Well, I know that this is no longer news and I am not one bit surprised that I am the first one writting about it. It is all about Brian Bain stepping on his tongue and getting himself removed from the City Manager discussions and not about Paul Esslinger doing something wrong.
Funny, there are a couple of people out there that are all over Paul whenever he does something that they don't like but when their favorite screws up (BIG) they don't say a peep.
I do like Dick Wollangk. He has been open and helpful in both of my bids for office. His door was always open for me to pop in and ask a question. I don't know if he deserves to be fired for what is happening or whether he should be given the chance to get his department heads under control. Either way, the city will benefit from the effort. Mr. Bain has jeopordized this action. He has weakened the council by using his blog and/or the newspaper to voice an opinion of a matter that should be taking place behind closed doors. He has shown extreme bias in regards to the city manager. By doing so, he tainted the discussion to the point that prevents him from doing his duty as our representative. Without his vote, our council could remain deadlocked on any decision that could be reached. Without his vote, he isn't much of a representative is he?
But of course, it isn't Esslinger, McHugh, Palmeri or Monte so who cares right?
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42 comments:
Kent, I agree Brian messed up. This should have been occurring behind closed doors. Since you opened the door . . . if someone like Esslinger does nothing and says no to everything he will eventually be right. That is not much to hang a hat on. Have a nice night. Stay cool.
Bain should be censured for his immature act. If this clown screws up this perfect chance to get rid of Wallangk, the residents of Oshkosh will NEVER elect him again!!!
Brian’s mouth finally got him in REAL trouble.
Open letter to Council Member Bain:
Bryan,
I am saddened and frustrated to read about your situation. I support your position and agree we need significant change at City Hall. As a top vote getter, you represent many of the voters in Oshkosh. I personally would support the position to remove Mr. Wollangk from office. I also call into question Jackson Kinney and Warren Kraft. I think a major reorganization of City Hall administration would be a proper move at this time.
Some selective pruning promotes new growth. I think there are a few "old growth" limbs at City Hall that need to be trimmed back so the new sprouts can develop.
Keep fighting for this Bryan. Doing what’s right is never easy.
12:33AM, you're right. I see that Bryan's pals over at evileyeonoshkosh and oshkoshnews can't even come to his aid. Only the Oshkosh Northwestern is willing to look foolish and defend him!
The reality is that the council MAY be deadlocked and the City Manager and his staff could skate on this. Shame on Bryan Bain for putting the City of Oshkosh in jeapordy!
I would like to hear a further explanation as to why what he did will disqualify him from further votes. I also would like another opinion.
I too, am all for Free speech. But if Mr. Bain were as well reversed and mature as he would have us believe. He would have surely known that with any freedom comes responsibility! He had the responsibility to the taxpayers to know and exercise prudent judgement, when speaking on matters of employement. Mr. Bain is also a taxpayer supported employee, would he want his performance dicussed and shared with the general public by his employer, with due process?
Anyone that feels that Mr. Bain is some sort of hero in this latest endeavor of his to be HEARD, is mistaken and sorely misguided. Anyone in the USA that feels that it is fair and proper to be convicted before they have had their day to tell their side of the story, is a fool.
Mr. Bain was free to speak, he now needs to take responsibility for HIS actions, and not make this look as though HE is the victim. Unfortunately you can't always protect people from their own sense of self rightousness, and superiority...isn't that right Mr. Bain.
I keep reading on various boards of a possible council deadlock at 3-3. Well, that would not matter as I believe it takes 5 votes to terminate the city manager.
6:42, I am trying to understand your statement but what does "as well reversed" mean?
I see Attorney Cheryl Hentz has finally opined on the Bryan Bain situation. I’m surprised it took her this long to come to the aid of her pal. And much like the ONW, she doesn’t have a clue of what she speaks.
Attorney Hentz says that Mr. Wollangk is an employee at will. HE IS NOT!
Second, she says that other Council members have given their OPINION on Mr. Wollangk. Yes Attorney Hentz, others have given their OPINION on Mr. Wollangk, but they didn’t come out in the media and said he should be fired!
Contrary to the ONW’s belief, the Council IS a jury at this point, and one of the jurors (Bryan Bain) has already convicted Mr. Wollangk before his hearing. Would you like to go to a trial with one of the jurors in your trial saying you are guilty before the evidence is brought forward?
Mr. Bain is playing politics with Mr. Wollangk’s livelihood here. He has supported just about everything Mr. Wollangk and his staff has brought forward, but he says he has “problems” with Mr. Wollangk. Mr. Bain has given Mr. Wollangk a raise, yet he says he has “problems” with Mr. Wollangk. If Mr. Bain had problems with Mr. Wollangk, why would he vote to give him a raise?
I also read in the ONW that Mr. Bain had VOLUNTARILLY left the Council meetings. Ask him why he has done this. Don’t just assume that it was the rest of the Council or the Attorney that “forced” him out.
Mr. Bain also seems to be taking the “lead” on getting rid of Mr. Wollangk. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Mr. McHugh was the one who asked for the closed session, not Mr. Bain. And, others on the Council have had “problems” with Mr. Wollangk in the past; where was Mr. Bain then???
Attorney Hentz has poll regarding this. Because she’s pals with Mr. Bain, I wonder if the results will be padded in his favor??
I’m betting this Green Bay Attorney just “has it in” for Mr. Bain. Poor, poor Mr. Bain. He stuck his foot in his mouth, now he has to live with it. I just hope his foolishness doesn’t really get this city in a bind!
One last thing……..Attorney Hentz, where did you get your law degree?? Cracker Jack??
Thanks for pushing for this Bryan. Doing what’s right is never easy; often the most difficult paths chosen in life are filled with the largest obstacles.
It takes four (4) votes to get rid of Wollangk.
Good evening, anonymous 6:51...
Take all the shots you want at Attorney Hentz but I seem to recall her and Tony Palmeri being right about open meetings laws and city attorney Warren Kraft being wrong. I seem to recall another citizen being right about the no bid bathrooms and city attorney Warren Kraft being wrong. Just as his advice to the council was wrong on various items so could the attorney from Green Bay be wrong. Of course you're so angry and so prejudiced you can't see beyond the nose on your face.
When and where exactly did Bryan Bain say the city manager should be fired? He never once used those words. You've just lost all credibility for anythinn else you've said.
Mr. Monte,
I sent a comment yesterday about why you compared the situation Mr. Bain is in to the types of feedback that comes in regarding PE. I am dissapointed that it was not posted. I understand the bias on this blog. Mine was not an opposing view, but it did have a note of sarcasm to it. What I do not understand is why you have not allowed alternate views to be posted for the sake of discussion.
I hope you will address this with an explaination. I respectfully await your reply.
You are correct, I did reject the comment yesterday and if anyone wanted to see it, they can go to the other site to see it. I also saw where your comment was plastered on another site so I didn't see the point it putting it on mine too.
You are welcome to post here but be aware that I have the right to refuse a post for any reason or no reason at all. It is my prerogotive.
Happy Friday...
So baed on your last argument, Kent, you admit your blog will not be bias free. You can reject for whatever reason you want, and that kills your credibility. From now on, even if you post everything that people send, you have made a statement that indicates you WILL be biased. The perception now will be you cannot be an objective participant in city government.
I gave you a really good look when you ran for council, Kent. I chose not to vote for you. I am glad I made that choice as I think your true colors are shining through, and they would not be good had you been elected official in Oshkosh.
Plastered on another site? Now I'm confused. What site?
There's something fishy going on.
(If you do not wish to tell me on the blog, is there some way you can e-mail me about this "other" site?)
And yes, I respect your perogative not to post. Thanks for the reply.
Happy Friday indeed! And cooler weather too! :)
It's me again. Still workin' the burr out of my saddle.
Like I said- I don't have any sacred cows. Here's one of my posts from Riles2Go or is it Viles2Go. (That blog shows even greater, crazed bias. At least he allows alternate points of view.)
My post after reading a sickening amount of "hate Paul E. comments.":
"Definitely time to talk about something else.
or
Why not start a seperate spew section called "People who hate Paul" and let them vent-i-hate there."
Ok- enough blather out of me....
Have a good weekend.
McTwist
The comment I rejected contained a link. A link to a blog that I do not and will not support. It is fine if you have an opposing view, I like a good debate. I don't like hypocrites that claim to be a journalist yet carry such bias that the information being given cannot be trusted.
Am I bias? You bet. I can be, it is my opinion. Read the disclaimer at the top of the blog. It is MY opinion. I am entitled to that opinion and I enjoy being able to express that opinion.
To the person who is glad that they didn't vote for me... Me too. With the direction that the city is headed, I think I am much better off NOT being in office. I enjoy my life MUCH more sitting on the sidelines. Thanks.
And by the way... it was a Happy Friday. I didn't have to work and those days are always happy!
Kent-
I still don't know what "other site" had the same post plastered all over it. And it wasn't me.
My deleted post did not have a link in it. It did have a quote from the Northwestern. Or am I wrong? If I am, I am losing my mind.
I'm also not a journalist. I'm just an average joe with an opinion.
That's all.
Have a good weekend. Enjoy the cooler weather.
McTwist
We get it...Kent can be biased, no one else can be. Sounds about right for you. YOU'RE the height of hypocrisy.
Most every blog is biased.
Kent and the "Quesioning Everything" blog remind me of Bill O'Reily (Fox) and Keith Olberman (MSNBC). Both have really strong, and polar opposite opinions.
Kent is a PE advocate.
Questioning is a PE basher.
I think you are mistaken McTwist. I did not delete or refuse a comment like you mentioned. The only one that I did reject was one that referred people to an inaccurate article that was posted by Hentz. The same post that was seen on another similar blog earlier in the day. I also didn't allow a Northwestern article that was cut and pasted. You are welcome to put a link to a ONW article since I have permission for those... but please not from the other sites.
I don't want any connection to Hentz or her site. I think most would understand why.
Simple explaination to the bias argument...
I CAN be biased because I am a blog operator with an opinion.
People like Hentz cannot be biased because she claims to be a "journalist" and with that title, you cannot report accurately if you are biased.
As for the rest of the blogs... it is their opinion as well. Nothing hypocritical about that.
It's common knowlege that Hentz lies in her articles. Ask Paul Esslinger, he can confirm it.
That's a joke. Like anyone would believe anything that comes out of the mouth of a hypocrite like Paul Esslinger. Get real. Then get out on the street and hear the chatter among people. They'll happily share their story with you about what they believe is Esslinger's fall from grace.
Oh yeah, 4:59, you mean that time she made a mistake abotu a donation, and made it about herself too??? You obviously don't know what a lie is and Paul Esslinger is too think-skinned to be in politics.
Kent really ought to be careful about what he approves for display on his site. He may end up finding he needs a lawyer.
Should I be worried? Just because someone called Hentz a liar? What is the matter... get a little too close to the truth?
If you think that calling someone a liar is enough to sue over? Bring it on. I would think that most Judges and even some lawyers would get a good laugh over it.
Realistically, she didn't tell the truth and when questioned about it, refused to change it. Did it matter? Probably not. But that doesn't make it any less true.
As for the latest story, Dick Wollangk IS NOT AN "AT WILL" employee. He has a contract. There is a difference. The council cannot simply "fire" him. They have a process that must be followed and there are many out there that aren't willing to follow that course and want to run him out of town using any tactic possible.
Well, I hear that Mr. Bain isn't attending the meetings. Perhaps a support group can meet at the same time...
Kent I think there are many more people who know far more than you about what is and isn't an at-will employee. Better check it out. You also need to brush up on your libel laws. You're hardly as smart as you think you are. The last laugh might well be on you if you don't watch your step.
I just rejected a comment that took things a little too far in regards to a local cable access show. I don't necessarily disagree with the comment but cannot in good conscience publish it. There were inaccurate statements made regarding Tony Palmeri and his departure from the show along with reference to Mr Rylance that wasn't very nice. I don't have any issues with Mr Rylance with the exception of his view on politics. And that sure isn't enough reason to let anyone intentionally insult him on my blog.
To the poster that submitted the comment, if you would like to rephrase it and try again, please feel free. I would perhaps entertain a watered down version of that comment.
Thanks.
Mr. Monte, Just wondering why my comments supporting Mr. Wollangk can't be part of this conversation. I realize I did submit a rather long commentary, however I believe that with all of the comments that have been made against Mr. Wollangk, it would only be fair to level the playing field. Would appreciate your consideration!
I apologize for your comments not being posted. I do not know what comment you are referring to because I didn't see it. Could you please resubmit it and I will post it then.
Thank you for your patience. It appears that this may be an issue with Blogger because there was a question similar to this regarding comments being submitted that didn't get to me a couple of days ago.
Thank you very much Mr. Monte, I appreciate the opportunity to resubmit my comments. I think it is shameful the mob mentality that Mr. Bain has spurred and the local media and pundits have fanned against Mr. Wollagnk. Have there been mistakes YES, is there room for improvement YES. I would ask where is the same ire for Mayor Frank Tower from Mr. Bain? Mayor Frank has now fianlly admitted that HE WAS informed by the City Manager and his staff of the critical events of the 100 block, and HE chose not to communicate this information to his EQUAL PEERS on the city council. Mayor Tower seems to have forgotten that he is still only one of seven and that he has no more power nor rights than any other member of the elected council. Why then did he not share vital information. Why has Mr. Bain not publically critized Mayor Towers leadership? I mean if it is open season, than what is fair for one is certainly fair for all.
My heart goes out to Mr. Wollgank and his family, while there are those who chose to look at his failings, I would like to remind this community of his kindness, and true leadership during some dark days in Oshkosh. Does anyone remember the horrible storms and flooding that we experienced, down trees EVERYHWERE. It was Mr. Wollagank that rolled up his sleeves and was out in the street helping to saw up downed trees, to move furniture from stores that where flooded, who was at the shelters for those with no power. During the chemical spill he was the one that took charge and worked with neighbors and business, who worked with the environmental agencies and the council to clean up the mess.
This is a man that has been a lifelong resident, born raised, schooled, raised a family, buried family members, has served his community on various committes, and charities, and now his given his life's blood to help run this city during budget crisis'. Do you honestly believe that this person loves this community less than Mr. Bain? Please.
Mr. Bain, you have alot to learn about leadership, talk less, listen more. You have put this community in serious harms way both in a financial sense and respectablity you have aired our dirty laundry of ALL of the state to see and hear. There is and always has been a process for these personel issues, you should have excerised prudent judgement, and used that process to the benefit of the community.
You have allowed the community to become even further divided with hate and a mob mentality, this is nothing to be proud of. Your supports talk of your right to free speech....With this right comes great responsibility, and you have sat by and allowed others to obsolve you of that responsibility. If you were half the leader, you profess to be, you would stand up and apologize and accept your role in this most unfortunate mess.
To those that want Mr. Wollangk's head on a platter, I hope none of you are EVER subjected to this type of public commentary. Please save the argument that it comes with the job, what has been happening is far outside the bounds of human decentacy.
This council is all about the special interest groups each with a "pet" agendas.
Why else do homeowner/taxpayer questions and issues get shoved to the background. Examples:
Residential block parties 10 pm cut off...Water Fest 11 pm or later activities. OKAY
Same holds true for the neighborhood in the area around the Sports Complex.
The events there go on 7 days a week. Some well past 10pm with a page system turned up so you can actually hear the announcements at city hall. No Code Enforcement
Sawdust Daze issues brought to light by attendees and the neighborhood.
Neighborhood residents are all wrong...
there are no problems...
we can't possible move it...
it's only 3 or 4 days out of the year so move or deal with it.
Look at the 2% additional room tax
to possibly generate over $200,000
a year. Instead of going to help taxpayers pay for renovation of the Convention Centre it will go to "pet projects" determined worthy by the OCVB. What project is more deserving the Convention Centre or the Sports Complex?
Flash "special dollars" in front of any of these councilors and they will jump through hoops to make it happen and the resident taxpayers be Dammed.
You just have to love polls, you know the ones that the media, and those who are sure of their views being agreed with put out. there are a couple of polls being done right now by Eye on Oshkosh and The Oshkosh Northwestern about Bryan Bain and whether he should be allowed to participate in Council discussion with regard to the City Manager.
What is REALLY interesting is the very different results each is getting. The Oshkosh Northwestern poll takers are overwhelmingly against Mr. Bain participating, yet Eye on Oshkosh or better known BIAS on Oshkosh, poll takers all 7 of them are in favor of Mr. Bain's participation.
Just a funny look at human behavior and how others react to it
Anyone have an opinion on how that happens? Also find it interesting that the entire democratic party have been those that have been writing letters in support of poor Mr. Bain. GEEZ, you'd think they never had anyone that has held office before!
I need to point out the the last anonymous that although the polls that they are referring to have contridictory responses, they also ask the opposite questions.
One asks if he should be eliminated and the other asks if he should be allowed to participate.
Just to be fair, I added a poll to my site to see what kind of results I get.
Have fun.
Yeah, 2:53, you might want to look at little more closely at each of those polls. Each ask the same question, but do so differently, and as of my writing of this post both are overwhelmingly supportive of Bain -- the NW is at 79.6% and EoO is at 81%
My God........7:51AM, 2:06PM, and 2:53Pm you are RIGHT ON THE MARK with your comments. I wish I could express myself as well as you people have!!!!
Mr. Bain and his democrat pary cronies are a JOKE!
The democrats are just a bunch of tax-loving liberals that just want MORE MONEY, and Bain is right there to hand it out!
And you mention polls. What a JOKE! Cheryl Hentz's polls are about as reliable as her writings. Maybe that's why she calls them "stories." That's just what they are, stories.
"BIAS on Oshkosh, I love it!"
Anon 2:53 PM really needs to look more closely or learn to read numbers.
Your correct when you state:
"This is a man that has been a lifelong resident, born raised, schooled, raised a family, buried family members, has served his community on various committes, and charities, and now his given his life's blood to help run this city during budget crisis'. Do you honestly believe that this person loves this community less than Mr. Bain? Please."
You're correct. Dick might be a nice guy. But what this city needs now is a heavy handed General who can whip his troops into shape and battle the enemy. Our city is under attack from other neighbor citys and we're loosing. We need to change our battle plans and make Oshkosh not only win the battle, but also win the war.
BOTH polls support Bryan BIG TIME.
2:53 has got it all wrong!
Dear 12:18 pm, if you think we are under attack from our neighbors and losing, maybe you could share this insight with the OCDC board, Chamco board, the city council, and the tourism board that have not only supported, but embraced the NEW NORTH concept. Where we work with the entire valley to make sure we all get a fair share of the business...HA HA. With the idiots running the economic development branches, all we are getting is the royal shaft! So I pray your heavy handed General comes with an tommy gun cause she/he is going to need it.
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