Government in Abstentia, etc.
News briefs from Monday night's New Albany City Council meeting:
A shout out to Floyd County Democratic Chairman Randy Stumler: Better get your fellow party members a new songbook. When the lone Republican on NA's City Council is heard to say "We need to be progressive enough to get this process started," the call for a Fusion Party of forward-thinking citizens just gets louder and louder. Do we really want the Democratic Party to be the anti-progressive party?
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What is it about this council? Contrary to all the rules of procedure, President Gahan continues to permit each vote to become one last speech. When discussion is ended and the question is called, CM's are supposed to vote, not filibuster.
Picked up our photos from the Harvest Homecoming Parade from Saturday, and they reveal that Sgt. Oates and her anonymous troop found yet another way to offend the sensibilities of decent folk. What kind of spiteful specimen of humanity thinks it's right to use that occasion to extend (and I do mean extend) the middle finger to a city official while he rides slowly by in an open car accompanied by his wife and small children? Daddy, what's that man doing?
Volunteer Yvonne Kersey, she of the constitutional confusion, is letting her tenure on the Stormwater Advisory Committee go to her head. She informed the council (and they apparently believed her) that she was on the Steering Committee on Drainage Issues. A more self-aggrandizing performance I've never seen. Far overstepping her charge, at least as a committee member, she told the council that the committee could not recommend a yes vote on the interim stormwater management user fee.
The conspiracy theory continued when Maurice King rose to second Ms. Kersey's sentiments. Mr. King's presentation was far more cogent and less rambling, calling for "more time" for the committee to evaluate the interim plan. He admitted that the committee can't keep up with the required schedule, prompting President Gahan to ask, plaintively, "How much time do you neeeeeed?"
Professionalism reared its welcome head when paid consultant Chad McCormick(sp?) clarified the record. The Kersey/King objection to serial drafts of the ordinance was set aside with dispatch when McCormick explained that each draft reflected the consensus views generated after each committee meeeting.
King responded that McCormick was lying, adding that "they" don't want the public to know about this unfunded federal mandate, despite the fact that two public meetings were held in the last week. Low turnout, in King's estimation, is ipso facto evidence of a conspiracy to suppress the facts.
By the way, the canard that Floyd County has already managed to deal with the issue of stormwater drainage, and at far lower cost, conveniently overlooks the fact that the county simply hasn't begun the process. Non-city Floyd Countians will also have to come up with the money to address these concerns. They're just further behind the curve than New Albany.
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Hope Bill Schmidt is feeling better. Anna didn't bring an excuse slip, but the council member from the 2nd District sure knows how to pick which meetings to miss. Once again, Schmidt found a way to leave no trace on the public record on a critical vote. Schmidt's re-election slogan? "Don't blame me! I wasn't even there!"
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A shout out to Floyd County Democratic Chairman Randy Stumler: Better get your fellow party members a new songbook. When the lone Republican on NA's City Council is heard to say "We need to be progressive enough to get this process started," the call for a Fusion Party of forward-thinking citizens just gets louder and louder. Do we really want the Democratic Party to be the anti-progressive party?
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There was real news Monday night. The council approved on final reading the lease (bond rental payments), bond issuance, and pledge of EDIT funds to put the Scribner Place redevelopment project on the road to reality. CM's Coffey and Price voted no on the final reading, but not without a weird abstention by Coffey on the second reading. By the time the City Clerk called the roll for the third reading, CM Price had forgotten the question and began discussing the next item on the agenda. Way to pay attention, L'il Stevie.
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What is it about this council? Contrary to all the rules of procedure, President Gahan continues to permit each vote to become one last speech. When discussion is ended and the question is called, CM's are supposed to vote, not filibuster.
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On the Scribner Place vote, Larry Kochert, as he has throughout 2005, tried to have it both ways - he abstained. Which is a no vote, of course. Kochert remains tortured by this project, lamenting that he wouldn't want to see it fail, but couldn't vote aye.
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Picked up our photos from the Harvest Homecoming Parade from Saturday, and they reveal that Sgt. Oates and her anonymous troop found yet another way to offend the sensibilities of decent folk. What kind of spiteful specimen of humanity thinks it's right to use that occasion to extend (and I do mean extend) the middle finger to a city official while he rides slowly by in an open car accompanied by his wife and small children? Daddy, what's that man doing?
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Volunteer Yvonne Kersey, she of the constitutional confusion, is letting her tenure on the Stormwater Advisory Committee go to her head. She informed the council (and they apparently believed her) that she was on the Steering Committee on Drainage Issues. A more self-aggrandizing performance I've never seen. Far overstepping her charge, at least as a committee member, she told the council that the committee could not recommend a yes vote on the interim stormwater management user fee.
**********************************
The conspiracy theory continued when Maurice King rose to second Ms. Kersey's sentiments. Mr. King's presentation was far more cogent and less rambling, calling for "more time" for the committee to evaluate the interim plan. He admitted that the committee can't keep up with the required schedule, prompting President Gahan to ask, plaintively, "How much time do you neeeeeed?"
**********************************
Professionalism reared its welcome head when paid consultant Chad McCormick(sp?) clarified the record. The Kersey/King objection to serial drafts of the ordinance was set aside with dispatch when McCormick explained that each draft reflected the consensus views generated after each committee meeeting.
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King responded that McCormick was lying, adding that "they" don't want the public to know about this unfunded federal mandate, despite the fact that two public meetings were held in the last week. Low turnout, in King's estimation, is ipso facto evidence of a conspiracy to suppress the facts.
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By the way, the canard that Floyd County has already managed to deal with the issue of stormwater drainage, and at far lower cost, conveniently overlooks the fact that the county simply hasn't begun the process. Non-city Floyd Countians will also have to come up with the money to address these concerns. They're just further behind the curve than New Albany.
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But even King and Kersey acknowledge that the money has to come from some pocket. They have some legitimate points to make about how to make the user fees equitable. But besides overreaching their assigned task, the delay they suggest endangers the city. NOW is the time to act on the interim plan. Any delay means the drainage department disappears, by order of the Sewer Board. And unless the program is viable by May 1, the city is subject to daily fines at a massive level.
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The SAC (Stormwater Advisory Committee) is, by the way, charged with working over the next several years to help the professional staff come up with the permanent plan. The interim plan isn't even in their bailiwick.
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CM Kochert reminded all that the Sewer Board voted that any transfers of funds after Aug. 2, 2005 for functions not directly related to the sanitary sewer system (including storm sewers and ISM engineering fees) would be considered to be loans, and only loans. He did not, however, make a motion to have the City Council approve that. Hmmmmm. Having it both ways again, Larry.
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Does Mrs. 4th District Council Member go nuts in the morning trying to serve Larry his eggs both sunny-side up and scrambled? At least on Saturdays, she can rest. That's the day that Democratic Precinct Official Kochert breakfasts with the GOP at Mickey D's.
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October will be the month that the whole city agreed about sanitation. No, not that. We're getting new garbage cans, this time suited for more than a month's use without breaking.
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Why does Steve Price continue to vote against everything the consituents of the 3rd District want? Given the opportunity to renew the Urban Enterprise Zone that essentially defines his district, Mr. Price voted "no." What's the plan, Steve? Scare off a few more neighbors and convert their homes to flophouses? Importing new registered voters may be your only hope for getting a respectable 26% in the Democratic Primary.
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The UEA/UEZ resolution, by the way, passed. But the Gang of Four abstained (well, Bill absented himself). This government by abstention is getting tedious. Besides being cowardly, it's a betrayal of the public trust.
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Jack Messer provided another moment that will go down in New Albany's Profiles in Courage when he scolded the Gang for continuing to "drag their feet" on matters of important city business. Mr. Coffey objected to the characterization, saying, "wanting a good ordinance is not dragging your feet." No, but abstaining and failing repeatedly to offer ANY alternatives sure is. Just another bullet in the Gang's "Blame it on Garner" strategy.
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City towing is due for a change, as the city has lost its former impound lot. The city fine will rise to $35 per incident after a 7-1 council vote. According to one courthouse wag, Larry Kochert instinctively voted "no" when he saw the word "police" in the ordinance setting the fee.
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A portable air cooler made the less-than-packed assembly room eminently more comfortable. Monday's turnout was as low as I've seen at any meeting this year.
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The Constituency Against Progress mounted an unsanctioned demonstration Monday night that left a lasting impression on all observers. It showed the true power of the Gang of Four to motivate their supporters when all eyes are watching.
posted by All4Word at 11:26 PM
2 Comments:
I find it surprising that few showed for the meetings last week, even after Mr. King beat the bushes throughout Trogland in search of warm bodies.
I suppose the newspapers will be blamed for that one. The C-J was absent last night? Maybe there was a satellite outage and Ben didn't get the agenda conveyed to him from CM Kochert.
It is very nice to have brief but honest commentary on the events for those of us who cannot attend. Thank you
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