City Council Meeting Audio 02/13/08

A three hour tour... A three hour tour.
The weather started getting rough the Riverwalk project was tossed,
If not for the courage of a fearless few,
More money would be lost,
More money would be lost.

Our City Controller Tony Bassil reported the results of his audit on the finances of the Easton Parking Authority. His findings; It bleeds!

Somebody's got some 'splainin to do. And your guess is as good as mine as to who it will be. People want heads to roll. But that's just the people. The cockroaches have already started to scatter away from the light on this one.

Another significant item was the tabling of several reappointments and an appointment to various authorities, boards, and commissions. The appointments were slated to be rubber stamped, but upon discussion it was decided that a two week waiting period will be used instead of a public confirmation process. The Mayor said, "I don't think it should be brought before the public. Frankly, we have enough of a hard time to get people to serve on these boards and commissions and authorities. If you start bringing people through here, and having them dragged through the public arena I don't thing we'll get people to be here."

I believe we should bring people through. But that's just me. I want to bear witness to a candidate's (for appointments) qualities and desire to serve.

If you listen reall close, when the Mayor says, "Dragged through the..." you can hear a Councilperson say "the mud". I do apprieciate the Mayor's tact. But I can not get on board with keeping civil service in the shadows. Let the sunshine on the process. Protect us from future Easton Parking Authority debacles.

Heck of a job, Louie!

NOTE: On August 28, 2007, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards proposed what he called "Brownie's Law" requiring that "qualified people, not political hacks", lead key federal agencies. (Michael D Brown's Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Brown)



City Grade for the period of 01/24/08 through 02/13/08

Audio Regular Session(3 hours 9 minute 21.6Mb)

Agenda Regular Session

City Council Meeting Audio 01/23/08

We have both the regular Council sessions and the day before's Conference Meeting. The meetings were pretty straight forward with no contention or consternation. Councilman Warren touted the recently published police statistics. And the public speaking proceedures for City sponsored public meetings was discussed in good detail.

The protection and amplification of the peoples' right to participate had the greatest effect on this period's grade. (Sorry we forgot to post the grade the first btime around)

City Grade for the period of 01/10/08 through 01/23/08

Audio Conference Meeting (44 minutes 15 seconds 5.06Mb)
Audio Regular Session(1 hour 1 minute 7.03Mb)

Agenda Conference Meeting
Agenda Regular Session

City Council Meeting Audio 1/09/08

This was a relatively short, but very telling meeting. We were shown who was really in control. And we were shown our places.

The first bit of tension to be to be touched upon was the legal question surrounding Mrs Panto's appointment/reappointment to the Charter-made Council seat. We were taken all the way to the end of the table for the ruling. Now keep in mind that the appearance of familiarity; the appearance of a conflict; or the appearance of collusion are not against the rules or the law-- so they may not (of course) be key considerations as we make decisions. And they weren't... Furthermore, any talk of such nonsense will be duly ignored. Mrs Panto's appointment was cleared by the Assistant Solicitor (you see for this ruling the "Solicitor" was too close to the Mayor).

I feel so stupid.

Later in the meeting Roger Ruggles was appointed to Councilman Dan Corpora's vacated seat. There was angst and controversy surrounding the procedure used there to. Mind you, all of the protest, angst, and controversy was sponsored by the same group of advocates/trouble makers (depends on your vantage point).

Now, we could have appointed both Mrs Panto and Mr Ruggles with the very minimum discomfort with just the tiniest bit of thought.

First; the procedures and steps to fill the vacancies should have been posted and made available for everyone's review shortly after the elections.

Second; the charter transition committee should have been convened to go over the FIFTY ONE PAGES of the charter, and address the transition issues like 2.05 (c).

Third; Roger Ruggles should have been voted into the Charter-made position.

Fourth; Pam Panto should have been voted through the vacancy Dan Corpora created.

Yes, there would have still been grumbling over Mr and Mrs Panto serving together, but there would be far fewer elephants in the room.

City Grade for the period of 01/02/08 through 01/09/08

Audio (1 hour 27 minutes 10Mb)

Agenda

Minutes