Avoiding the Appearance of Impropriety

During the last election we had several to ask if it were illegal for a married couple to act as police chief and only magistrate/clerk for the same town. We could not find any laws against that situation except for the state of West Virginia. That state said the law was to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

Certainly many think that at least that appearance has cropped up in the city of Florence. Why?

1. Elizabeth (Libby) Stockard Watts Jordan was the first...and last...Director of Cultural Tourism in Florence. Why? Was she just so good at her job that, when she left it, no one could replace her?

2. Now Ms. Jordan will be leaving as the first Director of the Rosenbaum Home. Has this job now been posted? Will it be posted to current employees only, or will even Canadians get a crack at it?

3. One of our regular readers has indicated that Ms. Jordan was the most qualified to apply. We don't doubt that's true, but the job was never opened to applicants outside current employees. Only four
besides Libby applied.

4. When Libby was hired for the Rosenbaum position, at least one of the 29 other applicants sued the city. Will there be lawsuits now over this position?

5. Dick Jordan's brother-in-law was also hired within the last year to fill a newly created post. He coordinates...projects...but never seems to report any of the statuses of these projects, at least not to the
public who are, after all, paying his salary.

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We regret not being able to publish some of the comments we've received on Ms. Jordan's recent hiring, but unfortunately, funny as they were, they could have been considered libelous. Feel free to reword and send again.

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News from the City of Florence? That's the title of a regular newsletter that may be found linked at several sites. Judging by the content, Florence should change it's name to Utopia...or Candyland. Surely there's some news from Florence that has some pith to it? Any intelligent adult realizes that projects are delayed for various reasons, that lack of money derails some plans, etc. Why not report the truth? Why does Florence make Gov. Bentley look forthcoming?



Shoalanda

A Feud? It's Good Publicity

Example of a Robin Wade Bench

Robin Wade is a local furniture designer. While Wade's style could be considered primitive (it follows the natural flow of the wood), it's extremely well made and not at all cheap. Part of Mr. Wade's line consists of furniture reclaimed from the ruins of Phil Campbell. This is good for Phil Campbell, good for the Shoals, and good for Wade.

It seems that one table from the Phil Campbell collection was lent to the staging area for the Rosenbaum home. We're not sure whose idea this was originally, since Wade's furniture has little connection to the smooth Usonian lines created by Frank Lloyd Wright. Nevertheless, the loan of such functional art is good publicity for both Wade and the City of Florence.

Several readers have contacted us about an alleged feud that has now arisen between Wade and Libby Jordan, curator of the Rosenbaum Home. Wade wanted his table back to lend to a larger museum in Montgomery. Why was this a problem? We're not sure, but Wade has publicly commented that he had to fight to get it back.

Hmmmm. We would assume that Mr. Wade would have enough business savvy not to lend any of his high end pieces without some legal document spelling out the details. The fight makes an interesting piece of fluff for the water cooler crowd and gets Wade's name out there. We're not sure what it does for the City of Florence and the Rosenbaum Home...



Shoalanda

Jordan's Wife New Director of Rosenbaum Home

Libby Watts Jordan, third wife of Florence councilman Dick Jordan, has been named the new director of the Rosenbaum home. Watts, who's undergraduate degree is in geology, beat out 29 other applicants for the position.

Martha Murphy, one of four city employees who applied for the job, has filed a grievance. Murphy, currently administrative assistant to the mayor, states she may take her quest for the job to other more official legal venues. Murphy is the founder of Mrs. Murphy's Foods and has an extensive background in several business areas.

Now here's the kicker: The job pays only $37,500.00 a year. Perks? Fascinating surroundings and an impressive job title. What are these perks worth in dollars and cents? Zero.

So what's the beef? The position is worth very little financially, and the fact that there were 29 applicants besides Mrs. Jordan doesn't speak very well of the local economy...or mindset. The real beef seems to be "the appearance of evil." We say if Libby Watts Jordan wants the job, let her have it. Surely there are much better things to come for Martha Murphy and any other qualified applicants who may not have been given a fair shake.

Related Post: What's Happening



Shoalanda

It Is 2013, Isn't It?

 

From a reader:

I just saw your post on the Tuskegee request, I know why this was requested. I sat on the visitor side for the game with my son, the racial slurs to both us and the people of Florence became so bad we left the game at halftime. I reported this to the police and we were told we were sitting in the wrong place. This is 2013 isn't it? It was our fault so I guess we were fair game to be called names unprovoked. I then told the officers if I had been saying those thing I would be escorted out, he only responded to tell me to sit on the other side…..so yes segregation does exist today, only reversed it seems.

It's a sad commentary on our society no matter which side spews the racism.

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Another reader on yesterday's post:

When I saw the post I assumed from the way it was written that applications for the job were just a formality. 

Really? Who woulda thunk it? The things we learn from our readers...



Shoalanda

What's Happening at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home?

Florence is extremely lucky to be home to the only Frank Lloyd Wright structure in Alabama. If you're not familiar with the Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum home, here's a link:

Wright in Alabama

The City of Florence now owns the home and has meticulously restored it since its 1999 purchase. The home is part of the Arts & Museums program and is staffed primarily by volunteers. It now seems the museum will be getting its own curator.

It should be a plum job with several applicants. We look forward to announcing the lucky ones on the short list...or perhaps the lucky new curator should a short list be dismissed with.



Shoalanda