Dennis Leone: Many retirees in opposition to recent Board spending decisions

From Dennis Leone, Sept. 10, 2006

Tom would be a better one to respond to what people said in Canton. At that one, I spoke to 200 members of the Stark County RTA. The day before, I spoke to the Fayette County RTA in Washington Court House. I will tell you that at both locations, retirees wanted to know how they could express their support for what Lazares and I are trying to do. Many, many expressed their opposition to the recent decisions to hire a $315,000 headhunter and pay the personal legal fees of three STRS employees.

It is soooooo clear that my fellow board members have no idea how hard it is for retirees to accept this stuff when they are having trouble paying their bills.

What is also clear now is that a Board majority wants Damon to negotiate and implement vendor contracts even if the Board hasn't seen what's in them. Ramser wrote to me and said it would represent "bad faith negotiations" if the Board voted against a vendor contract that Damon lined up. I told her she was completely wrong and that Damon should make it clear to vendors that final Board action will be necessary.

STRS Board meeting this Thursday will be interesting, that's for sure.............

Dennis Leone

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From Kathie Bracy, September 10, 2006

Dennis --

Rumor has it that you got a standing ovation in Canton the other day, and that you also spoke to an RTA in Washington Courthouse. Way to go! More to the point, what vibes did you pick up that I might blog? What are they saying out there?

KBB

Does Conni think Damon is God??? Conni -- WAKE UP!!! KBB