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

Cha-Ching

First Tuesday of the month was last night, so that means that our city council was in session and another chunk of unbudgeted change was approved for spending. No don't get me wrong, there are times we must spend unbudgeted money, and one of them was last night to an extent, but the rest? So here's the run down:

$48,000 in longevity bonuses for city employees. I have a couple of issues with this carte blanche bonus, though have to give Tommy Schrig props for trying to do it correctly.

This bonus is $4 a month for every month an employee has worked for the city up to 25 years. Now that includes Mr. Barnes who has worked for the city for 1 month. Councilman Schrig tried to pass it so that is applied to employees over 10 years. In my public working I've never seen one paid for any employee under 3 years. But not Gonzales. Why are we thanking those for their 'longevity' when they haven't proven any?

Additionally Councilman Hernandez asked about the handful of employees that within the last 2 years have gotten pay raises of over 25% and if they too would get the bonus. Oh yeah they will.

So why didn't the council table this motion till these issues could be sorted out? Had the city manager bring back a revised proposal that would truly benefit those who deserve something, yet not double dip those who have already benefited AND those who haven't earned it yet? I'm at a lose as to why our council is so quick to pass everything that comes before them.

Now the fire department asked for $10,000 in additional funds for unforeseen expenses, primarily due to the additional use they've gotten this year. My ONLY complaint is that we should have in our budget some of this additional repair items. We know that repair cost are never going to be what we thought they'd be. And heads up, for the next couple of years while this drought continues our fire department is going to need more money! Let's get it planned for now. I know it's not one of those expenses anyone wants to pay for, until that fire is at your house, but we've got to, and these firemen have busted their own tails raising money themselves too.

Now in one breath we heard (though I haven't seen the ytd/budgeted finances to confirm) that we have a windfall of cash from increased tax revenues and oil, and then in the next breath heard we would be going out for bonds to pay for the issuance of bonds for the money we need to make things work.

What I didn't hear is anything on the St. George debacle. Why after 2 year 4 months we still don't have finished streets.

I didn't hear one committee update from any boards / committees.

And with the exception of 2 out of 13 items, I heard NO discussion of ANY of the issues brought before council. I heard next item, motion, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, next item repeat above.

For those interested, the second item discussed was when Mr. Hernandez asked the city manager to work with the failed petition on garage sale issue to come up with a compromise even though the petition didn't hit the 400+ signatures the city is saying were needed. This will come back up in December for modifications to the garage sale ordinance. So if you're interested be there in December to speak your peace.

God Bless