I had some high hopes for this Board. I had my fingers crossed but all along I felt that it would not be effective. Last night the Financial Advisory Board approved the Capital Improvement Plan as presented; they would not add nor did they delete anything as they did not know the funding sources. No formal recommendations were made.After nine meetings, the FAB decided it was not ready yet to do anything.
I understand that the City Manager has arranged having some sort of a dinner at the Golf Course to recognize this Board. This is where the FAB had a chance to be responsible by saying "NO" to the free lunch.
Disappointment is an understatement.
The dinner you refer to is an "Advisory Board Appreciation Reception".
ReplyDeleteIt is for all the boards.
Tom
Swell. That makes it even worse. This is an unnecessary expense for a bankrupt city. Hope it's not filet mignon and lobster tails.
ReplyDeletee-mail from Board Member, John Pickett
ReplyDeleteHey Lynn,
As always, I always enjoy reading your blog. I want to point out, however, that in no way did we say "yes" last night to the Capital Improvement Program, as your illustration says.
Rather, we acknowledged that the CIP, as presented, was "valid", in that we found the recommendations for repairs and improvements all necessary going forward. This is far from approving them, but we thought our action important to allow the public to fully understand the immense scope of the issue and the problem.
It is like acknowledging you need a new roof on your house. It is one thing to say you need one, and another to sign a contract or contract someone to replace it, especially if you have no money to pay for the contract.
As you know, we currently have no money to do any of these things, so to recommend anything at this point is using hope as a strategy, something I believe the Board finds irresponsible. That does not preclude acknowledging that things need fixing, which is all we did.
Capital Improvement money generally derives from three sources: retained earnings, grants, and funding from current operations. Since we have little retained earnings, ear-marked grants, and no handle on current and future funding, there is little we can actually recommend. We need to see more of the pieces so we can work on assembling the picture.
My best to you. Stay away from the lightning!
John
Our experience of many years with Commissions who said YES to all unqualified purchases, repairs, and some with knowledge of shadiness from waived bidding Contracts,$60.000.000.- in last 2 1/2 years of lemens and gang,makes us doubt the new Board. The new City manager allowed a $997.000 .00
ReplyDeleteblowout from negligence go unpunished. Theculprits are still taking our money. With an additional $100.000 for transporting our blown transformer out of town to her choice of Company, not in house!. The Utility Director can destroy anything she wants, as far as the City Manager goes.>She conspired in firing of our two most qualified lectrical engineers (whistleblowers).The janitor is now the plant manager.
dee McNamara