I had several thoughts and wanted to just go through a couple of things.
First on this blog someone tried to say the people of Gonzales don't care. I begged to differ with them, and through several means, and spearheaded by Mrs. Leifeste, this community raised enough PRIVATE money to pay for the damage caused by vandals in our city cemetery. Thank you Mrs. Leifeste for spearheading this.
I want to stress two things here.
1) This was PRIVATE money used for this project. Not a dime from our city tax dollars. I believe that's the way it should be. Even today I heard a commercial for a private cemetery and they talked about perpetual care basically covered lawn maintenance. I even went to the state laws and the Texas Cemeteries Association and they both state headstones are not covered in perpetual care.
2) It's nice to see that even though the nay sayers swore it wouldn't happen, that the people of Gonzales have done what good citizens do, we took care of those things that needed to be taken care of even without the government getting into the middle of it. You go Gonzales!
Next, Monday is the final day to file for elections in our city. We've had 2 file for mayor. I hope it's a race on issues, not on personality. I think it's good for Gonzales to have people running for mayor. Who knows, maybe there will be more than the 2 by Monday. It will also be interesting to see who files in 4.
Reminder that Wednesday we have a new stop light in Gonzales. It's long past due and hopefully this will prevent some of the major accidents we've seen recently at that intersection at the new HEB and Tiger Tote. All the truck traffic coming out of industrial park has been an issue for years.
I know in conjunction with that I'm excited about the new HEB opening up in just a couple of weeks.
Is anyone else tired of seeing St. George torn up? Now don't get me wrong, I know the guys working on it haven't been on it terribly long, but the entire project has got to of been one of the worst managed projects ever. I'm hoping we're down to the end of this project and we can wipe it off our list.
Last is that 2/28 is a budget meeting. No no one showed up for the last one except our council members. While they might appreciate the quiet, the citizens should take an interest in what's going on. The proposed budget is in the city office and I believe a copy is in the library for public inspection. It would be nice to see and hear from a few concerned citizens at the meeting.
God Bless,
Dennis
Monday, February 27, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Reflections
Normally I leave reflections to my other blog My Journey of Enlightenment but considering I'm going to do so here.
It was 1 year ago this month that the world as Gonzales knew it started to go through one of the most turmoil of times. A very split council, lots of accusations, lots of people upset, and it didn't matter where you stood politically you weren't very happy with what was going on in our city government.
We had issues from our council all the way down to several employees within our city. We had state agencies coming in from TCEQ, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Rangers, LCRA, and others all not happy with the city of Gonzales. Many of them speaking at our council meetings letting us know we were dropping the balls in many areas.
I went to the council meeting last week and afterwards I reflected where we are today.
We've made HUGE changes in management. We've made huge stride (not that there isn't further to go - but give credit where it's due) in working transparently in our city. We've replace several employees that were either crooked or over their heads.
JB Wells is on the rebound. Our concessions are making money (how? we leased them out). We are actually charging for the services we were suppose to be charging for. We aren't financially bleeding the citizens of Gonzales dry over a rodeo arena.
Our city manager is letting the council know BEFORE contracts are being entered into, and asking their blessing, rather than trying to fly below the radar, even when he has the authority to sign the contracts already. We have public access to all checks written. He manages our city AND still goes out and listens to what the citizens are doing in social functions (something some of the previous managers didn't do).
We have a new financial officer. This one is brand new, but the fact that the old one who failed to reply to Tx Unemployment on time, failed to report proper income, failed to give the department managers timely and CORRECT information is gone is a blessing. The interim found undeclared deposits, accounts improperly posted, and helped get the accounting system on track, something that was always 'in the pile' for the previous one.
I see a council that actually can get along and not only be civil, but can exchange thoughts and ideas for the first time in probably 6 - 8 years. They've grown one of our biggest assets, Victoria College. They've brought new business in, and the rumblings I hear under the surface is that several more businesses, places for adults and our teenagers can work have either purchased or are looking for places to move into Gonzales. That's not counting the surveying stakes across the street from HEB where a Super Walmart is suppose to move in. Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses all looking and/or moving in.
A year ago I'm not sure I would of thought we would be here so quickly. I figured our council would still be bickering, and we'd still be figuring our way out of all the mess we were standing in last February.
Do we have more to go? Oh my, you bet we do! But as we continue to move forward, let's not forget what all has been accomplished. Let's remember that we were knee deep in alligators and honestly not very marketable to an outsider, and let's NOT go back that way again.
I know there are still a handful of tough issues the council and our city manager has to cross off their list. Not fun ones. But I have confidence when I reflect back in another year we can once again be better off than we are today.
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser
It was 1 year ago this month that the world as Gonzales knew it started to go through one of the most turmoil of times. A very split council, lots of accusations, lots of people upset, and it didn't matter where you stood politically you weren't very happy with what was going on in our city government.
We had issues from our council all the way down to several employees within our city. We had state agencies coming in from TCEQ, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Rangers, LCRA, and others all not happy with the city of Gonzales. Many of them speaking at our council meetings letting us know we were dropping the balls in many areas.
I went to the council meeting last week and afterwards I reflected where we are today.
We've made HUGE changes in management. We've made huge stride (not that there isn't further to go - but give credit where it's due) in working transparently in our city. We've replace several employees that were either crooked or over their heads.
JB Wells is on the rebound. Our concessions are making money (how? we leased them out). We are actually charging for the services we were suppose to be charging for. We aren't financially bleeding the citizens of Gonzales dry over a rodeo arena.
Our city manager is letting the council know BEFORE contracts are being entered into, and asking their blessing, rather than trying to fly below the radar, even when he has the authority to sign the contracts already. We have public access to all checks written. He manages our city AND still goes out and listens to what the citizens are doing in social functions (something some of the previous managers didn't do).
We have a new financial officer. This one is brand new, but the fact that the old one who failed to reply to Tx Unemployment on time, failed to report proper income, failed to give the department managers timely and CORRECT information is gone is a blessing. The interim found undeclared deposits, accounts improperly posted, and helped get the accounting system on track, something that was always 'in the pile' for the previous one.
I see a council that actually can get along and not only be civil, but can exchange thoughts and ideas for the first time in probably 6 - 8 years. They've grown one of our biggest assets, Victoria College. They've brought new business in, and the rumblings I hear under the surface is that several more businesses, places for adults and our teenagers can work have either purchased or are looking for places to move into Gonzales. That's not counting the surveying stakes across the street from HEB where a Super Walmart is suppose to move in. Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses all looking and/or moving in.
A year ago I'm not sure I would of thought we would be here so quickly. I figured our council would still be bickering, and we'd still be figuring our way out of all the mess we were standing in last February.
Do we have more to go? Oh my, you bet we do! But as we continue to move forward, let's not forget what all has been accomplished. Let's remember that we were knee deep in alligators and honestly not very marketable to an outsider, and let's NOT go back that way again.
I know there are still a handful of tough issues the council and our city manager has to cross off their list. Not fun ones. But I have confidence when I reflect back in another year we can once again be better off than we are today.
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Reporting of Committees
At the council meeting this last week a gentleman stood up during public comments and complained because a plan that was submitted to the Beautification committee was rejected (for this purpose it doesn't matter why), and when he tried to get records from the committee meeting he was informed that we have no such records in our city for any of our committees.
While that's not exactly right, GADC, the Zoning Board, and a couple of others keep and maintain records, it is so that most have no reporting to the city what so ever.
So straight from the Open Meetings Handbook 2012, page 12 -
D. Committees and Subcommittees of Governmental Bodies
Generally, meetings of less than a quorum of a governmental body are not subject to the Act.70 However, when a governmental body appoints a committee that includes less than a quorum of the parent body and grants it authority to supervise or control public business or public policy, the committee may itself be a “governmental body” subject to the Act.71
Our committees definitely fall into the 'less than a quorum' since I've never seen our council members appointed to these committees. But they most definitely ARE given permission and authority to supervise and control public business and public policy.
In September I wrote about the need for our committees to report to the council on a regular basis. read here
I'm being told that there are committees meeting without proper notification to ALL members of the committees, that there are some that are basically committee in name only and that the 'elite few' just do whatever they want on these committees. When I spoke to Bob Burchard about some of his actions in the city and upsetting people by those doing things (things often related to committees he's on), and he told me "I didn't do it it wouldn't get done!"
Really?
So that means that you can circumvent all the policy, procedures and laws that were set out to make sure that the public has say in our city and for a COMMITTEE (defined as - a group of persons elected or appointed to perform some service or function, as to investigate, report on, or act upon a particular matter). That the few don't dictate to the many. It's also that the council knows what's going on! The sad part is he's not alone in his attitude about committee work.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, our committees all work for the city council (who in turn works for the best interest of the people of Gonzales). They don't get free reign, and they have a obligation to keep the council and the citizens of this town informed as to where they spend any money and what policies they are dictating. As a courtesy to the council they also owe them a "what we're working on" so that the council can direct any actions that might be duplicated (or in some cases triplicated) or in contrary to the direction the council is trying to move our city.
I think our city needs to immediately inform all committees to insure they are following by certain rules, and while some of them are not laws, they are still courteous and transparent ways to operate -
1) All meetings times and places are posted on the city websites for all committees
2) A quorum must be present at all committee meetings for any votes of action to be taken
3) Minutes for all meetings must be posted with the city secretary within 3 business days following the next committee meeting (to give time to approve the minutes before posting - so most minute, just like our council minutes would be a month behind).
4) All committees must make a public report at least quarterly to the city council with general details of project status (what's been completed, and what are we working on) for the councils knowledge and direction.
Some of the committees have done an excellent job. But honestly I believe some of our committees have taken on a life of their own that were never intended. We as a public have a right to know what's going on in our committees. We have a right to be at any meeting of any committee. We have a right to have a say, even if we're not on the committee, just as we do with our elected officials. But the way it's set up right now, our citizens and our city council have no way of knowing what's going on in those committee meetings.
God Bless
Dennis Nesser
While that's not exactly right, GADC, the Zoning Board, and a couple of others keep and maintain records, it is so that most have no reporting to the city what so ever.
So straight from the Open Meetings Handbook 2012, page 12 -
D. Committees and Subcommittees of Governmental Bodies
Generally, meetings of less than a quorum of a governmental body are not subject to the Act.70 However, when a governmental body appoints a committee that includes less than a quorum of the parent body and grants it authority to supervise or control public business or public policy, the committee may itself be a “governmental body” subject to the Act.71
Our committees definitely fall into the 'less than a quorum' since I've never seen our council members appointed to these committees. But they most definitely ARE given permission and authority to supervise and control public business and public policy.
In September I wrote about the need for our committees to report to the council on a regular basis. read here
I'm being told that there are committees meeting without proper notification to ALL members of the committees, that there are some that are basically committee in name only and that the 'elite few' just do whatever they want on these committees. When I spoke to Bob Burchard about some of his actions in the city and upsetting people by those doing things (things often related to committees he's on), and he told me "I didn't do it it wouldn't get done!"
Really?
So that means that you can circumvent all the policy, procedures and laws that were set out to make sure that the public has say in our city and for a COMMITTEE (defined as - a group of persons elected or appointed to perform some service or function, as to investigate, report on, or act upon a particular matter). That the few don't dictate to the many. It's also that the council knows what's going on! The sad part is he's not alone in his attitude about committee work.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, our committees all work for the city council (who in turn works for the best interest of the people of Gonzales). They don't get free reign, and they have a obligation to keep the council and the citizens of this town informed as to where they spend any money and what policies they are dictating. As a courtesy to the council they also owe them a "what we're working on" so that the council can direct any actions that might be duplicated (or in some cases triplicated) or in contrary to the direction the council is trying to move our city.
I think our city needs to immediately inform all committees to insure they are following by certain rules, and while some of them are not laws, they are still courteous and transparent ways to operate -
1) All meetings times and places are posted on the city websites for all committees
2) A quorum must be present at all committee meetings for any votes of action to be taken
3) Minutes for all meetings must be posted with the city secretary within 3 business days following the next committee meeting (to give time to approve the minutes before posting - so most minute, just like our council minutes would be a month behind).
4) All committees must make a public report at least quarterly to the city council with general details of project status (what's been completed, and what are we working on) for the councils knowledge and direction.
Some of the committees have done an excellent job. But honestly I believe some of our committees have taken on a life of their own that were never intended. We as a public have a right to know what's going on in our committees. We have a right to be at any meeting of any committee. We have a right to have a say, even if we're not on the committee, just as we do with our elected officials. But the way it's set up right now, our citizens and our city council have no way of knowing what's going on in those committee meetings.
God Bless
Dennis Nesser
Monday, February 6, 2012
Today starts it off...
So today is the day you can go down to the city secretary and fill in your paper work to run in the May election.
Remember a few things...
1) Per city rules you must be registered to vote and live in that district(council member) / city(mayor) for 6 months. That means your voter registration card and drivers license have to match where you fall to sleep at since December 2011 (I did tell you that back in October).
2) It cost NOTHING to sign up. That's right, no expense what so ever to sign up to run.
3) There are no party affiliations for city races. You don't have to declare Republican or Democrat or other, as a matter of fact there is no where TO declare such an affiliation.
4) There are, by state law, financial forms that have to be filled out periodically, and you can get in big trouble if you don't.
5) There are guidelines for all signs, printed material, and advertisements that you put out that have to be maintained (Those little disclaimers, etc).
6) We have a wide open Mayoral race (meaning no incumbent) and 2 council seats (3 and 4) running this time.
7) Who is more qualified than YOU? You have ideas, you have talents, you have vision for this town? Then why aren't you running?
So get down to city hall today, ask for your application, sign up and let's have some good, clean exchange of ideas that will help the city grow.
And for the records, those of you who are seriously thinking about it, leave the crappy mud slinging for the mud wrestling shows in the big cities. We don't need to know who didn't wash their hands this morning, or who said what about who, or who did something 25 years ago...it's not pertinent to the issues at hand.
What are those? How are we going to continue our stride to a more transparent city government? How are we going to manage our money better so we don't have to borrow $6,000,000 in the future? How are we going to deal with the influx of people who are coming in the city right now? And how are we going to keep our infrastructure in good shape through all of this? How are we going to make JB Wells accountable and yet be the best little rodeo arena in Texas? Those are just a few of the issues at the top of my head right now.
That's what the voters of Gonzales want to hear about!
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser
Remember a few things...
1) Per city rules you must be registered to vote and live in that district(council member) / city(mayor) for 6 months. That means your voter registration card and drivers license have to match where you fall to sleep at since December 2011 (I did tell you that back in October).
2) It cost NOTHING to sign up. That's right, no expense what so ever to sign up to run.
3) There are no party affiliations for city races. You don't have to declare Republican or Democrat or other, as a matter of fact there is no where TO declare such an affiliation.
4) There are, by state law, financial forms that have to be filled out periodically, and you can get in big trouble if you don't.
5) There are guidelines for all signs, printed material, and advertisements that you put out that have to be maintained (Those little disclaimers, etc).
6) We have a wide open Mayoral race (meaning no incumbent) and 2 council seats (3 and 4) running this time.
7) Who is more qualified than YOU? You have ideas, you have talents, you have vision for this town? Then why aren't you running?
So get down to city hall today, ask for your application, sign up and let's have some good, clean exchange of ideas that will help the city grow.
And for the records, those of you who are seriously thinking about it, leave the crappy mud slinging for the mud wrestling shows in the big cities. We don't need to know who didn't wash their hands this morning, or who said what about who, or who did something 25 years ago...it's not pertinent to the issues at hand.
What are those? How are we going to continue our stride to a more transparent city government? How are we going to manage our money better so we don't have to borrow $6,000,000 in the future? How are we going to deal with the influx of people who are coming in the city right now? And how are we going to keep our infrastructure in good shape through all of this? How are we going to make JB Wells accountable and yet be the best little rodeo arena in Texas? Those are just a few of the issues at the top of my head right now.
That's what the voters of Gonzales want to hear about!
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser
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