Longtime Employees Penalized Twice – Losing COLA and Social Security
December 31, 2015
The Addison City Council’s refusal to pay retirees a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2016 creates a “double whammy” to their pocketbooks, thanks to changes in Social Security benefit payments since the Town opted to join the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS).
Who Says Addison is Business Friendly?
December 21, 2015
The Planning & Zoning Commission didn’t evidence much interest in being business friendly to the owners of Antonio’s Restaurante at its Dec. 15 meeting.
Addison Residents Oppose Sam’s Club Redevelopment Plans
December 18, 2015
Nearly 100 Addison residents filled Town Hall to overflowing Tuesday night, Dec. 15, 2015, to register their opposition to the proposed redevelopment of the former Sam’s Club property at 4150 Belt Line Road with the Addison Planning & Zoning Commission.
Sam’s Site Plans Go to P&Z on Tuesday, December 15, 2015;
Park, Wall and Beltway Traffic Affected
December 13, 2015
ATTENTION RESIDENTS who live in Midway Meadows, Towne Lake, Pecan Square, Walnut Square, Les Lacs, Park Place, Waterford Park, and Addison Grand as well as anyone who uses Beltway Drive (Athletic Club members) regularly!
Mark your calendar to attend the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting this Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Town Hall at 6 pm to hear a discussion and VOTE on the Sam’s site. The plans call for removing the park wall on Beltway and opening a street through to the new development which will dramatically increase traffic on Beltway.
Irresponsible Budgeting Comes Home to Roost
December 9, 2015
During the past five years, taxes paid by Addison residents have increased 20% or more.
And the Meier-led council overspent last year’s budget by $915,000.
COLA’s Impact on Employee Purchasing Power
December 9, 2015
The Addison’s City Council’s acted in the fall of 2015 to deny COLAs for retired Addison employees. A number of questions regarding this action have come to light and pose concerns discussed in this, the 1st article in a series on the matter.
About Council’s “Unanticipated Expenses”: Is This How You Would Spend Addison’s Tax Dollars?
September 22, 2015
The Addison City Council spent almost $1 million of taxpayer money that was not included in Addison’s budget last year. . . . Addison’s savings account funded Meier’s campaign issue. Is this how you would spend Addison’s reserve account?
Where Oh Where Did My Tax Money Go?
September 8, 2015
Once again this year our taxes are increasing. That’s actual taxes, i.e., the dollars you actually pay (rate x value = $$$$ we pay). Meier is fond of just talking about the rate, which now increases from 56.18 to 57.19. Sounds modest until you consider the second half of the equation . . . .
Former Addison Councilman’s Message to Mayor & Councilmembers
July 22, 2015
“In my view the single most important attribute for our City Manager is a willingness to withstand the pressures of a council determined to cross the line between policy makers and operation of the city.”
The Exodus Has Begun
May 8, 2015
In Addison the past two years, we’ve lost two city managers, the communications director, assistant police chief, police chief, special events director, city attorney and more than two dozen experienced, police officers and firefighters.
Letter by Addison Resident to Todd Meier
May 1, 2015
“Anger is a signal, and one worth listening to.” – Harriet Lerner, 1985
As election day nears, Addison residents voice concerns over City Council management
April 16, 2015
The Farce of Meier’s “Rising Star” Award
April 12, 2015
Addison is about to experience another Meier-orchestrated farce. This week, the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce is expected to name David Heape as Addison’s “Rising Star.” Except that it wasn’t the Metrocrest Chamber that chose Heape. It was Meier.
Their Way: “Our Way or the Highway”
April 6, 2015
The secret is now out – “The Addison Way,” which for decades has been the guidepost of our Town, has been redefined by the current Mayor and Council as “Our way or the highway” . . . .
Questions, We Have Questions
April 4, 2015
The Mayor said her resignation was sent to the city attorney on March 20. The Council didn’t know anything about it until their Executive Session on March 24 . . . . Why was the wording of the March 24 agenda item listed simply as a “personnel” issue?
(Answer: Since the Mayor approves the wording of each agenda item, maybe the real reason was to hide the planned Council’s action from the voters. But, according to the Mayor, he didn’t know of her resignation till the Council meeting that evening.)
Awaken Addison!
March 29, 2015
“Another shameful example of Meier’s editorial style is the weekly newsletter, where he chooses to spend more print space praising the faux and/or inconsequential “accomplishments” of his councilmember allies than he does documenting the achievements and contributions of Ms. Dunn to the Town of Addison during her 18 years of service . . . . “
Fireworks erupt at Addison Town Hall meeting
March 29, 2015
Dunn, a longtime Addison employee who was previously city manager in Bellaire, was named to her post in early 2014 to succeed Ron Whitehead, who retired after a 32-year tenure. Her resignation has drawn fire from some residents and former council members who say they are disappointed in what they believe to be a forced departure. “I would call this similar to a scandal,” said Joe Chow, who was mayor of Addison from 2005 to 2011.
A Dark Time for Addison: City Manager Lea Dunn Forced to Resign
March 25, 2015
As noted by the City Attorney on the record at the meeting, Ms. Dunn had specifically requested that any evaluation of her occur in public. Nonetheless, the Council went immediately into executive session regarding the matter. When they came out of executive session, Mayor Todd Meier made a motion to accept Lea Dunn’s offer to resign.
The Continuing Deception of Campaign “Sound Bites”
March 1, 2015
In this feature-length article, former Addison Councilmember Susan M. Halpern discusses the misleading nature of Todd Meier’s campaign materials regarding the property tax rate. Halpern discusses the fact that property taxes have actually I increased more than 21% since Todd Meier has been mayor.
Citizens Have a Need to Know
March 23, 2015
Re: “Let’s keep Texas government accountable — ‘Sunshine’ bills address technology changes that affect public’s right to know, says Kelley Shannon,” March 17 Viewpoints. The general public is blissfully unaware . . . .
Measure Fails to Unify Addison Zip Code
March 23, 2015
The recent failure to accomplish a cohesive zip code is best viewed with an understanding of the related history.
Before 1997, no one had an Addison zip code. Homes & businesses had zip codes of Farmers Branch, or Carrollton, or Dallas.
Addison Council To Set New Policy for Open Records Requests
February 26, 2015
The Addison City Council is considering a new policy on open records requests after the City Secretary has received numerous requests for information.
Addison Council Work Session February 16, 2015: A Suggestion for Leadership
February 19, 2015
I suppose we’ve learned, again, that there is no leadership on this Council, just politicians playing “Gotcha last.” Is that what you voted for?
Addison Public Safety Exodus Continues; Situation Not Covered in Mayor’s Newsletter
February 16, 2015
In Finance Director Eric Cannon’s quarterly financial report to Council Feb. 10 there was even more disconcerting news about the continuing loss of Addison fire and police personnel. During the Town’s last quarter (October – December 2014) four more full time fire personnel left the Town as did five employees in the police department.
Addison CFO To Speak on Financial Transparency
February 16, 2015
Addison has earned GFOA awards for both budget and financial reporting for 27 and 28 years, respectively. For three of the last four years, the Town has been awarded the highest designation possible from the Texas Comptroller for financial transparency efforts.
“Watchdog: Who is good at open government? Who is bad?”
February 13, 2015
While our current Mayor/Council have waved the “transparency” banner of government, the truth is to the contrary. How do you feel about $46,000 in tax dollars being spent to hide public records from the residents? “More than 100 area governments put to test in extraordinary project that checks open records compliance. A few fail.”
Understanding the Delayed Underground Utilities for Belt Line Road
July 2, 2014
Construction costs and competition for construction labor have increased since bonds were first approved in 2000. But Addison Mayor Meier has mistakenly attempted to blame city staff.