Charlie Thompson's Letter To City Council

 

To all City Council Members:

As you well know, the city has been having financial difficulties. As a council member, I would like to discuss my feelings with fellow council.

I think it is time that all council members take a hard look at what is happening within our government. I have proposed a 5% reduction in the 2001 budget which I feel is necessary to help correct the financial stress in which this city finds itself.

I am not satisfied with our local government. A lot of this lies with council and our mayor. We all know that City Council is supposed to be the governing body of the city. It is very obvious that Council cannot come together on the most needed issues. I understand that we have 5 old members and 6 new ones. I believe all council members are fine people, but I do not believe that all members have the best interest of the city at heart. I believe that the citizens of Huntington deserve more than they have been receiving from Council and the mayor.

I know that all members have lived in the city for quite a while; if you don't know what is happening to our beautiful city it is time for you to take a good look at yourselves. It is very plain that the governing body has lost its managerial control and I feel it is time that we get together and turn this city around.

I am asking each and every one of you to consider my 5% reduction in the budget. I also think we need to take a long, hard look at the appointment of Mr. Baumgardner who is definitely not qualified as a personnel director. He has sued the city and collected $75,000 of the city's money. I know why he was hired, and I hope you realize why he was hired back by the present mayor. It was all about "buddy paybacks". It doesn't seem to matter to the mayor, or to Jack Thornburg, whether the people they hire are qualified or not, as long they hire their friends and buddies. I understand we have another appointment in the making who will be a supervisor over the motor pool. That person happens to be Jack Thornburg's son, who, I understand, is only 22 years old with no managerial experience whatsoever. I also understand that he was fired by a car dealership in Charleston as well as a car dealership in Ashland, KY. I definitely do not feel that it is the right choice for this person to control the motor pool.

We all know that the population in the city of Huntington has decreased tremendously. We have too many people in city government offices in ratio to the population that exists in Huntington.

I was in an understanding that there was a hiring and a spending freeze. I'm sure you got a memo in your boxes, as I did, on Friday, May 25th. That memo stated that the Fire Department is planning to hire 7 new Firemen.

I have every intention of going public with these concerns, if we cannot start coming together and start making some positive progress in the city government. I'm going to wait until after this council meeting before I make any decisions about going public.

I am asking the members of City Council to help me, Charlie Thompson, to downsize City Government. I ask you to please support me on the 5% reduction of the new budget. Again I hope you can support me on this issue.

Charlie Thompson
Councilman At Large