Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Vote on Property Taxes

The following is the except for tonight's called meeting.  The first item on the agenda is your property tax rate for 2011.  Now I don't care if you own, rent, or are passing through you pay these taxes.  Either directly or through increased rents.

So far, only 1 person has spoken either for or against the increased taxes that are being proposed (not increase tax rate, but increase because of increased values on our properties), and that person was me.  The council has a chance to vote for the 'effective tax rate' which will still increase the revenues for the city because of new businesses and houses without effecting the amount you paid this last year.

The county has actually LOWERED your taxes, so why does the city want to raise them?

So tonight come visit the council at their new time of 6:30.

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

CITY OF GONZALES CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
6:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER AND INVOCATION
PUBLIC COMMENTS Pgs.
The public comments section of the meeting is for citizens to address the Mayor and Council (as a whole).

ORDINANCES
1. Discuss and Consider Ordinance #2011-20 for Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2011 Tax Rate 1-22. Discuss and Consider Ordinance #2011- 23 for Adoption of the Revised Drought Contingency Plan 3-34

RESOLUTIONS
3. Discuss and Consider Resolution #2011- 44 to Approve the Subdivision of Property 35-43

EXECUTIVE SESSION
4. Deliberation Regarding Real Property Under Government Code § 551.072

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
5. Discuss and Consider items listed in executive session as necessary.

ADJOURN

Scout Sign Up in Gonzales

Just a bit off note, tonight is sign up for all scouting in Gonzales.  If you have a girl from kindergarten to 21 years old, or a boy from first grade through 21 we have an adventure for them. 

In a joint venture all scouts have come together with a website www.gonzalesscouting.com.  It describes all the types of scouting in Gonzales.  

We have Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and now Venturing for co-ed high adventure all in Gonzales. 

So if you have a child and want to see them in a great organization that will keep them active and learning great leadership skills, bring them tonight to Gonzales Elementary between 6 and 7:30 for sign up.

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

Friday, September 9, 2011

OMG!

If I were the person in charge of responding back to the State of Texas unemployment request, and I missed a deadline on the city manager that was fired in February, and because of my incompetence the EX city manager started receiving unemployment benefits .....I would resign in shame and move to another town!

There are NO FREAKING EXCUSES!

This man should be shamed at every corner he's seen at.  He shouldn't be served in this town anywhere that has the right to refuse service!

Geez, if I were the same man that for years couldn't see any problems at JB Wells,  if I were same man that did NOT put in ANY checks and balances for money handling and then is baffled how we are short on cash, if I were the same man that was suppose to separate JB Wells into its own fund 6 months ago, if I were the man that had not taken action on any one of the limited notes made by our auditors, if I were the man that pulled %$@#( numbers out of thin air for our budget instead of real numbers, if I were the man that never came to the city council letting them know how bad the financials were, EVEN though it was my job I would dig a hole and crawl into it after I quit in shame. In Japan I would be expected to commit Hari-kari.

HOW MUCH LONGER IS THIS TOWN GOING TO STAND FOR THIS KIND OF INCOMPETENCE?????  There is ABSOLUTELY no reason that a certain financial officer should have his job after close of business Monday.

Call the city on Monday, 672-2815, let them know this is unacceptable that we are still paying any kind of salary to our EX city manager and that those responsible should be shown the door IMMEDIATELY!!!

I swear, it appears the 2 were working in cahoots.  You have to wonder how much covering up he might of done to protect his EX boss. 

This is the end of this public ranting.

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

Committees in Gonzales

I saw something happen at Tuesdays meeting that I've never seen before.  I saw the Beautification Committee give a report on their actions and some of the things they are planning. 

Now I'm going to be honest with you until the budgeting process this year I didn't even know we had a Beautification Committee.  As a matter of fact, I found out we had a list of committees that I learned about during the budgeting process.  It was a bit mind boggling to me, because in my entire time going to city council meetings the only time I've ever heard from any committee was when they needed to appoint additional people to their committees.

So I'm a bit perplexed.  In every other situation, and according to Roberts Rules of Order (one of our governing documents), committees are to regularly report back to the council.  Why?  So that the managing body (read city council) is informed and knows what is going on. 

Over the last year or so I've heard several times that "our councilmen never come to our meetings".  It's not their job!  Their job is to have the reports of committees come to them.  Committees are created to hash out issues, to create solutions to problems that the city council doesn't have time themselves to do.  It does not relinquish final authority/responsibility by creating committees.  It's still all falls back on the city council. 

I want to quote from Roberts Rules of Order - "Generally the term committee implies that, within the area of its assigned responsibilities, the committee has less authority to act independently for the society (or other constituting power (read city council here)) than a board is usually understood to have.  Thus, if the committee is to do more than report its empowered to act for the society only on specific instructions; or, if it is given standing powers, its actions may be more closely subject to review than a board's, or it may be required to report more fully." (9th Edition, Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised)

So  in all the years of going to council I have to ask myself, "Where the heck is the reporting to the council?"  Why do these committees expect the councilmen to come to them, when it's their obligations to report back to the council? 

This last Tuesday Mr. Burchard did a great job of reporting to the council.  He gave a listing of what is in the works, what are on the "we'd like to do" list, and even some long term planning.  The council has now been informed as to what the Beautification Committee is up to. 

I would love to hear from all these other committees too.  Wouldn't they want the council to know that 1) they really are working on things for the City of Gonzales  2) that the direction they are taking is one that the council is wanting to go in so that their work doesn't get yanked after a lot of sweat and blood has been put into it.

Last I have is that while there is probably (though I'm not 100% certain) that most of these committees do not have to have the 3 day written notification of agendas and such that some do (like the council, GEDC, Zoning), it sure would be nice if they posted on the city website that a meeting is planned so that if someone wanted to present an idea to that committee it was available to them. I'm certain our city secretary could post in the agendas and announcements section of our website any upcoming meetings in a heart beat. I wouldn't have a clue how to present something to most of the committees, because I don't know who they are or when/where they meet.

Right now most people in Gonzales don't even know 1/2 the committees we have (btw, ALL committees are to be appointed by the city council per our city charter), much less their function or who is involved.  I personally think it's time to give the recognition to the hard workers, their works, and to come together at our central governing body, our city council, to make sure we are all working together in a single direction, after all it's their job. 

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Response on My Actions for the Proposed Veterans Memoral

For those who missed the city council meeting last Tuesday, there was an item about the proposed Veterans Memorial.  After some heated debate the council had a motion on the table to "get together with all the organizations to town, and come back to us when everyone is in agreement".  The motion was seconded and prior to the vote I stood up to comment.

This was the 2nd time that Mr. Mercer came up on this issue. He followed the directions that the council gave him last time, and expressed that he could not proceed until he knew where the proposed monument would be placed, as the next step is a costly step that requires exact land shaping to finish.  So the a plan drawn up for the 1200 St. Lawrence wouldn't work a block over.

In the end Tommy Schrig withdrew his original motion, and remotioned to grant the Memorial the corner by the cannon on St. Lawrence.

Today I received the following comment on another section of my blog -

Anonymous said...
Dennis Quote - "We (our city) has to get back to basics! If we don't need it right now we can't afford it."   

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for recognizing the Veteran's and the sacrifices they have made for us and our country, but why now? Who is going to pay for that and where is the money coming from? When we are so much in debt why are we approving to spend more money right now? And why you Dennis of all people were fighting for them to make a decision? You are the one constantly complaining about the spending and the budget. Also you are the one who stated previously that there needs to be more tabling of items on the city council agenda rather than making a quick un-informed decision thus costing more money. Why you of all people pushed the council to make a decision when they were going to table the motion? 

In my opinion, you are going against several things that you have already stated you stand for. Why should we believe anything you have to say? It seems that you are only interested in your own agenda and if its beneficial to you to do so or try to make a name for yourself.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

We ♥ Our Fire Fighters


I have so much to write about going on in the city right now.  But before I do I believe this blog, and we as a community, need to make sure we let EVERY fireman we see gets told "THANK YOU" from the bottom of our hearts. 

Their untold selflessness is what has kept our town safe, especially over the last couple of weeks, and really months with this drought, is incredible and I'm not sure we as a community have let them know. 

For those who don't know we have both paid and volunteer firemen in Gonzales.  A majority of our firemen are volunteers though. 

So you want to tell them thank you?  Do so this Sunday by going through Independence Park and picking up a BBQ plate.  It's a weak thank you, but it will be appreciated and a small token of our appreciation for all the good work these men do.

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser