Shelby Township Supervisor Skip Maccarone never stops "spinning" information in his effort to bankrupt our township!Since day one of his term in office, Skip has bent over backwards to spend our tax money. His spending spree continues today, and it seems like there is no end to his blank check fiscal policies.
Now that we've had the opportunity to watch and fully digest all the information from the Tuesday, January 22nd Board of Trustees meeting, especially the lengthy discussion over Skip's police and court complex, we are shocked by what we saw and heard.
When Skip Maccarone spent more than two agonizing hours engaging taxpayers in a debate over the police and court building, all we could think of during his long and boring diatribes was "BLAH..BLAH..BLAH..BLAH..BLAH...BLAH....BLAH...AND MORE BLAH..BLAH...BLAH...BLAH." Skip answered simple questions with unbelievably long answers, speaking around the issues and using big words to show us just how smart he is.
Every time a taxpayer would come up to express his or her concern, Skip would go off on a courtroom monologue. Staring over his glasses, Skip would try to spin the information to his advantage, divert from one issue to another, talk about things that are not relevant, and explain why he is right and everyone else is wrong. This is not the first time he has done this.
Skip clearly was uncomfortable and bothered by all the questions. Skip would talk and talk and talk so long that by the time he was finished, viewers forgot what the initial question was in the first place. This is a typical lawyer trick ... talk an issue to death in attempt to wear down or break down the witness on the stand.
SORRY SKIP...BUT THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP!
When Skip Maccarone spent more than two agonizing hours engaging taxpayers in a debate over the police and court building, all we could think of during his long and boring diatribes was "BLAH..BLAH..BLAH..BLAH..BLAH...BLAH....BLAH...AND MORE BLAH..BLAH...BLAH...BLAH." Skip answered simple questions with unbelievably long answers, speaking around the issues and using big words to show us just how smart he is.
Every time a taxpayer would come up to express his or her concern, Skip would go off on a courtroom monologue. Staring over his glasses, Skip would try to spin the information to his advantage, divert from one issue to another, talk about things that are not relevant, and explain why he is right and everyone else is wrong. This is not the first time he has done this.
Skip clearly was uncomfortable and bothered by all the questions. Skip would talk and talk and talk so long that by the time he was finished, viewers forgot what the initial question was in the first place. This is a typical lawyer trick ... talk an issue to death in attempt to wear down or break down the witness on the stand.
SORRY SKIP...BUT THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP!
There was so much that occurred at that Tuesday, January 22nd Board meeting, Shelby Township taxpayers really need to watch for themselves to get the full perspective. You can obtain a CD of the meeting from the Shelby Township Cable Television Department (254-7130).
Meanwhile, here is the cliff-notes version of what transpired:
• Supervisor Skip Maccarone kept up his drumbeat of spending on the police and court "justice center." Skip has been pushing this since February, 2005 when he first unveiled his grand $50 million township campus.
• Taxpayers who came out to speak about the lack of public input on the police and court building had their concerns brushed aside by Maccarone. Despite his rhetoric about a so-called "discussion" on this project, Skip has NEVER welcomed public comment. He simply took a "concept" plan devised back in 1990 and decided (for political purposes?) that he would make it HIS plan.
• During the January 22nd meeting, Skip said that that "WE" first presented the plan for a police and court building back in February, 2005. We implies the entire Board. However, for those who watched that ridiculous meeting, the Township Board was noticeably absent. Instead of a "We" project, Skip should have changed the "W" to a "M" and said "ME." Skip was the only one who spoke in February, 2005, and in doing so tried to look like an expert on EVERYTHING...design, planning, financing, etc. No one else need bother putting forth any ideas, because Skip has all the answers.
• Maccarone said the township's Financial Management people were using "phantom numbers" when compiling budgetary projections? Why -- because the township's numbers didn't support Maccarone's spending goals? We should believe a politician like Maccarone instead of financial experts? Skip's commment drew a strong objection from our Township Clerk Terri Kowal. If, as Skip said, the township's Financial Management personnel are using "phantom" numbers, instead of real-world statistics, they should be FIRED. NOTE: We know the people in Financial Management, and they are true professionals. We know they are not using phony numbers, as Skip has publicly said. Skip Maccarone is the phony.
• The funniest line of the night came from Trustee Jim Carabelli. During one verbal exchange with Maccarone, Carabelli questioned why everyone should just believe Maccarone's expertise on spending and financial matters as it relates to the police and court building. Mr. Carabelli said that he (Carabelli) had more time in the bathroom in the township than Maccarone did living in the township when Skip first ran for office. NOTE: Maccarone moved into the township just briefly before running for office.
• Shelby Township Treasurer Paul Viar brought up some very interesting and relevant points about declining property values in the township and financial situations facing our neighboring communities. Looking at what is happening in surrounding cities and townships is appropriate, because NO community is an island...even though sometimes Maccarone comes across as if he is the Professor and we are Gilligan.
• Treasurer Viar also questioned why trees were cut down on the property for the police and court building before a site plan was approved. This action goes against township procedure. As one resident asked Mr. Maccarone when he came before the Board to speak, "what would happen if a private developer violated the township's tree cutting procedure?" Would they go to jail? Would they face stiff penalties and fines? But it is just fine and dandy for our own township government to violate our township's tree preservation ordinance?
• Another taxpayer came forth at the meeting to oppose the way this building is being thrown at us. He told the Board that it appears as if this building is being rammed down our throats. Given the number of questions outstanding, and the ongoing discussion about the building's size (the need for a height variance), financing issues, and now the inability of the Court to pay for its portion (forcing township taxpayers and our Police Department to pick up the entire cost) it does appear as if Maccarone is putting the cart before the horse.
• Clerk Terri Kowal brought up an interesting point when discussing the building's cost. Why is Shelby Township going to fund the entire project, when there are other communities (Utica and Macomb Township) that will also benefit from the Court Building? Mrs. Kowal raises a VERY GOOD POINT. Wouldn't it be wise to enlist financial support from other communities that will utilize the court, instead of forcing Shelby Township taxpayers to dig deeper into their pockets for the whole project? What about promises that Sterling Heights could pitch in some money for this project? Like Mrs. Kowal, we'd like to see that in writing. Skip tells us not to worry, because he has it all figured out. Yah, right!!!!!
Clearly, residents are concerned about the process by which this building came about, and the way it is being pushed forward. When people inquired about the lack of public input, more than once Maccarone responded that residents can have their say in this year's election. In other words, Skip is telling people that he really doesn't care about us, or what we think about this. He is doing it anyway, and if we don't like the way he is conducting business, or the way he has tried to do this without even considering a public vote, then we should vote against him on August 5th.
Hey, great advice Skip! We have been saying this for a long time now.
Supervisor Skip Maccarone is a one-man band who has little use for anyone else (elected officials or the general public). His ideas are the only ideas he cares about. Everyone else should read "Shelby Township Government For Dummies" before they speak.
Well, guess what? The people are not as dumb as Maccarone thinks we are. In fact, Shelby Township voters are smart and know what is going on here. That is why we were prompted to begin this blog, and why we are eager to do what we can to get rid of Skip Maccarone this year.
Stand strong. The fight continues. If you want to sign up for our campaign against Skip Maccarone, send us an e-mail at stopskip08@aol.com.
Together, we WILL make the necessary changes and restore the people's voice to our township government once again. The key is to first get rid of a tyrant named Skip Maccarone.
• During the January 22nd meeting, Skip said that that "WE" first presented the plan for a police and court building back in February, 2005. We implies the entire Board. However, for those who watched that ridiculous meeting, the Township Board was noticeably absent. Instead of a "We" project, Skip should have changed the "W" to a "M" and said "ME." Skip was the only one who spoke in February, 2005, and in doing so tried to look like an expert on EVERYTHING...design, planning, financing, etc. No one else need bother putting forth any ideas, because Skip has all the answers.
• Maccarone said the township's Financial Management people were using "phantom numbers" when compiling budgetary projections? Why -- because the township's numbers didn't support Maccarone's spending goals? We should believe a politician like Maccarone instead of financial experts? Skip's commment drew a strong objection from our Township Clerk Terri Kowal. If, as Skip said, the township's Financial Management personnel are using "phantom" numbers, instead of real-world statistics, they should be FIRED. NOTE: We know the people in Financial Management, and they are true professionals. We know they are not using phony numbers, as Skip has publicly said. Skip Maccarone is the phony.
• The funniest line of the night came from Trustee Jim Carabelli. During one verbal exchange with Maccarone, Carabelli questioned why everyone should just believe Maccarone's expertise on spending and financial matters as it relates to the police and court building. Mr. Carabelli said that he (Carabelli) had more time in the bathroom in the township than Maccarone did living in the township when Skip first ran for office. NOTE: Maccarone moved into the township just briefly before running for office.
• Shelby Township Treasurer Paul Viar brought up some very interesting and relevant points about declining property values in the township and financial situations facing our neighboring communities. Looking at what is happening in surrounding cities and townships is appropriate, because NO community is an island...even though sometimes Maccarone comes across as if he is the Professor and we are Gilligan.
• Treasurer Viar also questioned why trees were cut down on the property for the police and court building before a site plan was approved. This action goes against township procedure. As one resident asked Mr. Maccarone when he came before the Board to speak, "what would happen if a private developer violated the township's tree cutting procedure?" Would they go to jail? Would they face stiff penalties and fines? But it is just fine and dandy for our own township government to violate our township's tree preservation ordinance?
• Another taxpayer came forth at the meeting to oppose the way this building is being thrown at us. He told the Board that it appears as if this building is being rammed down our throats. Given the number of questions outstanding, and the ongoing discussion about the building's size (the need for a height variance), financing issues, and now the inability of the Court to pay for its portion (forcing township taxpayers and our Police Department to pick up the entire cost) it does appear as if Maccarone is putting the cart before the horse.
• Clerk Terri Kowal brought up an interesting point when discussing the building's cost. Why is Shelby Township going to fund the entire project, when there are other communities (Utica and Macomb Township) that will also benefit from the Court Building? Mrs. Kowal raises a VERY GOOD POINT. Wouldn't it be wise to enlist financial support from other communities that will utilize the court, instead of forcing Shelby Township taxpayers to dig deeper into their pockets for the whole project? What about promises that Sterling Heights could pitch in some money for this project? Like Mrs. Kowal, we'd like to see that in writing. Skip tells us not to worry, because he has it all figured out. Yah, right!!!!!
Clearly, residents are concerned about the process by which this building came about, and the way it is being pushed forward. When people inquired about the lack of public input, more than once Maccarone responded that residents can have their say in this year's election. In other words, Skip is telling people that he really doesn't care about us, or what we think about this. He is doing it anyway, and if we don't like the way he is conducting business, or the way he has tried to do this without even considering a public vote, then we should vote against him on August 5th.
Hey, great advice Skip! We have been saying this for a long time now.
Supervisor Skip Maccarone is a one-man band who has little use for anyone else (elected officials or the general public). His ideas are the only ideas he cares about. Everyone else should read "Shelby Township Government For Dummies" before they speak.
Well, guess what? The people are not as dumb as Maccarone thinks we are. In fact, Shelby Township voters are smart and know what is going on here. That is why we were prompted to begin this blog, and why we are eager to do what we can to get rid of Skip Maccarone this year.
Stand strong. The fight continues. If you want to sign up for our campaign against Skip Maccarone, send us an e-mail at stopskip08@aol.com.
Together, we WILL make the necessary changes and restore the people's voice to our township government once again. The key is to first get rid of a tyrant named Skip Maccarone.
All I can ask is that if our "right to referendum" is the only way to get a vote on financing for the justice building we need to start organizing the petition drive now. We will only have 45 days from the day bonds are approved to get 10% of township residents signatures (that are registered to vote) to get a say about this building.
ReplyDeleteSkip Maccarone is not only a phony as you point out, he is a poor leader. Leadership by intimidation and threats is how he does things. Just ask anyone who has gone up against him, and they will tell you some horror stories. The people deserve to vote on this, and since we can't we can vote to get rid of Maccarone. That will be my priority this August, and I know others feel the same.
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