“This is a partisan witch hunt. If I wanted to hide something, why would I put it in the budget? I’m not going to be scapegoated because you can’t read a budget," Leopold added.
Yes. Yes. Exactly. Jonathan is pointing out the city council's weakness. The council does not employ its own budget analyst and it isn't necessarily made up of highly educated people. But the world isn't going to dumb it down for you, council. Time after time you get rolled by the administration, for fear of betraying just how ignorant you really are. The council needs to vote itself the resources necessary to do their job right. You are the civic counterweight to the administration. In fact, it's really the council that calls the shots. Most select boards in Vermont hire the town manager.
This is more than just about politics. It's about civics. I want to see the city council stop sucking. Double pension for Keleher to the tune of a half million dollars! Approved because the council doesn't know what it's voting on! I'm glad that they took at least this pitiful symbolic step, voting 8-6 to suspend Leopold. Although sadly, I have to agree with the mayor that that shouldn't happen. The thought of a Progressive mayor ordering a taxpayer funded paid vacation to an already very rich man makes me nauseous.
Also from Blurt, I guess the council passed this:
The board of finance shall prepare a request for proposals to engage an auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of BT's finances and operations;I guess an audit is necessary, but unfortunately that won't be free. I suggest Tim Nulty do the audit. Bill Keogh, if you're reading- I would be happy to serve on the ad hoc committee if we would really wrap up work by November 16.
The City Council president shall appoint an ad hoc committee to review BT's governance structure and recommend changes; and
The administration shall present refinancing strategies, and other financing options, for BT to pursue. They must present those to the ad hoc committee and the board of finance by no later than November 16.
Bob needs to at least have Jonathan step aside so an independent audit can be done. It is not appropriate for him to be in the position when an independent audit of the cities finances and/or BT is being executed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for realism sake, Bob will never fire Jonathan. If he did that, who would run the city? The perception out there that Jonathan has been running the show was clearly evident over the past week and a half and it makes Bob look like he is not in the loop on anything. That's just the perception that I have.
I like Bob but had this come out before the election (which I have a feeling there was a cover-up), he would have been crushed and Kurt Wright would have been our Mayor.
You mean Kurt Wright, the chair of the Finance Committee, the Finance Committee that was informed of everything Kurt is accusing people of keeping secret? Hopefully he'll be sorting bottles at Kerry's for a long time.
ReplyDeleteBill Keogh really needs to find a rocker. Honestly, Sharon Bushor corrected him fifteen times. We won't think less of him if he decided he'd like to enjoy his old age by doing something other than mucking up a meeting.
ReplyDelete"Prognonymous"
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