Continuing the Conversation: Bill Blackman

City Councilman Bill Blackman believes in this economy ...  the travel expenses of some council members are just too much. During a time when the city budget is limited and employees haven't had a raise in three years, Blackman has suggested "monitoring" by way of the City Council "approving" the travel plans of other council members. This has less to do with employees not getting a pay raise in the last three years and more to do with control and power.

Whether (some) city staff members have or have not had a raise in pay in three years is a matter of record. And the answer lies somewhere within the compounds of the corridors in City Hall. The information regarding the pay salaries of current City of Wilson employees has been requested by a sitting Council member. Yet it has not been released - not even to the City Council representative who has requested the information. WHY NOT?
So, since when does a City Staffer (including the City manager) take it upon him/herself to defy & deny the request of a sitting council representative from receiving information he or she has requested. The answer is. . . when they work for the City of Wilson and blantantly disrespects the authority of an "ELECTED OFFICIAL" & governing leader in this community.

 

Bill Blackman's View:

He wants to know what benefits the city is receiving from the trips and said he never receives a report when the council member returns. 

FIRST of all, Mr. Blackman - you receiving a "report" is not a requirement of any current city council member to come back and "report" to you the particulars of what happened at any meeting or conference they attend. Where'd you get that from? NO REALLY, WHO (in the beautiful name of Jesus) DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? 

SECONDLY - Did you ask about the trip? Probably not. Blackman, truth be told, you're hardly interested enough in Bill Pitt's goings & comings to give a flip about any report he would share of where he's been. And you know it. You're only bringing this up now as a smokescreen for the infomation he has requested and a payback because he wouldn't vote your way on a current issue. (Which is trifling "bully on the school yard" antics for a grown man to still be playing.)

MORE IMPORTANTLY - WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS FALSE SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT WHERE YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO "REGULATE" OTHER COUNCIL MEMEBRS' MOVEMENT?  And YOU CAN TELL BILL PITT WHAT HE CAN & CANNOT DO?  WHERE HE CAN and CANNOT GO?  WHAT HE MUST BRING BACK & REPORT TO YOU UPON HIS RETURN FROM A TRIP? 

AND, in sharing what he gathered from a conference, you'd half-way listen to what he had to say and wouldn't use any of his suggestions just because it came from "Bill Pitt." That's part of the political game you and a number of your council colleagues like to play when it comes to Pitt and at times AP Coleman.

Blackman wants to know what benefits the city is receving from these trips. Now everybody knows Bill Blackman's an intellect, a smart man, distinquished business man and a thinker. Surely he knows the benefits vary according to the needs of the city at specified times. That's if he "REALLY" wanted to know the answer to his question. (Though we believe it to be rhetorical.)

A network of  affluential leaders, companies, agencies, folk who know folk on a local, state or national level would greatly benefit the City of Wilson by having such a connection in place. That kind of  partnership and accessibility is well worth the exposure and that kind of experience is priceless.

It's a stiff price to pay and simply forgo for the lack of not participating or being able to attend. 

You can't make such connections staying within the compounds of your own county line. Life, living and learning does operate beyond the city limits of Wilson, NC and you have to be able to get there.

Surely, Blackman understands that concept. And if he still doesn't get it maybe he should join one of his fellow colleagues on a trip other than one given by ElectriCities. Open his mind to diversity, acquire an appreciation of other cultures and take a few lessons in sensitivity training & objectivity. 

He just may learn a little something along the way. Then he can bring what he learns back to the City of Wilson, "report" to the citizens what he learned and apply it accordingly to the needs of the city and not just his district. 

Another Note: Since when has Bill Blackman took a stand for an issue outside of his own district. If you know of an occasion write us and let us know. We'll be sure to "Blog-IT" and share it with the rest of the community.