UPDATED: I obtained more of the email chain that includes Tom Collins and Mary Miller having quite the testy exchange. Amazing stuff.
Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins is insisting that the board consider a replacement for expelled Steven Brooks next week, but says he is meeting with resistance from colleagues and staffers.
Collins acknowledged in an interview that he has yet to talk to Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick about the appointment -- there had been chatter in Carson City about asking commissioners to delay or not make an appointment because the session is almost half-over. (My thought: They will need the vote, so put a caretaker there who follows orders.) Collins represents nearly all of Brooks' district, with Lawrence Weekly representing a sliver.
Collins began emailing his colleagues and staffers several hours before the vote, as you can see from the prickly exchange below, pushing them to schedule the meeting, dismissing policies that he derided on Twitter as not "even good asswipe." Lovely.
In a interview, Collins told me the commissioners selectively use the policy manual and didn't use it "to give the county manager a pay raise I think this is more important."
Collins said he hoped to talk to Kirkpatrick later today about the appointment -- "I understand it has to be someone Marilyn is going to approve of."
But Collins mentioned the upcoming legislative deadlines and expressed anger at Chairman Steve Sisolak's refusal to speed up the agenda.
Here's the email exchange that took place befroe the vote, with the beginning at the bottom -- an email from Collins at 6:40 AM today to commissioners and senior staffers, including administrative services boss Sabra Smith-Newby and finally, County Counsel Mary-Anne Miller's opinion:
UPDATED:
From: Tom Collins
To: Mary-Anne Miller, others
CC:Commissioners
Sent: 3/28/2013 7:44:23 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Re: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Oh my the Majority Leader of the Assembly hopes we will act swiftly. Mr Chairman ?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: "Tom Collins"
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:12:06 +0000
To: MaryAnne MillerSabra Smith-Newby<SABRA@ClarkCountyNV.gov>; Jeff Wells<jmwells@ClarkCountyNV.gov>; Randy Tarr<
Sounds like a non sequiter to me. Plus, by your policies, I have thirty days to respond.
From: Tom Collins [ Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 4:02 PM To: Mary-Anne Miller; Sabra Smith-Newby; Jeff Wells; 'Randy Tarr' Cc: 'Steve Sisolak'; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Then answer the question ? Tell me if Don’s Pay is more important than a legislative vacancy?
From: Mary-Anne Miller To: Tom Collins; Sabra Smith-Newby; Jeff Wells; Randy Tarr Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
I wonder about you sometimes too, Commissioner, but wish you the best.
From: Tom Collins Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 2:48 PM To: Mary-Anne Miller; Sabra Smith-Newby; Jeff Wells; Randy Tarr Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus Subject: Re: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
MaryAnne where were you on policy when we gave the county manager a pay raise at one meeting ? Sometimes
I wonder who you represent ! Just sayin'
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: "Tom Collins"
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:43:47 +0000
To: MaryAnne Miller; Sabra Smith-Newby
Cc: Steve Sisolak<; Lawrence Weekly<; Don Burnette<>; Larry Brown<; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus
Subject: Re: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Precedents have been to sell bonds or refinance them no disaster there !
The vacancy, if there is one, does not constitute a natural disaster or impairment to health and safety of the citizens, as required by the Board rules and state statutes. During your "emerging issues" item (Item 46), you can discuss the vacancy, if it has occurred by that time, and announce the procedure for considering applications.
From: Tom Collins Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 10:02 AM To: Sabra Smith-Newby Cc: 'Steve Sisolak'; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Mary-Anne Miller; Maria DeJesus Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Article VI A , B and C. It is our policy when we choose to follow it. Clark County needs a representative from District 17 to be voting in the Legislature. Budgets are beginning to close on April 2nd and April 12th is the last day for Committee passage from the first house.
There are seven commissioners on the Clark County Commission who are registered Democrats, We will see .
From: Sabra Smith-Newby Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 9:54 AM To: Tom Collins Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Mary-Anne Miller; Maria DeJesus Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Hi Tom-
I'm assuming you are referencing the emergency item language. I'm copying Mary for her read on whether it qualifies.
Sabra
From: Tom Collins Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 9:29 AM To: Sabra Smith-Newby Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Article VI A , B and C allow the board to go forward on April 3rd , 2013.
From: Sabra Smith-Newby
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 9:02 AM To: Tom Collins Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Hi Tom-
This item would need to be the subject of a special meeting of the Board since it would not be part of a regular BCC meeting. Per Article V, Section B, special meetings may be called by the Chairman, or the Vice Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. The deadline for posting of a special meeting to be held on April 3 would be tomorrow at 9 a.m. Staff will prepare the agenda and agenda item and await further direction. I have copied the Chairman as well as Commissioner Weekly, who shares the district.
Sabra
From: Tom Collins Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 6:40 AM To: Commissioners; Commissioners' Assistants; Don Burnette; Randy Tarr; Jeff Wells; Sabra Smith-Newby; Ed Finger Subject: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Per the rules we sometimes follow, I after speaking with Sabra Smith-Newby yesterday wish to inform you I have requested (yesterday) an item be on the April 3rd 2013 agenda either as a normal item or an emergency item depending on the possible action of the Nevada Assembly. Assembly District 17 is 96% in District B and the rest is in District D. Timeliness is essential due to the deadlines in the rules of the Assembly.
UPDATED: I obtained more of the email chain that includes Tom Collins and Mary Miller having quite the testy exchange. Amazing stuff.
Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins is insisting that the board consider a replacement for expelled Steven Brooks next week, but says he is meeting with resistance from colleagues and staffers.
Collins acknowledged in an interview that he has yet to talk to Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick about the appointment -- there had been chatter in Carson City about asking commissioners to delay or not make an appointment because the session is almost half-over. (My thought: They will need the vote, so put a caretaker there who follows orders.) Collins represents nearly all of Brooks' district, with Lawrence Weekly representing a sliver.
Collins began emailing his colleagues and staffers several hours before the vote, as you can see from the prickly exchange below, pushing them to schedule the meeting, dismissing policies that he derided on Twitter as not "even good asswipe." Lovely.
In a interview, Collins told me the commissioners selectively use the policy manual and didn't use it "to give the county manager a pay raise I think this is more important."
Collins said he hoped to talk to Kirkpatrick later today about the appointment -- "I understand it has to be someone Marilyn is going to approve of."
But Collins mentioned the upcoming legislative deadlines and expressed anger at Chairman Steve Sisolak's refusal to speed up the agenda.
Here's the email exchange that took place befroe the vote, with the beginning at the bottom -- an email from Collins at 6:40 AM today to commissioners and senior staffers, including administrative services boss Sabra Smith-Newby and finally, County Counsel Mary-Anne Miller's opinion:
UPDATED:
To: Mary-Anne Miller, others
CC:Commissioners
Sent: 3/28/2013 7:44:23 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Re: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Oh my the Majority Leader of the Assembly hopes we will act swiftly. Mr Chairman ?
:-}
Sounds like a non sequiter to me. Plus, by your policies, I have thirty days to respond.
From: Tom Collins [
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 4:02 PM
To: Mary-Anne Miller; Sabra Smith-Newby; Jeff Wells; 'Randy Tarr'
Cc: 'Steve Sisolak'; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Then answer the question ? Tell me if Don’s Pay is more important than a legislative vacancy?
From: Mary-Anne Miller
To: Tom Collins; Sabra Smith-Newby; Jeff Wells; Randy Tarr
Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
I wonder about you sometimes too, Commissioner, but wish you the best.
From: Tom Collins
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 2:48 PM
To: Mary-Anne Miller; Sabra Smith-Newby; Jeff Wells; Randy Tarr
Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus
Subject: Re: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
MaryAnne where were you on policy when we gave the county manager a pay raise at one meeting ? Sometimes
I wonder who you represent ! Just sayin'
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: "Tom Collins"
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:43:47 +0000
To: MaryAnne Miller; Sabra Smith-Newby
Cc: Steve Sisolak<; Lawrence Weekly<; Don Burnette<>; Larry Brown<; Chris Giunchigliani; Maria DeJesus
Subject: Re: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Precedents have been to sell bonds or refinance them no disaster there !
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mary-Anne Miller
To: Tom Collins, Sabra Smith-Newby <SABRA@ClarkCountyNV.gov>
Cc: 'Steve Sisolak' , Lawrence Weekly <LWeekly@ClarkCountyNV.gov>, Don Burnette <dgb@ClarkCountyNV.gov>, Larry Brown <LBrown@ClarkCountyNV.gov>, Chris Giunchigliani <CHRISG@ClarkCountyNV.gov>, Maria DeJesus <mpd@ClarkCountyNV.gov>
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:31:19 -0700
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
The vacancy, if there is one, does not constitute a natural disaster or impairment to health and safety of the citizens, as required by the Board rules and state statutes. During your "emerging issues" item (Item 46), you can discuss the vacancy, if it has occurred by that time, and announce the procedure for considering applications.
From: Tom Collins
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 10:02 AM
To: Sabra Smith-Newby
Cc: 'Steve Sisolak'; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Mary-Anne Miller; Maria DeJesus
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Article VI A , B and C. It is our policy when we choose to follow it. Clark County needs a representative from District 17 to be voting in the Legislature. Budgets are beginning to close on April 2nd and April 12th is the last day for Committee passage from the first house.
There are seven commissioners on the Clark County Commission who are registered Democrats, We will see .
From: Sabra Smith-Newby
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 9:54 AM
To: Tom Collins
Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani; Mary-Anne Miller; Maria DeJesus
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Hi Tom-
I'm assuming you are referencing the emergency item language. I'm copying Mary for her read on whether it qualifies.
Sabra
From: Tom Collins
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 9:29 AM
To: Sabra Smith-Newby
Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette; Larry Brown; Chris Giunchigliani
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Article VI A , B and C allow the board to go forward on April 3rd , 2013.
From: Sabra Smith-Newby
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 9:02 AM
To: Tom Collins
Cc: Steve Sisolak; Lawrence Weekly; Don Burnette
Subject: RE: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Hi Tom-
This item would need to be the subject of a special meeting of the Board since it would not be part of a regular BCC meeting. Per Article V, Section B, special meetings may be called by the Chairman, or the Vice Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. The deadline for posting of a special meeting to be held on April 3 would be tomorrow at 9 a.m. Staff will prepare the agenda and agenda item and await further direction. I have copied the Chairman as well as Commissioner Weekly, who shares the district.
Sabra
From: Tom Collins
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 6:40 AM
To: Commissioners; Commissioners' Assistants; Don Burnette; Randy Tarr; Jeff Wells; Sabra Smith-Newby; Ed Finger
Subject: April 3rd, 2013 agenda
Per the rules we sometimes follow, I after speaking with Sabra Smith-Newby yesterday wish to inform you I have requested (yesterday) an item be on the April 3rd 2013 agenda either as a normal item or an emergency item depending on the possible action of the Nevada Assembly. Assembly District 17 is 96% in District B and the rest is in District D. Timeliness is essential due to the deadlines in the rules of the Assembly.
Thank you
Comments: