ADICA CEO and Downtown Manager Don Buie hasn’t had an easy week. Yesterday, it may well have gotten more difficult when anonymous sources told SWGA Politics that Buie reportedly spent several weeks in various Albany hotels on ADICA’s dime.
[UPDATES BELOW]
Late on Wednesday evening, allegations surfaced that prior to moving into his current residence, Buie stayed at the Sleep Inn on Dawson Road in exchange for advertising at the First Friday events Buie was in charge for for ADICA. It is apparently not unusual for there to be trades with local hotels, where they trade rooms for band nights in exchange for advertising.
When the band night rooms weren’t used, Buie reportedly used them for his own purposes, namely as a temporary residence.
Thus far, SWGA Politics has been unable to get confirmation on the record from anyone at the hotel, though we will continue to pursue this throughout the day, as well as Buie’s response if at all possible.
We will update this story as new information develops.
[UPDATE 10:21] I placed a call to Buie a short time ago. After identifying myself, the lady answering the phone politely told me that he was now on another call. She took my phone number and said she would pass it along to Mr. Buie. While it seems odd that he was on the phone at that particular moment, I could have misunderstood what was said. Even if I didn’t, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that he would be on the phone about the same time I called.
[UPDATE 10:44 July 10, 2009]I just left a message on Buie’s cell phone asking for a call back. It’s entirely possible that he never got the message yesterday. It’s also possible that he was just flat out busy with the workload that was dropped on him yesterday and didn’t have time to get back with me.
So far, I have gotten absolutely no confirmation, and I’m in pretty much the same boat as Kevin. Unless someone from one of the hotels can confirm, on the record, that this actually occurred, then it’s a non-story I’m afraid. While I still hope to get Buie’s comments on the allegations, it looks like this may be a dead end.
Gee, could it be because he was kicked out of his house? Character always counts and when someone is given a blanck check drawn on the taxpayer or “credit line” as anti-taxpayer Langstaff prefers to spin it, their character and ability to manage money (theirs or others) is vital.
Sound like a kickback to anyone? Fit any other Buie patterns?
In all fairness Jack, the difference between a true $6 million loan and the “line of credit” bond is actually pretty real. A loan has to be paid back in total. A line of credit means that you only have to pay back that which is used…so it’s possible that it wouldn’t all get used and the taxpayers would have to pay back less (though I suspect that it’ll get used up and the end result will be the exact same). Granted, it’s still a lot of money and there’s still way to much secrecy involved.
It’s also important to note that this is just hearsay right now. There is nothing except allegations against Buie at this moment.
Still, there are a lot of allegations directed at Buie from a lot of different places. It certainly doesn’t look good.
Wait a minute, Tom, you give these people far too much credit.
1) What in any of ATI/ADICA’s background suggests the money would be well spent?
2) What in any of ADICA/Buie’s behavior suggests the use of the money would be honest and transparent (the contrary, in fact, since ADICA is fighting to prevent disclosure of their plans)?
3) What in any of the Commission or specifically Langstaff’s utterances or behavior suggest that the expenditures would be either monitored or that responsibility for them would be imposed (again, based on Langstaff’s posts here eg. “don’t blame me”—one would draw the contrary conslusion).
Again, I agree no one can predict the future, but the past behavior and conduct of individuals is a very good indicator of how we may expect them to behave in the future. Based on their past and present conduct, no taxpayer can reasonably feel safe that their money is well spent or that there will be any checks and balances on the way it is spent (see present Buie fiasco.
I didn’t say they would. I said that there was the potential for less being actually borrowed. In fact, let me point out this exact quote:
I don’t think it’ll be spent wisely and said so. Instead, I merely pointed out the potential for less actually being borrowed. Just because you own a Ferrari doesn’t mean you’re going to run it up to 120 mph after all…but chances are that you will. Same thing on the line of credit in my mind.
I think we’re splitting hairs, but either way, there’s nothing here good for taxpayers and the quality of the people running this show stinks.
Yeah, I think we’re in agreement on that. Frankly, the bond issue wouldn’t be so bad if I trusted those who will be spending the money a lot more.
Tom, Phil Cannon here, is there a specific area that discusses the bond issue. I feel it is time for someone involved downtown to explain the “other perspective”. I don’t feel like tagging my explanations on this article about Buie because of the allegations he has made against me. I am trying to stay clear of that to avoid an appearance of impropriety.
Phil: Your best bet might be here, though it’s an older post. It’s more topical to over there than this one I’d think.
We’re looking forward to your take on it. If you want, you can also type up something and shoot it to my email address. We will post it under our Publius account and attach your name. Ideally, this one is best if it’s more than a short couple of paragraphs though.
Again, even assuming the hotel rooms weren’t a kickback to Buie (and this situation reeks of conflicts for obvious reasons), one has to ask the question of why a man who is essentially homeless and living out of free hotel rooms is given a $6 million line of credit by Langstaff and company with the taxpayer to pay the tab.
The fact that Buie’s own finances are a shambles do not reassure me that he will manage the public purse any better.
Who is responsibile for oversight here?
It’s my understanding that the hotel room trade is actually fairly normal and above board. The hotels trade a number of nights in rooms in exchange for advertising in the First Friday programs. The rooms are supposed to be used to provide lodging for out of town entertainment and help defray the costs there. This is not unusually apparently. The hotels may have given vouchers, coupons, or something else tangible that could be exchanged at the time of check in to let the desk clerk know what was what.
What Buie is alleged to have done is taken these “coupons” that were issued with the intent of bands using them, and used them for his own purposes. So technically, it wouldn’t be a kickback, but a case of defrauding ADICA if this is found to be the case.
Misappropriation is an apt description if the story is correct, but since Buie likely negotiated the contract himself with no oversight (no doubt the commissioners are clueless about this as well), who knows what this “perk” had to do with the negotiations for the advertising? That’s where the appearance of a kickback comes in.
Bottom line, these things wouldn’t look as shady if ADICA and its pumpers weren’t hell-bent on hiding things from the people funding it (the citizens of Dougherty County).
Here’s another little treat: Does anyone know how much money ADICA has spent in legal fees with the firm of Perry and Walters in order to hide what the $6 million is for? You can be almost certain the number is well into five-digit land.
Stop the bleeding. Shut down ADICA. Fire Langstaff, Marietta, Gurr, etc.
Doesn’t the city have a policy that states city employees can only receive gifts of $25 or less?
I don’t know Donna, but I’d think that there is a policy of some gift level.
Herald is reporting that Buie has released the Bar complaint packet against Phil Cannon to the media. Classy.
I wonder who Buie borrowed the postage from?
Yeah, I’m hoping I can get my hands on it at some point in the near future as well. What’s amusing is that he had the Bar complaint…but he isn’t the one who lodged the complaint. Now, why on Earth would Buie have Nicole Brown’s Bar complaint?
Hmmmmm.
I really think Richard Thomas and Tim Coley are on the right track with replacing the incumbents. What you’ve got here is total organizational chaos with vast amounts of public money being thrown around for “secret” purposes.
It’s clear that the entire ATI/ADICA redevelopment angle is a fiasco. We need to show real courage and shut it down now. Taking the easy way out (the Langstaff approach) and pouring more money into bad projects “because they’re already there” is not an economically sane position.
Phil Cannon (on the ADICA board) is probably more optimistic about downtown’s prospects than I am, but I fully accept his suggestion that the commission and others wish to sweep the various Buie/ADICA issues under the rug.
These are people that grin and act nice for cameras and are more than happy to tell you what they think you want to hear, but absolutely CANNOT be trusted with our money. Please let’s not let our elected non-representatives waste more of our dollars downtown. Enough is enough.
Update from WALB “Buie Stripped of Financial Authority”
http://www.walb.com/global/story.asp?s=10672294
My favorite part of the article:
“Lott says he’s conducting a full scale audit of ADICA finances since Buie was hired in November of 2007.
Lott said, “They’re going to look at the expenses and scrutinize them in the same fashion that they do with other departments within the city and if there are any improprieties, that will all be a part of any actions that will be taken, if any.”
Now, the analysis:
This is the typical (pardon my language) “piss down your back and tell you it’s raining” whitewash I’ve come to dispise about Albany and the effete Langstaff-types. This is supposed to make us all feel better.
First, the fact that they’re trying to get credit for doing an audit back to November of 2007 (remember my posts asking about an audit?) confirms my earlier posts that, actually, there’s been no credible audit since Buie has been hired. Comforting isn’t it?
Second, they’re trying to promote the fact that now ADICA will be “scrutinized” by the same standards used for City Departments. Great. What standards were used before? Why is this only being done now and who allowed Don Buie to get what amounted to a blank check drawn on our tax dollars.
What is appalling about this mess is that in the last 60 days, Commissioner Bob Langstaff posted to this blog in defense of this downtown boondoggle. While we read Langstaff’s sermon, no one in a position of responsibility was watching Buie and watching ADICA. I won’t belabor us all with a rehash of Langstaff’s downtown cheerleading, but I do want to quote Langstaff’s 6/03/09 post on one point I am in agreement on:
“Finally, if the money gets squandered somehow, then me, the city manager, the assistant city manager, the downtown manager, and a host of others, probably lose our jobs. I am willing to take that risk.”
Let’s take Langstaff at his word and get him out of the commission. Dump the City Commission, dump Buie and dump ADICA. Albany’s economy and taxpayers can’t take this incompetence/corruption/stupidity any longer.
So now we know that Buie was records custodian, too. Some oversight. Great job, Commissioners…….This is not reassuring, rather a confirmation of the local government’s total incompetence.
“Don Buie was required to submit all ADICA financial documents to the city’s finance director by the close of business Thursday.”
http://www.walb.com/global/story.asp?s=10672294
– Great discussion here. Great points and great questions. I investigated this story pretty hard last week, but couldn’t confirm it, so I didn’t report it.
Here’s the problem. Other than Phil Cannon, I doubt that anyone in charge at city hall would get excited about the hotel room scenario. We’ll know soon enough; if they care, this will be part of an independent internal investigation, at the least.
– Don’s city-issued cell phone number is 407-2697 (the number is a matter of public record). He called me back when I called him yesterday.
– Donna, I can’t remember what the gift policy says; $25 sounds right. But in public administration in any ethics-oriented organization, you DEFINITELY can’t under any circumstances date your subordinate, vendor or contractor and expect to keep your job. Indeed, if your subordinate dates his or her subordinate and you do nothing about it, you can’t keep your job.
One explanation as to why this is suddenly acceptable behavior at city hall is that Don sees a lot of illicit actions — some of which I’ve disclosed in the Jouranl — occur at the top level of government.
– The downtown manager has a city-issued credit card and checkbook? Four years ago, no one at city hall had a credit card the ability to directly write a check to a subordinate.
– And for goodness’ sake, can you believe that WE are paying for yet another private attorney (when we have three municipal attorneys on staff) to provide advice about what to do about Don? They would never waste their own money like they squander away ours.
Jack: I fully intend to write up some more detail about the latest Buie development
Kevin: Thanks for Don’s cell phone number. The only number I could find didn’t exactly yield positive results for me. I’d prefer to think he’s either (A)busy or (B)he didn’t get the message than to think he was dodging me. Frankly, I doubt I’m a big enough fish just yet to warrant dodging
There is a serious lack of oversight, of that we have practically no doubt. Buie having a credit card and checkbook doesn’t sound like there was any oversight at all as to what he was doing, and that should never be the case when tax dollars are involved. Of course, it seems like City Hall doesn’t really care about cash so long as it’s not theirs.
I think Mr. Lott will terminate Mr. Buie after he gets the GBI report back. After he admitted to the improper relationship with an employee I dont think he has a choice. He made the memo in which he takes his credit card and check writing authority away public which makes me think he is setting the groundwork for this.
Tom & Kevin,
This is an important story if you will follow it. Please note all of this was going on at the same time as ADICA was paying Perry and Walters with tax dollars to fight the taxpayers over disclosure of its projects.
It is clear that Langstaff, Marietta, etc. are clueless about any kind of financial reality. As both of them are cowards and totally unwilling to stand up and call a halt to this downtown nonsense (that means a halt to further expenditures and a shutdown of ADICA, not a new set of “secret projects”), they need to be run out of office immediately.
I would urge you to press Lott hard on whether or not the results of the audit will be made public in a timely manner. Certainly, as the monies are public, this is a reasonable request.
My strong suspicion is that the ADICA pumpers such as our non-representatives on the commission will want to whitewash as much of this as possible, so they can move forward with wasting more money downtown. The fact that ADICA was running unaudited with Buie keeping most/all of the financial records verges on criminal neglect on the part of the Langstaff crowd. This fact is worse than anything else given their frantic efforts to prevent the taxpayers from learing what ADICA’s “secret projects” are.
Jack,
I can’t speak for Kevin, but I intend to keep following this one for as long as possible. I will try and call Don Buie later this morning and see if I can speak with him and get his comments, which will be updated on this post should that happen.
What a mess.
I would like to think that Lott’s hesitation in giving Buie the boot, is only motivated in “documenting” the causes to avoid a Mattie Goddard situation.
Just my $0.02.