walton said he wanted to cut all the city's bonuses temporarily except for a program that allows employees to share in savings when their department or division is a low bidder on a contract. The story didn't address whether Walton planned to not accept any bonus council members might approve.

City attorney Mac McCarley is also paid by the council and is eligible for a bonus.

Mayor-elect Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, voted for Walton's pay package.

"There was a lot of discussion about that issue," Foxx said. "The decision was that as part of the package that the city manager has, if certain targets are met, that's part of the compensation. It wasn't done without debate."

Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones accepted a $38,400 bonus earlier this month. His total compensation of $254,055 remains the same as last year.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman turned down his bonus this summer, and eliminated bonuses for principals and teachers. CMS said the reductions saved $1million.

Council member Patsy Kinsey, a Democrat who voted for Walton's bonus, said she believes Walton received it because it was based on his performance for fiscal year 2008-09 - making it unrelated, she believed, to one-time payments that have been "frozen" for the fiscal year 2009-2010.

That isn't correct, according to the timeline outlined by Mayes. All city employees whose evaluations fell after July 1 of this year are ineligible for pay increases except Walton and McCarley.





Charlotte City Council Approves Bonus To Attorney Mac McCarley


The Charlotte City Council voted Monday night to give City Attorney Mac McCarley a $15,000 bonus - a controversial decision that comes in a year when city employees aren't receiving bonuses.

Council members a week ago gave City Manager Curt Walton a $16,000 bonus, the same amount he received a year ago. Walton had earlier this year stopped all raises and merit-based bonuses for city employees due to the recession. The council voted 7-5 to give McCarley his bonus. Democrat Michael Barnes and Republican Mayor Pat McCrory were the only "no" votes against Walton's bonus, and they voted against McCarley's as well.

They were joined Monday by Democrats Warren Turner, James Mitchell and Mayor-elect Anthony Foxx. Turner had missed last week's vote on Walton's bonus.

Republican Warren Cooksey voted for both bonuses, and said Monday night he supported them because they were for work done in fiscal year 2008-09, which ended June 30. Walton has cut raises for employees receiving evaluations after July of this year.

When asked if he will accept his bonus, McCarley said "of course." When asked if he won't accept a bonus next year, he said he wouldn't speculate. Walton also said last week in an e-mail that he would not speculate on whether he will accept a bonus for 2009-10.

McCrory, in his last meeting as mayor, said McCarley did "outstanding" work for the city in the last year. But he said he couldn't support the bonus due to the economy.

McCarley's base salary will remain at $175,781. Walton's base salary of $200,312 is the same as he received a year ago. The city manager and the city attorney are the two city salaries set by council.

In other action, council members voted 7-4 to approve spending $630,000 on a smart traffic-control system for Pineville-Matthews Road that's designed to ensure traffic flows on the busy highway.

The item didn't appear to be controversial, but it touched off a heated debate over District 7 member Cooksey's opposition.

Cooksey, a Republican, said he was voting against the item because it's being paid for with federal stimulus dollars. He said he believes it's wrong to pay for these and other projects with money that will place the nation deeper into debt.

Cooksey's statement prompted Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess, a Democrat, to question why the rest of the council should support the item, because N.C. 51 is almost entirely in Cooksey's south Charlotte district.

Democrat Michael Barnes continued that line of thought: "If a district rep doesn't believe it's in his best interest to support it, why should the rest of the city?"

Republican John Lassiter, at his last meeting, accused Burgess and Barnes of potentially acting "vindictively" to punish residents near the highway, which Lassiter said he drives frequently. He described it as a "personal assault."

Cooksey said he believes that council districts are to ensure geographic diversity, and that his vote isn't only for his 100,000 residents.

Cooksey wasn't put in the position of voting for the project or losing it. Barnes and Democrats Warren Turner and James Mitchell also voted against it, but it passed with seven votes.

Council members approved its federal lobbying agenda, which included a stance against collective bargaining for police and firefighters.

A bill being considered in Congress would allow for collective bargaining for public safety officials in all states, including those that forbid it, such as North Carolina.

McCrory pushed his colleagues to come out against collective bargaining, saying it would increase costs to taxpayers.

Council members also voted 10-1 to authorize Walton to begin making long-term investments in the stock market with up to $150 million - up to 10 percent of the city's investments.

The N.C. General Assembly in 2007 gave Charlotte and other large N.C. cities and counties the right to invest in the market, with the hope of getting higher returns than safer investments such as bonds.

The city has said it would invest $35 million initially and then $8 million a month.

Barnes voted against the investments.

"This is our entry into the stock market," Barnes said. "I don't believe we need to do that."






"King Harry Jones" Slams Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Board


In another indication that the rancor and dust have not settled between county budget cutters and their cuttees, County Manager Harry “Bonus Baby” Jones used the venue of a Ballantyne Breakfast Club community meeting Saturday to slam the library board.

Jones told the Ballantyne group that the library board should never have proposed closing half its branches after it was confronted with the need for large cuts in the library system’s budget.

Jones also said the board should not have responded to the public outcry about closing libraries by telling citizens to direct their complaints to the county commission.

Jones’ comments came about 10 days after Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman, while announcing that he and his top aides were forgoing bonuses, reminded everyone that his actions were “unlike other government bodies’” practices — a none-too-subtle slap at Jones, who took a $38,000 bonus after cutting county jobs and denying raises to other county employees.

Jones’ comments may be meant to remind the library board who’s king of the county, but there are a couple of little problems King Harry should consider.

First, local citizens have much more respect for the folks who run one of the nation’s finest library systems (or at least it was until the current budget fiasco) than they’ve ever had for him.

Second, if the library board acted peevishly by referring complainers to the county commission, you frankly can’t blame them.

We’ve noted this before, but it bears repeating until it sinks in with Jones’ bosses on the commission: Much of the current community angst over library and school cuts is due to the way Jones (and the financial wizards he hired to keep up with the county’s money) waited until the last possible minute to tell the library and CMS to gut their budgets.

The reason for the delay? Oh, well, Jones & Co. didn’t realize that revenue was going to be so much lower than expected — who’d-a thought that was possible in a deep recession, huh? — and they kept thinking the numbers would get better, so they waited and waited and waited.

The upshot was that the schools and libraries were blindsided by Jones’ demand for massive cuts, which had to be decided on within a matter of days.

In most places, Jones & Co.’s actions would be considered incompetent. Here, he gets to go around talking crap about those he blindsided. But who are we to comment? It’s King Harry’s county; we just live in it.


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Sources: Charmeck.org, Creative Loafing, McClatchy Newspapers, Stop DSS Corruption, WCNC, Youtube, Google Maps

Charlotte Leaders Vote No To Raises For Police, Yes To Bonuses (Jones, McCarley & Walton)

Folks I've just read an article published by the Charlotte Observer (nickname: "Charlotte Disturber") which states Charlotte City Council members voted NOT to give City Employees a raise including Police & Firefighters, but will instead give millions of dollars to the County.

How is it that last fall Charlotte City Council members voted to give City Manager Curt Walton & City Attorney Mac McCarley FAT raises (totaling $31,000) but yet can't come to terms about granting City employees well-deserved raises when they haven't had a Cost of Living increase in several years?

And why are City officials giving the County money when they have wasted so much in the past?

Remember last year's Charlotte DSS "Fraudgate"?

Remember Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones' FAT $38,000 Bonus?

City employees can hardly pay for their Health benefits yet council members are throwing money away to the County??

Is this a Political move to save their seats or what?

We'd like for them to explain why because inquiring minds want to know.

This stinks to high heaven!

I'll remind you going forward to please vote intelligently and responsibly.

Check out the articles below.




Raises For Charlotte City Workers Could Be Cut But Not Bonuses


Raises for City of Charlotte employees could be cut for the upcoming fiscal year, with the money possibly placed in contingency or given to Charlotte-Mecklenburg County to stave off steep cuts to libraries and schools.

Six City Council members - of 10 who attended a workshop Wednesday - voted to consider not giving the raises, which would cost the city $6.1million.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, said that he's uncomfortable giving even modest 2 percent raises when hundreds of teachers could be laid off and libraries closed.

The city isn't responsible for funding libraries or Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

"I think we need to think about those net reductions," Foxx said. "Will they have a permanent impact?"

In his concern about raises, Foxx was joined by the council's Republican minority.

Republican council member Warren Cooksey proposed not giving the raises and then giving Charlotte residents a small decrease in property taxes - equal to $5 annual savings on a house with a $200,000 tax value. Cooksey said it was important to give some money back to residents, who will probably face increases in their fixed rates for water and sewer usage.

Cooksey's proposal didn't receive enough votes to move forward.

But Republican Edwin Peacock's proposal to cut the raises and place the money in contingency did get six votes - Republicans Cooksey, Peacock and Andy Dulin, and Democrats Patrick Cannon, Michael Barnes and Nancy Carter. Foxx's proposal to give the county one-time financial help will be discussed under that plan.

Carter is a staunch proponent of giving city employees a pay increase. She's worried that their cost of living is going up, due to having to pay higher health insurance premiums. But she voted with the five for a "discussion."

The city's budget is in much better shape than Mecklenburg County's. That's due, in part, to the city being more conservative as to how much debt it assumed. At the start of the budget process earlier this year, the city had a shortfall of roughly $10 million in a $500 million operating budget.

City Manager Curt Walton proposed a number of small cuts, such as reducing the staffing hours at the 311 call center and suspending installation of new streetlights.

The city also proposed giving employees a raise, in part because the private sector is beginning to rebound and some companies are giving raises again.

Dulin said he didn't think the city would be at a competitive disadvantage if it didn't give raises for fiscal 2011 after not giving them in fiscal 2010.

"I don't agree we will lose employees," he said. "I can't support pay raises for them now."

Help for libraries

Facing a possible $17 million cut, the cash-strapped library system has proposed that local municipalities chip in to close to deficit.

Foxx proposed that the city could put up a certain amount of money and ask that the county's other towns match its efforts. He said it would be like a "challenge grant."

He said the money wouldn't necessarily have to come from the same pot of money saved by not giving raises. He said the city could shift money from capital funds.

It's unclear if there is political support for such a plan.

Council members Carter, Patsy Kinsey, David Howard and Susan Burgess were strong advocates Wednesday of giving raises.

Said Burgess: "Libraries are a county function, not a city function. It's not fair to the people of Charlotte."

Peacock countered that residents have trouble differentiating between city and county government.

"People view us as one," Peacock said. "They don't know that this is a county library. They just know that they are picking up a book. I support the mayor's idea on this."

The council will discuss Foxx's and Peacock's proposals May 26 when it takes straw votes on items for the budget, which will be approved in June.




Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton Receives $16,000 Bonus


Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton this summer cut pay raises and merit-based bonuses for city employees due to the recession.

On Monday night, the Charlotte City Council awarded Walton a $16,000 bonus, and the city manager accepted.

Council members said they were pleased with how Walton has navigated the city through the economic downturn. But Democrat Michael Barnes and Republican Mayor Pat McCrory voted against the pay package because of the bonus.

"I thought he did a very good job - I told him that," said Barnes. "But I didn't think it was right to pay out bonuses. My concern is that there are a lot of people struggling. It would be beneficial for us to show restraint."

McCrory, who is allowed to vote in personnel matters, said Walton did a good job.

"But I was opposed to the bonus because of the economic circumstances in the public and private sector," McCrory said.

Walton, whose evaluation was approved Monday for work in the previous 12 months, will see his total pay remain the same as a year ago. He will receive a salary of $200,312 and the $16,000 bonus, based on his 2008-09 performance.

But a number of city employees whose evaluations also came after July are seeing their pay decrease. The city awarded 314 bonuses, or merit payments, between July 2008 and May 2009 for a total of nearly $400,000. As the financial crisis deepened last year, the city froze positions and cut back on travel and other expenses. The city decided against stopping merit bonus payments in the middle of the fiscal year to avoid punishing employees who had later review dates.

Typically, most city employees can receive up to 8 percent of their salary as a merit-based raise, a bonus, or a combination of the two. When the new fiscal year began in July, Walton said he would recommend stopping the bonuses due to the downturn.

Human Resources Director Tim Mayes, for instance, was paid a salary of $149,555 for 2008-09 as well as a merit bonus of $14,955. For this fiscal year, Mayes will receive only his base salary.

He said Walton was given a bonus by council members because of an "understanding" that's been in place for five years.

"(Council members and the city manager) liken the one-time payment as the first cousin to base pay," Mayes said. "It's not contractually based, but there is a good faith understanding between them."

Mayes said in an e-mail that cutting the bonus would reduce the manager's pay, which would be "inappropriate."

Walton was out of town Tuesday and couldn't be reached for comment. A city spokesperson, Kim McMillan, said Walton declined to talk about his evaluation because state law allows those discussions to take place in private.

In a June Observer story, Walton said he wanted to cut all the city's bonuses temporarily except for a program that allows employees to share in savings when their department or division is a low bidder on a contract. The story didn't address whether Walton planned to not accept any bonus council members might approve.

City attorney Mac McCarley is also paid by the council and is eligible for a bonus.

Mayor-elect Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, voted for Walton's pay package.

"There was a lot of discussion about that issue," Foxx said. "The decision was that as part of the package that the city manager has, if certain targets are met, that's part of the compensation. It wasn't done without debate."

Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones accepted a $38,400 bonus earlier this month. His total compensation of $254,055 remains the same as last year.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman turned down his bonus this summer, and eliminated bonuses for principals and teachers. CMS said the reductions saved $1million.

Council member Patsy Kinsey, a Democrat who voted for Walton's bonus, said she believes Walton received it because it was based on his performance for fiscal year 2008-09 - making it unrelated, she believed, to one-time payments that have been "frozen" for the fiscal year 2009-2010.

That isn't correct, according to the timeline outlined by Mayes. All city employees whose evaluations fell after July 1 of this year are ineligible for pay increases except Walton and McCarley.





Charlotte City Council Approves Bonus To Attorney Mac McCarley


The Charlotte City Council voted Monday night to give City Attorney Mac McCarley a $15,000 bonus - a controversial decision that comes in a year when city employees aren't receiving bonuses.

Council members a week ago gave City Manager Curt Walton a $16,000 bonus, the same amount he received a year ago. Walton had earlier this year stopped all raises and merit-based bonuses for city employees due to the recession. The council voted 7-5 to give McCarley his bonus. Democrat Michael Barnes and Republican Mayor Pat McCrory were the only "no" votes against Walton's bonus, and they voted against McCarley's as well.

They were joined Monday by Democrats Warren Turner, James Mitchell and Mayor-elect Anthony Foxx. Turner had missed last week's vote on Walton's bonus.

Republican Warren Cooksey voted for both bonuses, and said Monday night he supported them because they were for work done in fiscal year 2008-09, which ended June 30. Walton has cut raises for employees receiving evaluations after July of this year.

When asked if he will accept his bonus, McCarley said "of course." When asked if he won't accept a bonus next year, he said he wouldn't speculate. Walton also said last week in an e-mail that he would not speculate on whether he will accept a bonus for 2009-10.

McCrory, in his last meeting as mayor, said McCarley did "outstanding" work for the city in the last year. But he said he couldn't support the bonus due to the economy.

McCarley's base salary will remain at $175,781. Walton's base salary of $200,312 is the same as he received a year ago. The city manager and the city attorney are the two city salaries set by council.

In other action, council members voted 7-4 to approve spending $630,000 on a smart traffic-control system for Pineville-Matthews Road that's designed to ensure traffic flows on the busy highway.

The item didn't appear to be controversial, but it touched off a heated debate over District 7 member Cooksey's opposition.

Cooksey, a Republican, said he was voting against the item because it's being paid for with federal stimulus dollars. He said he believes it's wrong to pay for these and other projects with money that will place the nation deeper into debt.

Cooksey's statement prompted Mayor Pro Tem Susan Burgess, a Democrat, to question why the rest of the council should support the item, because N.C. 51 is almost entirely in Cooksey's south Charlotte district.

Democrat Michael Barnes continued that line of thought: "If a district rep doesn't believe it's in his best interest to support it, why should the rest of the city?"

Republican John Lassiter, at his last meeting, accused Burgess and Barnes of potentially acting "vindictively" to punish residents near the highway, which Lassiter said he drives frequently. He described it as a "personal assault."

Cooksey said he believes that council districts are to ensure geographic diversity, and that his vote isn't only for his 100,000 residents.

Cooksey wasn't put in the position of voting for the project or losing it. Barnes and Democrats Warren Turner and James Mitchell also voted against it, but it passed with seven votes.

Council members approved its federal lobbying agenda, which included a stance against collective bargaining for police and firefighters.

A bill being considered in Congress would allow for collective bargaining for public safety officials in all states, including those that forbid it, such as North Carolina.

McCrory pushed his colleagues to come out against collective bargaining, saying it would increase costs to taxpayers.

Council members also voted 10-1 to authorize Walton to begin making long-term investments in the stock market with up to $150 million - up to 10 percent of the city's investments.

The N.C. General Assembly in 2007 gave Charlotte and other large N.C. cities and counties the right to invest in the market, with the hope of getting higher returns than safer investments such as bonds.

The city has said it would invest $35 million initially and then $8 million a month.

Barnes voted against the investments.

"This is our entry into the stock market," Barnes said. "I don't believe we need to do that."






"King Harry Jones" Slams Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Board


In another indication that the rancor and dust have not settled between county budget cutters and their cuttees, County Manager Harry “Bonus Baby” Jones used the venue of a Ballantyne Breakfast Club community meeting Saturday to slam the library board.

Jones told the Ballantyne group that the library board should never have proposed closing half its branches after it was confronted with the need for large cuts in the library system’s budget.

Jones also said the board should not have responded to the public outcry about closing libraries by telling citizens to direct their complaints to the county commission.

Jones’ comments came about 10 days after Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman, while announcing that he and his top aides were forgoing bonuses, reminded everyone that his actions were “unlike other government bodies’” practices — a none-too-subtle slap at Jones, who took a $38,000 bonus after cutting county jobs and denying raises to other county employees.

Jones’ comments may be meant to remind the library board who’s king of the county, but there are a couple of little problems King Harry should consider.

First, local citizens have much more respect for the folks who run one of the nation’s finest library systems (or at least it was until the current budget fiasco) than they’ve ever had for him.

Second, if the library board acted peevishly by referring complainers to the county commission, you frankly can’t blame them.

We’ve noted this before, but it bears repeating until it sinks in with Jones’ bosses on the commission: Much of the current community angst over library and school cuts is due to the way Jones (and the financial wizards he hired to keep up with the county’s money) waited until the last possible minute to tell the library and CMS to gut their budgets.

The reason for the delay? Oh, well, Jones & Co. didn’t realize that revenue was going to be so much lower than expected — who’d-a thought that was possible in a deep recession, huh? — and they kept thinking the numbers would get better, so they waited and waited and waited.

The upshot was that the schools and libraries were blindsided by Jones’ demand for massive cuts, which had to be decided on within a matter of days.

In most places, Jones & Co.’s actions would be considered incompetent. Here, he gets to go around talking crap about those he blindsided. But who are we to comment? It’s King Harry’s county; we just live in it.


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Sources: Charmeck.org, Creative Loafing, McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, Google Maps

Warren Turner vs Anthony Foxx: Turner Denies Allegations, Fights Back

Warren Turner Won't Face Formal Charges After Sexual Harassment Allegations Investigation


In a six to three vote, Charlotte City leaders Monday voted not to censure council member Warren Turner for alleged misconduct.

The vote against a formal reprimand came one week after council learned five different women had accused Turner of making sexually inappropriate remarks.

"I find it hard to believe that all of these people are lying," council member Michael Barnes said as city leaders considered a motion to censure Turner. "I don’t like anything I’ve been hearing. I don’t think this censure is enough. I wish we could do more."

Barnes, along with council members Nancy Carter and Susan Burgess voted to censure Turner.

Turner was recused from the vote and council member Edwin Peacock had been excused from the meeting earlier in the evening.

Council member Andy Dulin said he had not seen any conclusive evidence of misconduct.

"It doesn’t make sense to me for us to be jumping to this conclusion of his guilt," Dulin told council. "There’s been no proof, there’s been no trial, there’s been no rebuttal."

Attorney Valecia McDowell of law firm Moore and Van Allen was hired by the city in March to investigate allegations of sexual harassment made against Turner.

At a meeting last week, McDowell released the results of her month-long investigation.

She said the city's director of human resources began documenting the claims against Turner in September 2008.

The employee later accused Turner of commenting to another council member that he thought the she was a lesbian and he was surprised she was engaged to a man.

In a third encounter, the employee said Turner grabbed her sweater, touching her inappropriately.

Three other female employees had also made harassment complaints against the councilman, McDowell said.

One woman, who traveled with Turner and other city employees and officials to a 2006 conference in Reno, Nevada, said the councilman made a sexually suggestive remark to her as they passed by a display of pornographic materials.

The two other accusers declined to specify where and when the alleged harassment occurred, McDowell said, fearing such details would identify them and could lead to retribution.

Monday evening, in his first formal response to the allegations, Turner said McDowell's report was "filled with untruths, half-truths and inconsistencies."

"At no time have I ever made any sexually explicit comments,any subtle sexual comments, any sexual gestures, or any sexual contact or any physical contact with any of these employees listed in this report or to any other individual in a professional work environment," Turner told council members.

The alleged misconduct by a council member first came to light in early March when Mayor Anthony Foxx sent out an e-mail to all council members, cautioning them against incidents of sexual harassment, saying that kind of conduct would not be tolerated.

The e-mail did not name any names, causing some male members to complain that they were all suspects. The city decided that hiring an outside investigator was the best way to learn what did or did not happen.

A fifth woman, a cadet who attended the city's police academy with Turner in 1988, also claimed harassment, according to McDowell's report.

Turner, who was 24 years-old at the time, was later fired by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

"My termination had absolutely nothing to with sexual harassment," Turner said Monday. "I was charged with threatening a cadet. I was charged because that cadet stepped onto my feet twice. And she asked me what are you going to do about it?"

A council member since 2003, Turner said he has faced "humiliation and unfairness" since the allegations were first made public.

He has criticized both Foxx and city manager Curt Walton for their handling of the claims.

Walton and Foxx have said there is no formal policy for dealing with sexual harassment allegations made against a city leader.

Foxx has since appointed a special committee to draft new ethics guidelines for city council members.


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Sources: WCNC, Google Maps

Andy Dulin & Charlotte City Council Members Take A Hint! Decision 2011

Dear Councilman Andy Dulin,

Here's a message from Voters for you and your Charlotte City Council co-horts.

I fully support Raises for City of Charlotte Employees NOT City Council Members.

Especially those employees earning lower salaries like our dedicated Police Officers & Street Crew workers.

Many Charlotte City employees are Minorities who work hard, long hours while often receiving little compensation.

In fact the City of Charlotte has a history of NOT wanting to pay them for O.T.

By the way aren't there several Charlotte Police Officers currently suing the City of Charlotte for warranted, Unpaid Over Time wages?

While I do give Charlotte City Council members kudos for using more Fiscally sound practices in managing their Budget than County staff, I'm also giving City Council members a thumbs down for not treating their employees fair and for hiring Murderers & Rapists.

And...

Another Thumbs down for giving City Manager Curt Walton & City Attorney Mac McCarley huge raises ($30,000+) last Fall when regular Charlotte City Employees had NOT received a Cost of Living increase in several years.

That's NOT cool!

Since many Charlotte Voters feel fleeced by this current council, I have a feeling many of you will NO longer be serving in Public Office after the next election in 2011.

You have to come harder Councilman Dulin by continuing to speak up for ALL Charlotte residents not just those who live in Charlotte's Wealthiest communities:

Dilworth, Fairview rd, Myers Park, Park rd, South Park, Queens rd., Third Ward, University

Last time I checked a lot of those people haven't seen a Property Tax Increase in 7 years, while Charlotte's Lower Income & Middle Class seem to experience a Property Tax Increase each year.

Something is definitely wrong with this picture don't you think?

In addition Charlotte's Lower Income & Middle Class seem to receive very little Protection from CMPD.

While I do admit Charlotte's Law Enforcement personnel work hard, the caveat is they are NOT working hard to keep everyone Safe, just Charlotte's Elite.

Voters all over this Nation are tired of a Divided System.

Haves vs. Have nots!

Perhaps Charlotte Leaders should visit Newark, New Jersey and Speak with highly respected, nationally known Mayor Corey Booker about his award-winning strategies.

His city (Newark) was totally Murder-Free last month and the Mainstream Media is knocking down his door.

Why?

Unlike Charlotte's scared, token Mayor Anthony Foxx (spawned from Mel Watt & Harvey Gantt), Corey Booker is a Bold, Visionary Black Mayor who's very EFFECTIVE and cares about ALL of his Constituents.

Just in case your wondering not all of Newark's residents are Low Income & Middle Class voters.

Andy I suggest You and your Arrogant, Clueless Charlotte City Council colleagues take a Hint.

We're tired and not going to take it anymore!

It's time for New Blood from the Mayor's seat on down.

See you at the Polls dude.

Regards,
Laurel







Charlotte City Council Finally Gives Delayed Cost Of Living Raises To Police & Regular City Employees


After proposing a number of budget cuts, the city of Charlotte Wednesday said it will have enough money to give its employees raises for the upcoming fiscal year.

The raise pool for general employees would be 2 percent if the City Council approves the budget. Police officers and firefighters would be eligible for a 2 percent cost-of-living increase and a 2.5 percent step increase, which is usually 5 percent. The raises would cost the city $6.1 million.

The proposal to bring back raises after a one-year absence comes after the city has proposed cutting money used for police overtime, streetlight installation and after-school programs.

It comes as Mecklenburg County is cutting tens of millions from its budget, forcing layoffs of library staff and possibly laying off more than 1,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees.

Budget director Ruffin Hall defended the raises Wednesday, noting that Charlotte and other N.C. cities are in better financial shape than N.C. counties. The decision to have raises was made after the city surveyed a number of private employers that are bringing back raises as the country begins to pull out of the recession.

He said the city has to remain competitive and doesn't want to lose its employees to the private sector.

"We have to focus on delivering our services," Hall said.

At the start of the budget process, the city faced a roughly $7.7 million shortfall out of a $500 million operating budget - less than 2 percent.

Last month, City Manager Curt Walton proposed a number of cuts, such as cutting unscheduled bulky item trash pickups, which would save $225,000. Residents could still set up an appointment to have items removed.

He has proposed closing the 311 call system from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and moving those operators to the day shift, which would save $65,000. The city also might suspend installation of new streetlights for three years, which would save $235,000 in additional electricity costs.

Other proposed cuts include eliminating funding for POST - Partners in Out of School Time - which provides after-school programs for students at Quail Hollow and Albemarle middle schools. That would save $454,000 and affect 200 students, the city said.

The city has also proposed expanding the pay period for police officers from two weeks to four weeks, to give supervisors more time to give officers comp time instead of overtime. That would save roughly $1 million.

On Wednesday, Hall discussed additional cuts with the City Council.

One cut would reduce the 401(k) contribution for all city employees except police and fire from 3 percent to 2 percent. The city said it hopes to restore that reduction for fiscal year 2012. The 401(k) contribution for law enforcement officials would remain 5 percent, as mandated by state law.

The city proposed cutting or freezing 41 positions. Some of the positions include cutting 12 workers from the 311 Call Center, 11 from Solid Waste Services and eight police officers assigned to the Charlotte Area Transit System. Four positions would be cut in engineering and finance.

The city attorney's office will likely get a new attorney tasked with handling public records requests. Hall said the number and size of the requests - from the media and due to litigation - is taxing city staff.

City staff will make its final budget presentations in May. A public hearing will be May 24 and the city will make adjustments to the budget May 26. The council is scheduled to pass a budget June 7.


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Sources: Charmeck.org, City of Newark, Facebook, Fox News, McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, Youtube, Google Maps