NEW PETITION SIGNING, Thursday, 9/23, at Tracy Park!

THE RECALL COMMITTEE HAS NOW BEGUN CIRCULATING PETITIONS AGAIN TO GET THE 1,148 NEEDED TO GO BACK TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. THEY ARE FINDING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS WANT HER REMOVED NOW MORE THAN EVER!

THE PETITION DRIVE IS GETTING BACK INTO ACTION AND IS AGAIN GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN SEVERAL AREAS.

WE RECIEVED AN E-MAIL FROM THE RECALL COMMITTEE TODAY INFORMING US THAT THEY WILL BE HOLDING ANOTHER PUBLIC SIGNING TOMORROW.

PLACE:               TRACY PARK

DATE:    THURSDAY, SEPT. 23

TIME:                5:00 to 7:00 PM

MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR "John Hancock" ON THE RECALL PETITION

COME TO THE PARK AND JOIN THE CROWD!

LET'S SEND CRAZY JANE PACKING!

Mayor Recall Successful! (in another Ohio town)

West Jefferson, Ohio, recalls its Mayor

West Jefferson, Ohio, had a lot of problems with their new Mayor. Citizens of West Jefferson circulated a recall petition which.. "among other things, accused [the Mayor] of misusing funds, usurping the council's authority and creating a hostile work environment." A recall committee was formed and the recall of the mayor was put on a special election ballot, (which cost the village about $10,000). On Tuesday, the mayor of West Jefferson was removed with 67% of the votes going against her, oops, we mean "him." (Click here to read the whole story.)

Since Frank Lewis and the Portsmouth Daily Times have such a hard time keeping up with all of the craziness in our town, we thought we would give them a hand. We took the article in the Columbus Dispatch, made a few changes, and voila, the Times will have a ready-made story to cover the recall of Jane Murray (probably in December). It surprising how little we had to change to get the story right! (Click on the picture below to see an enlarged version.)

cRa-Zy - +oWn just keeps getting crazier...

Our poor city has seen a lot of craziness since January. What we can present here at P-Town Underground really just scratches the surface of the madness at city hall. The three of us on this blog would have had to work full time to really do justice to the goings-on downtown.

The lead story in the latest Portsmouth Daily Times is just one example. ("Spat Over Server Continues.") If you haven't had a chance to read it, please take a moment to do so.  (Click here.)

Since June of this year, the Chief of Police has practically been begging the Mayor to sign a purchase order to install a badly needed upgrade of the department's computer system. The oddest thing about her refusal to sign the paper work is that there will be no cost to the people of Portsmouth. Most of the cost will be paid by a $66,000 grant that has already been approved for the city. The rest of the costs will be paid for with funds generated by money and property seized in drug arrests, which the courts set aside for police departments to use for law enforcement purposes.

Why is Mayor Murray literally endangering police officers and the public in general, in a seemingly silly "peeing contest" with the police chief and City Council?

1. The Mayor is a control freak. She is trying to use the computer issue to force Chief Horner to give her control of the "Furtherance of Justice" funds (the confiscated drug money) which by law can only be used for certain expenses and the Police Chief is responsible for the funds.

2. Mayor Murray does not like Chief Horner. Ever since she took office in January, Mayor Murray has doing everything in her power to sabotage the Police Chief (and to a lesser degree the Fire Chief).

For many months she was actively trying working to "recruit" officers in the police department to undermine Chief Horner. Murray contacted several officers at their homes, fishing to get negative information about the Chief and to gain support in order to remove him from his position. At least one of the officers took extensive notes of his conversation with her and prepared a full, written report which he submitted to Horner. It included suggestions by the Mayor that she would make it worth his while to support her in removing Horner.

Up to that point Horner had been as supportive of the mayor as possible despite disagreeing with her on many points. Since her attempts to recruit "snitches" within the police department have failed so badly, Murray has become increasingly frustrated. Clashes between Murray and Horner become more visible, and her unfounded accusations of corruption have made headlines. She apparently believes that there are police officers who could substantiate her charges, but since none have come forward she is now looking for ways to punish them.

3. Murray wants to eliminate the Police and Fire Chief positions and replace them both with a "Commissioner of Public Safety," similar to the structure of Lexington, Kentucky's city/county government.  Lexington's administration is organized under seven "Commissioners," all of whom report directly to the mayor. The Commissioner of Public Safety incorporates police, fire and emergency services. (For more information about Lexington's "commissioner-based" administrative structure, click here.)

Back in January, when Mayor Murray fired the Water Works Director, Sewage Director and Service Director, she told city council that her plan to combine the water, sewer, service, and engineering departments all under one person, Jeff Peck, would save the City over $325,000 per year. What was the title that Murray wanted City Council to give Mr. Peck? "Commissioner of Engineering and Public Service"...just like Lexington.

Murray would like to get rid of the Police Chief and Fire Chief, as well, and replace them with a person of her own choosing...probably another crony from Kentucky.

4. The Mayor's grudge against the Police Dept. continues to grow.

* Mayor Murray's Capital Improvement Plan submitted to City Council included NO funds for the Police and Fire Departments.  Murray's omission of these departments seemed to be her way of retaliating against the police and fire unions, and the chiefs for not supporting her operating budget. With no other way to get funds to pay for multi-year leases for fire trucks that the city had already committed to, the Police and Fire Chiefs were forced to go directly to City Council.

* Back in February Mayor Murray tried to use the Police Chief to take over the City Traffic Committee, by not allowing anyone to speak except for her designated representatives. (See "Mayor Picks ‘Official Presenter’: Police Chief Ordered To Deny Any Other Presentations," PDT, 2/24/10)

* In May, the Mayor and Jeff Peck concocted bar graphs supposedly showing an enormous increase in accidents resulting from the removal of traffic lights on Rt. 52 in the city. ("Traffic Records Show Increase in Accidents," PDT, 5/12/10). Chief Horner felt he was obligated to release accurate data, which actually showed a decrease in accidents, to the public to correct the misinformation/propaganda created by the mayor. (See "Chief Horner Challenges Mayor's Traffic Numbers," PDT, 5/18/10)

Because of these and many other embarrassing fiascoes related to the Police Department, Murray has grown more and more angry with Horner and the police. She has literally told several individuals, "I hate Chuck Horner" and that she will fire him if it's the last thing she does. So it's not surprising that she has refused to approve the new computer system.

In today's Portsmouth Times, she is quoted as saying:

“As I explained to you, the load of information and knowledge that I have had to learn in these months of all of these specifics that have gone forward, and I can tell you this — I will not accept any police department that intimidates people, and that has attempted to intimidate other employees, including me, I will not stand for it,” Murray said.

What citizens or employees have the Police Department intimidated? how did they intimidate Madam Mayor Murray herself? We suspect, just like her accusations of corruption, this is another charge that will never be substantiated.

Jane Murray: Still the Queen of Denial

Madam Mayor Jane Murray survives by the skin of her teeth...based on a technicality.

On Tuesday, the Mayor's lawyers managed to convince the Scioto County Board of Elections to circumvent the legitimate expressed will of the people and to deny the citizens of Portsmouth an opportunity to vote for or against a recall of Jane Murray.

On two seperate petition sheets, Murray's lawyers identified four signatures with improper dates. (In one case, a person inadvertantly wrote his or her birth date instead of the date of signing.) Instead of throwing out the four signatures, the Board threw out both sheets that the signatures were on. By contesting  four signatures out of almost 1200, Murray's attorneys were able to convince the Elections Board to throw out 38 legitimate signatures (2 full sheets)! This was just enough to postpone Murray's Judgment Day at the ballot box.

If such a decision had been made if JIM KALB or GREG BAUER or HOWARD BAUGHMAN, or even NICK BASHAM or JOHN HAAS were the subject of a recall, can you imagine the screams and howls of protest from the CAVE People???

A Citizen would be screeching about the "good ol buoys"! Jane's pack of fossilized supporters would be calling for the boycott of the Portsmouth Times, the lynching of Clay Johnson, the defenestration of the City Clerk, and the burning of the SOGP!!!!

Harald Daub would probably have a heart attack. Jim Wilson would need an extra oxygen tank. Austin Leedom would arise from his crypt before sundown. Bob and Teresa might even leave their Wheelersburg love shack and move back to Portsmouth!

According to the Portsmouth Times (click here to read) , these were the kinds of errors Murray's lawyers were looking for:

-names that were printed
-names with the first or last name printed with the other name in cursive
-names in which initials were used instead of the first name
-petitions in which signatures were dated after the petitions had been notarized

Notice that they weren't looking for!  Were they looking for forged signatures or fraudulant signatures. Were they looking for people who were tricked into signing? WERE THEY LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF CORRUPTION?

Of course not. Murray and the CAVE People knew all along that the recall committee did not do anything improper.As we have said before...they just finally have a recall they don't like.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, CITY OF PORTSMOUTH!

The mayor told the Portsmouth Times and WSAZ, she is confident that the people of Portsmouth support her and that she will not be recalled. If that is true, then why did she fight so hard against allowing the people to vote on the issue?

By challenging these few signatures, based on a minor technicality, Murray has only postponed her recall. The recall committee is said to be re-forming. Any minor errors that occured because the group was up against a deadline (they were trying to get the measure on the November ballot to avoid the expense of special election) will not be repeated! Now because of the Mayor's obstruction, the committee will have plenty of time to make sure they don't make ANY mistakes and to get many more signatures than are needed to ENSURE the measure is on the ballot.

Thanks to the mayor's efforts, the City will have to pay out $20,000 to $30,000 for a "special election" probably in December, which could have been avoided by allowing the people to vote in November. (Of course, the Mayor has already cost the City many times that amount, and she must be removed before she can do even more damage, so it will be worth it.)

Jane Murray is still the Queen of Denial.

As we said before, Mayor. Live by the recall. Die by recall.

Chief Horner to Mayor: "Put Up or Shut Up"

Click on link below for WSAZ.com's story about Mayor Murray's corruption comments. http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/99198264.html

From WSAZ.COM (9/1/10):

Show us the evidence. That’s what an angry police chief is demanding after Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray’s recent charges of city corruption. The mayor's comment -- made here on WSAZ.com -- sparked community uproar and more corruption claims.

Under fire since taking office from several sides and facing a November recall, Mayor Jane Murray's accusing response is still the talk of the town. “This is probably the most corrupt city and corrupt government I’ve ever seen,” Murray said.

Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner says he investigates criminal wrongdoing. The chief, who basically works at the pleasure of the mayor, says his boss needs to basically put up or shut up.

“It’s highly improper for anyone to make allegations of corruption unless they are reported,” Horner said. “It's the law to report a felony. If you want to know if this was real or rhetoric, ask the mayor.”

The mayor said her corruption claim is real, not rhetoric, but she's not ready to get specific -- yet.

"With my experiences in office, I know things, but it has to be given to the right authorities, and when I'm ready to do that, I'll do that," Murray said.

After the caustic comment by the mayor, City Councilman Richard Noel, who supports the mayor, talked at a council meeting about his own corruption probe. He said he would not go on camera until he had his evidence ready.  Noel did tell WSAZ.com he stands by his remarks to the newspaper, saying, "The things I know can't go to local law enforcement, or judges, or the solicitor -- it has to go to the Feds, and someone will go to the penitentiary."

"I challenge him to bring it forward, it only hurts the community to make wild or absurd statements about corruption if the evidence does not exist," Horner said.

Murray blames -- in part -- subversive, underground Internet blogging with fanning the flames of city corruption.

We agree with the Police Chief. If Madam Murray is aware of any real corruption, she is obligated  to turn it over to proper authorities. Not doing so is misfeasance. We also noticed in the video that Horner said, if she was not willing to relveal it to him, as the Police Chief (if she believes Horner is part of the so-called corruption), she is obligated to go around Horner, to State or Federal  authorities. There are other well-established channels she could take advantage of.


If she IS truly aware of corruption in Portrsmouth, and if she reported it as she is obliged to do, she would be a real hero to our town and even WE at P-Town Undergrouund would support her actions 100%.


So far, the only specific allegation of corruption we have seen from Murray was her accusation against Water Works Director Sam Sutherland:

Jane Murray, WSAZ.com ("Portsmouth's First Female Mayor Takes Office; Fires Workers," January 4, 2010):


That ridiculous claim blew up in her face and she was forced to re-hire him. Recently she made the following statement praising Mr. Sutherland.

"I found gross negligence and mismanagement and I promised to clean up this government," Murray said. (Murray) fired longtime Water Works Director Sam Sutherland and his assistant. Sutherland said he did nothing wrong, but Murray says he may be the subject of a reopened investigation into water department mismanagement. "The statute of limitation has not expired," she said. She also said she's consulting on union contracts with former (Water Works) employee Roy "Bubb" Payton who was convicted last year on felony charges involving city property. Murray said her probe shows Payton was the victim (of improper firing by Sam Sutherland).

Jane Murray, Ports. Daily Times ("Sutherland Decides To Stay," August 24, 2010):

“Sam had not submitted a letter of resignation so he and I had a chat and he has decided to stay,” Murray said. “I’m very glad that he has changed his mind. He is a dedicated public employee with a 20 plus year record of service to the people of Portsmouth.”

Of course, she has never shown the class to publicly apologize for her statements against him. The only other public allegation of corruption was a rambling, incoherent accusation by Sixth Ward Councilman Rich Noel (and a crony of Mayor Murray's) against former State Representative Bill Ogg, who apparently got a position that Noel felt that he was entitled to.

Richard Noel, Ports. Daily Times ("Noel Speaks of 'Corruption'," August 24, 2010):

Noel said. “I can also remember in 1980 I was appointed a City Council person, and I was removed the following day because I wasn’t with the right group. And my case went to the Ohio Supreme Court and I won six months after Bill Ogg had won a rigged special election, and he is in a lifetime job in the state of Ohio now. Not that I wanted a job in the state of Ohio. I did get one when they sold my job out at the mill. But that’s just life. And I don’t want to go on and on, but I can understand what the people here are talking about.”

The Latest From CrAzYY-Towne

Mayor Calls City 'Corrupt' (PDT, 8/19/10)

From today's Portsmouth Daily Times:

In her interview in the Portsmouth Daily Times today, Jane Murray tells us what she really thinks of herself.

"It's why I was elected. A lot of people said it. Finally after 30 years someone is willing to stand up to the good old boys network that controlled this city and ran it into the ground."

Jane Murray believes she is the savior. The chosen one.

Portsmouth's messiah.

She is the One the CAVE People have been looking for.

This Messiah complex, in her own mind and in the minds of her followers, will soon be her downfall. She had the political skill to gain victory in the primary and general elections, despite her arrogant personality. She had unsavory personal connections (with the CAVE People, Roy Payton, etc.) but these would not have necessarily have brought her down. Despite her years in government, Murray has very little knowledge of how to run a municipality, and seems to stumble from one disaster to another. But this lack of knowledge would not have crippled her, if she only had the ability to work with knowledgeable and experienced city officials and admit that there are things she does not know. (As a Portsmouth Times editorial, from Jan. 12 pleaded: "Off and running-We urge new mayor to slow down.")

Her real downfall is the fact that she believes she is better than everyone else. Her followers, the CAVE People, after so many years of scheming and conniving to "take power" in Portsmouth, also believe she is superior and they feed into her irrational, impetuous style of "governing by divine right." Her sense of entitlement, her insistence that "I stand by every decision I've made" despite the fiascoes she has created, and her arrogance all point a real personality disorder.

Everyone else is corrupt. She's the martyr. She knows what is best. She only listens to her worshippers. She's the Messiah.

Even now her followers are pecking away on topix.com and other cesspools of the internet telling her to "Go Jane Go" and fight "the good old buoys." These true believers will never quit until Jane Murray is dragged kicking and screaming from 720 Second Street in November 2010. River Vices, the gay atheist CAVE-propaganda website, is even comparing the recall of Murray to burning her at the stake like a 'witch.' (For the record, we have never called the Mayor a witch or anything that rhymes with witch.)

In honor of Jane Murray's messiah-complex, we present the prayer that all the CAVE people (maybe even the gay atheist) are praying lately:

THE PRAYER OF THE CAVE PEOPLE

Our Mayor, who art on Dorman,
          Madam, be thy name;

Thy queendom come; thy will be done,
           no matter what the Charter says.

Give us this day our daily meds.

And bless all of our recalls,
           but don't forgive those who recall against us.

Lead us not to P-Town Underground;
           but deliver us from the SOGP.

For thine is the queendom,
           and the power to be mayor for ever.
Awoman.

Jane Murray to be on Channel 3 at 6:00 ? (Wednesday Update)

We have been informed that the following quote by a certain civic leader of Portsmouth will be featured on tonight's news broadcast at 6:00PM on WSAZ-TV, Channel 3.


"Portsmouth Ohio is the meanest and most corrupt city anywhere and how dare they vilify me with a recall. I will not resign!"

UPDATED INFORMATION:

In case you didn't see it yesterday, Madame Mayor Jane Murray put on quite a show on WSAZ. She proved once again that she truly is the "Queen of Denial."

Here is the report from the WSAZ website:

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- "They’ve been gunning for me from the start."


That’s what defiant Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray says about the recall effort underway to possibly remove her from office. Murray has refused any comment on the recall -- until now. The mayor says she was elected last November to make changes in the troubled river city. She says she wouldn't change a thing she's done, except may slow it down some.


She blames the anti-Jane Murray sentiment on misinformation, city corruption and just plain meanness. But it looks like Portsmouth voters will decide on the mayor's future in office this November.


We asked Murray about the challenges she's faced since taking office. She said the citizens of Portsmouth don't know the truth, saying they've been fed politically slanted misinformation from the underground Internet -- even the mainstream media.


And she proudly stands 100 percent behind her tumultuous tenure as mayor. Murray says she stands by everything she’s done. She added that she's never seen more corruption and meanness in any place she’s been and she says she’s not used to that.


If and when the recall petitions are certified (possibly as early as Wednesday), Murray will have five days to resign. The mayor says she's not a quitter and will not resign.

There is just so much we could say about Murray's ridiculous and arrogant comments. If "she wouldn't change a thing she's done," does that mean she would still vote "NO" on the A-Plant Expansion project? Would she still hire an un-qualified, un-licensed, so-called engineer with no engineering degree, and offer him a salary not authorized by City Council? Would she still fire Sam Sutherland and Rick Duncan, only to offer both of them their jobs back two weeks later? Would she still demand that the police chief, police officers, and the Third Ward Councilman refer to her as "Madam Mayor" instead of Maam? Would she still re-install the traffic lights and then leave them covered with garbage bags for eight months, despite the ODOT study that said they were not needed?

But, no, she said it herself: She wouldn't change a thing.

What really strikes us is her statement that she is "not used" to the level of "meanness" she has been subjected to in Portsmouth! Really, Jane? Meanness?

* How mean was it to fire five people on January 4, your first day in office, people with bills to pay and families to provide for, without any notice or hearing? (Did you know she didn't even meet with the employees she fired? She sent her two "hit men" to do the dirty work?)

* How mean was it to go on WSAZ-TV and accuse Water Works Director Sam Sutherland, a man of excellent reputation and standing in his profession and his community, of criminal acts with no justification? "Murray says (Sutherland) may be the subject of a reopened investigation into water department mismanagement. 'The statute of limitation has not expired,' she said. (Murray) also said she's consulting on union contracts with former city employee Roy "Bubb" Payton who was convicted last year on felony charges involving city property. Murray said her probe shows Payton was the victim (of wrongful termination by Sutherland)." WSAZ-TV, 1/4/10.
* Finally, if the Mayor thinks it is MEAN for citizens of Portsmouth to exercize their constitutional right to recall a public official who they are not satisfied with, then what does that make Jane Murray? As we said in April of this year, Jane Murray got her political start in Portsmouth by starting a recall campaign against then- President of Council Howard Baughman. (Click here for story.)
 

Jane Murray: Queen of Denial, Queen of Mean.

The Prayer of the CAVE People

With the news of the apparent success of the recall petition drive, the CAVE People are beginning to worry that their savior, Jane ("Don't call me ma'am") Murray, may actually be recalled! In recent weeks, this prayer has been heard among them.

Our Mayor, who art on Dorman,
             Madam, be thy name;


Thy queendom come; thy will be done,
             no matter what the Charter says.


Give us this day our daily meds.

And bless all of our recalls,
            but don't forgive those who recall against us.


Lead us not to P-Town Underground;
            but deliver us from the SOGP.


For thine is the queendom,
             and the power to be mayor for ever.


Awoman.

PETITIONS FILED TODAY (Mon. Aug. 16)

Recall Effort Against JANE MURRAY Goes Forward!
(Finally. A recall that the CAVE People do not like!)

Over 1400 petitions were filed this morning to have the "recall of Mayor Jane Murray" placed on the ballot, at least 250 more than the required number. The recall committee, headed by former Police Chief Tom Bihl, which was formed just over three weeks ago, needed to at least 1148 valid signatures of registered voters for the recall to go forward.

Tom Bihl and his committee should be commended for this outstanding effort. Following the recall of former-mayor, Greg Bauer, and several city council members over the years, the citizens of Portsmouth changed the City Charter to make it more difficult to get a recall issue on the ballot. In the past it was only necessary to obtain a number of signatures equal to 10% of the number of voters in the previous general election.

Some felt that this threshold was too low, and the citizens voted to change the charter to require 25% instead of 10%. Of course, this is a much higher standard to meet, but it ensures that a city official be an obvious screw-up in order to get recalled. In Jane Murray's case, her crazy, arrogant, and destructive behavior made it relatively easy for the committee to get the increased number of needed signatures--in just three weeks!

NEXT STEPS

Bihl submitted the signatures to the City Clerk, who is required by the City Charter to check each name on the petitions to make sure that they are registered voters and that the signature matches the signatures on file at the County Board of Elections. Invalid signatures are not counted. If the number of valid signature exceeds 1148, the City Clerk will notify City Council which is required to pass an ordinance to request the Board of Elections put the recall of Mayor Jane Murray on the ballot. The timing of Council's request will determine if the issue is on the November ballot or if a special election will have to be held, probably after the first of the year.

If the City Clerk determines that number of valid signatures is insufficient (less than 1148), which seems unlikely at this point, the committee is allowed additional time (up to ten days) to get additional signatures.

If the signatures can be verified fairly soon, if there is a sufficient number, AND if council acts in a timely manner, the citizens of Portsmouth will be able to vote to end the reign of Queen Jane and return are City to normalcy and, hopefully, to progress.

THANKS TO ALL WHO CIRCULATED AND SIGNED PETITIONS AND, ESPECIALLY, TO TOM BIHL AND HIS COMMITTEE. YOUR WORK IS APPRECIATED MORE THAN WE CAN EXPRESS.

"Traffic Calming" on Dorman Drive (Updated 8/13/10)

Jane Murray has long been obsessed with controlling traffic going by her house.  Her anger about last Saturday's Motorcycle "Ride for Hospice" is just a recent example.

In the past she has:

complained about gas company, electric company and city trucks driving in the unpaved alley behind her house to repair utility lines.

tried to get the Kalb administration to install speed bumps, "no truck" signs, and other signs in front of her house. (She said that City drivers needed to be "retrained" not to drive on Dorman.)

tried to the get the Planning Commission to deny Dr. Driedger's office expansion.

One of the first things she did when she got into office was to have "do not enter" signs installed in her alley.

In a recent Portsmouth Daily Times story, she claimed that she actually directs traffic on Dorman at times:

“I have seen tractor-trailers starting to turn up Dorman (Drive) and then they look, and I wave them down Shawnee (Road), and they throw their hand up,” Murray said. “I’ve gone out and talked to some of them, and they said, ‘I don’t believe I got on this route. That’s where they told us to go to get to so and so, and they are going from Columbus to Ashland (Kentucky) or Huntington (West Virginia).”

Murray says she is working on a "Traffic Calming  Plan" for Dorman Drive, including a three-way stop at Grandview and Dorman and "other possible measures." Murray's Service Director has met with Vern Riffe School officials and he suggested that their school buses should no longer use that street. The Mayor is planning to send emails to Portsmouth City Schools when the "traffic calming plan" is finalized. Apparently the traffic calming measures are to include increased signage and speed bumps. Furthermore, we have heard that she has informed City Department Heads that she will no longer be referring traffic issues to the Traffic Committee. Instead she will make all traffic decisions herself.

The Crazy Train just keeps rolling. Hopefully it will stop in November.

UPDATE: Portsmouth DailyTimes

Today's Portsmouth Times report confirms "Traffic Calming" Story.

A statement by the City Service Director gives us an idea of what Mayor Jane's idea of a "traffic calming" really is:

Beaumont said if the city does put up a three-way stop intersection in [at Dorman and Grandview], it would eliminate a lot of bottleneck and slow up traffic. [How do you slow up traffic AND eliminate a lot of bottleneck?] "A school bus wouldn't necessarily want to be in that bog," Beaumont said.

It's clear that, as we said, Murray remains obsessed with traffic coming by her house. As Beaumont said:

"...if you are coming down Coles Boulevard and you want to get over to Grandview, that you go down to the four-way at 27th Street and hang a left on 27th, then hang a right on Grandview."

So now G.I. Jane is telling us how to drive in our own town with out consulting the traffic committee (in violation of the City Charter) or City Council. Did we elect a moyor or a dictator? No wonder the CAVE People love her.

CITY TO BE OUT OF EPA COMPLIANCE AGAIN SOON

Water Works Director, Sam Sutherland, a well-respected Class IV Licensed Water Treatment Operator, gave the City of Portsmouth his two-week's notice at last night's City Council meeting. He has accepted employment at another Ohio city which is in need of a Class IV operator.

It would be hard to over-state the negative effect the loss of Mr. Sutherland will have on the safe operation of the Portsmouth Water Works. Mr. Sutherland has worked for the City for over 20 years and holds many qualifications including certification and extenisve experience in the laboratory, which is crucial to keeping the City's water supply safe and in compliance with EPA standards. Mr. Sutherland is highly regarded by the Ohio EPA, and because of his knowledge and experience, and EPA regularly uses him to train water operators at state conferences and other events.

Mr Sutherland has improved the water system in the City and Scioto County by building new water lines and tanks and replacing old ones. He made many improvements to the aging filtration plant including an high technology filter that reduces contaminants that were recently regulated by the EPA. This "ion exchange filter" is one of first in the US and few people have Mr. Sutherland's knowledge of the new technology.

When Mr. Sutherland leaves, his Class IV license will go with him. So the most immediate effect that the City will experience is that once again we will be out of compliance with EPA operator certification requirements.

When Mr. Sutherland leaves his current position in two weeks to go to a job in another Ohio City, we  believe he will get a substantial pay increase, and probably have a much easier job. But rest assured that is not the reason that he is leaving.

As he told City Council last night, he loved his job and had hoped to complete his career in Portsmouth. He thanked all of the city council people and department heads and PREVIOUS mayors he has worked with and for. He thanked City Solicitor Mike Jones for his help in getting his job back after he was fired by Mayor Murray in January. He said the stress of working under the current administration has affected his health and his ability to do his job and he felt he had no choice but to accept the offer he received from elsewhere in Ohio, another city that also requires a Class IV license.

On January 4, 2010, Mayor Murray fired Mr. Sutherland, despite his experience and qualifications, and publicly accused him of "gross negligence and mismanagement" and threatened to have him investigated for "water department mismanagement" and for wrongfully terminating Roy Payton, Jr., a former water plant employee found guilty of theft of city property. Murray said "her probe shows that Payton was the victim."
(Click here for link to WSAZ story.)

Of course, Sutherland had done nothing wrong. Murray's accusations against him were all based on the word of a convicted criminal, Payton, who maintained an unsavory relationship with the Mayor. Payton promised  and got her a tainted union endorsement from a small group of AFSCME members who did not represent the local AFSCME members, even though she falsely and knowingly claimed it did. In return she agreed to "consult" with Payton on "union contracts" and, so we believe, eventually re-hire him. (Click here for Payton's story.)

No evidence ever existed against Sutherland (except for Payton's lies) and no action was ever taken against him. She only agreed to re-hire him in response to tremendous pressure from the enforcement division of the Ohio EPA to have a properly licensed individual in the position. But no apology ever came from Mayor Murray for her outrageous lies and accusations.

Sutherland beleived his job remained in jeopardy. Murray was looking for anything she could possibly use against him to justify her actions. Sutherland wisely decided take the other position and of course take his Class IV license with him.

So thanks to Insane Jane and her continuing reign of error, our City will soon be out of compliance with Ohio EPA regulations. Again.

We wish Mr. Sutherland the best of luck at his new position, and we regret that he will no longer be an needed asset to Portsmouth. Or as it has become under Calamity Jane...CRAZY-TOWN, USA.

News from CrAzY-t0wN City Hall

MAYOR MURRAY Upset By Saturday's MOTORCYCLE "RIDE FOR SOMC HOSPICE"

Almost 500 motorcycles took part in last Saturday's annual SOMC Ride for Hospice. According to SOMC's website:

The ride [sent] participants on a 90-mile police-escorted drive through Southern Ohio and Adams County with all proceeds benefiting patients of SOMC Hospice Services.

“Last year was the first time we had held this particular event, which was created in memory of motorcycling enthusiast Ricky Bryan,” Sheila Riggs, claims coordinator of Hospice Services, said. “Bryan began planning the ride before his death because he wanted to give back to our program...our contributions touched him so much.” Riggs said that the center decided to carry-on the tradition this year not only in memory of Bryan, but for all other bike riders and patients of SOMC Hospice Services.

“Our last bike ride was truly a success, but we’re hoping that through better weather, and an even better turn out, we can exceed the funds raised last year and continue to provide much needed support for our patients and their families.”

Apparently this year's ride was successful in every aspect except for one...JANE MURRAY DIDN'T LIKE IT. The route of the bikers took went past the Mayor's house on Dorman Drive, and the noise from 500 bikers was just too much for her. It doesn't matter that the event only happens once a year, or that it's for charity, or that it supports hospice. Murray was so upset that she informed the Police Chief that she wants to have final approval on the routes followed by all parades and events, such as motorcycle rides. According to today's Portsmouth Times, Murray "saw several dangers involved in the route taken" by the bikers, so now she will personally have to approve all future applications:

"They still apply in the Police Department. It's just that they are going to let me approve or deny just like the Police Department approves or denies. We just want to make sure that everybody is aware of it."

We should all feel safer now that the Our Glorious Madam Mayor has taken it upon Herself to oversee parade routes, because as Her Highness keeps telling us, those inept fools in the police department obviously don't know anything traffic safety.

MURRAY MEETS WITH CAVE PEOPLE LEADERS

Jane Murray has met with a recalled former councilman and a recently defeated councilman and their wives.

Bob Mollette, former Third Ward Councilman, was defeated in handily in November by Nick Basham. Shortly afterwards the Mollettes moved to Wheeleersburg, while still owning a home in Portsmouth. Apparently Teresa Mollette has learned that Wheelersburg residents don't give a rat's rear about what she thinks either, so now she is trying to weasel her way back into Portsmouth politics, by supporting the Mayor.

For this to happen two things would need to occur. Since the Mollette's voted in the May primary in Porter Township, they are no longer registered as Portsmouth voters, so the city charter would have to be changed to require a shorter residency for candidates. (Interestingly, First Ward Councilman, and Jane Murray supporter, Kevin Johnson is pushing to reduce it from 5 years to 1 year.)

Also, Nick Basham's impressive popularity in the Third Ward would have to be undermined. That's where the Daubs, who are supporting the recall attempt against Basham, come into the plan.

DON'T LITTER OR JANE WILL POINT HER FINGER AT YOU!

From yesterday's Portsmouth Daily Times:

Murray said she recently was behind a car on Richie Street in which someone threw a fast-food cup and a straw out onto the street..."It just made me furious. I just stopped, picked it up, and put it in my car to dispose of, and I pointed at them like--what a bad person!"

IS THAT HOW THEY DO THINGS IN LEXINGTON, JANE?

Those who believed that Jane Murray would bring an increased level of professionalism and sophistication to the Mayor's Office may be surprised to see the Mayor's dog, Annie, in her office every day. Annie even has her own doggie bed in the office. The mayor is often seen walking Annie around the building, so she can do her business in the grass outside City Hall. 

Meet Annie

All of us at P-Town Underground are dog lovers, but Murray's decision to keep a dog in her office brings up a lot of questions.

* Is it fair to expose an innocent creature to the mold and other contaminants that are known to be in our dilapidated City Building?

* Are other employees permitted to bring their pets to work also or is only the Mayor entitled to that privilege?

* Annie is known to growl at visitors to the Mayor's office from time to time. If Annie's bites someone, who will be liable: Jane Murray, the private citizen, or the citizens of Portsmouth?

* Does the Mayor carry a baggie with her or is she in violation of the City's "pooper scooper law" (City Ord. 505.20)?

Somehow we doubt the Mayor will answer these questions.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S PILING UP AT CITY HALL: UNION GRIEVANCES

Keith Nyland, the president of AFSCME, said the union is considering rescinding its decision to give up a 3% pay increase to help the City balance its budget. Union workers say that the Mayor ignores the union contract with respect to job bidding, seniority, and grievances. The union says they have learned that they can't trust the mayor to honor the Union contract. The mayor has multiple grievances that she refuses to process. (We can't help but wonder if there is a grievance from the janitor who has to clean up after the dog.) (SOURCE: Ports. Daily Times, 8/3/2010, "Local Union Considers Rescinding MOU Agreement.")

HAS ANOTHER CAVE PERSON GONE OFF THE DEEP END?

City Police are investigating a supposed "threatening" phone call made to a local newspaper, late last week. The caller, who is said to be one of the more active CAVE People, is supposed to have made death threats against a local reporter.

There is a long history of CAVE people going off the deep end when they immerse themselves in the internet propaganda and crazy conspiracy theories of this incestuous little group. Some past victims who have self-destructed due to CAVE Person craziness have been Shawnee State professors, a minister, a native american activist, and others. If the latest information is true, there is a new victim of CAVE propaganda.

P-TOWN UNDERGROUND HIDDEN CAMERAS

We are "Geraldo Rivera" kinds of guys. We like to dig up secret information and share it with our loyal readers. Our secret cameras are everywhere including MADAM MAYOR'S OFFICE and the SECRET HEADQUARTERS OF THE CAVE PEOPLE. If you would like to view secret videos of the Mayor meeting with some of her closest advisors, click on the link below:

http://www.xtranormal.com/profile/2972957/

(Actually we wish we could claim them, but we had nothing to do with these very clever videos. Thanks to whoever is really behind them. This city needs a laugh. If we hear of anymore we will let you know.)

NEW: Another Chance to Sign Petition

PLACE: Tracy Park (Across from Kroger Parking Lot)
DATE: Thursday, August 5, 2010
TIME: 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

The recall committee will be at Tracy Park again  tomorrow. The petition drive is going well, but they still need all of the signatures they can get. Please plan to attend and bring a friend who is a registered voter in Portsmouth. The committee is hoping to get sufficient signatures before August 16 in order to avoid the possibility of having to go to a special election.

PROGRESS REPORT

The recall committee currently has about 500 signatures toward the minimum number needed (1148). Since some of the signatures received on any petition may be invalid (not being a registered voter, etc.), the committee has a goal of 1300 just to make sure they have enough valid names.

In previous recalls, the City Charter only required that 10% of the voters in the previous elections needed to sign recall petitions. However, shortly after Mayor Greg Bauer's recall, the charter was changed to require the signatures of 25% of the voters. Under the rule, the committee would now have sufficient signatures but the new rule makes it harder to recall someone, so much more work is needed.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP

If you are concerned about the City and would like to circulate a petition, please contact Tom Bihl or email us P-Town Underground at ptownu@yahoo.com and we will pass along the contact information.

NEWS FROM THE TRACY PARK SIGNING

We received the following report from someone who attended the Tracy Park signing last night. The report is very encouraging, however there is still much to do in the next two weeks.

"It went very well, considering that the plans were kinda last minute. The weather was heavenly...just cool enough for all to be very comfortable. We had a steady flow of citizens who were sooo eager to sign the petitions. There were doctors and nurses and local businessmen and several city workers. There were people in suits and ties and coveralls and some came on motorized chairs. It was very heart-warming to hear how fed up folks are with the so-called "CAVE" People.

About 75 people signed up so about three petition sheets were filled up. This is not a whole lot when over 1100 are needed. But several volunteers eagerly took blank petitions with them, including a lady who has already got 50 signatures on her own. Also many people left phone numbers of relatives and friends who want to sign, and someone will follow up with them. (Also some creepy guy was driving around the Park taking pictures, trying to be smeaky about it. A "CAVE" Person. We just waved at him. He almost caused a wreck.)

There will be probably be at least two more public signings, which will be much more publicized. Since the Tracy Park signing was just spread by word of mouth, everyone was very pleased. They want to get done by the middle of August but they can take more time if they have to."

We will let our readers know about future progress. If you want to sign up or pass petitions, please email us at ptownu@yahoo.com and we will provide you with contact information. Thanks to all who came out yesterday and God bless you.

Tracy Park Petition Signing (CONFIRMED)

Petition Signing:
Tracy Park, 5-7 PM,
Thurs. Jul. 28.

UPDATE: Petition Signing Event is confirmed.

Since former Police Chief Tom Bihl took out recall petitions last Friday, the effort to recall Jane Murray has been making good progress.

(Click here to watch a news story by WSAZ Channel 3 News, or click here to read the Portsmouth Daily Times article.)

Hundreds of signatures have been gathered towards the 1100-plus that will be needed to get the recall issue on the ballot in November. Finally the citizens of Portsmouth will have their chance to get rid of Jane Murray.

However, more signatures and more petition circulators are needed.

We have learned that plans are being made to set up a petition signing at Tracy Park across from the Kroger parking lot, tomorrow (Thursday) from 5:00-7:00 PM.

Here is a chance for our readers to sign a petition or even take blank petition with you if you are a registered voter who would like to collect signatures from your friends and neighbors.

Please plan on going to help save our City and get rid of Calamity Jane.

__________________________________________________________

P-TOWN EXTRA

About this time last year, Portsmouth the CAVE People (including Robert Forrey, Harold Daub, and Teressa Mollette) were trying to sabotage  a project sponsored by a local community group. Many of them lined up at the microphone at City Council meetings to get their face time on camera to criticize the Portsmouth Kiwanis Tracy Park playground project and condemn Portsmouth City Council and the previous mayor for allowing it.

Teresa Mollette  (whose husband has since been kicked out of office, thank you God) called city officials "tools, fools and lapdogs." She went on the internet to say the Kiwanians were "uncaring and self-absorbed" and call Al Oliver "a political pawn of the Kiwanians."

Robert Forrey called the playground project "skullduggery" and, among many other accusations, said that the Kiwanians"concern for children" is just a marketing ploy.

"Kiwanis Playground: The Hole Truth. [Kiwanis has] rebranded itself as the fraternal order that cares, and cares above all about children. With caring for kids as their new mantra, Kiwanis struck marketing gold, and ever since, in a kind of endless summer, has been surfing on that marketing wave."

The picture below is how they portrayed the Kiwanians and their Tracy Park project on River Vices, one of their vile websites: A skunk on a bulldozer giving the "finger" to the City of Portsmouth.

So if you go to Tracy Park for the petition singing take a moment to enjoy the children playing on the beautiful Kiwanis playground and if you know a Kiwanian, shake his or her hand and thank them for making Portsmouth a better place to live.

And take a moment to watch and listen to this beautiful video of the project the CAVE People tried to stop. If Mayor Murray's idiot supporters had their way it would not exist.

SOMC: Mayor Murray's Latest Target

Well, our wonderful, intelligent, tactful, and progress-minded Mayor has done it once agin. She has made a true ass of herself. Jane Murray has more chips on her shoulder than a Snyder's delivery truck driver. It is well-known that she has had a vendetta against Southern Ohio Medical Center. She doesn't like all of the ambulances that come by at all hours of the night, waking her dog and whomever happens to be sleeping at her place. (This is a little like someone who buys a house next to an airport and complains about all the airplanes.) She doesn't like all of the delivery trucks to the medical center complex. Like her C.A.V.E. People supporters, she blames they hospital for basement flooding on Grandview Street.

One of her first actions as Mayor was to raise water and sewer rates for large customers, specifically targeted at customers the size of SOMC, doubling their water and sewer fees (as many other local businesses, such as OSCO, Pepsi, KSA) without advanced notice.

Her latest effort began last month, shortly after the drawn-out exit of Crazy-Town's fake Civil Engineer, Jeff Peck, who Murray claimed had found evidence of the hospital illegally dumping waste in City sewers. (Are we sure Peck is really gone? The City's website still lists Peck as Director of Engineering and Public Services. Click here or here. We're just sayin'.)

Mayor Murray wrote a letter to the hospital ordering them to provide a written plan as to how SOMC will "manage this problem" of city sewers being clogged with "latex gloves, paper towels, syringes, hospital gowns, EKG patches, etc." SOMC responded that they did not belieive that they were the cause of the problem. After all there are doctor's offices in the area wich are not affilated with SOMC as well as Hillview Retirement, who also use such materials. The hospital ended its letter by agreeing to meet with the mayor to discuss the matter and even to install equipment "to allow any debris to be collected and disposed of." The Mayor released her accusation to the Portsmouth Times, which resulted in an article entitled "Hospital-Related Waste Clogging City Sewers, Mayor Says." (PDT, 7/3/2010)

SOMC met with the Mayor on Tuesday, July 13. (PDT, July 17, 2010) How did the meeting go?  

"Not well," Murray said. "I'm very disappointed in the meeting that we had. I specifically requested that SOMC come with a plan to get the materials out of the system, It's unlawful for any of these wastes to enter our sewer system. Instead of coming with a system, they caid they were there to listen to our concerns."

Have you noticed a pattern with our mayor? It seems like no meeting with the mayor ever goes well...with councilmen, with City labor unions, with A-plant officials, with EPA officials, with New Boston officials, with OVRDC...the list goes on and on. No wonder the CAVE people love her.

The meeting truly was a travesty. This was not in the newspaper, but Murray actually pounded on Mr. Arnett's desk (reminiscent of her past meetings with the Police Union, when she demanded to be called Madame Mayor, and her meeting with Councilman Basham) and threatened to shut the hospital down. Murray told them if Arnett didn't do what she wanted, she would call the EPA on them. Arnett responded that they would work with the city but he believed the hospital was in compliance. He merely wanted evidence that the alleged materials going into the sewers were actually from SOMC rather than a non-SOMC doctor's office, Hillview Retirement Center, or another source.

Hurrican Jane was true to her threat to call EPA. ("Mayor Seeks Help From Ohio EPA," PDT, July 15).

Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray has thrown down the gauntlet in her dispute with Southern Ohio Medical Center over reports that debris from the hospital has been ending up in the city’s sewer system and in homes on Shawnee Road.

Murray requested that personnel from at least THREE (!) different Divisions of the Ohio EPA (Surface Water Hazardous Wastem, and Infectious Wastes) instpect SOMC "as soon as possible." Murray has had City Sewer personnel working overtime seven days per week random inspecting city sewers to try to catch the SOMC in the act, and has even order hazardous materials suits from sewer personnel. (This vendetta of hers is getting a bit expensive.)

Well the EPA inspection took place on Tuesday. What was the result? ("EPA says SOMC In Compliance," PDT, July 23).

Erin Strouse of the Ohio EPA said the Ohio EPA staff met Tuesday with Murray and city wastewater system officials before conducting an inspection at SOMC. Strouse said the Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management staff from Ohio EPA conducted an infectious waste inspection at the facility during the site visit and found SOMC in compliance with all applicable rules.

According to Randy Arnett, president and CEO at SOMC, on June 20, three inspectors from the EPA conducted an assessment of SOMC’s disposal practices and storm water drainage.
“Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray has alleged that SOMC is improperly disposing of waste, causing flooding to occur on Shawnee Road,” Arnett said. “We were appreciative of the visit by the inspectors. They were very complimentary of our practices and our staff.”

Arnett said two of the three inspectors were infectious and hazardous waste specialists. One specialized in surface water drainage. “They spoke with several of our staff members in various departments and were impressed by the knowledge and methods used consistently throughout the organization,” Arnett said. “They even said they would like to use SOMC as an example for other organizations.”

So once again Murray has made an ass out of herself (and the City of Portsmouth.)

Is this REALLY what we want from the leadser of our City? Is this REALLY what we voted for?

Do we really want her attacking the City's largest employer with 2200 paid workers? Maybe, since she thinks all things from Kentucky are better than Ohio, she would like to see SOMC's Kentucky competitor take over. Perhaps, just like her C.A.V.E. People followers who constantly criticize SOMC and call for boycotts, she would love to see the hospital close its doors for good.

Even if SOMC is ultimately found to be relasing unauthorized debris (after all, they have 2200 paid staff and 800 volunteer workers...it's not possible to monitor every janitor and every nurses every minute of the day), is this really how we want the Mayor to handle this situation?

Is this really how we attract new business to our area? But calling the EPA on our largest employer?

We say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! CRAZY JANE MUST GO!"

LET THE RECALL BEGIN!!!