Jordan Team looking for input today
Mayor-elect Lioneld Jordan and his Transition Team’s Communications Sub-Committee are looking for input on communication preferences and will be holding a drop-by open hearing Monday, December 29 (today).
“Our goal is to cast a broad net across the community to determine how to best communicate,” reads the invite which was sent to nearly 120 folks in different segments of Fayetteville’s community.
The event, which takes place in the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Board Room from 9am to noon, will be the first of several public hearings planned by the Communications Sub-Committee.
Anyone interested in sharing their two cents is encouraged to drop by and respond to the following four questions:
1. How do you define (characteristics/traits) of “open government”?
2. Which technology is your preferred means to share and get information?
3. In what format and how frequently would you like to see Mayor Jordan’s planned town hall meetings?
4. How would you expect to communicate with Mayor Jordan and how would you expect to hear back from him?
“We believe that these four questions will generate discussion that will help the sub-committee report a clear picture of community communications expectations to Mayor-elect Jordan,” said subcommittee chairman Walt Eilers Sunday evening.
If you’ve got an opinion on any of this, don’t miss the opportunity to let the transition team know.
Comments
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Total Bastard
December 29, 2008
Gawd… This whole thing is already tiresome.
This is a city of 75k people, not student council.
Lankford
December 29, 2008
I think there should be a city blog that informs me when Mayor Jordan takes his potty breaks. The people have a right to know.
Total Bastard
December 30, 2008
My problem is this minutae is completely redundant. Ok, I agree that the city could update its website more often, but there is TONS of information on there. Reformat the website, sure. I can see how it could be more user-friendly, but I never have a problem finding answers on there regarding planning, ordinances, etc.
But I don’t understand this whole “lack of communication” issue. Every city meeting is broadcast live and then re-run on Channel 16. Everytime there is a meeting, the agenda is available on the city website ahead of time. The meetings are open to the public. I mean what else do we need? I guess the question is, how much more information do these Jordan supporters need to oppose every development in the city? They seem to be doing a fine job of that already.
I find it ironic, although entirely predictable, that the same kinds of things Coody ran on Channel 16, although not “Town Hall” style meetings per se, were viewed as “propoganda”, yet Jordan is going to be on Channel 16 with even more frequency. I guess Coody was just doing it for the face time, and Jordan is doing it “for the people”.
I expect to be endlessly entertained as our GED mayor learns on the job. As the Coody-hate reactivity wears thin, people will start to realize we are just spinning our wheels with all this mastubatory “open government” posturing.
dduzie
December 31, 2008
The City website has more information than anyone (other than Jeff Erf) could digest in a lifetime. All of the info is there. I’ve always found the city officials and staff to be extremely helpful and courteous. Now we’re all supposed to subscribe to Facebook to stay informed and up to date. Plus, we’re hearing that we need a new website. At what cost?
Clearly we need a communication czar with a staff of 10 to keep everyone in the loop…whether or not they want to be in the loop in the first place! We’ll need a web designer, a photographer, a full-time webmaster. If people really cared all that much, they would already have been participating in City government by attending the public meetings in which citizen input was solicited in so many different forms that one would have to be brain dead to not have knowledge about them.
There are so many things that are shaping up to be most interesting.
First off we’re to have a mayor who was elected on his “great communicator” skills and yet he isn’t allowed to speak at any of the transition team meetings. Why is it when soon-to-be-ex-mayor Coody made the trip to the US mayor’s conference, he was wasting the tax-payer’s money, was irresponsible for leaving the town defenseless in his absense, and was only inflating his ego by doing anything other than maintaining perfect attendance by sitting on his duff in his office. Of course when Jordan makes the trip to the conference (he’s made the reservation) after he takes office, it will be “for the people”, I’m sure.
How long will it be before we’re going to see the new mayor asking the council to ammend the budget so that he can hire all of these “team players” so that we the people can stay abreast of all of our economic development progress?
polecat
December 31, 2008
So he’s already made the reservation to party with his soon to be mayor buds. I thought Fayetteville had more than enough talent right here at home to solve all our problems so what is Jordan planning on doing at these meetings? What about tightening the old belt. Couldn’t we save the tax payers money and not risk having him embarass us on a national scale by just keeping him here ” doing the people’s work”? We should cancel our dues to all these rediculous clubs and put that money toward employee COLAs.
dduzie
January 1, 2009
I think he’s going to back out of the January Mayor’s conference and go to the summer conference instead. The town will be so much better off financially by then due to the vision of the soon-to-be-announced economic development plan, that he’ll deserve the hard-earned vacation.
I’m really wishing Mayor Jordan all of the best for a successful administration. I’m certain that I will NOT be disappointed as I have no expectations whatsoever. Forward Ho
Total Bastard
January 3, 2009
Jordan created a new position, Chief of Staff. Talk about creating JOBS! He’s only been mayor for one day and he’s already created a JOB! HOORAY!
Jordan, being as incompetent and ill-informed as yours truly pointed out ad nauseum, cannot fulfil the duties of the office, so he has hired someone to effectively manage the city departments for him.
Wow, Lioneld, if you’d have just admitted that you weren’t able to perform the duties of the office of Mayor in the election, maybe some of the numbskulls who voted for you might have chosen to keep Coody.
Jordan is a doofus. He doesn’t have a clue.
We made a big mistake in this past election, and although I didn’t expect it all to become clear so incredibly early on, I’m going to pop some popcorn and at least enjoy the entertainment.
dan meehan
January 3, 2009
Not only did Mayor Blockhead create a job, he made the resume that of the Chief of his Transition Team, Don Marr, who was one of his campaign managers.
So the Transition Team gets to hype itself for the interim period, with its pointless boring meetings, and Mayor Blockhead gets to raise his right hand on January 2, and two hours later announce that he does not plan to govern the city
Many of us have been saying all along that Jordan doesn’t have a clue about running the city. Now he admits it, and expects the taxpayer to pay for it.
This is outrageous. A recall process should be initiated immediately.
Total Bastard
January 4, 2009
Seriously. I mean its like being hired coach of the football team with a hefty salary, and then immediately announcing that you will attend games, but you won’t actually be on the sidelines or calling any of the plays. You’ll attend practice, but will primarily handle mixing the gatorade.
What a JOKE!
I hope Jordan doesn’t attend the Mayors Conference. Coody was a leader on equal footing with the Mayors of Austin and Chapel Hill.
Jordan will be the hillbilly in the corner with a clipboard, taking notes and reporting back to Don Marr and the rest of the people who will be trying to run the city.
I really thought Fayetteville was smarter than to elect Jordan.
Gary
January 4, 2009
1’st on the agenda. Lets create jobs for ourselves.
George
January 5, 2009
What the hell is going on here? Every post on this thread is anti-Jordan. During the election process you couldn’t say Jordan got a bad haircut without his supporters coming out of the woodworks to defend him.
I completely agree with you guys. I think we screwed up as a city by letting Coody go. Maybe everyone got caught up in the idea of “change”. I don’t know. It sure seems like an awful lot of people bought into Jordan’s idealistic rhetoric without regard to actually results and progress. Try to look outside of your own home…there’s a big world out there.
out of the woodwork
January 5, 2009
We’re still here, George, still supporting Lioneld, still fully confident in his abilities and integrity and–GASP!–more than willing to give him more than one freakin’ day in office to improve things at City Hall for Christsake!
Lioneld is an honest, hardworking and intelligent human being. I am dog-tired of the insulting, denigrating depictiion of the cartoons in newspapers and Coody-ites who can’t fathom that being of good moral character has tremendous value to many. At least to 57% of the voters.
As for hiring local talent–HOORAY! As for Coody single-handedly running operations, what in the hell were Gary Dumas, Susan Thomas, Tim Conklin and all of the department heads doing the last eight years? Have you seen what Dumas has been Paid. For what, just to cover Dan’s ass? Not such an efficient job, what with the sewer plant, the hole and the “shining accomplishment” SouthPass ramming down the throat.
Go ahead–grumble, rale, pull out your remaining hair, put on your ashcloth and nail shirts, have your wine and cheese soirees and hide and watch Lioneld improve all aspects of city government.
Total Bastard
January 5, 2009
outofthewoodwork:
Apparently Jordan’s idea of improving city government doesn’t include him governing.
Its good to know the Lioneld and I at least agree on something.
He isn’t competent to fulfill the duties of the office of mayor.
polecat
January 5, 2009
Check out Marr’s job description. This isn’t what Dumas did. This looks more like chief hand holder and gatekeeper along with all the duties you would expect the mayor to do. It looks like Lioneld won’t even have to answer his own phone, Jesus!.
Summary
Responsible for ensuring the policy directives from the Mayor and Council are implemented. Advises and assists the Mayor on delivery of city services and coordinates on behalf of the Mayor, the implementation of services that involve several departments;
Works directly with Mayor and administrative staff on preparation of annual budget
Supervises and coordinates activities with other departments and divisions and provides staff assistance to the Mayor.
Advises Department and Division Directors on the development of future plans; assures implementation of programs developed and initiated by the Mayor
Works directly, and on behalf of the Mayor, with all levels of government, including Federal, State, Regional, County, City, and School Board
Advises the Mayor on unresolved issues that must be addressed
Conducts research studies and reviews projects on a wide variety of municipal projects;
Prepares and submits both in oral and written format, reports and recommendations
Assisting the Mayor in evaluating City plans, policies, and objectives by performing research, reviewing materials and assembling factual information;
Managing the Mayor’s calendar of appointments and compiling the necessary background information for each appointment.
Assisting in the preparation of remarks and speeches for use by the Mayor at events; preparing briefings for the Mayor on City issues;
Attending and participating in meetings and events as requested by the Mayor;
Coordinating outreach by the Mayor to neighborhoods, groups and organizations;
Representing the Mayor’s office at meetings, when required and appropriate;
Attends City Council meetings and agenda sessions;
Coordinates and advises on appointments and reappointments of citizen advisory board members to the City Counsel’s nominating committee;
Sets up meetings and conferences;
Responds to the Mayor’s incoming telephone calls and performs necessary follow-up; and resolves complaints and issues;
Communicates with City management on sensitive and/or confidential issues received by the Mayor’s office and works to resolve complaints as directed.
Ability to meet and deal effectively with departmental personnel, governing bodies, outside agencies, and the public.
Ability to organize, delegate and establish meaningful goals; establish effective working relationships with employees and the public.
Perform other relate duties as required or assigned.
View Full Job Description »
George
January 5, 2009
ootww – I sincerely hope you are right. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to pick up my ashcloth and nail shirt from the cleaners. There’s a Lioneld-bashing wine and cheese soiree happening downtown and I don’t wanna be late.
dan meehan
January 6, 2009
It needs to be said again, if not over and over.
Mayor Jordan walked into his Team meeting two hours after taking his oath of office, and announced that he wanted a chief of staff to handle the majority of his work, to be paid a salary equivalent to his own, or very nearly.
This was to do the job he himself had been elected to do.
The lack of public outcry, since this was revealed in Saturday morning’s Noerthwest Arkansas Times, probably comes more from shock than from public torpor on political issues, though being generally fatigued from listening to Lioneld Jordan’s annoying screech of a voice and watching his hatchet face flick from side to side can account for a great deal of genuine public pain.
I surely do not want to grapple much with what comes out of this man’s so-called brain, knowing he is nothing but a manipulative opportunist, who now wants his Campaign Manager to be the stand-in mayor, with us footing the bill.
I think the man is a walking insult to the intelligence of anyone who can read or think, and he ought to be curtailed.
He needs at least to be recalled from his current position, and fast.
Write your aldermen. Talk to everyone you know about this subject. I don’t personally care which Lioneld Supporters I annoy. Some of them are good friends of mine, and I am fully prepared to look any one of them in the eye and say I think Lioneld Jordan is a complete phony who recently discovered how little he had on the ball when it came to running a city.
There is also the possibility that his chief handler and stringpuller finally named his price and the title he wanted for the job of running the city.
I think it is time to make some noise. Otherwise, even those of us who did not vote for this imposter will get what we deserve.
Recall Lioneld.
We need to be over Jordan.
dan meehan
total recall
January 6, 2009
Holy Crap, you’re kidding, right Mr. Meehan? Get a grip, will you? Here’s a starting point: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/72768/
By all means, please broadcast your irrational hysteria around as far as possible. People need a warning of what kind of person they are near so they can safely distance themselves.
This would be humorous were it not so hateful and so far removed from reality.
Lioneld won the election handily and he will do well in office.
dan meehan
January 6, 2009
Oh,I forgot about how Mr Jordan’s supporters love to respond by calling his opponents mentally ill. Yep I’m a sicko. Shore am.
And I neglected to respect his decision to make his Campaign Manager the mayor in fact if not in name, and have us pay for it — one job for the price of two. That is a stroke of genius only the true believer can see.
I promise to work hard to see things your way. Everything will be fine then.
dan meehan
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