EDITORIAL: Why do Pendergrass leaders hide?
When Pendergrass leaders shut down the town’s public comment period at city council meetings last week, it was a sign of fear and weakness.
When Mayor Monk Tolbert motioned for the town’s police to go stand next to a woman who complained — after the meeting had been adjourned — about the lack of citizen input, it was an act of intimidation and desperation.
No legitimate government slams the door on public comments or questions.
No legitimate government uses police as bullies to silence those who dare ask questions.
Only regimes that are led by the insecure and the inept do those things.
Pendergrass is just such a regime. The mayor and city council are scared.
And their biggest fear is the truth.
That’s why they don’t want to allow comments or questions at meetings; they can’t handle the truth. The truth rips off the mask and exposes the town’s city council for what it is — an illegitimate little government rife with nepotism and favoritism and secrecy.
Mayor Tolbert said a few weeks ago that he would continue to run the town the way he wanted to —“I’ll keep on doing whatever the hell I want to do!” he said.
So where has that gotten Pendergrass?
--A massive recall effort is under way to remove the mayor and council.
--A criminal investigation into the handling of city money is ongoing.
--A lawsuit over the city council holding secret, illegal meetings has been filed.
--Impending lawsuits against the town over wrongful dismissal appear to be coming soon.
--A town that is broke and having to mortgage its city hall building to just to raise operating cash.
Now the Pendergrass City Council has cut off public comments and questions at council meetings.
Why are Pendergrass officials hiding from the public?
No legitimate government slams the door on public comments or questions.
No legitimate government uses police as bullies to silence those who dare ask questions.
Only regimes that are led by the insecure and the inept do those things.
Pendergrass is just such a regime. The mayor and city council are scared.
And their biggest fear is the truth.
That’s why they don’t want to allow comments or questions at meetings; they can’t handle the truth. The truth rips off the mask and exposes the town’s city council for what it is — an illegitimate little government rife with nepotism and favoritism and secrecy.
Mayor Tolbert said a few weeks ago that he would continue to run the town the way he wanted to —“I’ll keep on doing whatever the hell I want to do!” he said.
So where has that gotten Pendergrass?
--A massive recall effort is under way to remove the mayor and council.
--A criminal investigation into the handling of city money is ongoing.
--A lawsuit over the city council holding secret, illegal meetings has been filed.
--Impending lawsuits against the town over wrongful dismissal appear to be coming soon.
--A town that is broke and having to mortgage its city hall building to just to raise operating cash.
Now the Pendergrass City Council has cut off public comments and questions at council meetings.
Why are Pendergrass officials hiding from the public?
ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING IN THE COURT ROOM WITH THE CITIZENS OF PENDERGRASS:::::THE RECALL HEARING WILL BE IN THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE ROOM 1 AT 9:30AM FRIDAY OCTOBER 16TH (NEXT FRIDAY)
Remember if you live in Jackson County you have a stake in this for Democracy starts at the local level. How this Pendergrass issue ends is how other citys and countys will follow suit. Although the credit card use may not be County citizen concern; the misuse of SPLOST funds are. County citizens pay ... SPLOST. Although there is not "legal" way to reprimand elected officials for misuse of SPLOST by not doing something about it YOU are saying it's okay to do whatever with YOUR tax money. DO SOMETHING!! CHANGE HOW DEMOCRACY HAS BECOME! SHOW THE CITIZENS OF PENDERGRASS YOU CARE WHAT HAPPENS IN GOVERNMENT!!!!! Is it right to let elected officials do "what ever the hell they want to do?" (quoted by the Mayor of Pendergrass) Is it right to stop PUBLIC COMMENT at city council meetings because the elected officials do not care what the citizens have to say. Since when should citizens be SILENCED?
THE MORE WHO SHOW WILL PROVE TO THE JUDGE AT THE HEARING THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
then don't complain when the public officials say and do whatever they want.
Don't think it's someone elses responsibility...it is yours.
Keep shining the light on Tolbert and his roaches.
Each municipality in Georgia has a charter that establishes its basic governmental structure, form of government, corporate boundaries, and municipal powers, approved by the Georgia General Assembly. Municipalities being creatures of the state legislature, their boundaries, their structure, and even their existence can be altered or abolished by the state.