Why the Petition?
As many of you already know, I have initiated a petition to get a referendum on the ballot for election day in November.
The question for the ballot would read: Shall Resolution 7-1, as approved at the January 3, 2011 meeting of the Common Council approving and confirming the appointment of Patrick McMahon as Chief of Police for the City of Middletown, be approved and adopted.”
Signing the petition does not mean you agree that Pat McMahon should be appointed chief, it only means that you would agree to see the question on the ballot to allow the voting public to decide.
On January 3, the Common Council voted, along party lines, to reject the appointment of Acting Chief Patrick McMahon to the position of permanent chief. While Council members voiced nearly unanimous agreement that the acting chief was qualified for the position, and had demonstrated leadership during his many months of service as Acting Chief, he was still rejected.
One can only speculate what the real reason for his rejection was because only one Council member offered a substantive argument as to why he voted for rejection. The others merely mumbled vague objections that he wasn’t the right guy for the job.
What’s clear is that the chief was caught in a major and ongoing squabble between the Republican mayor and the Democratically-controlled council. He also had confrontations with the Council about a new work schedule for police and the hiring of additional sergeants for the force. In both cases, to the detriment of his own career, he followed the orders of the mayor, who he has consistently referred to as his boss.
Before the official deliberations about his appointment, the Acting Chief was subjected to a whisper campaign about his character that was as inaccurate as it was vile.
I'm sure that some of my own anger about the decision comes from observing my father go through a similar ordeal many years ago in New Britain when he was a candidate for Fire Chief in New Britain. In that case a good man was beaten down by a corrupt system. In this case, a qualified candidate is having his career and honor sullied because he is on the outside of rigid political system.
For the next seven weeks I will be making an effort to collect the 2200 signatures of registered Middletown voters needed to put the question on the ballot.
It's an opportunity for the people to decide. I can use all the help I can get. If you're willing to sign or willing to take a petition form and get signatures, contact me at mieyeed@gmail.com.
16 comments:
This does appear to cross the line between community blog and bully pulpit. Just my opinion.
bully - browbeat, coerce, terrorize, tyrannize. ... bullying - to be loudly arrogant and overbearing.
This post does not fit the definition of bullying at all, ANON 11:20. This absolutely is within the idea of community activism. Ed McKeon sees something that he thinks is a problem, and he takes action, and proposes a solution, and he tries to persuade his readers in a non-bullying manner about why this is important. If he succeeds, the issue will be available for all residents to vote on. How in the world is that outside the parameters of community spirit? Obviously some people agree with Ed and some people disagree with Ed, but in no way is he imposing his views on anyone. I would like to see more things in the Eye about people taking on causes that they think need to be addressed, and people spending their own personal time and energy on fixing things around Middletown. Everything is someone's "pet cause". What's yours? I really would like to hear about it. Just because Ed is actively involved with this blog, it does not at all mean that he has a monopoly on the content. He or I would be happy to post about your cause too or any other cause, just write it up and send it to us. I admire Ed for starting this petition. That took a lot of guts. I can't recall having seen much civic action like this in the past decade, and I think it exemplifies what is great about democracy in freedom that we sometimes take for granted. I don't know a lot of people that are so willing to act on their convictions. Thanks for reading.
Ed, Can you post a location where you will be for the petition to be signed? I'm sure there are many residents who would like to sign your petition but don't feel comfortable stopping at your home. Thank you for taking this difficult task on!
Sorry Ed, can't support you on this. This is the responsibility of elected officials. Imagine how government would come to a standstill if we had referendums every time a vote didn't go the way someone wanted it to.
This is the way government should conduct itself. The people have the vote and voice and should always use it. Take a look at what Move On is doing with it's website:
http://www.moveon.org/
Karen, I suggest you look up "bully pulpit" in the dictionary.
The Right to Petition the Government is one of our most fundamental right dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215.
Actually, this petition is for an initiative, not a referendum, and it isn't going to work. The charter provides that only the mayor has the power to appoint, only the council has the power to confirm. That cannot be changed by an initiative in this manner. If the initiative goes forward and if it passes all that will happen is that things will be tied up in court for a few years and the city will be without a chief while the taxpayers waste a couple hundred thousand dollars in legal fees. Enough. Lets move on.
Ed,
I agree with your idea in theory but do not think you realize how much power this man will have if voted in. You may just cause more harm than good by your noble action. I just hope the people research the man they are voting on prior to checking a box.
A community blog is a kind of bully pulpit. Read on...."A bully pulpit is a public office or other position of authority of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter. The bully pulpit can bring issues to the forefront that were not initially in debate, due to the office's stature and publicity.
This term was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to the White House as a "bully pulpit," by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. Roosevelt famously used the word bully as an adjective meaning "superb" or "wonderful" (a more common expression in his time than it is today).
The term is not related to the noun bully, i.e. a harasser or someone who intimidates, in an interesting way. The word is related to the Dutch boel, meaning lover, and is also found in the German word Nebenbuhler, meaning a rival for a lady's affection. In English usage around 1700, "bully" apparently passed over into the realm of "pimp," which gives us the connotation of a ruffian.[1]
Due to the archaic nature of the adjective "bully" and the religious symbolism of the word pulpit (the elevated platform used by a preacher), this phrase is often misunderstood as a pejorative. This misinterpretation implies intimidation and, possibly, an abuse of authority. An example of this (incorrect usage) would be the sentence: "He uses his job as a bully pulpit, regaling his subordinates with his political opinions as part of their morning meetings."
An example of modern use of the phrase is the headline, about the archbishop of New York, "Archbishop Timothy Dolan rises to the bully pulpit in the midst of a culture war." A dictionary is an incredible tool
ha ha you got me I stand corrected. Still, the Eye is a populist forum. Any power or authority that the Eye affords its writers is self-obtained and is available to anybody who is willing to participate. So, bully pulpit, not quite. Of course Ed is going to use a web site that he helped create to discuss an issue important to him. I see nothing wrong with that. It's a web site, not a political office. Using the visibility of the Eye to get a message out is part of the purpose of having the Eye, and that goes for any and all posts in the Eye. The Press and the Patch have both taken notice of Ed's efforts and have published articles too. This is newsworthy. I still admire anyone who will stand up for what they believe in, and follow the process that our democratic government allows to put something on the voting ballot. And I am flattered that you think writing for the Eye represents a position of high ranking authority and provides visibility.
Maybe a write in campaign would be a better idea than the referendum? List out the e-mail address of the city council and mayor for easy access of the Middletown residents, and urge them to provide their opinion. Then maybe the City Council and/or Mayor will understand what the constituents really feel and think!!
I find the idea of solving personnel problems by referendum so fascinating. Just think of it! If enough of us don't think the Tax Collector, for example, or anyother city employee is doing a good job then we just have to start a petition for a referendum. Just think of all the dead wood that we can get eliminated this way. And to think that we can vote on new hires the same way. This could get exciting.
Anon- I hope you are kidding that you don't realize that for the last 10 years now- internet's been around for a while- All the council people have their addresses in fact all city employees have their address on the City's website- do not blame lack of information for your in action-
http://www.cityofmiddletown.com/Council/council_information.htm
Council Members:
Mr. David Bauer (R)
55 Dobson Circle
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 301-2244
dvauer@sbcglobal.net
Committees: Economic Development, Contract Compliance Board, Public Works, Clean Energy Task Force, Commission on the Arts, Senior Services, Water Pollution Control Authority, Middletown Resource Recovery Commission to ECCRA
Joseph Bibisi (R) - Deputy Mayor
124 Highmeadow Lane
Middletown, CT
(860) 346-7631
josephbibisi@att.net
Committees: Deputy Mayor, Finance and Government Operations, Economic Development, Ordinance Study, Fire Services Cost Committee, Parking Advisory Committee, Retirement Board, Youth Services Advisory Bureau
Mr. Gerald E. Daley (D)
70 Autumn Lane
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 347-9315
gedaley@comcast.net
Committees: Economic Development (Chair), Finance and Government Operations, Middletown Resource Recovery Commission to ECRRA
Daniel T. Drew (D)
826 Long Hill Road
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 834-1630
danieltdrew@yahoo.com
Committees: Ordinance Study, Economic Development, Public Works, Park & Recreation, MHS Locker Room Building Committee
Mr. Grady L. Faulkner Jr. (D)
35 Snow Ridge South
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 344-9395
gfaulk1484@aol.com
Committees: Insurance and Claims (Chair), Board of Health, Citizens Advisory Committee, Youth Services Advisory Bureau
Mrs. Hope Kasper (D)
30 Anderson Road
(860) 347-1482
hopekasper@gmail.com
Committees: Finance and Government Operations, Insurance and Claims, Personnel Review (Chair), Public Safety
Deborah Kleckowski (R)
Coleman Road
Middletown, CT, 06457
(860) 346-1390
votedebktoday@yahoo.com
Committees: Personnel Review, Public Safety, Insurance and Claims, Board of Health, Citizens Advisory Committee
Mr. Ronald P. Klattenberg (D) - Deputy Majority Leader
222 Round Hill Road
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 347-8464
r.klattenberg@sbcglobal.net
Committees: Finance and Government Operations (Chair), Public Works (Chair), Clean Energy Task Force, Senior Services Commission
Philip J. Pessina (R)
140 Maple Shade Road
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-0348
ppessina@sbcglobal.net
Committees: Finance and Government Operations, Public Safety, Harbor Improvement Agency, Park and Recreation Commission
Mr. Robert P. Santangelo (D)
11 Prospect Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-1815
rps64@comcast.net
Committees: Public Safety (Chair), Economic Development, Contract Compliance, Commission on the Arts, Harbor Improvement Agency
Thomas J. Serra (D) - Majority Leader
251 Sisk Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 344-3442
council@cityofmiddletown.com
Committees: Majority Leader, Personnel Review, Public Safety, Parking Advisory, Retirement Board
James B. Streeto (D)
529 Westfield Street
Middletown, Ct 06457
(860) 347-3349
jstreeto@snet.net
Committees: Ordinance Study (Chair), Water Pollution Control Authority
To Anon, who suggested the write in campaign- send them the cartoon about not texting during the meetings while you are at it!
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