Comments on: Norfolk Commissioner taken to task by Treasurer

By: TBM

TBM — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:54:02 +0000

It is up to the Treasurer to decide who gets on a payment plan or has penalties waived etc…. JTF set up payment plans when he was in office and it was based on circumstance as oppose to political. Although he didn’t care much for McDonald, mostly because she was trying to re-invent the wheel and I think he just missed Sam. Regardless McDonald knew it and continued some of his practices when I guess Moss would not.

P. S. Not often do I get to talk about my Grandfather, so thanks.
Moonbeam, your remarks at the end really made me chuckle, thank you.
Awareness, his temper softened with age so he would be more like “annoyed”

By: vjp

vjp — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:19:28 +0000

A friend of mine (now deceased) ran for treasurer back in the 1980s with the sole purpose of eliminating the office. The state code allows cities to do away with both offices and replace them with a Department of Finance. The political will to do so in Norfolk has yet to be realized.

By: MKinVA

MKinVA — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:07:07 +0000

pointer has it right. We need to combine these offices and, better yet, stop electing people to handle tax collection. That should be done without regard to politics and its corrupting consequences. You want to help balance the budget? Change the constitution and HIRE the best people for tax collectors, clerks of court, and sheriffs. Look at clerks of court salaries and then find out how many of them also have court administrators that we pay for because the elected clerk is not capable of doing the job.

By: Awareness

Awareness — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:04:21 +0000

Moonbeam obviously has no clue on how the Commissioner of Revenue and Treasurer’s Offices operate either. The Treasurer and his staff were, in fact, aware of this practice for the last 20+ years. You know it and I know it. And what makes you think the former Treasurer would have supported Moss’ cheap shots and ridiculous antics? If you really HAD a clue, you’d know that Moss’ leadership abilities and recent hiring decisions would have infuriated him. Don’t even try and compare the two.

By: pointer

pointer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:27:25 +0000

More reason why in these tough financial times for the City of Norfolk that we do NOT need a Treasurer AND Commissioner of Revenue. Combine the offices then the “confusion” can be avoided.

By: Rediford New

Rediford New — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:33:56 +0000

Even the smallest of businesses typically use some type of accounting program such as quickbooks/ quicken etc. which have accounts receivables and accounts payable line items to track “money coming in, money going out”. Ms McDonald worked in banking before she “retired” from that profession. Shouldn’t she have said something if this 2.7 mil system didn’t have this component? You’re right! Things are worse than we thought. Time for a change!

By: vjp

vjp — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:07:03 +0000

Thanks.

By: vjp

vjp — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:05:58 +0000

Um, perhaps you need to go back and re-read the part where I explained that I called for payment plans back in 2005.

And you’re telling me that after spending $2.7 million of taxpayer money on a computer system, there is no Accounts Receivable records? If that’s the case, then things are worse than I thought.

By: Rediford New

Rediford New — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:52:33 +0000

The citizens of Norfolk are the biggest losers here. Ms. McDonald thinks she is above the law, “implied” or otherwise; and Moss, well, is just plain incompetent,an old man just drawing another government paycheck. Both must to go. Unless NO ONE votes for Moss (or writes in someone’s name) he will keep his government check and the office will continue on as it always has. Norfolk voters, however, have an opportunity to make a change in the Commissioner of the Revenue office. Ms. MacDonald has revealed, for all to see, her true colors…favoritism, vindictiveness, and a monumental lack of judgement. The “exemplary customer service”, she touts in her campaign literature, seems to apply only to her political supporters and friends.
City Council leaders, by their endorsement, have given their stamp of approval to this behavior. On Tuesday, I will cast my vote to end to this behavior. Perhaps, if more of us exercise our power and vote Ms.McDonald out, it will empower other civic minded, intelligent citizens to come forward to serve our community. And, perhaps, it will send the message to Norfolk’s “finest” that “business as usual” will not be tolerated by us any longer.

By: Moonbeam

Moonbeam — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:51:59 +0000

Vivian Paige obviously has no clue on how the Commissioner of Revenue and Treasurer’s Offices are operated. Since partial payments are allowed, there would be no way to know if the Commissioner had in fact put a particular business on a payment plan. Payment plans are a great idea, particularly in view of the present state of the economy. The plans are NOT the issue–the issue is that the Commissioner of Revenue should be directing businesses requesting payment plans to the Treasurer, who has the authority to collect taxes. The Commissioner’s responsibility is to assess, the Treasurer’s is to collect. It is becoming easier to understand why former Treasurer Joseph T. Fitzpatrick could not work with Ms. McDonald. No wonder he forbade her from coming into his office!

By: Silver Donkey

Silver Donkey — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:26:28 +0000

Wow, Tom Moss really threw Sharon under the bus. He was right, just because something has always been done that way doesn’t make it right, even if they do contribute to your campaign!

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:07:55 +0000

That is a thoughtful, well-reasoned post. Touches on a lot of things I’ve noticed in Norfolk politics over the years (especially how people suddenly decide they aren’t running for office).

And Pilot did some grand reporting. Maybe more people will take advantage of their opportunities this November and next May and take a bit of their city back.