What's the matter with Ed?
I apologize.
I've been accused of putting some sort of weird jinx on people or personalities that I've mentioned in this blog.
I'm guilty again.
No sooner did I dust off the "ethics problem" of Monroe City Councilman Ed Paisley, then a loyal reader calls my attention to a long and detailed thread on one of the Monroe Snooze forums on their Web site about Ed's ethics problem.
It goes into great detail about the problem Ed's facing (bigger than I thought, I admit), but the most fascinating part of the thread is the revelation that Ed was beat up by the state accountancy board for practicing without keeping his license current. Then he continued to practice without a license, so the state fined him $2,500 and put him on three years probation.
That's not only the stuff that can ruin your business, it also speaks volumes about Ed's ethics. I wonder if that makes his clients nervous at all?
Whatever.
So I apologize for mentioning Ed's name.
But to make up for it, I offer him some free legal advice:
Resign, Ed. Resign now.
No, I'm not a licensed attorney, but there's nothing wrong with practicing without a license, is there?
I've been accused of putting some sort of weird jinx on people or personalities that I've mentioned in this blog.
I'm guilty again.
No sooner did I dust off the "ethics problem" of Monroe City Councilman Ed Paisley, then a loyal reader calls my attention to a long and detailed thread on one of the Monroe Snooze forums on their Web site about Ed's ethics problem.
It goes into great detail about the problem Ed's facing (bigger than I thought, I admit), but the most fascinating part of the thread is the revelation that Ed was beat up by the state accountancy board for practicing without keeping his license current. Then he continued to practice without a license, so the state fined him $2,500 and put him on three years probation.
That's not only the stuff that can ruin your business, it also speaks volumes about Ed's ethics. I wonder if that makes his clients nervous at all?
Whatever.
So I apologize for mentioning Ed's name.
But to make up for it, I offer him some free legal advice:
Resign, Ed. Resign now.
No, I'm not a licensed attorney, but there's nothing wrong with practicing without a license, is there?
posted by The Observer at 2/25/2007 09:59:00 AM
9 Comments:
What is it that you want Ed to resign from? His job? His council seat? I don't believe that he should resign from either. He certainly is one of the more knowledgeable council members, and he is out at many more functions to do with that position than many of the others, (except maybe Burkett, Beneteau, and Mayor Cappuccilli, who all seem to attend many functions). This is all being brought up by Monroe's own councilwench Compora, who is tangled in a web of lies with the former Mayor Icoangeli. Where did she get all of the information about her false accusations? Ask DDA chairman Rick Floriday, who by the way I'm told was Iacoangeli's campaign chairman and was also the loser to Ed in the council election. That smells more of an ethics violation than failure to renew a license, if that is what he did.
Get off this smear Ed campaign and post something relevent to helping our society, instead of helping Floriday's retry at a council seat.
OK, Ed Paisley is a hard working man who cares about people and their well being. He goes out of his way to make sure he attends meetings and researches every issue that is at stake. He takes pride in serving his community both on council and through his personal life. You really cannot find a better man for his council seat. His clients believe in him as they have been his cleints for over 12 years. Any issues he has had in the PAST have been taken care of. If you have any questions ED Paisley would be more than happy to answer them. The deal with the State, a license renewal form was mailed as it has been mailed to him for over 20 years. EXCEPT THIS TIME it was mailed to the WRONG address! You would think after all of the years he has been a CPA someone could have fowarded the application to him after realizing he had missed the form. Instead it was thrown away. This was an unfortunate mis understanding. At the time he was very ill so it went unnoticed. You must not be a CPA, because if you were you would know that it takes years to complete the schooling reuired to get your license. And it is not easy. It is sad that you would attack him. Anyone that knows Mr. Paisley knows that he is a good man. I am sorry that you have such a bad opinion of him. I dont know what you have to gain by attacking him. However it does let us know who you are. I am suprised though that your focusing on Ed. Your time would better be spent protecting your friends secrets. Or even making sure that the community or should I say the DDA area was moving foward. This seems to be another Iaco campaign tactic. How did it work for you last time?
This isn't about me. It's about Ed.
Here are points to consider:
1. I don't really KNOW Ed and it sounds like he's a very fine, professional, upstanding citizen.
2. The facts seem to indicate that Ed IGNORED the state's concerns, so they BOOSTED the fine on him.
3.I PERSONALLY couldn't care less if Ed stays on council, resigns from council, becomes the next mayor or dances in his underwear at the next council meeting.
4. FOR WHATEVER REASON, he's in violation of state law, professional ethics and PROBABLY the city's lame ethics guidelines.
5. I suggested he resign from COUNCIL for his own good, but he might even consider taking his business to another town. Because this is the kind of stuff that can ruin you in Monroe even if you don't have political enemies, and it sure as hell sounds as if Ed does.
So not to piss off Ed fans, but the suggestion was made in good faith. True friends would advise him to at least THINK ABOUT leaving council because chances are it will get very very ugly.
Everybody take three steps back, look at the situation, and assess the effectiveness of a city councilman who technically BROKE THE LAW. How do you think this stuff plays with all those taxpayers whose noses are held to seemingly stupid, petty, arbitrary, capricious laws that the city's minions impose on them?
Good luck, Ed. But remember, sometimes your closest, bestest friends can unintentionally turn out to be your worstest enemies.
Why in the world would this man leave his position on City Council? Because of the lunatic rantings of a Councilwoman who has previously made false accusations in an attempt to smear other Councilmembers? All of the previous accusations proved to be false, and I'm sure that this one will be proven false as well.
First was the alleged violation of the open meetings act. Investigated. Vindicated.
Next was the allegation of skunk sprayed by the Mayor.
Investigated. Vindicated.
Then the allegation that Councilman Beneteau stole plastic flowers off of Councilwoman Compora's mother's grave site.
Investigated. Vindicated.
How about the allegation that Councilman Martin used City monies to pay for his Council Picture.
Investigated. Vindicated.
I know of the facts surrounding this allegation regarding Councilman Paisley's ownership of the Washington St. building in question, and I know that he too will be vindicated.
As far as his personal business issues with the state, I am sure that if you wish to know answers to questions regarding that, then call Ed and ask him. If he feels that you are entitled to know, then I am sure that he will respond to you. I did ask questions and he did tell me the answers, and yes, I believe him. Ed is an asset to City Council and we all should be glad to have him. I am much more willing to believe his comments than comments coming from someone hiding out behind an assumed name. I have looked back at previous postings on this site, and I must say that some of your topics are newsworthy and informational, while others are simply gossip and trash. Please stick to the newsworthy and informational and leave the trash for less intelligent persons.
Sincerely,
Brian Beneteau, Councilman
Brian, Brian, Brian.
Take the loyalty blinders off.
This state matter isn't about Compora.
Ask yourself this question honestly:
Could you ever see yourself in a similar predicament that Ed finds himself in?
Sure, think of him as a nice, honest, kind, knowledgeable guy. But do you have any concept of how rare it is for the state to take disciplinary action against an accountant. These guys make a profession of having their i's dotted and t's crossed.
You, of all people, know that this probably wouldn't happen to you. And, speaking of gossip and trash, you of all people know that everything that's been put on this blog since it began has been tame compared to some of the stuff I have seen written about Ed on other
high-minded blogs.
I'm not condemning the guy, I'm just suggesting he's got a serious problem that's only going to get worse. You don't have to believe me. This stuff will play out all on its own. And you know I'll come back and say I told you so. But thanks for contributing to the dialogue.
Hey, here's an idea. Have Ed post something somewhere explaining the situation -- maybe make a statement at the council meeting. I'm not trying the skewer the guy, I'm just offering some good faith suggestions for a situation that to an outsider just smells and probably will start smelling even worse.
And did I say he's not my councilman? He doesn't owe ME anything. But he sure owes someone an explanation.
O.K. Loyalty blinders off.
I just don't like accusations of anyone when they are not justified or when they are done for the wrong reasons. I normally wouldn't even post a reply, but I feel strongly about these, not yours but everyone's, accusations.
I have pleaded with Ed to make a statement, but the decision to do that is entirely up to him. If it were me, I would set the record straight. I can tell that the fine imposed was for failure to renew a license. I can also tell you that the fine imposed is the amount it was because the ethics committee felt that the fine was fitting for someone who claimed to be a CPA when they really were not. Care to guess who was on that board who made the recommendation to impose such a high penalty? Yep, Ed Paisley, who IS a CPA. Unfortunately the penalty also is made for someone who failed to submit their license renewal, whether this was the fault of a disgruntled employee or a change of address, etc.
While I am friends with Ed, and I happen to lease him office space, I write this not for those reasons, but for the simple reason that I believe that the ethics committee will get down to the bottom of these allegations, and I don't believe in adding fuel to the fire for no reason. I'm not sure if this is the serious situation that you speak of, but if it is, then I believe that there could be much more serious charges other that failure to renew a license.
By the way, if you live in the City limits, then Ed is your Councilman, as all Councilpersons serve the entire City even though they are elected as precinct representatives. Some forget that at times though.
Thank you, again, Councilman Beneteau for your thoughts. I understand your position better and appreciate the dialogue. Just to clarify, if the ethics committee evaporated tomorrow, if Ed resigned from council tomorrow, if the Pope came into town and absolved him of all the sins in his life, he still would have a problem and the chances are it would continue to grow. I know of some of his clients who have bailed in the past and there are some who as I write this are thinking of bailing now. That kind of problem is far more serious than anything an ethics committee might come up with. With that, I'll give this a well-deserved rest, but I sure hopes he takes your advice and counsel as a friend. And I appreciate that you care so much.
Observer: I see a lot of statements and supposition with no facts supporting the same.
But do you have any concept of how rare it is for the state to take disciplinary action against an accountant. These guys make a profession of having their i's dotted and t's crossed.
How about you enlighten us and let us know just how rare it is.
I knew an old guy who would always say, "if you are going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk." So as it is said in some circles, "get steppin."
Ed owes me no explanation at all. But I am glad to see that you have already found him guilty. Gee; I guess due process is only for those people we like, and not for those that we don't.
In most cities; this saga wouldn't rate a yawn. Even in Monroe, Eds personal life doesn't rate much more than a yawn from most people. Except those few who have nothing better to do than tout conspricy theories and engage in chicken little antics. Get a grip: the sky is not falling!
There was a response to your claim. The renewal went to the wrong address! Without a reminder. I am sure you are not perfect! So why are you Casting the first stone? The only clients that have BAILED out on Ed, was when he was ill in 2003,2004. Those BAILing cleints still have BIG BILLS that they HAVE NOT PAID! So I guess I know who you are:) Ed does not owe you anything. I am sure that you owe him! This OLD issue has been taken care of. Word around town is YOU have Big Issues. As far as his council seat, HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB! I think they all are doing a GREAT job! So back off and start doing YOUR job!
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