TWITTER: Ventnor Links

[VentnorMod]

Direct link here to Commissioner Piatt's:

http://twitter.com/Ventnorian

Direct link to Commissioner Weintrob's:

http://twitter.com/Ventnorite

Direct link here to WLV's:

http://twitter.com/WeLoveVentnor

Post being pinned to top for easy reference.

[Lifeboat]

Will you still put posts on Twitter?

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

Only as the last OPRA responses peter out and justify tweeting.

[Lifeboat]

I have enjoyed getting highlights on Twitter. They steered me straight to the posts with lots of meet. Is there ANY way to keep this service going?

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

Originally Posted by Lifeboat

I have enjoyed getting highlights on Twitter. They steered me straight to the posts with lots of meet. Is there ANY way to keep this service going?

Suggestion: Bookmark and continue to follow Commissioner Piatt's Twitter account, linked above. It provides many shorthand clues that "inquiring minds" can follow up with OPRA submissions or by simply sending an e-mail to delve further to the Commissioner whom WLV has found to be the most committed to open, transparent and fiscally responsible government since the oath of office was taken by all.

Ventnorian: State Comptroller's critical audit of Atlantic City called "hype" by AC Mayor.
about 6 hours ago from web
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Ventnorian: Langford's response to scathing AC audit not good for region. You can't change what you don't acknowledge.
about 23 hours ago from web
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Ventnorian: About a foot of snow in my driveway. I could use a palm tree and a bahamamama.
6:27 AM Jan 31st from web
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Ventnorian: Early prognosis for Ventnor budget shows significant defiit looming. Unions will be asked for cooperation.
6:43 AM Jan 30th from web
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Ventnorian: "Expert" presented by Cmr. Weintrob to support Engineer under fire has shifty resume...not an expert at all apparently.
6:41 AM Jan 30th from web
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Ventnorian: Ventnor names Matt Doran Municipal Engineer...Vince Polistina as Special Projects & Planning and Zoning Board Engineer.
2:56 AM Jan 22nd from web
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Information about a looming budget deficit, above, may require some hard choices.

Other towns are resorting to Reductions-In-Force (layoffs) after failing to obtain union "compromises" on unpaid furloughs.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/n...c396f5b90.html

Egg Harbor Township is facing a $2 million budget gap this year that could result in the layoffs of eight to 10 police officers, Mayor James "Sonny" McCullough said. Township officials said Tuesday they have been meeting with union representatives to try to avoid layoffs through unpaid furlough days and other money-saving concessions. But McCullough said there is the potential for layoffs if the township cannot make up the revenue shortfall. He said it could affect other workers as well as the police officers.

"We're trying to keep the impact to taxpayers as minimum as possible, and we certainly don't want to add to the unemployment rolls if possible," McCullough said. Business Administrator Peter Miller said Tuesday that the shortfall is due to a smaller surplus and less revenue from investments, hotel taxes and landfill fees. Miller said the township, which has 226 full-time employees, is looking for cuts in all departments. Discussions with members of the Government Workers Union, Communications Workers of America Local 1032 and the Mainland Police Benevolent Association Local 77 began last fall and no formal agreements have been made yet. Miller said that the township's proposed 2010 budget is still being compiled and probably would be presented in late March after the state announces how much municipal aid will be available to local governments. Township officials struggled to close off a similar $1.6 million funding gap last year when it adopted its $33.3 million budget. Many Egg Harbor Township workers took unpaid furloughs. A hiring freeze was instituted and several open jobs were left vacant. The township also raised taxes and got a waiver from the state's 4 percent tax levy cap.

The police union was asked to give back about $750,000 this year, said Myron Plotkin, labor relations consultant for Mainland Police Benevolent Association Local 77. Plotkin said a combination of concessions have been discussed, but the PBA wants to check the financial numbers before anything can be decided. The Mainland PBA covers 86 police officers, and Plotkin said another meeting will be held next week.

RIFs are less harmful to continued providing of essential services for taxpayers IFworkers have been "written up" for deficiencies or meritorious performance along the way, creating grounds for termination if there has been poor performance. WLV is concerned about RIFs which may find departments with less-than-stellar employee monitoring practices throwing the proverbial "baby" (less senior workers with good work ethics) out with the "bathwater" as can happen if budget strains force across-the-board cuts.

Many towns are announcing unpaid furloughs
http://www.northjersey.com/news/8129...employees.html

State promises crackdowns
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...crackdown.html


Things are "tough all over" -- private sector shutdowns are in the news out of the wider region of South Jersey:

http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.s...470.xml&coll=8

400 workers - out of a job -- due to indefinite plant closure.

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

Ventnorian: I met recently with Police union reps to explain Ventnor's looming budget deficit. Meetings with others pending.
about 11 hours ago from web

Ventnorian: I had asked State Comptroller's Office to audit Ventnor. They had declined. Too busy with A.C. they said.
1:11 PM Feb 5th from web

[VENTNOR eVOICE ADMIN]

last bump.