The Trash Talk Continues
"Blue Eyes", a poster at OverlandChat, states in this post that former Councilperson Mary Beth Conlon voted for having residents pay for trash service. "Blue Eyes" is not alone, as Councilman Sellers has made this false claim in the past as well.
"Blue Eyes" suggested people "look it up".......I Did.
For your review:
At the June 28th, 2004 Council Meeting the Council voted on the General Revenue Budget for 2004/2005. This vote can be seen in the publicly available minutes of June 28th, 2004 Council Meeting on page 15. There you will see that Councilperson Conlon clearly voted NO on the General Revenue Budget for 2004/2005 (which included the change in trash service).
Councilman Stuckey moved that Bill No. 43-2004, AN ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT REVENUES AND EXPENSES OF THE CITY OF OVERLAND GENERAL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004 AND JUNE 30, 2005, be adopted as Ordinance No. 2004-43. Councilman Saye seconded the motion. Mayor Dody polled the vote as follows: Paul - Yes; May - Yes; Stuckey - Yes; Conlon - No; Purzner - No; Owensby - No; Corcoran - No; Saye - Yes. (Yes - 4; No - 4). Mayor Dody voted YES, breaking the tie vote.
(emphasis mine)
Further research shows that at the January 10th, 2005 Council meeting, the Council voted on amending the contract with Allied Waste (dba Midwest Waste). That vote was to change the contract to start billing the residents for the services. This vote can be seen in the publicly available minutes of Jan 10th, 2005 Council Meeting on page 6. Once again former Councilperson Conlon voted NO on this measure, which made the contract change to begin having residents pay for trash service.
Councilman Stuckey moved that Bill No. 03-2005, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OVERLAND, MISSOURI, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT FOR THE COLLECTION, REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF NON-HAZARDOUS RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE, YARD WASTE AND RECYCLING WITH ALLIED WASTE INDUSTRIES, LLC D/B/A MIDWEST WASTE, be adopted as Ordinance No. 2005-03. Councilman Paul seconded the motion. Mayor Dody polled the vote as follows: Paul - Yes; May - Yes; Stuckey - Yes; Conlon - No; Purzner - No; Owensby - No; Corcoran - Yes; Saye - Yes. Motion carried.
(emphasis mine)
It is clear to anyone who takes a moment to review the documentation that former Councilperson Conlon voted against having the residents pay for Trash service.
"you are entitled to your own opinions,
but not your own facts"
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927 - 2003)
but not your own facts"
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927 - 2003)
posted by Overland Sailor @ 10:48 AM 
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10 Comments:
Great research and backup!
I love the quote, too!
I am a huge fan of that quote. Unfortunately, I have never found who the originator of it was. Anyone know?
It seems the quote is from Daniel Patrick Moyihan:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/danielpatr182347.html
OR possibly from an ancient named CYRIL
http://wuff.me.uk/Cyrils%20sayings/Cyrils%20sayings.html
Well the "ancient" named CYRIL does not appear to be all that ancient, at least based on some of the quotes that appear there. My guess is that this is someone's online persona. :-)
I've heard this quote being associated to DP Moyihan before, though I remember reading that he was potentially quoting someone else.
However, Moyihan was always a character, and being he is Irish as well I'll stick with him on this quote until proven otherwise. Thanks! :-)
Taking a stab at finding what I read so long ago about the Moyihan quote, I came across some interesting ones I thought I would share:
"As long as people believe in absurdities, they will continue to commit atrocities" -- Voltaire
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act" -- George Orwell
"Falsehood is easy, truth so difficult" -- George Eliot
"Truth is generally the best vindication against slander" -- Abraham Lincoln
And 2 personal favorites from him as well:
"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four; calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." -- Abraham Lincoln
"When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest" -- Abraham Lincoln
Thanks Mr. Sailor for setting the real record straight. Once again your diligence has paid off.
Thanks again Sailor.
So "independent" research has proven you right once again.
Will some people ever learn "To be sure the mind is in gear, before putting the mouth in motion"?
Don't know where that quote originated, but I heard it a long time ago.
Its so wrong that the best candidate in all of these races
who had actual ideas to move Overland forward was brandished by a bunch of people who would do anything, say anything to be elected. They tore her apart she never was ugly towards them. Only if Conlon would have won this election Overland would have been on the road to a real economic recovery. I heard this girl speak once again yesterday and she has got what it takes. She is eloquent, passionate, bright, and engaged a refreshing change from the current situation. To imagine what Overland could have had with her at the helm. I am confident once she returns to the council this city will realize Conlon is the real deal to move Overland forward.
"Blue Eyes" at OverlandChat. has now clarified their position:
"Fine Wine, i read your post on (trash vote for the record) and the section i am referring to is the minutes of the meeting of June 28th,2004 page 8.
Read the whole page, and near the bottom of the page on the trash issue you will see where it says (After discussion it was decided (6 for 2 against) to have residents pay for their trash pick up beginning the first of 2005). Then the Budget meeting adjourned around 10:00pm"
A quick review of the June 10th, 2004 Workshop Meeting Minutes that are included in the June 28th, 2004 Council Meeting Minutes
shows there is a references to a 6 to 2 vote at the workshop meeting on the trash issue which also states that Councilman Owensby and Councilperson Purzner voted against it on page 8.
However, as we all know, that the only thing to come out of Workshop meetings are recommendations for the most part. To codify something like a budget or contract change into law requires a vote of the Council on an Ordinance. As you can see in this article Councilperson Mary Beth Conlon voted against both the General Revenue Budget and later the contractual change that effected the trash service.
Going to page 9 of the June 28th, 2004 Council meeting minutes shows the June 24th Workshop meeting minutes where Councilperson Mary Beth Conlon asked for a town hall meeting on the trash issue. As we know, a town hall meeting on this issue never happened. A review of the remainder of the June 28th Council meeting minutes shows on page 15 that Councilperson Mary Beth Conlon voted against the general revenue budget that included this change in the trash service.
"Blue Eyes" suggests that Mary Beth Conlon voted NO on the trash service change because the City had not had a Town Hall meeting or made an effort to engage the public on this issue, and they very well may be right. If so, BRAVO Mary Beth Conlon! A local politician who actually wants to involve the residents in the governmental decisions that effect them!
Contrast that to Councilman Knode (my ward's Councilman) who will not return phone calls or answer emails from residents who ask specific questions about things like how will $616,000.00 pay for $1.2 - $1.3 million in Trash services? (other than his delusion that for some reason those wanting these answers actually want to know what color the truck will be). Or Councilman Knode's tenancy to walk out of meetings rather than listen to Residents concerns during the comments period. Then there's how Councilman Knode walked out of last night's Council meeting along with Councilman Sellers, Councilman Owensby and Mayor Ann Purzner rather than allow a vote on a motion to settle the lawsuit filed against the City by the 4 police officers who's raises and promotions were improperly taken away by the Mayor. A Lawsuit that has already cost the taxpayers of Overland over $23,000.00 and it is far from over.
It seems to me that Mary Beth Conlon is the type of person that really does strongly believe in delivering:
"Increased Accountability to Tax Payers"
"Tighter Fiscal Controls & Accountability"
"Honest & Trustworthy Legal Representation for our city"
"Oversight of Expenses/Contracts"
"More Honest & Transparent Government"
Others talk about it, but actions (like the walkout of last nights Council meeting) speak louder than words.
Of course, Eedie Cuminale returns phone calls and has stated that she believes the City needs to work to better include the residents in major decisions. Looks like the residents of Ward 1 (my ward) may thankfully find themselves looked out for in a similar fashion after April 3rd.
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