My response to Ms. Halberts Claims against Fran Triplett: (sorry this is long) I would like to address some of the claims Ms. Halbert fired at Fran. I am privy to the information that Fran presented at the council meeting first hand because it was ME at the meeting at Fran’s house, not April. Let me tell you about how this meeting transpired and what her idea of a meeting was. I met her at a fish fry in Bartlett. I introduced myself as one of the “angry wives” the media had been talking about. She immediately hugged me and said, “I want to meet with you guys.” I asked, “Before or after we meet with the mayor.” She said she wanted to meet before. She proceeded to give me her cell number, which I passed on to Fran so she could set up the meeting because her schedule was a little hectic and mine was empty. The meeting was set and WE invited both fire and police representatives to make sure they were in the loop on everything we did as NOT to interfere with anything they had going. I want to make the perfectly clear. We are not rogue wives; we have either consulted or attempted to consult with the unions this whole time. SHE asked for the meeting and WE invited the Unions. Ms. Halbert was over an hour late and gave very little time to us. She was pumping us for what we knew. She did not show up with anything to write with (which seems small but it is not if you are seeking information or are looking to help). She had no intention of addressing our concerns. We were sure to provide her the questions written down. The discussion included the enterprise funds for public works (a committee which she is on). She had no idea what they were. We had to explain what they were and where the money came from (fees paid). Additionally, we asked her about the conflict of interest that could be present with Conrad being president of Cushman and Wakefield. She had no idea he was affiliated with the crosstown project. I asked her if she read the budget and she said it wasn’t her job. I have it in writing from her that it isn’t their job to point out discrepancies that could be fraud related. After having some choice words about the mayor she said she has to believe that the administration provided a budget in the best interest of the people. Seriously? After she had made it abundantly clear we shouldn’t trust the mayor. She not only had choice words for the mayor, she had choice words for her fellow councilman Shea Flinn. It was not a productive meeting for us, but she found out we weren’t after her in a recall. ‘Yes that briefly came up.” We would not reveal who the target was. (The recall is another dramatic story in itself). Fran and I sat on this as not to damage the vote Ms. Halbert gave us and to keep her relationship with the unions strong. We always considered the Unions in this, even if we didn’t agree with how they were handling it. Lawsuit- We had no idea a lawsuit had actually been filed. We knew one was on hold pending a vote but had no idea it was served. We were told it was served the morning of the vote and the administration did not inform the council. The Administration made the INJUNCTION moot. They failed to inform its own council of legal action taken in this matter. It made you look like fools too. If any councilmen knew, I would question their ethics and motives. Our GROUP (not just Fran) did NOT make this moot. We were left out of the loop on when the injunction request would be filed and for sure had NO impact on a judge’s ruling. Given Fran is a private citizen I would question defamation charges for her. She has a right to question her government, especially when she has information supporting her claim. There was not and malice involved, which is what is needed by public officials to sue for defamation. Besides that, Ms. Halbert has not discredited the claims. I will post my correspondence with Ms. Halbert in the comments. (Oh and no I am NOT a finance expert. I am the College Government instructor with a Masters in Law and Public Policy who HAS read the budget, the charter, and the Tennessee constitution.) I too, have every right to question an authority who is trying to sabotage my family’s future.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 15:33:55 +0000
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