I've posted a link in the left column titled 2014 Greensboro City Council Disclosure Forms and started linking together the entire series to make them easier for everyone to keep up with and refer back to in the future.
You know, I can't say I dislike Mike Barber. Previously I told you that I used to do some freelance journalism for a publication owned by Mike but my knowing Mike goes back even farther. I used to have breakfast with Mike, his children, the 2 carpenters, the judge and the judge's wife several times a week at McDonald's in Friendly Shopping Center about a decade or so ago when Mike was a Guilford County Commissioner.
Mike has a sense of humor you can't help but enjoy. For example: on his disclosure form, he listed his family members as Chase, his Devilish Son, Kennedy, his Angelic Daughter and Mitzi, his Angry Wife. Okay, so he's got a sense of humor or a death wish, having never met Mitzi I don't know.
While Mike is a lawyer, Mike's disclosure form doesn't mention a law practice and the e-mail he sent to defame George Hartzman seems to confirm that but does that mean that Mike no longer practices law, no longer takes on any paid legal work outside of what he does for First Tee of the Triad?
Someone else will have to answer that question as Mike's disclosure form didn't.
The new disclosure form only requires disclosure of properties with a value of over $10,000 each. That would make it possible for anyone on City Council to buy up large chunks of neighborhoods like mine where many properties have been taken by the City in recent years and are often sold in the 4-5 thousand dollar range-- often below the cost to the City in acquiring them. Not that Mike would do that but he did do some real estate business before he disappeared to Spain for 18 months. As a matter of fact, according to Mike's disclosure form he owns 3 private homes in Greensboro now.
Now the question everyone is wondering about is First Tee of the Triad. Well of course Mike listed himself as CEO of First Tee with that being his only job but before I close I thought I'd tell you what I gleaned from a recent public information release I got from the City of Greensboro.
Not only does Mr Barber's non profit, First Tee of the Triad, get free use of Greensboro's City owned Gillespie Park Golf Course, should the City cancel the contract the City will have to pay $150,000 while giving First Tee preference to all common areas, clubhouse, practice putting green driving range, golf course, concession seating area(s) classroom area, green fees, range balls and cart fees for instructors. Correction: The City will have to pay up to $150,000.
And who helped put this dandy little forever contract together? Non other than former Greensboro City Manager, Ed Kitchen and Jim "Bobblehead" Melvin of the of the Joseph M Bryan Foundation.
That's right, a lifetime contract that puts Mike Barber in the catbird seat with the only way for the City to get out is to buy out.
Please continue reading Greensboro Council Woman Yvonne Johnson's Financial Disclosure Form.
