Disaster @ the CCC Meeting
Our elected
and appointed officials often do nutso stuff. The
unlawful meetings, secret meetings, those are something else
but for the most part, those officials don't do lasting
damage.
That changed this week and for the bad.
County Commission met on Nov 24th in the Courthouse. At the 10am start up time, all three Commissioners were present as were 20 or more in the peanut gallery. Before the dismal stuff,....
That changed this week and for the bad.
County Commission met on Nov 24th in the Courthouse. At the 10am start up time, all three Commissioners were present as were 20 or more in the peanut gallery. Before the dismal stuff,....
Director Bill Monterosso
There was a time
when WorkForce W Va actually did some good for the youth of
county. Most remembered was a Summer jobs program for Clay
High Students. That $500 earned during Summer break , that
made a world of difference for the poorest of the poor with
many of em returning to school with new clothes and footwear.
That was followed up with a year round jobs and training program for high schoolers. Those kids learned basic work skills, added hands on experience, and again, a small payday went a long way.
Somewhere along the way the contractor for WorkForce changed and everything went to H in a hand basket. No jobs nor skill training for the kids. Oh there was a bunch of paper shuffling but basically, Workforce sucked for dead air.
And then .. and then... A few months ago Bill Monteroso made a pitch before the County Commission. He spoke on a new and improved WorkForce start up which includes many of the old tried and true features. We've heard pipe dreams in the past and although a good idea, none expected much.
Then, a few weeks later, word came that WorkForce was interested in renting the old nutrition site in Two Run and the program would operate from that much more central location. Since then little has been said and as for the CCC fixing up the new digs.. never happened.
For this Nov 24th gathering, Bill was back and with some strong vim and vigor. From the Director's words:
Notice was given the owners of the old Valley Fork School building, Workforce would be leaving there. As for repairs at the nutrition site, Valley Fork would cover those costs and the agency would be relocated there on Jan 1st
WorkForce is partnering with the Pentagon to grow existing programs and will include work ethics, paid work experience, handling personal finances and a fitness component will be added.
Here's another interesting promise... According to Monteroso, WorkForce will be joining forces with trade labor groups and get kids involved at an early age. WorkForce will be contributing $800,000 to some kind of virtual platform experience and the trade groups will mentor on a one on one basis.
The reinvigorated non profit will begin working with the high schoolers followed by a middle school offering in short order.
Monterosso, "We will make a difference in Clay County."
That was followed up with a year round jobs and training program for high schoolers. Those kids learned basic work skills, added hands on experience, and again, a small payday went a long way.
Somewhere along the way the contractor for WorkForce changed and everything went to H in a hand basket. No jobs nor skill training for the kids. Oh there was a bunch of paper shuffling but basically, Workforce sucked for dead air.
And then .. and then... A few months ago Bill Monteroso made a pitch before the County Commission. He spoke on a new and improved WorkForce start up which includes many of the old tried and true features. We've heard pipe dreams in the past and although a good idea, none expected much.
Then, a few weeks later, word came that WorkForce was interested in renting the old nutrition site in Two Run and the program would operate from that much more central location. Since then little has been said and as for the CCC fixing up the new digs.. never happened.
For this Nov 24th gathering, Bill was back and with some strong vim and vigor. From the Director's words:
Notice was given the owners of the old Valley Fork School building, Workforce would be leaving there. As for repairs at the nutrition site, Valley Fork would cover those costs and the agency would be relocated there on Jan 1st
WorkForce is partnering with the Pentagon to grow existing programs and will include work ethics, paid work experience, handling personal finances and a fitness component will be added.
Here's another interesting promise... According to Monteroso, WorkForce will be joining forces with trade labor groups and get kids involved at an early age. WorkForce will be contributing $800,000 to some kind of virtual platform experience and the trade groups will mentor on a one on one basis.
The reinvigorated non profit will begin working with the high schoolers followed by a middle school offering in short order.
Monterosso, "We will make a difference in Clay County."
From the left, County Clerk Connie Workman, Commissioners David Schoolcraft, Fran King & Connie Kinder
Back in the
Summer the Clay County Commission applied for a $3,000,000.00
Federal grant for the Health Dept. The way we understand it,
five counties in W Va qualified for grants with Clayberry
getting free money to do about anything from building,
rebuilding, growing worms to a stop nose picking course. Get
it? The earmarked $$$$ can be used about most anyway they
wanted.
In the end, and with a very broad swath, someone decided (With the HEalth Dept's OK), the $$ would be used for expanding the current building and or, growing a much larger parking lot and or building some kind of drive thru, covered space, for use during drive thru testing and shots.
Hot diggity dog, free money!
Here comes the shirt show!
All three Commissioner were peed off on Nov 24th.
Turns out during the Health Department Board meeting on Nov 22nd, the full Board voted to turn down the free money. That's 100% stupid but to make matters worse, much worser, Health Dept Director Phillina Frame fired off a mass email notice of her Board's awkward decision but sent it off to the middle man funding agency, Regional Intergovernmental Council based in Charleston.
Here's a copy of that email:
The Clay County Board of Health held their quarterly meeting yesterday, November 22, 2021, evening. The Clay County Commission application to CDBG-CV listing the Clay County Health Department was discussed and voted on last night. The Board of Health voted to not accept the grant, if awarded, until the Board of Health has received a copy of the submitted grant application. The Board of Health is also requesting a sustainability plan from the County Commission before further action is taken. The Board of Health is supportive of any grant that can benefit the community but needs to ensure these monies will be utilized to benefit all while being sustainable since the health department's tax ID is being used and the funds will be reported on our GADFED (Grantee Audit Certification and Federal Expenditure Disclosure).
On behalf of the Clay County Board of Health: Phillena Frame, Administrator.
Read that again folks. The dimly lits on the Health Bd voted to toss $3M to the wind and then rub the funder's nose in mud.
Here in Clayberry we have a guy named Terry Martin with the Regional Intergovernmental Council (RIC) who handles all the grants for this county. Martin is our rep from RIC. Everything from wawa projects to sewer projects to broadband. Martin is the guy you want on your side. His job is to dot every t and cross every i. Federal grant applications are confusing at best and take lots of time to get completed.
After a Summer's worth of work by Team Martin, Health Dept dumbarsses told him to shove off.
In the end, and with a very broad swath, someone decided (With the HEalth Dept's OK), the $$ would be used for expanding the current building and or, growing a much larger parking lot and or building some kind of drive thru, covered space, for use during drive thru testing and shots.
Hot diggity dog, free money!
Here comes the shirt show!
All three Commissioner were peed off on Nov 24th.
Turns out during the Health Department Board meeting on Nov 22nd, the full Board voted to turn down the free money. That's 100% stupid but to make matters worse, much worser, Health Dept Director Phillina Frame fired off a mass email notice of her Board's awkward decision but sent it off to the middle man funding agency, Regional Intergovernmental Council based in Charleston.
Here's a copy of that email:
The Clay County Board of Health held their quarterly meeting yesterday, November 22, 2021, evening. The Clay County Commission application to CDBG-CV listing the Clay County Health Department was discussed and voted on last night. The Board of Health voted to not accept the grant, if awarded, until the Board of Health has received a copy of the submitted grant application. The Board of Health is also requesting a sustainability plan from the County Commission before further action is taken. The Board of Health is supportive of any grant that can benefit the community but needs to ensure these monies will be utilized to benefit all while being sustainable since the health department's tax ID is being used and the funds will be reported on our GADFED (Grantee Audit Certification and Federal Expenditure Disclosure).
On behalf of the Clay County Board of Health: Phillena Frame, Administrator.
Read that again folks. The dimly lits on the Health Bd voted to toss $3M to the wind and then rub the funder's nose in mud.
Here in Clayberry we have a guy named Terry Martin with the Regional Intergovernmental Council (RIC) who handles all the grants for this county. Martin is our rep from RIC. Everything from wawa projects to sewer projects to broadband. Martin is the guy you want on your side. His job is to dot every t and cross every i. Federal grant applications are confusing at best and take lots of time to get completed.
After a Summer's worth of work by Team Martin, Health Dept dumbarsses told him to shove off.
Returning PA Angela Brown (left), Health Dept Director Phillina Frame
Present for
the Nov 24th CCC meeting was none other than Director Frame
who had been told to be there. Questions came to Frame. In
each response, Frame said she would not respond and instead
told the CCC, if they want to say something, show up for a
Special meeting of the Health Bd to be held on Dec 3rd at 3pm.
We told you Commissioners was already peeturbed , those Frame response went over like a turd in a punch bowel.
Fran got her shorts in a wad in one tenth of a second. From Commissioner King, stuff like: this is a small county.... we're pissed that you sent an email to the Development Office before sending it to us ... we're not happy about that... you should have been brought that to use first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Commissioner David Schoolcraft was equally peed and repeated much of the Fran speech but added something along the lines of, you [Phillina] were on the same call with us and you agreed to the grant!... you denied us a chance to meet with your board before the grant deadline!!!!!!!!!!!! David demanded to know what was said during the Health Dept meeting / vote.
Commissioner Connie Kinder was not a happy camper either. Turns out, Kinder was not even included on that mass email notice. For this tail dragging moment, Ms Frame said she tried to get Kinder's email address from County Clerk Workman but only received a county commission email address.
Think everyone is peed? Not yet
Connie Workman offers few words during Commission meetings. As soon as Frame said she could NOT get Kinder's email address, Connie Workman ripped off her face mask and with eyes locked on Frame: I give out email addresses for each Commissioner every day!! .... If you had asked, you would have gotten it!!
Ahhhh... to make it clear, Workman was spitting fire with Director Frame caught with her tail tucked between her legs.
With each question, Frame wouldn't even admit they had turned down the grant, Frame told everyone, she would not answer any questions about anything.
Frame's responses came across aloof and arrogant.
Here's some background readers.
The County Commission owns the Health Dept building on Main Street. They also have helped with building repairs and maintenance. The CCC was the agency that requested the freebee $$$ because they are the building owner. The freebee money will be run thru the County Commission books and not that of the Health Dept.
Finally some words on the Health Board which acts as a hands-off oversight group that meets only four times a year. During those meetings it often appears like, Boardsters just show up ands twiddle their thumbs, OK everything, and then head home as quickly as possible. It feels like, they haven't a clue on what's actually going on within the Health Dept. As a matter of fact, many of their decision votes come long after the action has already been done.
Leadership is lacking on the Health Board. Their Chair rarely asks a question, has that deer in the headlight look and is often seen watching the clock on the wall.
So what really happened during the Health meeting vote? As best we can figure, Frame engineered the No vote based on her being peeed off at the Commission. As for that email fired off to the funders, that just showed Frame's lack of administrative depth, that she was way out over her skies.
Here's an example of little miss pithy pants, Ms Frame's, pitiful attitude. Back in the Spring, the CCC used COVID $$ to purchase a huge white drive thru carport style tarp to be used while doing COVID testing. The idea was to keep the workers out of the rain and snow. So arrogant at the notion of someone getting them something for free, the Health Dept refused to pick up the massive tarp and never used it.
If you're still reading, we're happy to provide the seriousness of Frame and her Board's actions.
Due to lack of administrative skill, Frame has jeopardized every grant request down the road.
First, she made Terry Martin look like he was doing stuff behind her back
Second, her email shows a complete lack of understanding on how Fed funds are delivered. Frame questioned how audit reports would go. How stupid. Since the CCC asked for the money and funds will go thru CCC accounts, the Health Dept doesn't have to handle one penny!
Third, When you tell funders to keep their stinking money, they won't forget it anytime soon. Why provide funds to such an ungrateful bunch of Clayonian idiots?
Now were guessing of course but... you live in the Nebo community and want potable wawa... Those that want those floaters cleaned out of the Log Factory and Elk River... tired of pee poor internet speed .... everything has changed.
Lesson One for any administrator. Don't pee off the funders!
Phillina Frame and the duped Health Dept Board have done just that plus embarrassed the entire County Clay.
Thank you
We told you Commissioners was already peeturbed , those Frame response went over like a turd in a punch bowel.
Fran got her shorts in a wad in one tenth of a second. From Commissioner King, stuff like: this is a small county.... we're pissed that you sent an email to the Development Office before sending it to us ... we're not happy about that... you should have been brought that to use first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Commissioner David Schoolcraft was equally peed and repeated much of the Fran speech but added something along the lines of, you [Phillina] were on the same call with us and you agreed to the grant!... you denied us a chance to meet with your board before the grant deadline!!!!!!!!!!!! David demanded to know what was said during the Health Dept meeting / vote.
Commissioner Connie Kinder was not a happy camper either. Turns out, Kinder was not even included on that mass email notice. For this tail dragging moment, Ms Frame said she tried to get Kinder's email address from County Clerk Workman but only received a county commission email address.
Think everyone is peed? Not yet
Connie Workman offers few words during Commission meetings. As soon as Frame said she could NOT get Kinder's email address, Connie Workman ripped off her face mask and with eyes locked on Frame: I give out email addresses for each Commissioner every day!! .... If you had asked, you would have gotten it!!
Ahhhh... to make it clear, Workman was spitting fire with Director Frame caught with her tail tucked between her legs.
With each question, Frame wouldn't even admit they had turned down the grant, Frame told everyone, she would not answer any questions about anything.
Frame's responses came across aloof and arrogant.
Here's some background readers.
The County Commission owns the Health Dept building on Main Street. They also have helped with building repairs and maintenance. The CCC was the agency that requested the freebee $$$ because they are the building owner. The freebee money will be run thru the County Commission books and not that of the Health Dept.
Finally some words on the Health Board which acts as a hands-off oversight group that meets only four times a year. During those meetings it often appears like, Boardsters just show up ands twiddle their thumbs, OK everything, and then head home as quickly as possible. It feels like, they haven't a clue on what's actually going on within the Health Dept. As a matter of fact, many of their decision votes come long after the action has already been done.
Leadership is lacking on the Health Board. Their Chair rarely asks a question, has that deer in the headlight look and is often seen watching the clock on the wall.
So what really happened during the Health meeting vote? As best we can figure, Frame engineered the No vote based on her being peeed off at the Commission. As for that email fired off to the funders, that just showed Frame's lack of administrative depth, that she was way out over her skies.
Here's an example of little miss pithy pants, Ms Frame's, pitiful attitude. Back in the Spring, the CCC used COVID $$ to purchase a huge white drive thru carport style tarp to be used while doing COVID testing. The idea was to keep the workers out of the rain and snow. So arrogant at the notion of someone getting them something for free, the Health Dept refused to pick up the massive tarp and never used it.
If you're still reading, we're happy to provide the seriousness of Frame and her Board's actions.
Due to lack of administrative skill, Frame has jeopardized every grant request down the road.
First, she made Terry Martin look like he was doing stuff behind her back
Second, her email shows a complete lack of understanding on how Fed funds are delivered. Frame questioned how audit reports would go. How stupid. Since the CCC asked for the money and funds will go thru CCC accounts, the Health Dept doesn't have to handle one penny!
Third, When you tell funders to keep their stinking money, they won't forget it anytime soon. Why provide funds to such an ungrateful bunch of Clayonian idiots?
Now were guessing of course but... you live in the Nebo community and want potable wawa... Those that want those floaters cleaned out of the Log Factory and Elk River... tired of pee poor internet speed .... everything has changed.
Lesson One for any administrator. Don't pee off the funders!
Phillina Frame and the duped Health Dept Board have done just that plus embarrassed the entire County Clay.
Thank you
AW
UPDATE Nov 29th 3pm
Behind the scenes, email are flying around. Hand holding the Health Board's hands are now in progress.
Here's one of those Terry Martin emails we acquired : It came as a surprise to me. I knew the Health Department was having some questions as to whether the County Commission would increase their budget to pay for the utilities, maintenance and other things to maintain the new facility. The County Commission had discussed this with the Health Administrator and also the Chairman of the Health Department and thought they came to an agreement. I think the whole thing stems around using their DUNS and Federal Identification Number in the application and whether it will cause ramifications in reporting the funds as their’s in a single source audit later down the road. I explained to the Health Department no funds were being directed to the Health Department, only the facility and improvements which the County Commission owns. This is the same as the current Health Department building. We shall see what happens on Friday December 3rd. The Health Department has called a special meeting with all the County Commissioners invited. They also invited me but I might not be able to attend. I am trying to move my schedule around....
Terry Martin appears to be trying to salvage the grant and keep the $3M coming our way. We hope it's not too late
Hopefully the County Commission, behind the scenes, will have worked out the bumps before the Dec 3rd special meeting and in public, all will hold hands and sing Kuum Ba Ya.
AW
Nov 30 Update
After the original grant application for the Health Dept building upgrade, funders came back with these questions seeking answers
The large center building is the N H Dyer Health building on Main Street. To the right is the old trailer park lot owned by Frank Murphy. Last year the Health Bd was talking about buying that lot and making it into a "pocket park" for kids. The lot across from the main building is an area used for parking and was once the site of a Solo Gas Station.
aw
Behind the scenes, email are flying around. Hand holding the Health Board's hands are now in progress.
Here's one of those Terry Martin emails we acquired : It came as a surprise to me. I knew the Health Department was having some questions as to whether the County Commission would increase their budget to pay for the utilities, maintenance and other things to maintain the new facility. The County Commission had discussed this with the Health Administrator and also the Chairman of the Health Department and thought they came to an agreement. I think the whole thing stems around using their DUNS and Federal Identification Number in the application and whether it will cause ramifications in reporting the funds as their’s in a single source audit later down the road. I explained to the Health Department no funds were being directed to the Health Department, only the facility and improvements which the County Commission owns. This is the same as the current Health Department building. We shall see what happens on Friday December 3rd. The Health Department has called a special meeting with all the County Commissioners invited. They also invited me but I might not be able to attend. I am trying to move my schedule around....
Terry Martin appears to be trying to salvage the grant and keep the $3M coming our way. We hope it's not too late
Hopefully the County Commission, behind the scenes, will have worked out the bumps before the Dec 3rd special meeting and in public, all will hold hands and sing Kuum Ba Ya.
AW
Nov 30 Update
After the original grant application for the Health Dept building upgrade, funders came back with these questions seeking answers
The large center building is the N H Dyer Health building on Main Street. To the right is the old trailer park lot owned by Frank Murphy. Last year the Health Bd was talking about buying that lot and making it into a "pocket park" for kids. The lot across from the main building is an area used for parking and was once the site of a Solo Gas Station.
aw