It appeared to be a good excuse — or at least a plausible one: the Orange County Board of Supervisors needed a $326,000 remodeling project to cure fire code violations in the board’s lobby.
The expensive project came under fire last week because the board was poised to lay off 210 Social Services workers, at a savings of $30 million. More layoffs are expected in the Probation Department. Still, who could argue with a remodeling project to fix a fire hazard?
Well, the county employees’ union unearthed a letter from the Santa Ana Fire Department to the board suggesting that the fire hazard argument was a ruse. The letter says the county could cure the problem by simply leaving two doors unlocked.
Nick Berardino, general manager of the Orange County Employees’ Association, called the remodeling “absolute folly.”
John Moorlach, chairman of the board of supervisors, conceded the fire safety explanation doesn’t tell the whole story. Leaving the doors unlocked would fix the fire hazard, but destroy any degree of security provided by the lobby walls.
Moorlach has good reason for his security concerns, he received a death threat serious enough to report to police.
But Moorlach as well as board member Chris Norby are willing to take another look at the unfinished lobby project, in light of the budget woes.
While they are at it, Berardino suggested they look at the perks given to executive and administrative managers, such as the $765 a month transportation allowance.
Top managers also get as much as $4,500 a year in “optional benefits” to spend on job-related self-improvement. However, there is no way of tracking how the money is spent. Berardino mused the money was being used on gym and golf club memberships.
Berardino said that department heads and elected officials, besides their regular retirement plan, get an additional 6 percent to 8 percent of their biweekly salary put into a 401K plan.
“That is an obscene pension plan,” he said. “We’ve had them drive up in Corvettes, in BMWs, paid for with county money, to lay our people off.”
Moorlach and Norby said they are willing to put the perks on the table, but added that any savings would be mostly symbolic and not enough to rescue many jobs.
“If every penny was eliminated, it’s a drop in the bucket (compared to what’s needed),” Norby said.
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This posting may be glossing-over a very critical point: There appears to have been a very deliberate lie told to the public about the reason for the remodel.
Why isn’t the issue of the lie itself being presented as a possible criminal act?
OC VOTERS WHERE ARE YOU? WAKE UP AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
Eliminating their perks may not solve all the problems but it sure would help. Beside the excuse it would just be a symbolic gesture is bs, as leaders doing the right symbolic gestures is part of the job.
and this is why i will never pay taxes again
So you mean to tell me the Board of Supervisors led by John Moorlach got caught lying! Say it isnt so. Impeach now.
If the District Attorney is truly a representative of the people a Grand Jury will be convened on this lie and Mr. Moorlach and others will be held accountable for this fraud.
The question is, since Tony Rackauckas was placed in office with Mike Carona by the Lincoln club to protect the Republican interest will anything be doe?
The answer sadly is NO. Perhaps the Attorney General’s office can come in but dont expect much from that office either.
Maybe we should lay off a few OC Supervisors instead of Social Workers. In these tough times those suffering from the economy are going to need those social workers a lot more than supervisors… especially after decisions like that.
No wonder our county, our state and our country is in such dire straits. Sure the elimination of perks may just be a drop in the bucket but its a start. How many countless other politicians and executives have these types of perks and how many of them feel that these perks are to insignificant to make a difference. How about we have these executives pay there own way like the rest of us. I’m sure that economic decisions would be made a lot quicker and with more scrutiny and fairness.
It’s never just one lie, what else has the BOS been hiding. Let’s investigate why this board just couldn’t live without Tom Mauck.
It is absolutely amazing to me that politicians do not think that
‘doing the right thing” applies to them. In a time when people get laid off because of blatant overspending, the politicians revel in per diems they shouldn’t have, car allowances they do not need and God knows what else. They are a blight on the public’s trust and should all be impeached. I wonder if there are any honest politicians out there who is willing to suffer the same way they want the general public to suffer.
Nick how much money did you spend on the shirts, buttons and food for your lame attempt at a civil disruption? Have you saved 1 job yet?
I have, I cut my budget and saved hundreds of jobs. Stop complianing and ask your members to take a 3 percent cut like the managers union is doing. Stop show boating and actually do something. All readers dont believe anything this guy says! Nick Beradino and OCEA hasnt saved 1 job yet! but they continue to spend the members money! and now its on a budget analyst…too little too late.
Impeach Beradino!
Again, what our elected officials fail to understand is they are “Public Servants”, not lords of the manor. In taking public elected positions there should be NO perks or special allowances, you made the decision to serve the public and quite frankly elected City, County and State officials should receive no more pay than the average citizen they represent earns in a year. Our government officials have made themselves Lords and Barons whose actions are above reproach, in their minds…. Well, they thought wrong, I encourage all citizens of OC to vote out the incumbents and vote in folks who are not trying to become career politicians. Vote in the folks who genuinely care about the people they represent!
I agree with Concerened, think about it…in OC its just 5 supervisors, if we have 50+ counties in California and we are talking perks in ups of $5000-$8000, maybe more insome places…these alone would be $2 million in California, with the state in financial turmoil, $2 million in supervisor cuts or saving 30 social work jobs? In these hard times, I’d say keep the SW’s.
Bravo! Bravo! To whomever was able to find this letter from the SAFD! Thank you for bringing it forward. God bless you. In addition of this finding being an article limited to the OC Watchdog make it a front page article. Over 200 people are losing their jobs at the Social Services Agency on Monday (01/05/09). Make that letter viewable for all to see as a PDF. This is utterly ridiculous. Shame on you BOS! Shame on you for hiding the facts! It is time for a change OC taxpayers & voters! You are in control. You have a voice. You have the right to question & ask for verification. Do not forget you can attend the BOS meetings & comment on agenda items as part of your rights! Make 2009 a time for OC change!!
The source for the John Moorlach death threat claim - John Moorlach of course. Why not investigate whether or not there is any legitimacy to Moorlach’s self-serving bid for public sympathy? If the claim was true, wouldn’t someone have been prosecuted? Just asking, since just about everything Moorlach says turns out to be filled with half-truths and misleading innuendos.
Both the Register and Mr. Berardino keep getting this wrong. County administrative managers (of which I am one) do NOT receive a car allowance or 401k contributions. Those benefits are exclusively for executive managers. Mr. Berardino is also being disingenuous about the optional benefit plan - the money can’t be used for “gym and golf club memberships” and I’m sure he knows that. It has to be used for health care expenses, child care expenses, or professional reimbursements; and all requests for reimbursement have to be supported by receipts, cancelled checks, etc.
This is yet another example of how inept, deceitful, arrogant, and out-of-touch the O.C. Board of Supervisors are.
First of all, it is outrageous that they would lie about why they are remodeling their floor space, falsely claiming it was for fire safety.
Second, it is outrageous that they feel that they must seal themselves off from the public in the name of “security” — what they really don’t want is the unwashed masses that they’re supposed to be serving contaminating their sterile, unfeeling ivory tower.
Third, it is outrageous that they are wasting money — there are many other examples of wasted money on unnecessary perks and special Board pet projects — while laying off the hard-working people at the bottom who actually do the real work of the County. Instead of laying off the people at the bottom, they need to immediately halt all unnecessary projects like this one, give up their ridiculous perks, and start slashing away at the too-numerous and wasteful layers of management at the County.
Chop at the top!
Moorlach is the same person who referred to deputies as “thugs”….So, who do you think he had to call to protect him and his family from these death threats?
Moorlach stop wasting money with the silly studies, remodels, and arguments over CCW’s (which the board has no authority).
Keep the boards agreements with employees unions, stop laying off employees, oh and hire 500 more jail deputies as one of your studies suggested. The only way out of this mess is to raise every type of tax possible.
More government waste ? What a suprise ! This kind of crap is not only happening with local government, this is a huge problem in state and
federal government also. The sad thing is that 90% of the public has no idea how much is wasted on a dailly basis. Sadly, most don’t care. As long as this problem doesn’t directly effect them, they really don’t care.
This government overspending is effecting ALL of us. As a country, we
need to get back to integrity and start axing all of these incompetent and dishonest politicians. We need to axe these dishonest CEO’s and executives in the private sector also. I’m a middle aged blue collar worker who pays my taxes and does my best to do what is asked of me but I’m at the point now where I’m asking myself…why should I support a government that cares more about their own interest than
about the general public ? Our government, as a whole, needs to
understand that not all of the American public is going to sit idelly as
our government wastes what we have worked hard for. It’s time to
get back to the fundamenetal principles that this country was built on.
Thanks Nick for continuing to stand up to the bullies who call themselves are leaders and exposing the lies even when they publicly bully you. It is not only good for the members but every decent hardworking person in OC (government or private). We need more leaders like you in positions like theirs. To Moorlach and the rest, You cannot be a good leaders unless you lead by example are the BOS and CEO providing the leadership that OC wants to be known for or are we becoming another corrupt county of greed and deception. Talk is cheap actions speak louder than words. You want the people of this county to respect you than you all need to do the right thing and make the same sacrifices your asking of everyone else to. Don’t take your upcoming raises, Don’t accept your monthly perks and paid for 401’s than perhaps you wont need a remodel to protect yourselves from angry and discouraged taxpayers and work behind secured walls because you will have gained the respect that comes with true leadership.
Nick B. stop telling lies! Administrative Managers do not get car allowances or 401K plans. We already gave up a performance bonus (P4P) and will vote next week to give up 2% more. We are all about saving jobs. Besides spending your members dues on pointless grandstanding and hot dogs, how many jobs have you/OCEA saved? NONE! Why don’t you tell everyone how much you get paid? Rumor is it is over $150K, which is way more than an Admin Manager 3 makes.
As for the OBP, your members all get a bi-weekly health and welfare contribution sent to OCEA by the county to offset the costs of vision, dental, etc. How much does that add up to per member per year. How much of that does OCEA take off the top for administrative costs? My OBP pays for vison, dental, and my health care deductable. I don’t golf or belong to a gym. I support my family and pay my bills like everyone else.
How much does OCEA currently have in it’s political war chest? Last I heard it was over $1 million! How about spending some of that on your members? Stop attacking and start putting your money where your big mouth is!
Leadership? You only know how to bully, tell lies, mistate facts, and surround yourself with some of the worst county employees who have been investigated for wrongdoing more than once. Just look at your newest president for a really bad example!
somebody please step up and save the people…..is anybody out there listening…..one of you politicians…step up
I think Berardino is absolutely right. In fact when the optional benefit plan was put into effect, it was specically “dog eared” for things like Gym Memberships.
“Oh no, no, no!!!” squealed Prince Moorlach. “I didn’t say there wasn’t enough for me, I said there wasn’t enough for you.”
If the private sector is consolidating and publicly funded programs are shrinking to save money, so should the Board. We don’t need 5 BOS’s during this difficult time, leaving us top heavy on resource costs. If Mauk has the authority to start the process, it should be considered. Frankly, I’d started with laying one, it would save a group of jobs right there. I agree with other posters that we need more social workers right now not executives. My co-called BOS for my district doesn’t even return phone calls or emails over an entire year of requests, who needs that kind of representation.
Well, cutting the perks is a start. Do it.
As to the lying, we need a better breed of politicians - Ha! Like that will ever happen.
Ulitmately though, it comes down to the voters. We need to be better organized so that we don’t have to choose between what’s hand picked for us.
We need another party.
It seems not too long ago Mr. Moorlach spent quite a bit of money to remodel his office, when is it going to stop? Perhaps the voters of OC need to do some remodeling of their own and start electing new Sup’s. There is quite a bit of controversy with many of the Sup’s, i.e. Nguyen and the restaurant ratings, Moorlach spending money as long as it is for his personal gain and keeps him in the political limelight as the “Savior” and Norby thinking he can walk his dog on the right of way and not get cited for it. I have yet to see the Register print the list of stipends these leaders get for sitting on other boards acting as Directors such as OCTA and there are probably more. Let’s stop the frivolous spending at the taxpayers expense.
Why does the BOS have to be told about this? Impeach Moorlach.
“If every penny was eliminated, it’s a drop in the bucket (compared to what’s needed),” Norby said.”
And every snowflake claims it’s not responsible for the avalanche.
Every person you lay off can claim the same thing!!!
Cutting your benefits will be a nice start.
Did you know that the BOS gets 401K contributions from the tax payer, on top of their County retirement? They have an expense account, a county and a paid car or car allowance. What is wrong with mileage reimbursement like other large organizations and companies?
Their arrogance is only topped by their stupidity.
THESE TWO GUYS ARE CRIMINALS. HELLO MR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY - YOU ARE SO QUICK TO GO AFTER THE POLICE/ SHERIFF - HOW ABOUT THESE SUPERVISORS THAT YOU SERVED UNDER WHO APPROVED YOUR PERKS.
WE THE CITIZEN OF ORANGE COUNTY ARE SO FED UP WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE NEED TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO BRING THE FEDS IN TO CLEAN IT UP.
SOUTHGATE CITY AND MAYWOOD CITY DID IT.
Do away with the extra perks now! The Public Guardian is also on the local community college board (and has been for over 20 years) and gets good pay and retirement from that as well as the County - with his car allowance probably from both organizations.
The BOS lying? I’m shocked.
In addition to the car allowance, they also get to fill up their gas tanks at County pumps free of charge! Recall, recall, recall!
Here I am cutting back at every opportunity in my own business, traffic is down over 50% and nobody’s spending. But our Supervisors are spending hundreds of thousands on made up pretenses…are these guys from AIG? I say that elected office deserves no privileges, period. I remember when Supes were only half time and from what the Register reports, it sounds like the Supes spend half of their time politicking anyway. I say cut out ALL perks, and cut them back to halftime and cut their pay in half…a nice start for the Supes.
The letter is a simple fire code violation, with a simple solution, unlock the two doors on the 5th floor. Morelack conceded the memo does not give a complete explanation. Morlack and the board will never give a complete explanation, the explanation is a moving target. The board is driven to secure their political future, and not concerned about the general welfare of the simple folk who make 30k a year. People like social workers and office technicians. The workers don’t have the means to give to the board or the boards friends fund raisers. They are too busy trying to pay for their mortgage, rent, food and gas to go to work. This board will continue down their path of dominion at the cost of the hard working people. Change will come when it is time to vote.
Yes, “Fred,” and you know what kind of car Moorlach drives around? A giant whale of a Chevy Caprice SS…with his foot to the floor every where…no wonder he doesn’t care about our people who have to commute in from outside OC, he gets his gas free, AND he gets the $700+ a month for car allowance…so arrogant! Do away with their perks! Let the Supervisors charge mileage like all of us rank and file in the County…
without a drop you can not fill a bucket. get a clue Moorlach and Norby
How much longer will the dishonesty of Chairman Moorlach be tolerated?
To all you shor sighted managers worried about not getting your 5% this year: boo hoo. You all rag on Nick B because you know your OCMA is worthless. Every OCEA represented employee knows the worth of our union leaders. It’s a heck of a lot more than any county manager or BoS.
First of all, who cares about the fire code violations? They are some of the most ridiculous codes out there.
Second, the project is a waste. A disgusting waste in the current economic problems facing the county.
Third, they are saving 30 million by eliminating 210 jobs. That is close to $143,000 per social service worker. Crazy! What kind of positions are these to justify a public tax-payer funded salary & benefits?
Fourth, the cuts requested for some admins and execs are simply symbolic. All tax-payer funded employees make more than the private sector and should take a pay cut. That won’t happen, so the next contracts should not allow for raises.
moorlach and norby need to make amends by cutting funding for useless county agencies like the orange county human relations commisssion
The Board of Supervisors wants to eliminate social service workers so no one can commit them for insanity.
Moorlach makes a valid point about security. He is not the most popular guy in town these days. The remodel could have been downsized perhaps.
What I don’t get is what logic made Moorlach, and clearly the rest of the board, think nobody would figure out they weren’t telling the truth? Maybe Moorlach really wanted a drawbridge and a moat.
More pork and no pigs. Just the unalerted taxpayer!
The real question is:
Will Orange county go in the hopper on the bond and budget
in 2009?
Our political representatives are still thinking global, and one can see,
also, just where the state budget is going. Next-hopper! Just where
is Harry Truman?
This us just too much ,why we do not unite and vote this crazy and dishonest BOS out of office ,in Gods name leave Orange county ,take your stupidity somewhere also ,Impeachment is not enought JAILED THEN.
Dear Power Ranger Chris: You still don’t get it. It is not the fact that cutting the perks and the $326k remodel and all the other waste the BoS has would be any more than a drop in the bucket. Heck, each layoff, individually taken, is only a drop in the bucket. Perhaps you could quit sponging off the armories, or wherever it is you are sleeping these days, long enough to realize that all the county employees want is for the BoS, their lackeys and all the other highly paid managers from manager I on up to feel the same pain as the rest of the minions they are asking to take the hit.
Dear Big John: The best answer to securing your life is to do like the rest of us: lock your door and buy….uh, convince the Socialist Sheriff you need a CCW. Stop justifying needless expenditures at a time when even the densest person in the county (other than the managers, apparently) knows you should not. Then, come and talk TO the employees, not DOWN TO them (or their representative).
Shocking, Mr. Moorlach, the person who loves to create issues so that he can come to the rescue lied, I can’t believe it.
Cut the extras of the upper management so that employees won’t be laid off. Don’t the managers and BOS even care about their employees? They also need to step up and give up their 5%
Look who got caught with their hands in the cookie jar……………Shame on all five of those LEADERS of the county, less we forget number six, our forthcoming CEO! I too wonder why “Lying” and/or “Criminal activity” is not being addressed here.
So the “fire safety” portion of excuse was pure hogwash? I wouldn’t know this if it were not for The Register and OCEA! Our Board of Supervisors should be ashamed to show their faces. I’m embarrassed to be a resident of a County with this kind of “leadership.”
It is not the amount of the remodel it is the principal. Asking others to make sacrifices while spending foolishly . And while we are talking about waste what about that car allowance? Don’t all 5 BOS sit on the OCTA Board. I am sure they are eligible for some sort of discount. And while riding to and from work on public transportation they would actually be able to talk to those they allegedly serve as public officials.
If you’re going to comment here, at least get the facts straight. County executive managers and electeds who get a car instead of the monthly allowance do get gas from the County pumps but those who opt for the allowance buy their own gas, insurance and cars and DO NOT get free gas! I believe those that get a car are 10-99′d for the personal use portion of the car also so the car isn’t a tax free bennie at all. C’mon, just think, they don’t get the allowance AND free gas, the IRS monitors these benefits. BTW, there’s quite a number of County, city and school employees in the OC, including sworn officers, managers, attorneys and firefighters who serve on city councils (see the City of Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and SAUSD board members), water boards, Central Committees and school boards as well, FYI. Just go to a monthly Central Committee meeting (REP and DEM) and listen to the self introductions for what the day jobs are.
So all the fuzz about the fire safety and sudden post 9/11 trauma, comes down to a death threat received by Moorlach. Not funny at all. Next step for BoS is to approve a purchase of a military tank for Moorach’s safety on his way to and from work.
Clearly the Board was caught in a lie or a misrepresentation (the term used on Wall Street). But the real issue here is this Board has demonstrated the same character as those demons of Wall Street. I realize times are tough and layoffs are inevitable but you don’t layoff people while you are being pigish with your own perqs. Also “Public Safety” the truth is $765.00; the value of the car allowance is much grater than free gas…..you see the car allowance spikes their pensions. Under the Ventura decision car allowances are considered compensation earned and is calculated as part of income for the pension. Now I hope “public Safety” is not an executive manager under the public safety program because if so, he or she forgot to mention the fact that inaddition to their 3%@50 pension program, they are also getting an addtional 6% 401a, and the Ventura car allowance. You see this Board has been hiding so much from the public for so long the truth will be very damaging to them. So don’t worry it won’t be long before they start talking about employee pensions to redirect the argument (a tired but repeated trick of Moorlach), except this time they will have to explain their own pensions and all the taxpayer money they have been taking for trips etc.
I demand an independent oversight commission to look into all activities by OC board supervisors including supervisor Janet. I do not trust supervisor Moorlarch. I ask to eliminate the job of CEO. Local government does not need a CEO. This is not a private corporate. It is a waste of taxpayer money. Kick out the board of supervisors and elect a new board.
This Board and County executives must have gone to the same seminar that was attended by Wall Street Execs on how to justify huge expenditures and exec bennies when the rest of the county and county are losing their jobs, their homes and their entire way of life. Security? What about all the working families that work day in and day out in situations that put them at risk with little or no security measures taken on their behalf? Then there is the idea that giving up executive perks will not reduce the budget gap. Was that an excuse for not giving them up? Orange County is still looking for leadership. Unfortunately, the last place they will find it is on the fifth floor of the Hall of Administration even though it has been stripped down to the bare studs in the walls.
Well it seems John just got caught in a lie. To bad the DA won’t do anything about it, as they all seem to be in bed together. What a shameful place OC is at the moment.
BoS= Proven Lying Hypocrits, worthy of impeachment.
Berardino seems to be more honest and a better leader.
During an economic downturn more people will need help and protection so you cut social services and probation, while wasting county money suing the sheriffs (in a lawsuit your top two choice firms told you you can not win) and illegally changing their health benefits.
Stop victimizing your hard working servants, and turning OC into another LA you imbeciles!
Chop at the top makes sense, Chop at the bottom during this downturning time, does not., unless you care more about your rich cronies than the average OC family already being victimized by this economic downturn
Moorlach, Carona and Rackaukus all celebrated election night at Moorlach’s house.
John Moorlach and Chris Norby, both Compassionate Conservatives(except when it comes to them), unwilling to waste taxpayers hard earned legal tender, caught with their hands in the cookie jar. I was wondering what type of spin these two politicos would put on this issue. I say downsize the Board of Supervisors and eliminate 2 seats on the Board, and appropiate that money for public coffers.
Appears the simplest solution has been overlooked.. Has anyone thought about simply holding off on the remodel until our economy is on an upward trend? Any drop in the bucket that allows the County to continue operating in the black is a win for everyone!
The title of this article is “Did OC Supervisors really need $326,000 remodeling project?” The answer, NO!!!!!!!!!!!
SAFD only said “Lock the doors!”. Our BoS… REMODEL THE WHOE DAMN THING!
Truly embarassing…
With the state of the current economy, saving even a few jobs is a moral obligation of every manager and supervisor. However, they have demonstrated that they have very little respect for working men and women in this county.
Wake up Moorlach!!! Did you really think the people of Orange County, (you know, the taxpayers), would just look right over your little sprucing up of the ol’ 5th floor lobby? Of all times to propose the remodel. It just proves how clueless you really are. I can only hope to god that your little lincoln club doesn’t have enough pull to get you reelected.
Instead of defending yourself your only move is to try and trash someone else (ie the unions). Wake up! The taxpayers are on to you.
The Board of Sups doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons?
Well that sounds like business as usual. The citizens of OC need to WAKE UP and see what a bunch of bunglers their elected supervisors are. Then, and only then, will this nuttiness end. What an embarrassnment to have Moorlach representing my district.
BOS = King Moorlach and his Court Jesters.
AIG’s CEO gets paid $1 /yr…I’d like to see Moorlach match that!
Mr. Smith Too isn’t America great? You have the right to “freedom of speech” and I am glad to see you are exercising it, even if it is a bunch of bullcrap. You speak about the people that Nick surrounds himself with as the worst county employees around, does that include you? or are managers exempt from that label? OCEA’s President works hard and cares for more people than himself which is more than what can be said about management. Like us or not, we are here to be a thorn on your side to make sure you do the right thing and save jobs.
Be a good little manager and stop talking out of both sides of your mouth.
I learned something new today! Managers get an OBP that can be used for child care expenses (according to Jim). In the meantime, the lowest paid Receptionist at SSA has to pay more than half of what she earns to a daycare provider so that she can go to work. How is that fair?
I can’t believe management still feels that they are somehow being targeted for unfair benefits!
OCEA president beware…you can expect Moorlach to begin to attack everyone. The idea is to divert the attention from him. His retirement package 2.75%@55 plus an additional fully County paid 8% 401a plan which he voted to approve may be the highest in the State of California. So everyone watch out the spears from him and Mario will soon be thrown in every direction….these guys are being found out and they will get desperate!!!!!!!
$326,000. for a remodel? That must include expensive art and handmade furniture. One could buy a townhome, at todays prices, for that amount. This arrogance and stupidity needs to stop ASAP.
This BOS is never going to cut its own benefits. The most outrageous perk is the 401K contibution, on top of the generous County retirement.
WOOWWWWWW (Flava Flav wow!!):
“Top managers also get as much as $4,500 a year in “optional benefits” to spend on job-related self-improvement.
Berardino mused the money was being used on gym and golf club memberships.
Department heads and elected officials, besides their regular retirement plan, get an additional 6 percent to 8 percent of their biweekly salary put into a 401K plan.
“We’ve had them drive up in Corvettes, in BMWs, paid for with county money, to lay our people off.”
However, there is no way of tracking how the money is spent”
All this money being spent and the worst part of it all…IT CANT BE TRACKED!!! Now I understand why they’re getting death threats!!
I read everything said by Nick B. and support his (our) cause but one thing said here strikes me as odd… When speaking of the “optional benefits” the following was said:
“However, there is no way of tracking how the money is spent. Berardino mused the money was being used on gym and golf club memberships.”
You mean to tell me there is no possible way to track how $4,500 per manager can be tracked? Receipts are optional? This strikes me as peculiar. I don’t want to doubt a word from Nick B’s mouth but this leaves me wondering…
Bernadino, leading the blind to the slaughter! most of union stewards are the worst of the worst! Chop the Stewards I say! You know who you are and you know whats in your personel file…your not a manager because you slack off all day and wait for OCEA to save you…..guess what they cant!!
To you that are tired of the lies ,I hope you will do remember that Mr Moorlack caused the county bk ,because all his politics complains this county ended in the bk court ,I live in Seal Beach and I hear that king Mookie wants to create a “new” city there ,maybe he help us with a new lobby full of his lies and stupidity or maybe his brother the crazy Irvine pastor will pray for his safety and he would not need a new lobby or maybe he stop picking on us the safety officers of this county ,or maybe he gets investigated by someone like you that hate lies and we can get him out of office ,
The Board of Supervisors has relied on a complacent public long enough. Their professed reason for needing this remodel would have gone unnoticed had it not been for OCEA’s continual questioning of their spending practices. County leaders deserve to be compensated fairly and maybe even have a new Aeron chair once in a while but when jobs are on the line it is time to prioritize…Its called leadership.
those are the REAL CRIMANALS
Vote out John Moorlach if you do not want him to vote a
raise, a perk for himself.
Mr. Moorlach will find all the excuses, reasons to make
OC residents to pay tax for his taste !
OCManager - outright lies!
You and the rest of the manager’s union group (OCMA and those included by job title) have NOT taken a pay cut, nor have you moved at all at the bargaining table. All you are worried about is keeping your 3% raise that’s in your contract that is to begin in a few weeks, along with the extra 2-3% COL raise in June so you can pad your numbers before retirement.
And BTW, Nick Beradino paid for all of the buttons, shirts, etc out of his own pocket. He will be more than happy to show you the receipts. All you have to do is ask.
The BOS and the OCMA have been caught once again with their necks out. Let’s see who gets the axe - CHOP AT THE TOP!
Whos says we need 5 Board of Supervisors.We can go with 3.
Moorlach needs to go.
We need to urgently pass a county-wide measure that controls the pay and perks for all the higher ups working in the County of Orange Government, from the CEO thru the BOS and down to the Adminstrative mangers.
If they don’t think they get paid too much, unlike what the taxpayers believe we need to immediate start a signature drive that controls their compensation and rids them of perks.
There is a special election in early 2009 so lets do it.
I would say given the current economic conditions and all these stories in the OC REgister regarding the pay and perks of these so called public servants, the OC voters would wait in a hour line just to sign a petition to put this measure to the voters.
Let’s do it … All these Water district execs, county execs, BOS need to cut it out the fat and since they are not willing to cut their pay and their fellow cronies, we need to do it.
If they don’t like it, too bad. They all can try their hand in the private sector or file for unemployment.
It is clear that the Board of Supervisors is only interested in promoting their own agendas - the furtherance of their own political careers. It is unfortunate that they continue to waste taxpayer money on remodels and perks all the while asking county employees to do more with less - that is until Moorlach and his board manage to privatize all county services. If only the BOS spent as much time doing the work that they were elected to do as they do villifying county employees….imagine what could be accompished. Chop at the top - why not start with the BOS?
If no one has anything to hide Why, I say WHY don’t they hand over the results on the fire code infraction documents OCEA has been long been waiting for. Give some validation on why you are spending almost half a million dollars of money county people need and that are loosing there jobs.
Probation is next (let work together chop at the top)
C’mon Mr. Mauk–you take a pay cut, too! Or a 2 week furlough with no pay–no car allowance, no “CLASSES”, or free memberships.
Keep track of all of the money spent like I have to.
You want my respect? THEN DO SOMETHING besides laying people off.
See you at Taco Bell for the $2.00 lunch again-yeah right!