Atomic City Talk

In this morning's Oak Ridger, former City Councilman (now private citizen) Leonard Abbatiello accuses the Oak Ridge Schools of "stonewalling" his requests for information.

It stems in part from his four pages of questions a couple of months ago, during the City's budget process. Those were answered in writing, and some had been verbally answered during Council's budget committee meeting in April. Now, he's demanding things like copies of "all communications" during a two-year period.

I'm absolutely supportive of open government, and I think questions should be answered. His have been. However, what protection do the citizens have against one person or group making requests that burn up a lot of staff time and resources (read: taxpayer dollars that could be better used otherwise) to fulfill?

Give the man something to do. If he doesn't find something to occupy his time he is going to be a thorn in everybody's side. I thought he was retiring to get a life. Evidentally, he was retiring to aggitate people with frivilous behavior instead of letting City Council and the School Board conduct business on important matters that need addressed

The article raises but does not answer a fundamental question. Mr Abbatiello has been informed of the procedure to get information from the schools. But has he followed that procedure?

I hope this is nearing the end of the contention between the schools and the city. I want to see some public displays of progress and a new cooperation based on mutual interests of these organizations.

I believe that there are plans underway already to begin building a better working relationship, based on more open communication between the full School Board and full Council -- not just the "finance committee" demanding answers to some arbitrary list of one member's questions.

Tom Beehan brings years of expertise in team-building, and I think that could get us off on the right foot. I hope.

I agree; the new city leadership has good intentions and experience. I just want to see the public signs of it happening. I want to see the building of the city-wide teams. I think it will set a new tone for conducting the business of the city for the future.

"I believe that there are plans underway already to begin building a better working relationship, based on more open communication between the full School Board and full Council"

I, for one am looking forward to it - unlike the united oppositional front shown when the entire SB remained seated (after having stood for Bradshaw and Dunlap) as the rest of the audience stood in appreciation for his civil service.

Yes, I agree. Being needlessly confrontational does not win many friends.

But it does make a statement and sometimes that is all that is necessary.

If I'm interpreting you correctly, you have also justified Mr Abbatiello's approach.

Two wrongs do not make a right but I can be petty with the best of them.