[Watchdogs] Belt Tightening at the PEC

Thu Sep 9 16:49:14 CDT 2010

A modest proposal:  Let the Board set the example for the overpaid staff at the PEC, especially those staff earning about 200K per year, and take a pay cut, say 5-15%, to show us that they are serious about not squandering the limited wealth of the COOP.  I think eliminating the Board's monthly stipend is too extreme at this time.  We need their hard work now to deal with the many issues facing the PEC:  management, Legal battles, and political meddling by smiling politicians to name a few.  Al

> From: watchdogs-request at pec4u.org
> Subject: Watchdogs Digest, Vol 29, Issue 4
> To: watchdogs at pec4u.org
> Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 12:00:03 -0500
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
> 1. Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend | ShortCuts [Austin
> American-Statesman] (Milton Hawkins)
> 2. Re: Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend |
> ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman] (Jim Long)
> 3. Re: Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend |
> ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman] (tbuckle at austin.rr.com)
> 4. Re: Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend
> |ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman] (texas66 at aol.com)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 14:43:12 -0500
> From: Milton Hawkins <milton.hawkins at gmail.com>
> To: Watchdogs <watchdogs at pec4u.org>
> Cc: Mireya Zapata <Mireya.Zapata at house.state.tx.us>, Representative
> Patrick Rose <patrick.rose at house.state.tx.us>, Senator Troy Fraser
> <troy.fraser at senate.state.tx.us>, Janice McCoy
> <Janice.McCoy at senate.state.tx.us>
> Subject: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend |
> ShortCuts [Austin American-Statesman]
> Message-ID:
> <AANLkTimmkAf0PpfkCA3At-Nj1rr6jk2u54B2Zoa_ezFG at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend |
> ShortCuts<http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/traffic/entries/2010/09/08/cap_metro_board_members_elimin.html?cxntfid=blogs_shortcuts?cxtype=rss_news>
> 
> [Could we not eliminate the $1,500 monthly fee we pay our directors, and pay
> them only a reasonable fee for each meeting attended, plus expenses? -
> Milton]
> 
> Cap Metro board members eliminate
> stipend<http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/traffic/entries/2010/09/08/cap_metro_board_members_elimin.html>
> 
> By Ben Wear <bwear at statesman.com> | Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 12:35 PM
> 
> Capital Metro board members took a pay cut today. Well, some of them did.
> 
> Actually, the transit board members do not get a salary. But it had been the
> informal practice by the agency to pay them a $50 stipend for attending the
> monthly main board meeting.
> 
> However, state law did not allow the board?s three elected officials (two
> Austin City Council members and a mayor of one of the small cities in
> Capital Metro?s jurisdiction) to get the stipend. And board member Ann
> Stafford said that as a state employee (she works for the University of
> Texas) she wasn?t eligible for the stipend.
> 
> Today, a committee of the board decided to do away with the stipends all
> together. That policy change likely will require a full board vote later,
> but five of the eight members of the full board were at the committee
> meeting and vote to do away with the extra cash.
> 
> ?As long as we keep getting pizza (at meetings), I?m fine,? said board
> member Frank Fernandez.
> 
> 
> - Sent using Google Toolbar
> -------------- next part --------------
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 18:48:55 -0500
> From: "Jim Long" <lsmg at 281.com>
> To: "Milton Hawkins" <milton.hawkins at gmail.com>, "Watchdogs"
> <watchdogs at pec4u.org>
> Cc: Mireya Zapata <Mireya.Zapata at house.state.tx.us>, Senator Troy
> Fraser <troy.fraser at senate.state.tx.us>, Representative Patrick Rose
> <patrick.rose at house.state.tx.us>, Janice McCoy
> <Janice.McCoy at senate.state.tx.us>
> Subject: Re: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend |
> ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman]
> Message-ID: <3211A97B9F6F470E92B40CE361D70AAE at JIM>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> Another great idea that will never see the light of day.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Milton Hawkins 
> To: Watchdogs 
> Cc: Mireya Zapata ; Representative Patrick Rose ; Senator Troy Fraser ; Janice McCoy 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:43 PM
> Subject: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend | ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman]
> 
> 
> Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend | ShortCuts
> 
> 
> [Could we not eliminate the $1,500 monthly fee we pay our directors, and pay them only a reasonable fee for each meeting attended, plus expenses? - Milton]
> 
> 
> Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend
> By Ben Wear | Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 12:35 PM 
> 
> Capital Metro board members took a pay cut today. Well, some of them did.
> 
> Actually, the transit board members do not get a salary. But it had been the informal practice by the agency to pay them a $50 stipend for attending the monthly main board meeting.
> 
> However, state law did not allow the board?s three elected officials (two Austin City Council members and a mayor of one of the small cities in Capital Metro?s jurisdiction) to get the stipend. And board member Ann Stafford said that as a state employee (she works for the University of Texas) she wasn?t eligible for the stipend.
> 
> Today, a committee of the board decided to do away with the stipends all together. That policy change likely will require a full board vote later, but five of the eight members of the full board were at the committee meeting and vote to do away with the extra cash.
> 
> ?As long as we keep getting pizza (at meetings), I?m fine,? said board member Frank Fernandez.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> - Sent using Google Toolbar
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 0:44:41 +0000
> From: <tbuckle at austin.rr.com>
> To: Milton Hawkins <milton.hawkins at gmail.com>, Jim Long
> <lsmg at 281.com>, Watchdogs <watchdogs at pec4u.org>
> Cc: Mireya Zapata <Mireya.Zapata at house.state.tx.us>, Senator Troy
> Fraser <troy.fraser at senate.state.tx.us>, Representative Patrick Rose
> <patrick.rose at house.state.tx.us>, Janice McCoy
> <Janice.McCoy at senate.state.tx.us>
> Subject: Re: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend |
> ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman]
> Message-ID: <20100909004442.QS1KL.250866.root at hrndva-web02-z01>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> Feeding you when you give your time free for these "honorary" jobs is the least the customers/tax payers can give those of us who accept these positions without an ego or a political agenda. 
> 
> 
> ---- Jim Long <lsmg at 281.com> wrote: 
> > Another great idea that will never see the light of day.
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: Milton Hawkins 
> > To: Watchdogs 
> > Cc: Mireya Zapata ; Representative Patrick Rose ; Senator Troy Fraser ; Janice McCoy 
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:43 PM
> > Subject: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend | ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman]
> > 
> > 
> > Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend | ShortCuts
> > 
> > 
> > [Could we not eliminate the $1,500 monthly fee we pay our directors, and pay them only a reasonable fee for each meeting attended, plus expenses? - Milton]
> > 
> > 
> > Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend
> > By Ben Wear | Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 12:35 PM 
> > 
> > Capital Metro board members took a pay cut today. Well, some of them did.
> > 
> > Actually, the transit board members do not get a salary. But it had been the informal practice by the agency to pay them a $50 stipend for attending the monthly main board meeting.
> > 
> > However, state law did not allow the board?s three elected officials (two Austin City Council members and a mayor of one of the small cities in Capital Metro?s jurisdiction) to get the stipend. And board member Ann Stafford said that as a state employee (she works for the University of Texas) she wasn?t eligible for the stipend.
> > 
> > Today, a committee of the board decided to do away with the stipends all together. That policy change likely will require a full board vote later, but five of the eight members of the full board were at the committee meeting and vote to do away with the extra cash.
> > 
> > ?As long as we keep getting pizza (at meetings), I?m fine,? said board member Frank Fernandez.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > - Sent using Google Toolbar
> > 
> > 
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Watchdogs mailing list
> > Watchdogs at pec4u.org
> > http://pec4u.org/mailman/listinfo/Watchdogs
> > NEW INSTRUCTIONS: To remove yourself from this list, please send an email to watchdogs-request at pec4u.org with UNSUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT line. Or go to http://pec4u.org/mailman/listinfo/Watchdogs
> > and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page.
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 00:55:39 +0000
> From: texas66 at aol.com
> To: tbuckle at austin.rr.com, Watchdogs-bounces at pec4u.org, "Milton
> Hawkins" <milton.hawkins at gmail.com>, "Jim Long" <lsmg at 281.com>,
> "Watchdogs" <watchdogs at pec4u.org>
> Cc: Mireya Zapata <Mireya.Zapata at house.state.tx.us>, Representative
> Patrick Rose <patrick.rose at house.state.tx.us>, Senator Troy Fraser
> <troy.fraser at senate.state.tx.us>, Janice McCoy
> <Janice.McCoy at senate.state.tx.us>
> Subject: Re: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend
> |ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman]
> Message-ID:
> <1772899177-1283993742-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-937904356- at bda392.bisx.prod.on.blackberry>
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> What's wrong with reimbursing their out-of-pocket expenses only?
> Ken Rigsbee
> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <tbuckle at austin.rr.com>
> Sender: Watchdogs-bounces at pec4u.org
> Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 0:44:41 
> To: Milton Hawkins<milton.hawkins at gmail.com>; Jim Long<lsmg at 281.com>; Watchdogs<watchdogs at pec4u.org>
> Cc: Mireya Zapata<Mireya.Zapata at house.state.tx.us>; Senator Troy Fraser<troy.fraser at senate.state.tx.us>; Representative Patrick Rose<patrick.rose at house.state.tx.us>; Janice McCoy<Janice.McCoy at senate.state.tx.us>
> Subject: Re: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend |
> ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman]
> 
> Feeding you when you give your time free for these "honorary" jobs is the least the customers/tax payers can give those of us who accept these positions without an ego or a political agenda. 
> 
> 
> ---- Jim Long <lsmg at 281.com> wrote: 
> > Another great idea that will never see the light of day.
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: Milton Hawkins 
> > To: Watchdogs 
> > Cc: Mireya Zapata ; Representative Patrick Rose ; Senator Troy Fraser ; Janice McCoy 
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:43 PM
> > Subject: [Watchdogs] Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend | ShortCuts[Austin American-Statesman]
> > 
> > 
> > Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend | ShortCuts
> > 
> > 
> > [Could we not eliminate the $1,500 monthly fee we pay our directors, and pay them only a reasonable fee for each meeting attended, plus expenses? - Milton]
> > 
> > 
> > Cap Metro board members eliminate stipend
> > By Ben Wear | Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 12:35 PM 
> > 
> > Capital Metro board members took a pay cut today. Well, some of them did.
> > 
> > Actually, the transit board members do not get a salary. But it had been the informal practice by the agency to pay them a $50 stipend for attending the monthly main board meeting.
> > 
> > However, state law did not allow the board?s three elected officials (two Austin City Council members and a mayor of one of the small cities in Capital Metro?s jurisdiction) to get the stipend. And board member Ann Stafford said that as a state employee (she works for the University of Texas) she wasn?t eligible for the stipend.
> > 
> > Today, a committee of the board decided to do away with the stipends all together. That policy change likely will require a full board vote later, but five of the eight members of the full board were at the committee meeting and vote to do away with the extra cash.
> > 
> > ?As long as we keep getting pizza (at meetings), I?m fine,? said board member Frank Fernandez.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > - Sent using Google Toolbar
> > 
> > 
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Watchdogs mailing list
> > Watchdogs at pec4u.org
> > http://pec4u.org/mailman/listinfo/Watchdogs
> > NEW INSTRUCTIONS: To remove yourself from this list, please send an email to watchdogs-request at pec4u.org with UNSUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT line. Or go to http://pec4u.org/mailman/listinfo/Watchdogs
> > and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Watchdogs mailing list
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> http://pec4u.org/mailman/listinfo/Watchdogs
> NEW INSTRUCTIONS: To remove yourself from this list, please send an email to watchdogs-request at pec4u.org with UNSUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT line. Or go to http://pec4u.org/mailman/listinfo/Watchdogs
> and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page. 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
> End of Watchdogs Digest, Vol 29, Issue 4
> ****************************************

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