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Show Friday. May THE HERALD. Provo. Utah, 17, 1985 The Herald, its readers, syndicated columnists and cartoonists discuss vital issues Opinions - Page 17 HW5 The Herald Comments fs Board School Nebo members may be cently violating the state's open meetings laws. For a district accused of being among the state's highest in incid- the ence of nepotism hiring of relatives continued violations could further shroud ac- tions of the board in mystery. The board has apparently violated both the letter 1985 by NE A and spirit of Utah's Open Meetings Act in the following areas: Inc "Now, what else can we do to help you and the people of our favorite COLONY. " Meets the Wolf I half-hour- ." er." The wolf did not reply. "Oh Grandmother, what big ears you have." "The better to hear all the merger rumors on the street," the wolf replied. "Oh, Grandmother, eyes you have." what big "The better to read everyone's latest financial report." "What big hands you've got." "The better to grab all your assets with, my dear." "Grandmother, what big teeth you have." "The better to eat you with!" And with that the wolf sprang out of his chair and made a lunge for Red Riding Hood, who easily si- destepped him and knocked him to the floor. "What are you stunned wolf asked. doing?" the frf liuchuald Red Riding Hood sat on the wolf's stomach and said, "I'm taking you over." "You can't take me over," the wolf cried. "I'm five times bigger than you are." "Size means nothing," Red Riding Hood said. "The only thing that counts is how much money I can raise to get con- trol." "Where could you find enough dough to buy a great big wolf?" "I'll make a leveraged buyout. I'll cut off your head and sell it to a museum, your coat to a furrier and your teeth to a key chain company. It's all here in the prospectus." "The SEC will never let it." you do "They haven't stopped anyone from swallowing anybody else up yet," Red Riding Hood retofted. "Wait," the wolf said. "Why can't we make this a friendly takeover? Give me a golden parachute and I'll never try to eat you Cascade at- Elementary School, which falls under the Alpine District's boundaries, I was appalled at both the outcome of the recent leeway vote, which was defeated, and the dismal turnout of voters living within the district. I have lived in a number of of young states where education people received a higher priority than it seems to enjoy here. One of the incredible ironies I have observed in Utah is that many parents profess to "value" their children's welfare, have lots of them, and are grateful to raise their families in the safe confines of this valley, yet neglect one of their most critical responsibilities, that being the education of their children. Whatever happened to the guiding principle. "The Glory of God is Intelligence?" ( Moving residences has always been one big hassle and one of the bigger hassles is getting new telephone service. The thought here is whether Mountain Bell, the company supposed to be providing the service, will be a bigger hindrance than a help. I called the other day to ask a service representative to help me in relocating my phone service from Orem to Provo. I should have stayed in Orem. The service representative proceeded to ask me a series of questions regarding my old my old phone number, my new address. That wasn't too bad. The lady then went off the phone which left me hanging for a minute or two while some e music tried to calm already nerves. ripped it wasn't long before the woman came back on and before she could ask another question, I decided to ask one of my own. A simple question of how much it would cost was enough to make me choke. The woman quoted a red-tap- price of $49. Pulling the eraser from the bottom of my throat I then asked why the phone company was charging $49 just to push a few buttons at its main office. She countered that the cost was been voting just before executive sessions to close the meeting to the public. Reasons for Executive Sessions: The Nebo School Board has failed to state on the agenda the specifics of why the public will be excluded the public's business in private casts a shadow of suspicion on actions of otherwise honorable sub- members of the community. Concerns over improper meetings and procedures have surfaced in recent board meetings, prompting the district to consult legal counsel. utes reflecting stance of discussion and activity in closed meetings are to be made available to the public within a reasonable period of time. from closed sessions. For example, "property Public Meetings: The board has met with a quorum of members present in acquisition and personnel matters" have been the reasons listed the past several months for closed sessions. Not all personnel or property closed. Minutes: The board has failed to keep minutes of its closed meetings. The law says min- pre-meetin- gs before regular board meetings, failing to post the agenda and properly notify and accommodate the public. acquisition matters are items too delicate for public discussion. People have The Nebo School Board is not being accused of any illegal activity, but continuing to conduct what may be the right to know enough about the reason a meeting is being By JACK ANDERSON And JOSEPH SPEAR A governWASHINGTON - ment engineer has been fired control once he got fat and concrete "Sorry, but it's too late," and with that Red Riding Hood cut open the wolf's stomach and out popped her grandmother, who had a grin on her face. The grandmother said. "It worked. I knew we could get cocky." Red Riding Hood said, "Where do you get that 'we' stuff. Grandma? I'm spinning you off to Standard Oil of New Jersev." Many who voted against the leeway will respond by decrying poor investment strategy on the part of the district. I'll give those people responsible for past mistakes the benefit of the doubt and trust them to do better next time. Are we not willing, as a people, to subordinate our righteous indignation and need for vindictive-nes- s to our desire to see that our children receive a first rate education? Now that the leeway has been defeated, perhaps those responsible can reflect on the consequences. Perhaps they will pause to consider the impact on the children. When you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other. In the event of another election, I hope Alpine District voters will reconsider their responsibilities. Brad Anderson 522 E. Paradise Dr. Orem based on some reworking of the phone lines and work on the phone frame, whatever that was. Sounded like more red tape to me. If that wasn't bad enough, the rep told me the address was not a "good address." I personally took that to mean my new place of residence was on the wrong side of the railroad tracks. She then said the only way I was going to get phone service was to check with neighbors and secure their phone number so that. Mountain Bell can find what cable to work on for installing my new number. 1 am one of those phone customers who has an unlisted number. I take my own and other people's privacy seriously. I told the lady it was none of my business to ask a neighbor what his phone number was. I don't care what policy Mountain Bell has when it comes to finding the right cable, I'm not about to walk up to a perfect stranger in an adjoining house and ask what his phone number is. Surely it's Mountain Bell's job right cable. Besides, with the efficiency of the phone system, the company should be able to find the phone number of a polar bear in Alaska, if it really wants to, let alone a to find the & Rod Collett Associate Sports Editor phone number opposite mine. When I'm going to be billed $49 for a service change, why should I do the legwork for the company? Isn't that what they are charging me for? I called Mountain Bell public relations in Salt Lake City for a reaction to my problem (rather disgust). Steve Linton, public relations representative, was very cordial. He explained that Mountain Bell often has difficulty with new addresses or homes. He said one major problem is caused by people giving inadequate addresses FHWA Whistleblower he persisted in a vain attempt to save the taxpayers billions of dollars. The engineer, Floyd Stanek, was fired last February, alter we disclosed his determined efforts to get the Federal Highway Administration to use Voters Should Be Ashamed tending schedule closed ses again." Feedback Editor, Herald: As a parent with children in open meetings to 377-920- 0 hope will make her The wolf thought to himself, "What a tasty morsel. I could eat Grandmother Pizza for breakfast and Red Riding Hood Inc. for lunch." The wolf then said, "Where are your Grandmother's offices?" And Red Riding Hood replied, "In the World Trade Center building." The wolf then said, "Would you like to have a hot pretzel from the stand over there?" "Why not? They are not expecting me at Grandmother's board meeting for a Whilst Red Riding Hood was eating her pretzel and drinking her soda, the wolf sped off to the World Trade Center. He dashed into Grandmother Pizza's office and ate poor Grandmother up. Then he pulled the curtains and sat in her leather chair. Red Riding Hood was ushered in by the secretary. "Good morning, Grandmoth- Instead, they have appointed and elected Board members should carefully examine advice of the district's lawyers and the intent and purpose of Utah's Sunshine Law. The board should then take quick action to correct past infractions so the interests of the public specifically, Nebo can District patrons be protected. Hassles With Telephone Company Once upon a time there was a sweet thing called Red Riding Hood, who owned Little Red Riding Hood Inc., a small company that made children's dresses. One day she was walking down Wall Street when she met great big wolf (Amalgamated Wolf). "Where are you going, Red Riding Hood?" the wolf asked. "To Grandmother Pizza's office w;h this new issue of stock which well." Voting to Close Meetings: Board members have consistently failed to give prior vote Riding Hood, Inc., sions. inno- because d federally funded roads. The technique requires far on less cement and steel than standard paving methods. His dismissal notice, which had the sickening flavor of a Soviet political trial, accused him of undermining "the confidence of the public in the integrity of the government." A report he wrote and sent to Congress "unfairly and injudiciously attacks the origins, legitimacy, integrity and worth of a program endorsed by the FHWA," Stanek's boss wrote. It's hard to deny that Stanek was injudicious perhaps even a bit rash. But if anyone was unfair, it was Stanek's superiors. They hired a cement industry association to study the paving technique Stanek had advocated. It was hardly a surprise that the ceiiijnt manufacturers recommended using substantially more cement than Stanek says is necessary. Internal agency documents obtained by our associates Corky Johnson and Indy Badhwar show that Stanke's bosses were determined to muffle the troublesome whistle blower. On Dec. 29, 1983. for example, Stanek received a memo from Richard E. Hay, director of highway operations research and development, threatening to charge him with absence without leave it he used government work time to criticize the agency. Among the lorbidden activities were "sell- - initiated media contacts and other discussions and meetings not specifically authorized by FHWA wherein you present your personal views on FHWA activities, policy and procedures." This was shortly after Stanek forthrightly informed his bosses that our office had contacted him. In a bizarre interpretation of the situation. Hay accused Stanek of trying to intimidate others. "Attempts to intimidate, involve or implicate your felow employees by sending them copies of documents of your record ... shall cease," the direc I think John Q. Public should not be afraid of going beyond the front line service represenatives to have problems solved. Like any company, Mountain Bell is providing a service and people deserve some answers. Next time I move, I'll get a w alkie talkie. Shown Door tor ordered. k Last June, Stanek drew a for governusing suspension ment time and property to prepare the report he sent to members of Congress. Last January, officials rifled Stanek's desk and confiscated his computer disks. "The disks were not, as you contend, stolen from the desk in your office," Stanek was informed by memo. "Rather, they were removed from the government desk in a legitimate and appropriate exercise of FHWA's management authority. The disks are in our possession." Highway officials say the notes two-wee- " NAME FOUR MANAGERS OF THE and not being specific enough with phone representatives. Linton did apologize for any inconvenience I might have had with the Provo office, and especially that I had been told to ask a perfect stranger for a phone number. Linton said one of the major goals of Mountain Bell is to insure customer privacy. As an addendum to this whole story, I got a call the same afternoon from Heber Allredge, supervisor at the Provo office of Mountain Bell. He said he was going to look into the matter personally. He did and found that either I had given a wrong address to the phone representative or she had copied down the address wrong. Whatever the case, he carried the ball and reported there should be no problem getting service to my new residence. But I'm still irritated that it took more than one phone call to several different offices. ) f bilu n - '1, 4MMfc 1 Jack Anderson on the seized disks show that Stanek was intruding in matters that were none of his business. This was reflected in his dismissal notice, which said: "That the FHWA or some other government agency may be concerned with such subject areas, as you have written, does not mean such areas are official duties of Dr. Floyd Stanek. Your official duties are those assigned to you or approved for you by your supervi- sor." Stanek was even accused of soliciting a gift or favor from a potential government contractor. Stanek readily acknowledged that, in a lettet to the inventor of the paving technique, he asked for advice on raising money to "expose doings that are not in the best interest of the nation's highway technology." Stanek added that he had already spent $1,000 of his own money on one report, in which he claimed he could save the government $300 million. He was not permitted to attend the Transportation Research Board s annual meeting, where he had planned to dislibute the report. |
