Generosity and charitable giving

The statistics on national charitable giving are out, and once again, the proud state of Mississippi is on top of charitable giving by percentage of income. Although at or near the bottom of the nation in per-capita income, the people here--devout residents of the Bible Belt--practice incredible generosity in their daily lives. The local newspaper printed an article of the top charities in Lowndes County and the percentage of their donations that go directly to their charitable mission and the percentage that goes to administration. Surprisingly, Habitat for Humanity was on the low-end at 37% giving to charitable purposes and the local animal shelter on the high-end at 98%. That raised an interesting question: How does the Toledo Police Explorer Fund rate?

By using the same objective method of looking through the expenses and income as detailed in the official spreadsheet of the account formerly known as the "secret bank account", we find a very low rate of 37% of the donations going directly to the youth program. An incredible 49% was spent on transporting and acquiring more surplus property--although it was for an ostensible "fund-raising" enterprise on the part of the Explorers. Another 11% went to pay the youth "volunteers"--many of them the Chief's family. Out of the nearly $12,000 raised by donations and Challenge Camp fees, less than $4000 went to the kids themselves. How does that make you feel? If you gave money to help this youth program, would you be alarmed that such a small sum went to the kids? And how do the Explorers plan to use the two boats valued at $1,800 and $2,000 as a fundraiser? Bay tours or whale watching excursions? It's really too bad when this kind of chicanery takes hold in a small community and generous people are duped. The donors trusted the person responsible for the Challenge Camp--an excellent program by all accounts--and gave generously. Having the money diverted for other projects just doesn't seem right. If the program fails because people became aware of this duplicity on the part of the Chief and choose other places to send their donations, it will be no ones' fault but his. Fortunately there is a solution. More on this later.

Commenting on Blogs

The Toledo Watchdog chooses not to enable comments on this weblog because comments often hijack the intent and meaning of what is written on the blog. A good example of this can be found at "thetoledoworkdog.blogspot.com". Small-minded people write in to make comments about a post by "The Workdog" and use mean-spirited and thoughtless language to ridicule and harass. If people in the community are reading both of these blogs and would like to leave comments on the other one, we endorse comments that are constructive and helpful. Comments that make a clear argument and stick with facts can be useful in formulating a response. If all that comes to mind is rude and contemptuous language, why bother? It only serves to inflame the discussion and create more discord. The Workdog likes this sort of thing. The Watchdog does not. Please engage in civil discourse or keep your thoughts to yourself. We certainly do not condone hurtful speech by anyone. There are serious issues that need to be faced in a serious manner. Keep the dialogue open and respectful. The Watchdog does not engage in personal character assasination. Criticizing personal or private family issues are off-limits around THIS doghouse. We can not vouch for the other one.

Education for Everyone

It is nice to know that the Watchdog Project has been instrumental in helping citizens learn more about how their government operates. A few things that have happened as a result of this project include:

1) Helping the City learn how to access the Business Registry database at the Corporation Division to check all new applications for City Business Licenses. The City Charter stipulates that all new business licenses in the City need to be checked and verified for necessary county or state requirements. While primarily used to check on day care providers, hairdressers, contractors and other such professions, the staff at City Hall now know that anyone applying for a license under an assumed business name must also be registered with the state. The fee for an assumed business name is $50 and the registry helps consumers know who is operating under the fictitous name. The Business Registry requires an address for the primary place of business and a registered agent's name, along with officers, if the business is a corporation. Although enforcement is lax, there is a $100 fine for operating in the State under an assumed business name while not registered. The Watchdog is happy to be of assistance and is overjoyed to see such swift action taken on the part of our trustworthy city employees.
2) Showing other citizens how to access the same database and use the information contained therein.
3) Helping the "upstairs staff" at City Hall understand the necessity of following through in a timely fashion to requests for public information. When requests are answered within the seven-day time period required by Oregon Law, the "upstairs staff" won't be bothered with embarassing letters from the District Attorney's office ordering them to take action or go to court.
4) Bringing awareness to the community about the need for vigilance in City Government. When government officials and employees know they are being fact-checked, they will tend to be more open and forthright about their activities. This is a good thing and can only help the community and the citizens.

As far as putting an undue, expensive burden on the government workers, citizens who may request information should be aware that the last two year's of records are stored within arm's reach of the "downstairs staff". This is not a difficult or onerous task, and the staff has never complained about finding the records or making copies.

Of course, if we are talking about 1033 surplus records, they are not stored at City Hall. They are stored at the Toledo Police Department. Nevertheless, I wouldn't think there is any place inside the Toledo PD that is more than 20 feet from the center point of the building. Why is it so hard to find the records? Why does it have to cost $600-$800 to locate them? Or is everything just thrown in a really big box somewhere and no one really knows what there is? The Watchdog would be glad to help!

REFRESHER COURSE

Let's remind those interested in following this situation what the questions are: 1) How can the Chief of Police or City Manager justify spending thousands of dollars out of the Explorer Scout Fund for shipping of surplus equipment to Toledo? 2) How was the Chief allowed to open a private bank account with a check for $2,740 made out to Toledo Police Department and divert those funds out of the public record? 3) Who authorized payment to the Chief in the amount of $5,160 for invoices which were supposed to be submitted for reimbursement? Many of these invoices have never been paid by the City and in one case the equipment was not only never paid for but it was never even ordered. These are the questions, my friends. WORKDOG and her puppy can skate all around the issue and raise all kinds of questions about the conduct and character of Mary Johnson. Wild rumors, accusations and malicious sarcasm will not win the debate. Only the truth will win this debate. The famous 86 questions submitted to the City Council were only a suggestion for the Council members to start their own inquiry. If they choose not to, then the public should ask--if indeed the public cares. Maybe they don't care. WORKDOG may be right on that account. If you want to hear some nasty comments from a lady who has never met Mary Johnson or Lowell Neal and bases her entire spiel on her own interpretation of what these two are about, you can go read what she has to say at http://thetoledoworkdog.blogspot.com but you'd better take your own disinfectant. We are not afraid of a clear debate on the issues but we are not about to post thirteen pages of slime and sewage on our own bandwidth, even if it is free.

WORKDOG answers!

Three simple questions and THIRTEEN PAGES of response! Well, isn't that wonderful. This is a person who thinks WE have TOO MUCH TIME ON OUR HANDS. If anyone out there wants the e-mail forwarded to them write us at toledowatchdogatcharterdotnet and we will send it on. Otherwise, we consider the dialog finished. The old advice about fighting with a skunk seems to apply in this case. Sorry, Workdog. We won't engage in this kind of "discussion". So now you can "let 'er RIP" because we refuse to answer you online. This is not productive dialog and has no solution in sight. THE WATCHDOG will not bite back even when provoked. Our purpose is to inform not malign. Won't do it.

Open Letter to the "Toledo Workdog"

TO THE TOLEDO WORKDOG
http://thetoledoworkdog.blogspot.com/

Could you please point to comments in my WATCHDOG posts that you construe as malicious? Could you show me where I have lied? If I have expressed an opinion that you disagree with could you present me your argument? I have never called The Chief names or referred to him as less than a decent human being. I can continue to respect his role as our Police Chief and care for him as a fellow citizen while questioning some of his actions. If you want to make a point about my concerns I ask you to please stick to the issues. I have defended the Chief publicly and privately to those who seem to think I have an agenda of revenge and hate. I assure you that I do not. I will make an effort to tone down the sarcasm, because it might be considered hurtful. It seems only fair, since you do not even know me, that you would grant me the same courtesy.
THE WATCHDOG

I will post your response.

UPDATE

Of course we understand confidentiality of personnel records and juvenile privacy laws. Public Records available for inspection never include such items. We are, however, requesting public records relating to expenditures from the "Explorer Scout Fund." These are subject to Public Information inspections. We are not asking for privileged information.

All the FACTS you want

FACT: A letter dated May 20, 2005 from Stephen Smith director of the surplus property program confirms that Chief Denison did in fact receive all of the property that he says he received. The letter gives conditional approval of a future sale of this surplus equipment. There is no mention in the letter of the value of the equipment received. There is no mention in the letter of the cost to transport the surplus property to Toledo. Mr. Smith states, "I see no reason for concern on anything Chief Denison has done within this program."

FACT: Thirteen different individuals and agencies donated funds to the "Explorer Scout Program", account 026-000-405270, in the amount of $1, 764.50 during the calendar year 2004. These funds are specified donations to the "Explorer Program" under the "Line Item Description" on the account printout.

FACT:On November 3, 2004, a check was issued from the "Explorer Scout fund", account 026-260-605270, to Oregon Department of Administrative Services for shipping of "body armor" in the amount of $219.25.

On February 16, 2005, another check was issued to OAS for "Freight expense to transport 2 vehicles" in the amount of $900.00

On February 16, 2005 a check was issued to Transportation Systems, Inc. to transport a "self powered man lift" in the amount of $1, 800.00

On March 16, 2005, a check was issued to Transportation Systems, Inc. for the transport of "2 lowboy trailers and hose assem" in the amount of $725.00

FACT: ALL of these checks were written from the "Explorer Scout Fund" to transport surplus equipment to Toledo. The total sum for these four checks is $3, 644.25. The money came from an account set up for the purpose of funding youth programs for Toledo's youth.

FACT: On June 30, 2005, a check was received for deposit into the "Explorer Scout Fund" from the Lincoln County Commission on Children and Families in the amount of $5, 160.00. Among the invoices from the Toledo Police Department submitted with this bill is a request for payment for 40 flash drives for the Explorer Program from Edward Oswald of Newport in the amount of $634.80. A call made to Mr. Oswald on October 27, 2005 revealed that the flash drives had never been paid for and never been ordered.

FACT: A check in the amount of $2, 740.00, issued by the East County Communities Partnership (check # 1026) for payment of bills submitted for the Explorer Star Tech program was never entered directly into the Toledo Police Department Explorer Scout Fund, but diverted into a mystery bank account. The cancelled check does not show any endorsement on the back. Federal banking laws prevent inquiry as to the status or origin of this account. An inquiry to the City Manager, Pete Wall, has not been answered, although a request for Public Records was submitted on October 28, 2005. The matter is now in the hands of the District Attorney.

FACT: The author of The Toledo Watchdog has her own twenty-year record in the Toledo community for being an avid supporter of the community, various youth programs and direct support to young children of this community. Recent questions to the City Council and the City Manager are based on fact, not rumor. The allegations of wrong-doing, if any, will be found out through a proper investigation and an open government. These questions should be of concern to every citizen of this community. Name-calling and impugning of improper motives will not bury the truth. It is way past time for these questions to be answered.

Libel, Slander, Malice and a Free Press

Taken from a website sponsored by the US Department of State:

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/press/press08.htm


"That all changed in 1964 when the Supreme Court issued a ruling that revolutionized libel law in the United States. The famous decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan once and for all created a national rule that squared more fully with the free press guarantees of the First Amendment. In its ruling, the Court decided that public officials no longer could sue successfully for libel unless reporters or editors were guilty of "actual malice" when publishing false statements about them.

And just what is malice when it comes to proving libel? Retired Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., who wrote the Sullivan decision, defined it as "knowledge that the [published information] was false" or that it was published "with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not." In other words, public officials no longer could sue for libel simply by proving that something that had been broadcast or printed about them was false. Now they would have to prove that a journalist had knowingly printed false information while making little, if any, attempt to distinguish truth from lies."


Information published on The Toledo Watchdog is not false, slanderous, malicious or hateful. We will never stoop to such vile behavior. While it may be embarassing, the information posted here is based on actual, observed, factual data. If this is a battle of personal reputation, we will take our stand on the side of truth and fact. Let those who wish to descend into a wicked morass of rumor and innuendo do so. We will not.

It's more than some "surplus property", folks!

The Watchdog has been busy checking records lately and not been able to post here. What's going on? Well, the "Surplus Property" was only the beginning. When we saw the printouts from the City records (public information, folks. Just go down and ask! And yes, the City has to provide it!) it appeared that money had been transferred from the account marked "Explorer Scouts" to ship lowboy trailers and self-propelled manlifts, combat gear and body armor. We don't know what kind of camp the Chief is running out there with Toledo's youth, but we question how "body armor" could be part of the Explorer Scout program. Then we wondered about a check that seemed to "go missing"--a check that was made payable to "Toledo Police Department" that never showed up in that City account? Where did it go? City Manager Pete Wall hasn't answered us yet. We sent him a request on October 28th, and we are still waiting. We are still waiting for answers about how Mr. Wall could justify letting the Chief ship heavy equipment to Toledo, obtained through the Surplus Property Program (but it was FREE!) and use the Explorer Scout Fund to accomplish it. Does that bother anyone out there besides us? Then a fellow blogger over at
http://aviewoftoledo.blogspot.com showed us some information about the "Emergency Plan" that the Chief wrote himself for nearly $12,000. Unfortunately, it seems no one bothered to ask for input from the other City personnel, including the Fire Chief. We'd think the Fire Chief would want to have some say about any future "Emergency Plan". The list of questions just keeps getting longer. Mr. Wall counted the questions submitted to City Council on the 26th of October. There were 86! But there seems to be more and more questions piling up. Every day, new allegations come forth! This is just nuts!! When will we ever get answers? Don't the taxpayers of Toledo deserve some answers? Do we have to go to the District Attorney? Do we have to file suit? Why can't the people in charge of providing answers JUST DO IT? Or don't they have any?

"Anonymous" wants to know...

We will be as forthcoming as you like, Anonymous, although we are pretty sure of your identity. We will call later today to make sure this information is brought to your attention. Your answers, in the order you presented them:
No money from the Collaboration ever went into Mary Johnson's pocket. Two checks were paid to the Toledo Community Center to reimburse that non-profit for the costs of the copier, paper, envelopes, postage and long-distance telephone calls during the year-long project. The total amount was $416.78. There are invoices in the file for those checks.
ECCP is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization and the records available for public review include the Application for Tax Exempt status and the last three years' of the organization's report forms. If you need to know more about these requirements check the IRS website where the regulations are made public. We have absolute confidence that the Chairman of the ECCP will be more than happy to provide you with that information.
Mary Johnson is not the Treasurer of the ECCP. That job belongs to Debra Spoelstra. Mary Johnson was the fiscal agent for the ECCP/LCCC&F Collaboration. Deb Hite was the other signer on the checking account.
When Mary Johnson became aware of a check that she had signed, made payable to Toledo Police Department, that had NOT been entered directly into the City of Toledo bookkeeping system she immediately began the investigation that has now grown exponentially. The issuing bank was contacted, the depositor bank was contacted and the City Manager's office was contacted. A letter was issued to Pete Wall on October 28, 2005 and copies of that letter were electronically mailed to the Chairman of the ECCP and Terry Dillman of the News-Times.
When questions arose about the invoices submitted to the LCCC&F for payment, Mary Johnson requested clarification. Two invoices from the Toledo Police Department were submitted for work yet to be done--a "Resource Guide" for $2,000 and a "Youth Activities Website" for another $2,000. There were no invoices for either of these items and, since the Collaboration required that the funds be for reimbursement only, a call was made to Jennifer Versteeg at LCC&F for clarification. Mary Johnson was authorized to go ahead and issue a check for $2,740 as partial payment for these activities. This is the check that was not entered into City records.
Checks issued to SLCYC always complied with proper reimbursement procedures. The questions surrounding SLCYC operations were not involved with the reimbursement process.
Oregon State Department of Justice has very stringent laws on the responsibilities of board members of non-profit organizations. Although not the Treasurer, Mary Johnson is making every attempt to clear up the matter. There is a fiduciary responsibility to do so.
We know of no correlation between Chief Denison, South County and Mary Johnson. Another question for you might be "Why is the Toledo Police Chief operating youth programs in Waldport?" Doesn't he have enough to do in Toledo?
The Collaboration set aside $3,100 for Administration of the program. Mary Johnson received no salary or fees for handling this account. The Coordinator for the program received $20,000 for overseeing the overall Collaboration. Mary Johnson received no payment at all.
Several of the final bills for the Collaboration were handled directly through the LCC&F. A payment of $5,160 was made directly from LCCC&F to the Toledo Police Department. These invoices were not submitted to Mary Johnson for review. When Mary Johnson asked for copies of these invoices they were provided. A call to one of the vendors who had submitted an invoice revealed that he had never ordered the equipment and had never been paid for the equipment, but the Toledo Police Department collected the money nonetheless.
The reason Mary Johnson cannot answer all the questions about all the funds is that she did not attend the Collaboration Meetings where the money was redistributed. She did not see the invoices for the last distribution to Toledo Police until last week.
I hope that answers your questions, Wendy.

Disagree but don't be disagreeable

Someone sent the link to a new blog representing "another view" of the issues in our community. Here's the link:

http://thetoledoworkdog.blogspot.com/

To this we say, "Good for you"! It would be nice if this new blog would try to stick to the facts. And it would be nice if the new blog would refrain from personal insults and attacks. We won't be responding in kind, because it is so counter-productive and mean-spirited. But we welcome the debate. Through debate we can produce substantive change and hopefully agree to engage in productive debate. Welcome to the BLOG WARS! We are glad we helped point you to the web log as a form of personal expression.And, to your credit, "WORKDOG", you have made some good points. I agree that sarcastic comments and incessant negativity are to be avoided. Humor is good. Facts are even better.

Words of Wisdom

"In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." -- Mark Twain