[Vendorsmi] Fw: Denial of credit for attending last year's BEP workshop

[Joe Sontag]

This is the complete thread up to now on the matter.  I can say only that we 
did discuss my baseline points at a meeting last June and that certain 
things were alleged to be "true" by Mr. Hull, but I don't recall anything 
happening that told me that Mr. Hull was taking notes of any kind, nor is it 
likely that his reader/driver was doing the same.  She was too busy reading 
information from printed documents that Lucy was providing at various times. 
In other words, any "notes" that may be produced now are suspect at the very 
least and probably do not reflect what actually happened at the June 
meeting.  Further, if notes were produced, why is it that only now are they 
being offered to me or anyone else?

This is the problem that many of us have with the operator selection system: 
An operator has as many points as the Program Manager says he/she has, and 
there's no practical way for anyone to verify the accuracy of anyone's point 
total or the way in which it was determined.

I ran a complex location and followed the rules and obeyed applicable laws 
regarding employer responsibilities and have been punished for doing so, 
with the punishment being applied only after leaving the  facility.  The 
previous operator of Constitution Hall and at least one of the operators who 
followed me  cannot honestly make that claim.

Joe Sontag

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Sontag" <suncat0 at gmail.com>
To: "Hull, James (LARA)" <hullj at michigan.gov>
Cc: "Zanger, Connie (LARA)" <zangerc at michigan.gov>; "Edmonds, Lucy (LARA)" 
<edmondsl2 at michigan.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 9:54
Subject: Re: Denial of credit for attending last year's BEP workshop


> James, we did not reach consensus, and you can be sure that I would not 
> have brought up this matter now and in the past if the record was clear. 
> as no explanation was given for the manner in which the penalty was 
> determined and at no time was any supporting documentation, let alone 
> accessible documentation supplied.  At no time did you or anyone from the 
> BEP inform me that my operation of the Constitution Hall facility was 
> deficient in any significant way or explain why its sister facility at the 
> Operations Center, which you alleged was expected to operate at 
> twenty-five percent and which enjoys certain competitive advantages, is 
> said to be performing adequately at a profit percentage minimum that is 
> eight points under Con Hall's, or how it was that no action was taken 
> against my license for failure to meet the higher standard for Con. Hall.
>
> I say now, as I have said in the weeks and months following the June 2011 
> meeting, that at no time did I agree that my management of Con. Hall was 
> substandard or that the fifteen+ point penalty was justified and 
> adequately supported.
>
> Joe Sontag
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Hull, James (LARA)" <hullj at michigan.gov>
> To: "Joe Sontag" <suncat0 at gmail.com>
> Cc: "Zanger, Connie (LARA)" <zangerc at michigan.gov>; "Edmonds, Lucy (LARA)" 
> <edmondsl2 at michigan.gov>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 9:10
> Subject: RE: Denial of credit for attending last year's BEP workshop
>
>
> Joe,
>
> Thank you for bringing your concern about last years workshop to my 
> attention.  You may not be aware, however, all points for this year were 
> calculated by hand as our system does not yet have the capability to run 
> this report.  Consequently, mistakes may have been made and I thank you 
> for bringing this to our attention.  I will review our documentation and 
> make the appropriate changes.
>
> As for your baseline points, I recall that we met last summer to discuss 
> this matter and we had, to my recollection, reached consensus on the 
> matter. I will review my notes and try to provide you with a copy from 
> that meeting. I am out of the office currently and will need some time to 
> research this. If I have not gotten back in touch by 11 April, please do 
> not hesitate to contact me again.  You may reach me directly at 
> 517/373.2064 or at hullj at michigan.gov.
>
> Cordially,
>
>
> James Hull
> Assistant Business Enterprise Program Manager
> Michigan Commission for the Blind
> ph: 517/373.2064
> fax: 517/335.5140
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe Sontag [mailto:suncat0 at gmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 7:23 AM
> To: Hull, James (LARA)
> Cc: Zanger, Connie (LARA); Cannon, Patrick (LARA); Larry Posont; Lydia 
> Schuck; John Scott; Edmonds, Lucy (LARA)
> Subject: Denial of credit for attending last year's BEP workshop
>
> As you know, James, every registered attendee's workshop packet contained 
> a statement of the operator's selection points and a detailed description 
> of how the total value was determined.  Upon examining my statement 
> carefully, I noticed that I was given no credit for manditory training 
> completed during the previous twelve months.
>
> In fact, I attended all sessions of the 2011 BEP workshop, and went so far 
> as to verify with BEP staff that my attendance had been recorded; and I 
> ask now that my operator selection points be updated to reflect this 
> reality.
>
> I wish to say here once again that my baseline point total is inaccurate 
> and has never been explained and documented as to how approximately 16 
> points were removed, despite my having brought the matter to the attention 
> of yourself, Ms. Zanger, and the Commission Board on several occasions 
> since mid-May, 2011.
>
> Joe Sontag