Cowardly Lion: Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got?
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman: Courage!
~
Cowardly Lion: Read what my medal says: Courage. Ain’t it the truth? Ain’t it the truth?
Norfolk councilmen Tommy Smigiel and Andy Protoyrou don’t need to go to the Wizard to get a medal for courage. In their brief time on council – both took their seats July 1 – they have demonstrated that they are willing to stand up and do what is necessary to protect the interests of the citizens.
The most recent example came yesterday, as council discussed the hiring of the new city manager. While both men support it, the compensation package – worth about $240,000 a year and negotiated solely by the mayor – was of concern. That the details were not presented to council members until Monday evening – despite the fact that the letter outlining it was dated November 9 – was a legitimate concern.
The discussion raises two issues for me. First, there is the process itself. Council fixated early on Marcus Jones as the new city manager and no search was done to identify any other candidate. No parameters were set by the council in terms of compensation and it appears no survey of comparable salaries was done, either. Even a perfunctory look at the compensation packages of managers in Hampton Roads would have informed council that the package was too large for a first-time city manager.
Second, there is the issue of transparency in the process. Not only was council apparently not made privy to the negotiations until it was virtually a done deal, the delay in communicating the numbers to the other members – less than 24 hours before the vote – makes no sense. And then we have Councilman Paul Riddick wanting the discussion to take place in a closed session. Smigiel pointed out that the FOIA would not allow such a discussion.
Smigiel and Protogyrou are to be commended for their principled stances, not called names or treated like children. There is no such thing as a “junior” councilman and it’s time they are treated as the full-fledged members that they are. They are a breath of fresh air in an old system that has become far too comfortable doing things behind closed doors.
Even though I could not cast a ballot for either of them, I appreciate their representing me and looking out for my interests.
Nope – no need for medals here. They already have courage.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I was appalled at the remarks by Burfoot and Riddick. Plus how could Riddick, who has been on council for decades, it feels, not know what is allowed behind closed doors and what isn’t.
Seems that Tommy and Andy should be teaching an orientation course to the others.
Words can’t describe how happy I felt reading that article this morning. For the first time in my life I actually felt proud of my local government, even if it was only two people in it.
If I didn’t know how potentially futile it would be, I would say that Riddick’s and Burfoot’s comments were grounds for a recall. Insulting a council member for not wanting to disobey the law? Saying that following the law is not how things work around here? Those comments should spark outrage among every Norfolk citizen.
I believe if Riddick calls you a Ninny you must be doing something right.
I think if anyone is acting like children it is the namecallers such as Riddick and Burfoot.
Kuddos to Tommy & Andy for having a spine and asking the questions that need to be asked.
They had a problem with 240K for a City Manager but had no problem giving a million dollars of taxpayer dollars to a wealthy non-profit that’s in bed with the Virginian-Pilot.
You mean the YMCA?
Brian,
We haven’t voted on the money for the YMCA. Plus, the YMCA plan has been public. Oranges and apples.
Wow, y’all must have a lot of money in Norfolk if a million dollars is sitting around like apples.
Wow, y’all must be purposefully obtuse, Brian.
Doug,
I can tell you that most VA Boards of Supervisors care nothing about when a closed meeting occurs, or the requirements for one.
I have been fighting for three years in this locality (Cumberland) just to get the agenda to reflect the legal requirements for a closed meeting. When I ride herd on them about it, they do better. When I don’t, they revert to the same illegal description of the meeting.
In my experience, counties interpret the FOIA to suit their needs, and if there is no one to call them on it, they go on their merry way, regardless of the law (2.2-3700)
Mostly, they need to be babysat like infants.