AUGUSTA, Maine — A “spoof draft” of a public notice advertisement from the Maine Department of Transportation that was never supposed to be seen by the general public was mistakenly published Wednesday in the Bangor Daily News.
Contained in the text of the ad were comments that poked fun at island residents. The two-column, 5-inch ad was on Page A2 of Wednesday’s paper and advertised a public meeting in the town of Islesboro to discuss the DOT’s planned replacement of Mill Bridge.
“We really don’t care about the bridge. We are just curious about these island folk,” the ad read. “Anyone who happens by is invited to disrupt the meeting.
“Candid photos will be sneakily taken of awkward persons for our entertainment. Life jackets and coffee brandy will be provided upon advance request.”
DOT Commissioner David Bernhardt sent a letter of apology on Wednesday to the residents of Islesboro.
“This was an obvious spoof draft that was somehow emailed and published in the paper,” he wrote. “This behavior is unacceptable and in no way reflects the values of the department or the seriousness and care in which the department treats its public input processes.
“We have the utmost respect for the citizens of Islesboro, its elected officials and its management. On behalf of MaineDOT, I sincerely apologize for this mistake. Appropriate measures are being taken to ensure that this does not happen again.”
Asked whether the responsible employee was fired, DOT spokesman Ted Talbot said he could not discuss personnel matters.
The letter from Bernhardt was sent to Islesboro interim Town Manager Janet Anderson on Wednesday. Anderson said Wednesday that she had seen the ad but did not want to comment.
The BDN newsroom referred questions to the advertising department, which exclusively handles advertisements.
BDN interim advertising director Steve Martin apologized for the error and said he has reminded staff to always review ads carefully before being published.
“The ad actually was sent to us twice, with the original proofread by staff,” Martin said in a statement. “Due to technical issues, the first version could not be processed properly, so the advertiser was asked to resend the ad, which was then processed.
“The problem was that we treated the second submission as a duplicate of the already proofed ad, which it clearly wasn’t. This event reinforces the need to be ever vigilant in our efforts.”
Talbot confirmed that is what transpired.
Nice to see someone at DOT has a sense of humor. Got to love it.
“The agency has taken appropriate action, according to a DOT spokesman”.
It doesn’t appear all have the same humor. I think it cost this person their job.
It should.
No public employee should look down on and make fun of the very people who pay his or her salary.
Maybe they take their cue from their boneheaded boss.
Have you not seen the POTUS??
POTUS running the Maine DOT is he? Another great job by the LePage Administration.
At least this person will be likely getting a pink slip in the future if Baldacci, or King was running things it would have been swept under the rug.
Lighten up, it was a Joke, and a Funny one at that.
Good humor has an element of truth in it.
Unless you feel offended by DOT pointing out your drinking habits?
Yes, the story about Allens brandy segues into this nicely.
if your that concerned about your portion of thier salary just ask for it back, I am sure someone will send your penny back.
but not their pension
People shouldn’t lose their pension over something so petty, and people who think they should, should not be taken seriously.
They should NOT loose their job. Reprimand, yes. Terminate, no.
Under the contract (yes, there IS a contract), it cannot be done.
Your level of forgiveness is degenerate and disgraceful. I hope you realize that if the shoe were on the other foot, you’d be Begging to be given compassion and forgiveness. I’m positive this person is sorrowful and regrets such a thing. And will NEVER let it happen again, Ever.
“Loose”?
and here i thought maine was going to get honest with its citizens.
Funny………Good luck finding them…..
Why are you firing me it was just a joke? Wonder why the BDN editor didn’t see this and say something.
They wont get fired, i bet you a ten dollar bill
That may happen in the King and Baldacci administrations when being accountable for things don’t take place, but not in the LePage administration.
I hope that statement was “tongue in cheek” ?
Do you honestly think they would be fired under a King or Baldacci led DOT. No it would be swept under the rug like always with the Democrats that is why we are in the mess we are at today.
Right. Maybe Speaker Nutting will send them some of the 1.2mil he still owes the
state to make amends for this buffonery, NOT………..
Who would you fire ?
I don’t see firing every employee that makes a mistake as a model that works well in business, why would it be a good idea in government ?
I doubt LePage is so petty as to get involved in this incident.
Do you honestly believe that the LePage administration is any better ?
mitt romney would like to raise you 10,000.
Hmmm… I thought it was another “Brain F _ _ _” similar to the I-395 extension…
Should have just said “Fart”. Now anyone who reads that is going to think you meant another 4 letter word that starts with F, which is much worse.
Funk?
What the Funk & Wagnalls is going on here?
Brain Food!
Whoops! Too late! LOL
once again BDN editors missed something that they should have caught!!!!
The BDN has a lot of resources tied up covering the “Mural” story
The Mural story did show what a POS LePage is ! I thought it was worthwhile.
They should be at the computer glitch and cover-up story already like the rest of us.
“Editors” don’t have anything to do with what appears in ads. Two totally separate departments.
Editors don’t review ads. But it was something the ad department should have caught.
I laugh when I read:
“BDN interim advertising director Steve Martin apologized for the error and said he has reminded staff to always review ads carefully before being published.”
Let me be one of the many to state that not only do ads need to be reviewed before they are published, but stories do too. A good indication of that “copy, paste publish” is in fact being used.
Right you are. The paper stil has yet to correct the story that a woman drove her car into Meadow Brook when she actually drove her car into the Penjajawoc Stream. Several readers pointed the mistake out, but not a peep from the paper.
Or the glaring error in the story on small claims court, in which the reporter said defendants who fail to appear can be arrested. Even when you direct the paper to irrefutable proof that the story was wrong, not a peep from the paper.
Then, of course, is the insistence by the paper that Bangor has a mayor, when no such position is to be found in the city charter…
More details are needed. Who was the employee, and what was the disciplinary action taken? This information is public information.
Additionally, let’s have some quotes from the ad department, as the text of the ad should have raised a giant red flag.
I’m pretty sure personnel matters are one of the exemptions under the Freedom of Access Act, Ryan.
-Eric Russell
MRSA Title 1, Sect. 407:
2. Dismissal or refusal to renew contract. Every agency
shall make a written record of every decision involving the dismissal or the
refusal to renew the contract of any public official, employee or appointee. The
agency shall, except in case of probationary employees, set forth in the record
the reason or reasons for its decision and make findings of fact, in writing,
sufficient to apprise the individual concerned and any interested member of the
public of the basis for the decision. A written record or a copy thereof must be
kept by the agency and made available to any interested member of the public who
may wish to review it.
Ah, so they only have to notify the public in instances of termination, personell matters short of firing somebody isn’t necessarily public information…
And would you want your personal personnel records, which includes your home address, SS # and etc., be made public?
Social Security numbers are exempted under the law, as are phone numbers and home address, with some exceptions. All disciplinary action is public.
There is also Title 5, Sect. 7070, which states that any disciplinary action taken is also a matter of public record.
The ONLY time a State Employee can and will be summarily dismissed without due processes is when physical abuse is at hand. One employee cannot do harm to another, period. Otherwise, any misguided actions have a progressive discipline process that must, and will, be followed.
Heaven forbid if you have an ounce of forgiveness for anyone. I hope when you get caught doing something wrong the person acting in judgement over you has more moral values than you aim to show others, and heaven forbid it be one of those dirty dogs who work to serve you in state service. You seem to get great pleasure in spitting on those willing to do the dirty work you refuse to do.
Please, grow a sense of humor. The rest of us would really appreciate a smile or two in these dismal days….
No, personnel files ARE NOT public information, just like your Social Security number is not to be public information. You do NOT have a right to know what disciplinary measures were taken. However, read the current contract for the employees and you will know what measures Can be taken, but not inclusive of dismissal.
This person does not seserve any more punishment from the likes of you. Trust me when I tell you Commissioner Bernhardt will take appropriate action in this matter. But he does NOT, as a supervisor under Federal Laws, have to report to the likes of you.
“You do NOT have a right to know what disciplinary measures were taken.”
Sorry — MRSA, Title 5, Sect. 7070 disagrees with you.
By the way, public employees are our employees. That’s why we have a right to know what disciplinary action has been taken against them.
@MaineLeads:disqus : I keep wanting to reply to all your posts because they are so stupid and off topic / defensive. I’m not really sure why you are SO huffy, even in the face of directly quoted statute language. As Larry David says – me thinks the lady doth protest too much… I am here to out you as a member of the DOT who moonlights in the Ad department at the BDN. Let’s go step by step.
“Your level of forgiveness is degenerate and disgraceful.” Pump the brakes. As an Islander I can tell you I thought it was funny, but don’t castigate everyone if they did not and believe there should be a reprimand. Doing so makes you no better than who you are criticizing. (Caaaaalm yourself as you read on). You obviously do not want to get fired over this, I don’t blame you for that.
“It has NOTHING to do with the people of Islesboro” & “DOT has a greater honor and respect for ALL Maine citizens.” You clearly work for the DOT or drink so much of their cool-aid that you are blinded. Do you know the DOT respects all Maine citizens equally? Does every member of the DOT feel this way? Why are you so defensive about the DOT when everyone is talking about the BDN? Any island with a Ferry system is bound to have a delicate relationship with the DOT based on the exigency of Ferry life, rates, etc. I did not realize that people like yourself are so defensive of bureaucratic organizations.
“Heaven forbid if you have an ounce of forgiveness for anyone.” The guy was just quoting the law, don’t get so mad. Call your Congressman.
“Trust me when I tell you Commissioner Bernhardt will take appropriate action in this matter” YOU TOTALLY WORK FOR THE DOT.
Keep posting, I cannot wait to figure out your connection to the BDN.
My FAMILY works for DOT. I’ve watched them be badgered, belittled and down right Harrassed by the public, for Doing Their Jobs! Ever seen a grown man cry? You wouldn’t believe the things they have to deal with.
I never once said what was done was right. What I’m defending is the degree of punishment. It’s like calling for the death penalty on the first theft offense. It’s perposterious. Fire this person but not address the issues happening on the hill??? Wow. Let the treasurer do his free will for personal gains but not call him on it or punish Him for it?? Oh, the injustice.
And keep looking for that BDN connection, that should keep you busy for a while, except for the fact I’m a Mainer.
As far as my post, I was answering one extreme with another. Oh, I WISH I had the humor-a-tic talent to come up with some of that stuff, which was more denigrating to the DOT than the islanders…
So sorry you were offended. I’m sure it will NEVER happen again.
Probably there will not be a whole lot done about the ad because it was half right…the DOT most likely
doesn’t care anymore about the bridge than it does about the condition of the roads.
DOT works at serving the most highway and bridge issues with the limited amount of resources they have. Maine people scream, “CUT CUT! I can’t afford it!” Then scream, when the limited funds aren’t there to fix the exhausting problems on the roads and bridges of this state, “FIX IT FIX IT!” Really???? You can’t have it both ways. Either anti up the funds to Fix It or be quiet.
we sure would like to have had a community lottery on the $300,000 given for yet another feasibility study for an east west highway..this one to benefit inform and guide private parties..!!!!
Ante up that $300,000
Blame your legislature on that one, not the employees…..
yes, I do.
( you are good advocate)
I think the part about LePage’s officials “listening with fake sympathy” is probably true. At least they’re honest.
I got some ocean front property in Ashland I like sell, do you suppose the BDN would run that ad for me?
dont see why not. they ran my “bridge to Vinalhaven” ad last week.
lol…..Have you found a buyer yet?
That’s the closest thing to the truth to come out of the DOT’s press office in a long time.
now that is truly funny..and true!!!!
oops
“spoof draft” definition – a fake letter depicting the hard working people of Islesboro as eccentric alcoholics. Imagine if someone spoofed the governor’s staff in this way. The reaction would be very different.
Seems like I’ve seen the gov, himself, spoofed w/those same 2 words…of course that may have been more truth than fiction.
Seems certain this would not have happened were this attitude to Islesboro not part of DOT culture and jokes..all the way o the top.
.or more likely from the top down…
hence the Commissioners couched and stereotypical reply
It has NOTHING to do with the people of Isleboro. Have you ever been to a public hearing? They are dry, sometimes contentious, and definately something I’d not facilitate, would you?
This was a simple mistake that I’m sure will NEVER happen again, and certainly does not merit a dismissal. DOT has a greater honor and respect for ALL Maine citizens than the misinformed statements in a newspaper comment section, more than you know…
As a matter of fact I have spent a great deal of time over the course of my life in public hearings and have never found them dry..I respect the process..I respect the construction of a public record on an issue and I respect all speakers and witnnesses whether or not I agree with them.
If DOT’s culure also includes just putting in time at public hearings because they are required and not really listening to what the community has to say..pro and con that is very very disheartening.
I repeat..if this were not well ingrained in the culture of DOT this is not likely to have happened.
I’m so sorry you feel that DOT’s culture is so base and that somehow “they” don’t care. I see an alternate point of view, that they immensely care, especially when the “townfolk” care. Honestly, when no one seems to give a crap, why should DOT, or any other employee? But believe it or not, DOT does care, especially when no one else cares. Why don’t “they” hear more of the positive notes and always hear the negative? I’d Hate to work in that environment, constantly belittled and badgered and Never respected. Oh, “because I pay your salary”. Whatever. We all pay each other’s salary, public AND private sector.
So sorry if you were so insulted by this unfortunate publish. I’d think it would be hilarious if everyone who goes to the meeting wears a life jacket just to poke fun at the whole incident. Now THAT would be funny!
Wearing a life jacket to all encounters with the administration these days would be funny..with life whistles attached which we’d blow when things got really bad,or flash mirrors at one another.
And I agree with you completely we shoud listen to one another beyond our differences, try to actually hear one another from time to time, and always treat one another with courtesy and respect.
I think we have beat up enough on this one.
Governor LePage and his state appointees continue to disrespect the people of Maine. Attitudes like the one exhibited in this unintentional ad are tolerated at the top and will not change during this administration.
So are we to believe that the Maine DOT feels that all “islanders” fall into a certain sterotype? Guess again, we don’t and we didn’t find any of it funny.
No, not all islanders, just you.
If you read the entire notice, you’ll find that it made FAR more fun of the DOT (showing a real disdain for citizens) than the people. You could insert different towns with a bridge needing repair into the notice, and it would still be funny.
I live on Islesboro and work for the town and find it funny and harmless. Lighten up.
So are we to interpret this article as the Maine DOT viewing “islanders” as a certain sterotype? Let just say we all don’t fit into any sterotype depicted by that article and we didn’t find any of it funny, but I guess the Maine DOT did.
I thought it was a fine example of Maine Humor
I think more people should be injected with a bit o’ Maine Humor! It could go a looooonnnng way. :) LOL
Well it sure showed someone’s point of view of the Island people
Not funny to a lot of Maine voters, I’m sure.
A mistake, I bet, that proves not everyone is sensitive to other people’s feelings. Wow. This incident is not appropriate, but hardly, if an isolated incident, grounds for firing someone. I guess the famous line “get over yourself” might apply here.
No matter what DOT says, the outcome of the disciplinary action is a matter of public record.
No, it is not.
Yes, it is. In addition to the statutory requirement for dimissals to be documented and available for public inspection, all final disciplinary actions are also public records, under MRSA Title 5, Sect. 7070.
I find it shocking that people (especially a reporter whose job is to be the people’s eyes for these things) don’t know this.
From MRSA Title 5, Sect. 7070:
“If disciplinary action is taken, the final written decision relating to that
action is no longer confidential after the decision is completed if it imposes
or upholds discipline. If an arbitrator completely overturns or removes
disciplinary action from an employee personnel file, the final written decision
is public except that the employee’s name must be deleted from the final written
decision and kept confidential. If the employee whose name was deleted from the
final written decision discloses that the employee is the person who is the
subject of the final written decision, the entire final written report, with
regard to that employee, is public.”
@ryanrrobbins:disqus : MaineLeads does not listen to the law, he / she knows better. And keep commonsense out of this, it is only going to make MaineLeads angry!
Seriously?
That’s a lot of “Ifs”….
From how I understand this, and I’m sure ryanrobbins will call me stupid and angry for even Asking a question for clarity, the way this is written it sounds like the employee is not known but the action to discipline an employee is. So, in short, you will know How it was handled but not to Whom.
Is that correct??
If an arbitrator overturns a disciplinary action, the disciplinary action vacated, along with the arbitrator’s decision, is public, but not the identity of the employee. However, if the employee comes forward, then the employee’s name is put back into the public record.
So if the Department of Transportation censures the employee, demotes the employee, suspends the employee — takes any disciplinary action — that action is public record, including the employee’s name.
If, however, the employee appeals to an arbitrator and the arbitrator overturns the disciplinary action, the employee’s name would be redacted from the arbitrator’s report.
BUT, if the employee discloses to anyone that he was the employee in question, then he has consented to having his name put into the public record. But this applies only if an arbitrator vacates a disciplinary action against the employee. If the arbitrator does not overturn disciplinary action, the employee’s name is a matter of public record.
Thanks
while it should not have been sent and printed, it’s wicked funny as someone is very creative. If this came from Tim Sample or Bob Marley, everyone would laugh at this bit o’ Maine humor!@?
I agree, it was a Hoot!
Good humor always has an element of truth in it.
yeah but they are not paid out of our pockets to serve us….
Why didn’t John Baldacci have the Bridge fixed during his 8 yr Reign… Oh thats right he took the DOT funds and spent them on voter blocks.. There I go again answering my own questions…
LOL !!!
wanna bet Travolta flies in for this meetin’…….. greased up with some coffee brandy and to the tune of “Tuesday Nite Fever”
Slow day in the DOT office?
Tired of playing solitaire and Angry birds?
All the leaning shovels spoken for ??
No potholes to turn into bumps ??
All the service bays in the garage full of employees campers and boats
getting ready for the season??
Seemed like a good idea at the time , right??
Good thing they are Union or they would be walking down
the road , hat in hand, in the real world.
Maroons all.
This was an honest mistake made by a dedicated DOT employee. It was nothing more than humour between employees. The only reason Islesboro was the brunt of this joke was because it was the next public meeting notice on the list. This could have been any town in Maine that has a bridge project.
Thought it was Islesboro?
ooops
whoa!! I bet someone got their butt chewed! and well they should! That was a really big OOPS
We ran out to get a print copy tonight so we’d have this ad for posterity.
Posterity, Really? I usually use the BDN for the posterior…
Goes to show: never put into writing what you would not want your best grandma to read, or the person about to hire you (or not) for a dream position, including the voters.
And if you write it on a computer, it is even dumber–a single click of a mouse can ruin your day….
Think about how you write something. Even if you do think that people on Islesboro are jerks, give facts to back it up (I have no idea, never been there), and then send it to an opinion column, or a comedy show, not use it a “space filler” on your job!
MaineDOT? How about MaineD’OH!
A copy of the notice can be seen at the link below:
http://www.bangorbytes.com/2012/03/mainedot-notice-of-formal-public-doh.html
It’s friggin’ HILARIOUS.
Wow! That ad must have been outsourced and written by a consultant. No one at DOT is that creative!
Isleboro residents just got more advertising from this one rather if they had a serious advertisement nobody would be interested in. We are cracking up!
I could talk alotta sh*t about the DOT too. What a’ mess that establishment is. They certainly don’t involve themselves in the best interests of island communities. I know that first hand being from Vinalhaven.
Sorry folks, if something like this had been printed about the town i grew up and currently live it, I’d have been laughing…HARD! Most of the people I know would because we all make fun of our own towns and others throughout the state and the country. I’m actually hoping someone didn’t lose their job over this. Perhaps a slap on the wrist or something but sheesh….we need to lighten up!
LikeICIt11 – to understand how an “islander” feels well you’d have to be an islander. You may not have taken offense to an article (if it had been about you), however, it doesn’t make it wrong that “we” do. BUT anyway you look at it it can be assumed that our tax dollars paid a DOT employee to spend time writing up this “spoof” about Islesboro … what exactly about that is okay? The DOT doesn’t have enough real work to do. In any case, you may not have been offended if you were in our shoes but many of us are … and we happen to be wearing the shoes.
LOL! The ad guy’s name is Steve Martin!
That in itself is funny!
It probably wasn’t even an MDOT employee who submitted the ad. Probably just some lonely hack in his mother’s basement with nothing better to do.
You’d think they could find something to do other than use state computers to play ‘games’ with.
Gee, I wonder when the ad came in at BDN if anyone thought to look at it and say maybe this was not intentional. Maybe we should confirm this? I’m wondering if the MPA or other liberal group had done something similar what would have happened. I might imagine that a call would have made and people would have asked if they really wanted this printed. Just wondering here , know what I mean?
“Deserve” not seserve….
This just in… Islesboro residents to forgo state subsidy of ferry tickets over mock ad.
Congratulations Maine!
First piece of humor to make national press and blogs that is funny and not sad (like the behavior of your errant governor).