Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for June 17, 2006 HMMM..."NORTH CAIRO"?

Folks are always telling me..."It's not just Cairo...it's everywhere."

Well...I still don't buy it. Yes, weird things happen elsewhere...maybe everything that happens in Cairo happens elsewhere. BUT...Cairo gets it ALL, whereas each of those "elsewheres" only get one of those weird things!

This time, it's West Frankfort's turn...with a mini Mayor-Councilman feud.

From the WSIL Channel 3 website...

You Paid For It: West Frankfort Council Member a No Show at Meetings

By Lindsey Mastis

WEST FRANKFORT, IL-- Doug Moore, West Frankfort city council, has attended only two meetings so far this year.

News 3 reviewed his attendance record since 2004, and learned that he has missed 26 meetings in all. That's nearly half of all meetings. Now some citizens are calling for his resignation.

Moore is in charge of taking care of the finances for the city. Mayor Larry Warren said Moore's job is extremely important.

"Tax payers are very unhappy and the movement is growing because I get calls or people in here every day about this," Mayor Warren said.

Moore said he is in Pass Christian, Mississippi, helping rebuild after hurricane Katrina. He is being paid for the work. But before the hurricane, Moore missed nearly half of all meetings. He said at that time he was working in Alabama as a coal miner.

But Moore said it's the mayor who has kept him from doing his job on the council.

"He took over my job before that, when I was home," Moore said. "That’s why I come (sic) down here, I figured I had a chance, he was doing my job, he wasn’t keeping me informed, so I come (sic) down here, I have a chance to make some money."

As a member of the council, Moore gets paid $600 a month, and receives another $559 a month in the form of health insurance. All paid for by taxpayers.

Moore said he will not resign.

"I feel like I’m doing my job through the phone, but maybe I’m not doing my job because someone needs to be there watching the hen house," Moore said.

But for many citizens, it's about the bottom line. Moore's office is empty. The paper on his desk is from 2005, and his calendar is from October 2004. Most of his time is spent out of state, pulling a pay check, while the city continues to pay him $14,000 a year in salary and benefits.

Mayor Warren said the city council cannot legally remove Moore. Moore's term is up April 2007. Moore said he will not run again.

If you know about a public official who is not doing his or her job, or if there is something else you would like us to investigate, e-mail us at youpaidforit@wsiltv.com