Carefree Truth

Issue #88, January 3, 2011

 

 

Carefree Matters routinely asks leading questions without supplying any pertinent information upon which to base objective opinions, then reports predictable responses that support the Coady agenda.   The November 3rd Carefree Matters asks the "QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Like other cities and towns, do you believe Carefree should go to a 4 day work week?" 

 

 

The December 7th edition reported the following: "Responders on this question favored staff going to a 4 day work week 85.7% to 14.2%.  Rather than give a synopsis of responses, this answer basically said it all: “Carefree should go on a four day work week, eight hours a day, saving roughly 20% in salaries and benefits now paid to those whose workload has been reduced by about twice that amount due to the economic slowdown affecting (sic) everything from building to traffic tickets.”

 

 

Mrs. Coady is writing and signing Carefree Matters in an effort to avoid compliance with the public records law, and skirts  requests to quantify answers.  But, should one choose to do the math, 85.71428%, for example, would constitute 7 respondents, 6 of which felt that Carefree should go to a 4 day work week.  The Coadys choose to print a particularly  inflammatory and insulting one.  

 

 

Contrary to the assertion, the workload of Town staff has actually increased, due to retirements and layoffs.  When Jon Pearson retired, Gary Neiss assumed the duties of Town Administrator as well as remaining the Planning Director.  Mike Tibbets is the sole Building Inspector.  Mr. Tibbetts, who is out in the field daily, is responsible for inspecting new homes under construction and the home remodelings which are becoming more prevalent with the housing market in flux, as well the many smaller projects like solar and swimming pool installations.  When new home building was more prolific, additional temporary inspectors were hired.   The Town Marshall responsibilities have been redistributed to Gary Neiss, Mike Tibbetts and Kevin Stuckey, who also acts as Bailiff, as needed.  The 4 members of the Streets Department have assumed the added responsibility for maintaining the downtown park, which is now hosting events during many weekends.   

 

 

Many citizens may not be aware that the Carefree Planning Department is in the process of updating the General Plan, which designates land use.  It is the single most important and comprehensive document in the arsenal to protect our zoning and lifestyle.  This update must, by law, be performed at regular intervals and will consume most of a year.  Planning Department staff members are also working on revamping the sign ordinances for our commercial districts, another vital and time consuming job.  

 

 

Nor has the economic downturn reduced administrative responsibilities.  In fact, Town Clerk Betsy Wise's workload   increases dramatically during elections.  The failed recall election last March was strongly advocated by the Coadys,  with Mrs. Coady a very visible and vocal core member of the recall committee.   A special election was held in November to renew the contracts with S.W. Gas and APS, and to correct the language for the direct election of our mayor.  The regular Council election process is now underway.  

 

 

In addition to their normal duties, Bev Peterson and Janeen Dutcher are processing the Carefree business licenses and building the Carefree business database.   Assistant Planning Director D.J. Stapley and Town Accountant Jim Keen have  been extensively updating and enhancing the Town website.  Mr. Keen also acts as the IT person, servicing all the computers in-house.  The Town Court is running 1 full time and 1 part time employee leaner, with a minimal staff of 2.

 

 

Mrs. Coady's Question began with the phrase, "Like other cities and towns...", which would lead readers to believe this is a money saving common practice.  The chart below lists the cities and towns in Arizona.  As you can see, 4 day work weeks are far from the norm.  For those who have instituted them (10), all but Cave Creek are still working 40 hour weeks; the workday length has simply been extended.

 

 

Carefree has an extremely small, multi-talented, dedicated and co-operative staff, whose salaries have been frozen for the third year in a row.  In the future, "responders" to Carefree Matters may wish to gather some factual data before allowing themselves to be led to inaccurate, and often indignant,  conclusions.

 

Lyn Hitchon     

 

 

 Weekly Work Hours by Municipality

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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