I've read comments by members complaining that Lulko shouldn't run for treasurer because she would be double-dipping the city since she just retired from the city.
McPartlin retired after 30 years with the city. He could be considered double-dipping too. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

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I think that the difference is that McPartlin retired whereas Lulko, took the ERI and was brought back for $10,000.00. That's where the double dipping comes in. In my opinion running for office isn't the same thing. It's the being brought back after being offered the ERI. Same goes for Ed Zelenak.

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"I'm sick and tired of hearing things from uptight, short sighted, narrow minded hypocrites. All I want is the truth, Just gimme some truth"

- John Lennon

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LPTaxpayer (08-16-05)

Retirement is retirement. Whether it's an "early" retirement or a "regular" retirement. Coming back to work for a former employer is becoming quite common in the workplace. It happens in all business sectors. It's cheaper for a business to bring back an individual whose skills they're aware of rather than bring in a total stranger. Coming back to work for a former employer as a contractor is cheaper for the employer as they don't pay benefits to the contractor. I don't think the word "double-dipping" applies to Lulko or McPartlin.

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I disagree. Lulko and Zelenak are double dipping. They retired and are being contracted to do the same job. The double dipping IMHO doesn't appply to McPartlin.

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Not knowing what the ERI final figures are I would have to agree that double dipping doesn't apply.

I know very little of McPartland except that he retired outside of the ERI (earlier) and that he was widely respected by his peers and co workers.

I have had the opportunity to speak with him on a couple of occassions about various issues and was impressed with his delivery.

Watching the council for the last few years it was apparant that many believed that Lulko's strongest points were not those of the position(s) she held.

If we refer to the minutes over the last couple of years (of which some were discussed at length here), the taxpayers paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to contract computer companies for issues such as email setup; installation of software, etc.

Keep in mind that our city departments were not networked which networked computers are a bit tougher to maintain. I beleive to this day not all of the city departments are networked together and connected to a server.

I have always contended that all of the our city departments should be networked to a server(s) at City Hall so that each department can be managed more effectively.

We have paid out thousands for hardware and software yet do not have anyone at the IS helm (then or now -to my knowledge) that can utilize it effectively and efficiently.

This was but one aspect of Lulko's previous titles. There were large rumbles of how she handled personnel and purchasing as well.

I don't know what degrees or level of education as it relates to the job duties that were assigned to Lulko so I don't know if she is a strong candidate for something as serious as our Treasurer.

Sorry, I got ....anyway...... I think the double dipping issue received it's wings when our City Attorney took the ERI and then was reappointed via contractual basis.

I don't think double dipping is the word but I do think that that if the real reason for ERI was to cut City Expenses...then I don't know why our City Leaders would bring back employees or hire new ones for that matter.

This ERI and it's savings has been held to secrecy. Several people have requested information via FOIA (I was one of them and I think Iheart did too) and we were givin zippo.

Councilman Kandes said in one meeting that he had all the information right there in front of him and to request it via FOIA and we would get it..... we did and we didn't receive squat.

Anyway...my two cents.

Edited to add: My apologies to Leslie Lynch-Wilson...she too would be another excellent choice as a Grant Writer....though considering how well she did bringing the Fort Street Brewery and getting the historical society to acknolwedge some of our buildings, she would be awesome in business development in LP.

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"Sometimes we must serve in order to lead"
by Unknown

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I have no clue whether or not Lulko is qualified to be treasurer. I don't know her or her previous track record with the city. I'm just saying that if she were to be voted in as treasurer, she would not be double-dipping. It's quite common for companies both in the private and public sectors to bring former employees back to work as contractors. That's a very, very common practice. It happens at the auto companies quite a bit. These employees who have retired and collecting pensions are now collecting wages as a contractor. It's not a sin to collect pension and wages as a contractor. Companies that bring people back know what they're getting. So whether they bring back someone that just retired or someone brand new, the position is still a contract position with no benefits.

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jujitsu, I don't consider running for an office double dipping. I consider her taking the ERI dip #1 then dip # 2 is when she was contracted to do part of the same job she retired from. (even though alot of companies do this.)

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LPTaxpayer (08-16-05)

Don Mandernach, Bob Heyer, Charlie Paddock and Mel Gish are just a few former employees who ran for office in LP and won.

I vote for the best candidate. I do not care if their former employer was the city or private industry.

I would not vote for Lulko, but it has nothing to do with her taking advantage of the ERI. We sound like she committed a crime. I would rather know she is retired than still making decisions in the personnel office

I will have to learn more about McPartlin before I decide whether or not to vote for him. But being a former city employee will not play a part of my decision.

They were thinking about utilizing some of the cops who took the ERI and using them as dispatchers for 911 calls. Will the retired cops be double dipping? If I were on the streets, I would rather have a retired cop who knows the city than a 20 year old fresh out of dispatch school

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recordar la yocorazon

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Robin (08-15-05), southside (08-15-05), Robbie (08-15-05)

Am I not saying this correctly? I think that if you are bought out of your job and you received money to leave that position, and are contracted back to that same position within a month or so, you are double dipping. I believe that Pat Lulko and Ed Zelenak are double dipping.

Pat Lulko running for public office and perhaps winning, has nothing to do with my thoughts on her double dipping.

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LPTaxpayer (08-16-05)

i just dont think she is the best canidate that is why i will not vote for her. it has nothing to do with eri or double dipping.

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Robbie (08-15-05)

Mayday, call it whatever you want. Double-dipping as you describe it happens all the time. It is not unique to the city of LP. I don't plan to vote for Lulko regardless of whether she took the ERI or whether she's "double-dipping" or whether she's got a girlfriend. None of that matters. None of the candidates for treasurer seem like the sharpest knives in the drawer.

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I do not believe Zelenak or Lulko placed a gun to anyone's head.

It is quite common in the private sector to have a buyout and then bring back certain workers as contractors. It works out for both parties. Legally the employer cannot say everyone with so many years is eligible for early retirement EXCEPT these people. You have to let them retire if they want and if you need them you bring them back as a contractor. With benies and everything else, it is still cheaper to make them a contractor than to keep them as an employee.

The employees did not band together and demand an ERI. The city thought it was a good way to unload some of the work force. Anyone who had the time and decided to stay on the payroll is actually losing money.

No one can double dip unless the employer set it up for this to happen. The city should have brought in new city attorney and hired someone with computer skills to replace Zelenak and Lulko. With a new computer administrator hired I assume Lulko is no longer contracted to the city.

We have a couple of people running for council who have not worked for two or three years. I have a harder time with someone who sits at home while his wife goes to work than for someone who worked for 20 years and then retired when the city told them to get out.

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i dont know i think Criag will do great as treasurer

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Anyone knows that any parent who stays home has a challenging job, whether it's a man or a woman. If your comment was to make an indirect slam against councilman Vaslo, I think that was inappropriate, unprofessional and disrespectful.

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I mentioned no names and I was talking about more than one person.

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The only person running for council, that I'm aware of, who stays home with the childen while his wife works is councilman Vaslo. If there are others, that's fine too.
Nothing wrong with either sex staying home while the other one works. If Craig Sochocki does it, that's fine. If Sandra Cotter stays home while her husband works, that's fine.
I don't think it's appropriate to slam someone, whether their name is mentioned or not, about whether they are a stay-at-home parent.
No one knows another family's situation or the choices the parents have made.
Your criticism in this regards demeans ylp as a whole. JMHO.

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he!! i wish i was one

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I wish I were too. And I have been a stay-at-home parent in the past. Being in the home or out in the work force both have their challenges.
Neither scenario is harder or easier than the other. JMHO.

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Show me where I said this person had children

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You didn't say they had children. So?

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