Carefree Truth
Issue #666, July 9, 2018
On Consent Agenda item #3, Councilman Gene Orrico questioned the differences in invoices from the Sherman Howard law firm and asked why there was more than one bill last month. Gary Neiss explained that Town attorney Mike Wright works with the Town on a regular basis. He attends Council meetings and works on different issues, so depending on time spent, there are different bills from Sherman Howard's billing department each month. Mayor Peterson explained that Mr. Wright also sits in on the Water Committee meetings.
https://vimeo.com/278260767
Vice Mayor John Crane commented on Consent Agenda item #4, noting that as of May 31st, a month prior to the end of the 2017/18 fiscal year (FY), the Town had added over $1 million to the reserve balance, which was good because in the 2018/19 FY, the Town would be dipping into the reserves for road work. Mayor Les Peterson said that approximately $2.5 million would be spent on the streets. The projections for the end of June place the money added to the reserves during the 2017/18 FY at $1,181,000, citing FY 2017/18 as a healthy year in terms of revenues over expenditures.
https://vimeo.com/278261817
During Call to the Public, Robert Jacobson asked if the public attended the Water Committee meetings. Mayor Peterson said they didn't, but could meet with Greg Crossman, the head of the Carefree Water Company, with questions. Mr. Jacobson expressed concerns over possible water impurities. Mayor Peterson replied that he would set up a meeting with Mr. Crossman and they could go through the entire test results with him.
Mr. Jacobson also said that people speaking at Call to the Public at the June meeting were allowed more than the usual 3 minutes. He spoke first but not for more than 3 minutes. The Mayor reminded Mr. Jacobson that he had announced the waiving of the 3 minute limit at the beginning of Call to the Public, and asked him if there was something more he had wanted to say last month. Mr. Jacobson said yes, he was concerned about voting, nitpicking and arguments between individuals.
https://vimeo.com/278262664
Councilman Gene Orrico spoke next at Call to the Public. He said he is a pretty fair person, with no malice towards anyone, but he couldn't sit quietly and watch what happened at the June Council meeting. He claimed it, "was a scripted methodical verbal trashing of a fellow council person", and that, "this is not what we are about". He could not understand what he heard. He is the immediate past president of Kiwanis, sits on 3 Carefree Boards and the Council. He said he has never heard a "bashing" like Les Peterson, John Crane and attorney Mike Wright, who he was under the impression was supposed to just give legal advice, "as opposed to grandstanding and making as if he was taking and he was Johnny Cochran having the case of the century". Mr. Orrico felt it was totally wrong.
He said that the Town keeps, "paying for advertising about Civana. But as Councilman Farrar had mentioned, they are not in concert with us". He referred to a Civana ad that said it's the first wellness resort in the Greater Scottsdale area. "It doesn't say Carefree even though it's in Carefree." He held up a draft of the Civana Drone Light Show poster and added, "I understand and I just found out that we are co-chairing and we are also giving dollars for the 4th of July benefit. I would like to see where Carefree is on there. Nowhere. Simple. We're wasting money on, and on a place that has their own marketing. We don't need to market them at all".
Mr. Orrico said that he and Mr. Farrar voted against the last 2 budgets because of the "outlandish marketing spending". He defied anyone in the room to show him a small town that has an approved line item budget of $558,912. He was trying to figure out what's being marketed, and said it's not the merchants, which is why there are so many Mike Farrar posters in their windows. The Town is disconnected with the merchants. He repeated that he bears no malice, although he's sure some people here would not like him. He has volunteered at the Christmas Festival, the Block Party and the Pumpkin Festival, and is entrenched in the town. His wife's business is called Carefree Consignment. He demanded to have Carefree's "name on anything we give money to", repeating that the Town gives money out and is not getting recognition.
https://vimeo.com/278268038
(Lyn's note: The poster in Mr. Orrico's possession was an early draft that was made prior to Civana approaching Mayor Peterson to ask if Carefree would be interested in co-sponsoring the Drone Light Show. The final poster that was marketed and handed out to the public by both the Town and Civana is below. The full name of the resort is Civana Carefree.)
Issue #666, July 9, 2018
On Consent Agenda item #3, Councilman Gene Orrico questioned the differences in invoices from the Sherman Howard law firm and asked why there was more than one bill last month. Gary Neiss explained that Town attorney Mike Wright works with the Town on a regular basis. He attends Council meetings and works on different issues, so depending on time spent, there are different bills from Sherman Howard's billing department each month. Mayor Peterson explained that Mr. Wright also sits in on the Water Committee meetings.
https://vimeo.com/278260767
Vice Mayor John Crane commented on Consent Agenda item #4, noting that as of May 31st, a month prior to the end of the 2017/18 fiscal year (FY), the Town had added over $1 million to the reserve balance, which was good because in the 2018/19 FY, the Town would be dipping into the reserves for road work. Mayor Les Peterson said that approximately $2.5 million would be spent on the streets. The projections for the end of June place the money added to the reserves during the 2017/18 FY at $1,181,000, citing FY 2017/18 as a healthy year in terms of revenues over expenditures.
https://vimeo.com/278261817
During Call to the Public, Robert Jacobson asked if the public attended the Water Committee meetings. Mayor Peterson said they didn't, but could meet with Greg Crossman, the head of the Carefree Water Company, with questions. Mr. Jacobson expressed concerns over possible water impurities. Mayor Peterson replied that he would set up a meeting with Mr. Crossman and they could go through the entire test results with him.
Mr. Jacobson also said that people speaking at Call to the Public at the June meeting were allowed more than the usual 3 minutes. He spoke first but not for more than 3 minutes. The Mayor reminded Mr. Jacobson that he had announced the waiving of the 3 minute limit at the beginning of Call to the Public, and asked him if there was something more he had wanted to say last month. Mr. Jacobson said yes, he was concerned about voting, nitpicking and arguments between individuals.
https://vimeo.com/278262664
Councilman Gene Orrico spoke next at Call to the Public. He said he is a pretty fair person, with no malice towards anyone, but he couldn't sit quietly and watch what happened at the June Council meeting. He claimed it, "was a scripted methodical verbal trashing of a fellow council person", and that, "this is not what we are about". He could not understand what he heard. He is the immediate past president of Kiwanis, sits on 3 Carefree Boards and the Council. He said he has never heard a "bashing" like Les Peterson, John Crane and attorney Mike Wright, who he was under the impression was supposed to just give legal advice, "as opposed to grandstanding and making as if he was taking and he was Johnny Cochran having the case of the century". Mr. Orrico felt it was totally wrong.
He said that the Town keeps, "paying for advertising about Civana. But as Councilman Farrar had mentioned, they are not in concert with us". He referred to a Civana ad that said it's the first wellness resort in the Greater Scottsdale area. "It doesn't say Carefree even though it's in Carefree." He held up a draft of the Civana Drone Light Show poster and added, "I understand and I just found out that we are co-chairing and we are also giving dollars for the 4th of July benefit. I would like to see where Carefree is on there. Nowhere. Simple. We're wasting money on, and on a place that has their own marketing. We don't need to market them at all".
Mr. Orrico said that he and Mr. Farrar voted against the last 2 budgets because of the "outlandish marketing spending". He defied anyone in the room to show him a small town that has an approved line item budget of $558,912. He was trying to figure out what's being marketed, and said it's not the merchants, which is why there are so many Mike Farrar posters in their windows. The Town is disconnected with the merchants. He repeated that he bears no malice, although he's sure some people here would not like him. He has volunteered at the Christmas Festival, the Block Party and the Pumpkin Festival, and is entrenched in the town. His wife's business is called Carefree Consignment. He demanded to have Carefree's "name on anything we give money to", repeating that the Town gives money out and is not getting recognition.
https://vimeo.com/278268038
(Lyn's note: The poster in Mr. Orrico's possession was an early draft that was made prior to Civana approaching Mayor Peterson to ask if Carefree would be interested in co-sponsoring the Drone Light Show. The final poster that was marketed and handed out to the public by both the Town and Civana is below. The full name of the resort is Civana Carefree.)
During Current Events, Mayor Peterson said he didn't know where Mr. Orrico got that poster. That is not what his showed. The drone light show was taking place the following evening, with shows at 8:30 and 9:15. He noted that 4 TV stations had been to Carefree and the show was eliciting considerable interest and excitement. He encouraged people who were interested in seeing a drone light show to attend.
Vice Mayor John Crane reminded everyone that there would be another water informational meeting on July 9th at 5 PM in the Council chambers, addressing the issue of Carefree residents and businesses serviced by the Cave Creek Water Company.
He also noted that during the April meeting the Carefree/Cave Creek Consolidated Court Clerk spoke about a program called BConnected, associated with the Veteran's Court, and about opportunities to volunteer. He did some homework on it. You don't need to be a veteran to participate. They provide free training so volunteers are aware of what programs are available to veterans and how to help. He is attending a class in downtown Phoenix on July 24th from 9 AM - noon. If anyone else is interested in attending, he would be happy to give them a ride. You can contact him at John@carefree.org. Kandace Contreras has fliers at Town Hall with information on BConnected. Councilman Mike Farrar added that he had attended a session of Judge Romley's Veteran's Court and had found it worthwhile.
https://vimeo.com/278264889
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Vice Mayor John Crane reminded everyone that there would be another water informational meeting on July 9th at 5 PM in the Council chambers, addressing the issue of Carefree residents and businesses serviced by the Cave Creek Water Company.
He also noted that during the April meeting the Carefree/Cave Creek Consolidated Court Clerk spoke about a program called BConnected, associated with the Veteran's Court, and about opportunities to volunteer. He did some homework on it. You don't need to be a veteran to participate. They provide free training so volunteers are aware of what programs are available to veterans and how to help. He is attending a class in downtown Phoenix on July 24th from 9 AM - noon. If anyone else is interested in attending, he would be happy to give them a ride. You can contact him at John@carefree.org. Kandace Contreras has fliers at Town Hall with information on BConnected. Councilman Mike Farrar added that he had attended a session of Judge Romley's Veteran's Court and had found it worthwhile.
https://vimeo.com/278264889
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.