Retha Lowe was thrown a bone. The Commission made her Vice Mayor Pro-Tem. I guess they didn’t want to look like the “bad guys.” It was time to clean house but that didn't happen. They even nominated her to continue on as liaison to The Leaque of Cities. There is nothing nice about politics and we found that out during this campaign, so why try to look like the good guy now?
Javier takes the prize for the most volatile commentary--During Public Participation Non-Agendaed items, we had him reducing a complicated problem (the illegal labor center) to “racism” and anyone who disagreed with him was part of the R word. Socialists just love to do that. The ACLU lawyer and his little kid were there but did not stay too long.
The Commission proceeded slowly and cautiously on the issues--just like approaching a blinking yellow light--with the meeting lasting over 6 hours. No exciting commentary and no exciting decisions were made.
The only real revelation last night was that the City is still paying for the retirement for 49 of our cops who wanted to stay with the City’s Pension. I guess that was a better deal. Of course we always knew that was a better deal and that is why they were paid just a little bit less than PB County Sheriffs to compensate for that. How much is THIS costing us? We need to get someone to add it all up.
The Sheriff tried to get the City to pay for 3 electric vehicles to drive around the town and pay for it out of the Federal Contraband Forfeiture Funds that we have on hand. This request was turned down for lack of a second. They wanted us to buy 3 more vehicles and we wouldn’t even own them…the Sheriff would. Such a deal.
They talked about monitoring red light violators. This discussion went on and on. No one on the Commission knew what the Contract stipulated, even the presenter for the company, American Traffic Solutions. It was never sent out to bid. This is all about income to the City by a private company who will make most of the money at the expense of our drivers. Don’t get me wrong. I hate people who break the law intentionally but we will be known as an unfriendly city just when we are trying to change our image. Also, can we start reading Contracts please?
The Shuffleboard Court was once again an interesting topic. The Commission knows full well they are breaking the law but their attitude is, “Who cares?” They voted on correcting some of the problems at the building, now using the excuse that we must maintain our city buildings, not the real reason that is causing the expenditures, a use change. Retha was the only Commissioner who voted NO. It was mentioned that the Center gave out 500 turkeys at Thanksgiving. Would they have given me one or do I have to be illegal?
No action was taken on Mark Bates' suggestion of paying off the Motorola lease on police radios, that we no longer use. It was stated by Mr. Baldwin that our financial person advises against our electing the escape clause. Now here is the deal: We owe $410,000. The equipment is worth $200,000. Bates advises we pay it off so we don't lose our credit rating.
The 20 or so people who waited around until Midnight (and we all now wonder why) did so because of the Reverse Osmosis issue. Nothing was discussed about it other than having a workshop. We all know what workshops are all about—delay, delay, delay and eventually no action. I think this Commission has learned that tactic from Peter Willard. Wasn’t it he that said last night that he is at a ?
