12/9/14

Concerning the contents of an information request concerning Greensboro's 457 plan.

From what I have found so far, Mary Vigue and Jim Westmoreland amongst others, betrayed City of Greensboro employees by regurgitating ICMA-RC's message of leave the plan fees and options unchanged.

Westmorland and Vigue, both members of ICMA (International City/County Management Association), have been running interference for ICMA-RC (International City/County Management Association Retirement Corporation), in violation of Sec. 4.131. - Conflict of interest: Greensboro Code of Ordinances, City Charter.

Even after Zack and Tony asked, city staff towed ICMA's line, and told city employees to refer any contact from me to Mary Vigue.

Mary told me about a month ago she was getting a fund line up with lower fees that could replace the current from ICMA-RC.

There is no record of anyone from the city asking for it, which means Mary lied to my face in the middle of a Council meeting.

There has been no movement on the part of city executives to act in the best interest of the city's employees, even after I identified the funds Winston uses and showed how even with the extra 0.34% fee, they are paying much less, even though Greensboro's plan is three times bigger.

According to ICMA-RC's 2012 IRS form 990, Robert O'neal, ICMA's Executive Director, serves as a paid director of ICMA-RC.

San Antonio’s Assistant City Manager and ICMA member Frances Gonzalez serves on ICMA-RC's board. San Antonio has $254,377,728 of City employee funds with ICMA-RC.

Decatur, Georgia’s City Manager and ICMA member Peggy Merriss serves on ICMA-RC's board as Decatur offers an overpriced ICMA-RC 457 retirement plan.

If both San Antonio’s Assistant City Manager and Decatur, Georgia’s City Manager are ICMA members are paid board members of ICMA-RC, while Decatur and San Antonio do business with ICMA-RC, Westmorland and Vigue, both members of ICMA, could be paid ICMA-RC board members.

I told you some truth, and you asked the folks who are making money off of not telling the truth for there side, and swallowed it without any effort to confirm or disprove what I have been saying for more than a year independently of either side.

I have met with most of council on this issue to no avail.

Both Zack and Nancy Hoffmann understood my position, as they worked in the financial industry.

And nothing.

Jim Westmoreland's reply to Tony Wilkins lacks any value.

You betrayed your own employees.

Shame on you for letting ICMA-RC take one cent more than they should or could, without even trying to find out what could be done.

I was hoping for some signs of humanity, compassion, care and resolve, and all I got was a turd for my efforts to save other people money.

Give those folks you screwed a good look in the eye when you pass them in the halls.

You stole a part of thier future, along with some more money that could have been spent locally instead by the lobbyists in DC.

So now what?

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"Any officer, department head or employee who has financial interest, direct or indirect, in any proposed contract with the city or in a proposed sale of any land, material, supplies, or services to the city or to a contractor supplying the city, shall make known that interest and shall refrain from ...participating in the making of such contract or sale.

Any officer, department head, or employee who willfully conceals such a financial interest or willfully violates the requirements of this Section shall be guilty of malfeasance in office or position and shall forfeit his office or position.

Violation of this Section with the knowledge expressed or implied of the person or corporation contracting with or making a sale to the city shall render the contract void."

Sec. 4.131. - Conflict of interest: Greensboro Code of Ordinances, City Charter
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ICMA-RC conducts business with The City of Greensboro.

Managers and Assistant Managers of other cities have compensation arrangements with ICMA-RC.

Westmorland and Vigue have a Financial Interest, as they could obtain a potential compensation arrangement ICMA-RC as they conduct negotiations/transactions/arrangements between The City of Greensboro and ICMA-RC.

In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, Westmorland and Vigue should have disclosed the existence of the financial interest.

Mary Vigue denied the possible conflict at a recent City Council meeting, as Westmorland looked on,  prevented City employees from speaking with George Hartzman of the issue, and then lied to George Hartzman about looking into saving City of Greensboro employees money during another Council meeting, and City Council has done nothing.

http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/11/george-hartzman-believes-city-of.html
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Greensboro ICMA-RC 457 plan fund alternatives which City management refuses to look into

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/11/greensboro-icma-rc-457-plan-fund.html

401k, 457, 403b's and the Federal Government's Thrift Savings Plan

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/11/401k-457-403bs-and-federal-governments.html

"Workers Furious at Association of Counties" and "A Billion-Dollar Retirement Rip-Off"

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/11/workers-furious-at-association-of.html

"Most of the 401K space is captured by high fee funds."

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/11/most-of-401k-space-is-captured-by-high.html

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