The moment will have passed by the time I will have a chance to do the topic justice but, let me just make a couple of points regarding current City events.
On Monday night, the Mayor pulled a resolution from the City Council agenda which would have alerted the public and state legislators that the City Council was opposed to the state version of the FairTax.
It isn't unprecedented for the Springfield City Council to pass such resolutions and it isn't unprecedented for the County Commission to join the City Council in a "joint resolution" but, that isn't the point.
I'm beginning to wonder if we do not have a resolution happy Mayor on our hands.
In a newspaper article today, I have read the Mayor is "drafting" a new resolution before the Council to "scold" A T & T for recovering the costs of a settlement made to the City of Springfield.
It wouldn't seem so ridiculous to me if I didn't believe that if the City had an opportunity to cite two state statutes which allowed the City the right to recover the cost of resurfacing City streets (for instance) through some "back door" tax (sic), the City wouldn't jump all over it. I firmly believe if the City could do it and say, "According to state statute we have a right and we are doing nothing wrong," they would add such a fee in a heart beat. And, ironically, the Mayor opposes A T & T (a corporation) reimbursing its costs while losing $63,000 in taxpayer funds due to the City's Council authorized choice to place the CIP sales tax renewal election on a June ballot rather than on the April ballot that was already scheduled.
Add to the above the fact that, when all is said and done, I can clearly discern a principle of the FairTax hidden in the article I read this morning exposing all this silliness. Corporations do not pay taxes, people pay taxes. So, the City taxes A T & T and A T & T, in turn, adds a fee to its customers' bills to recover the taxes with which the City has charged it. It's a very simple lesson and O'Neal, if he had thought it through, might have realized his opposition to what A T & T is doing draws him closer to the FairTax philosophy. Irony abounds.
In the meantime, how seriously should we take Springfield City Council resolutions in the future? Are the resolutions the Mayor is proposing representative of mere political preference or are they resolutions meant to champion a principle which is representative of the view of the constituents Council members are meant to represent? I hope Council resolutions don't end up meaning less because they are based on politics rather than principles and on personal preference rather than right and wrong. Perhaps we should call for a resolution to cease frivolous resolutions.
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Showing posts with label Mayor Jim O'Neal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mayor Jim O'Neal. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Springfield, We Have a Problem
Internal Auditor Position Should be Filled As Soon as Possible and Practical
If City Manager Greg Burris or City Clerk Brenda Cirtin announced today they would be retiring next week, how much time do you believe would pass before the City Council was discussing how they would go about filling the vacant positions?
Why does it seem the City Council's Internal Auditor position is and has been treated as though it is an unimportant, backburner issue? Because, I propose it has been.
I am fully aware that Ms. Lathrom's passing only occurred one week ago this evening, and I do not mean to sound callous but, I am aware that Ms. Lathrom had been on medical leave for many months prior to her passing, and the internal auditor position, although apparently not as *sexy* as the City Manager position, is an extremely important municipal government position.
I first started writing about the internal auditor position when I was still the City Council/City Government "beat writer" for the "Community Free Press." It's been obvious from the outset that the position simply is not valued in the same way the positions of City Manager and City Clerk are valued and yet, the internal auditor position is one of only three positions whose inhabitor answers directly to the City Council and who the City Council is tasked to hire and fire.
While today's Mayor and City Council look with ingenuity (sic) to a future appointment of a Citizens' Sales Tax Oversight Committee, I wonder when they will fill what I have advocated (in my own way) as a vitally important position within City government that has, in it's very short history, been consistently given only minimal thought and value. Such a position, if utilized properly would make a Citizens Sales Tax Oversight Committee a silly and unnecessary prospect.
Before Lathrom was hired, back in January, 2008, there didn't appear to be much consensus among City Council members as to the potential value of an internal auditor. Councilman Doug Burlison said, "This proposed position (internal auditor) is, in fact, the key to any reforms that City Council may enact in response to the audit." But, then Mayor Tom Carlson, in his State of the City Report, said about the position, "(State Auditors) talked about an internal auditor, and we're going to have one of those, and so, I hope everybody's happy, but it's not that big a deal." (Community Free Press Archive edition June 18, 2008, page 1 article, "City Manager vs. Internal Auditor")
Why is it important?
A March 4, "Springfield News-Leader" "Our Voice" editorial column pointed out the City will lose $63,000 in taxpayer money by holding the CIP tax renewal election in June rather than including it in a legally mandated, already existing, April election. The editorial also pointed out that by skipping over the mandated April, 2010 election and opting to put the measure on a June ballot, it will cost OTC an extra (estimated) $32,000 because they are on the ballot alone.
City leaders gave the "News-Leader" a few reasons for holding the election in June rather than April but, admitted they could have prepared for it and put it on the April ballot if they had chosen to do so. In other words, they could have saved the taxpayer and Ozarks Technical Community College about $95,000 in combined funds.
Apparently, Mayor O'Neal didn't know putting the CIP sales tax question on a June ballot was going to cost the City taxpayers $63,000 more than if they had scheduled it for the April ballot. That alone is, to borrow a phrase from KSGF's old radio talk show host Vincent David Jericho, asinine stupidy...how could the Mayor not know that!? Why wasn't he told!? Would an internal auditor have made a difference? I'd like to think so, IF that internal auditor was valued, with his or her services properly utilized.
I hate to keep repeating the same information but, people! In Section 2.15 of the City Charter it describes the "Investigator," or Council's internal auditor:
After April Lathrom was hired, she wrote her own Policies and Procedures. They were adopted by the City Council on November 10, 2008, (see Council Bill 2008-322/Special Ordinance number 25510) but, even as late as March of last year (2009), then Council candidate Nick Ibarra questioned the efficacy and transparency of the internal auditor's position, and also in March, 2009, Councilman Burlison said, "...we do not interact with April enough, however, that is an issue I'd rather attack with 4 or 5 fresh faces. I'm not suggesting that there is any kind of communication problem, I just feel like we are not doing enough of it. If I was April, I think I would want more contact with my bosses, as well."
Today, I heard from Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee Dan Chiles. The Finance and Administration Committee is the Council Committee that was tasked with oversight of the internal auditor. Chiles seems to still have a bit of appreciation for the position that no one, to date, other than the occupant of the position, has taken very seriously at all, that is if we judge by actions instead of words.
"We haven't talked about a replacement for April. There is a hiring freeze, but I will make the case to hire an internal auditor," Chiles wrote in an email response to my query. "We promised the voters we would create and fill that position, so that is what we should do."
I would suggest to the Springfield City Council that you consider the position not as merely something you promised the voters but, rather as an invaluable and essential asset that you cannot function well without. You wouldn't try to do your job without a City Manager. You wouldn't try to do your job without a City Clerk. Why do you undervalue the essential job of the internal auditor?
The internal auditor in Kansas City, Missouri is known as the "City Auditor." His name is Gary White and he has his own Web page.
"Our goal is to conduct audits that answer questions that matter to people outside of City Hall; that enable the city to reduce, avoid or recover costs; and to alert city officials to potential problems that could undermine the public’s trust in City government," the Web page boasts, among other things.
Just including and since November of 2009, KC's City Auditor has filed two audit reports and two survey memos on his Web site. The documents are available to the public and include: Resolution Tracking, This audit was conducted in order to determine whether city staff are implementing resolutions adopted by the City Council; E-Service Systems Security, This audit was conducted in order to determine the security of the City's e-service systems; Fiscal Year 2010 Second Quarter Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results, This memo reports the second quarter results of the Fiscal Year 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey and; Fiscal Year 2010 Third Quarter Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results, This memo reports the third quarter results of the Fiscal Year 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey.
The Springfield City Council, if it ever decides to take the "investigator" or internal auditor position seriously, will have an invaluable oversight tool for assessing the operations of Springfield City government but, on this account, I'm afraid their eyes will continue to be wide shut.
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If City Manager Greg Burris or City Clerk Brenda Cirtin announced today they would be retiring next week, how much time do you believe would pass before the City Council was discussing how they would go about filling the vacant positions?
Why does it seem the City Council's Internal Auditor position is and has been treated as though it is an unimportant, backburner issue? Because, I propose it has been.
I am fully aware that Ms. Lathrom's passing only occurred one week ago this evening, and I do not mean to sound callous but, I am aware that Ms. Lathrom had been on medical leave for many months prior to her passing, and the internal auditor position, although apparently not as *sexy* as the City Manager position, is an extremely important municipal government position.
I first started writing about the internal auditor position when I was still the City Council/City Government "beat writer" for the "Community Free Press." It's been obvious from the outset that the position simply is not valued in the same way the positions of City Manager and City Clerk are valued and yet, the internal auditor position is one of only three positions whose inhabitor answers directly to the City Council and who the City Council is tasked to hire and fire.
While today's Mayor and City Council look with ingenuity (sic) to a future appointment of a Citizens' Sales Tax Oversight Committee, I wonder when they will fill what I have advocated (in my own way) as a vitally important position within City government that has, in it's very short history, been consistently given only minimal thought and value. Such a position, if utilized properly would make a Citizens Sales Tax Oversight Committee a silly and unnecessary prospect.
Before Lathrom was hired, back in January, 2008, there didn't appear to be much consensus among City Council members as to the potential value of an internal auditor. Councilman Doug Burlison said, "This proposed position (internal auditor) is, in fact, the key to any reforms that City Council may enact in response to the audit." But, then Mayor Tom Carlson, in his State of the City Report, said about the position, "(State Auditors) talked about an internal auditor, and we're going to have one of those, and so, I hope everybody's happy, but it's not that big a deal." (Community Free Press Archive edition June 18, 2008, page 1 article, "City Manager vs. Internal Auditor")
Why is it important?
A March 4, "Springfield News-Leader" "Our Voice" editorial column pointed out the City will lose $63,000 in taxpayer money by holding the CIP tax renewal election in June rather than including it in a legally mandated, already existing, April election. The editorial also pointed out that by skipping over the mandated April, 2010 election and opting to put the measure on a June ballot, it will cost OTC an extra (estimated) $32,000 because they are on the ballot alone.
City leaders gave the "News-Leader" a few reasons for holding the election in June rather than April but, admitted they could have prepared for it and put it on the April ballot if they had chosen to do so. In other words, they could have saved the taxpayer and Ozarks Technical Community College about $95,000 in combined funds.
Apparently, Mayor O'Neal didn't know putting the CIP sales tax question on a June ballot was going to cost the City taxpayers $63,000 more than if they had scheduled it for the April ballot. That alone is, to borrow a phrase from KSGF's old radio talk show host Vincent David Jericho, asinine stupidy...how could the Mayor not know that!? Why wasn't he told!? Would an internal auditor have made a difference? I'd like to think so, IF that internal auditor was valued, with his or her services properly utilized.
I hate to keep repeating the same information but, people! In Section 2.15 of the City Charter it describes the "Investigator," or Council's internal auditor:
"The council may appoint an investigator who shall serve for such term as the council may prescribe. He shall be a certified public accountant or a person specially trained and experienced in governmental or business investigation or administration. His duty shall be to keep the council informed as to the work performed, methods, and financial affairs of the city. He shall not be responsible for the keeping of accounts. He shall make such investigations of the work of all departments of the city and such reports to the council as it shall require. He shall make such other investigations as the council may direct. He shall have access to all books and records of all departments of the city. If the council desires, he shall certify to the correctness of any or all financial reports before the same shall be regarded as official."
After April Lathrom was hired, she wrote her own Policies and Procedures. They were adopted by the City Council on November 10, 2008, (see Council Bill 2008-322/Special Ordinance number 25510) but, even as late as March of last year (2009), then Council candidate Nick Ibarra questioned the efficacy and transparency of the internal auditor's position, and also in March, 2009, Councilman Burlison said, "...we do not interact with April enough, however, that is an issue I'd rather attack with 4 or 5 fresh faces. I'm not suggesting that there is any kind of communication problem, I just feel like we are not doing enough of it. If I was April, I think I would want more contact with my bosses, as well."
Today, I heard from Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee Dan Chiles. The Finance and Administration Committee is the Council Committee that was tasked with oversight of the internal auditor. Chiles seems to still have a bit of appreciation for the position that no one, to date, other than the occupant of the position, has taken very seriously at all, that is if we judge by actions instead of words.
"We haven't talked about a replacement for April. There is a hiring freeze, but I will make the case to hire an internal auditor," Chiles wrote in an email response to my query. "We promised the voters we would create and fill that position, so that is what we should do."
I would suggest to the Springfield City Council that you consider the position not as merely something you promised the voters but, rather as an invaluable and essential asset that you cannot function well without. You wouldn't try to do your job without a City Manager. You wouldn't try to do your job without a City Clerk. Why do you undervalue the essential job of the internal auditor?
The internal auditor in Kansas City, Missouri is known as the "City Auditor." His name is Gary White and he has his own Web page.
"Our goal is to conduct audits that answer questions that matter to people outside of City Hall; that enable the city to reduce, avoid or recover costs; and to alert city officials to potential problems that could undermine the public’s trust in City government," the Web page boasts, among other things.
Just including and since November of 2009, KC's City Auditor has filed two audit reports and two survey memos on his Web site. The documents are available to the public and include: Resolution Tracking, This audit was conducted in order to determine whether city staff are implementing resolutions adopted by the City Council; E-Service Systems Security, This audit was conducted in order to determine the security of the City's e-service systems; Fiscal Year 2010 Second Quarter Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results, This memo reports the second quarter results of the Fiscal Year 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey and; Fiscal Year 2010 Third Quarter Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results, This memo reports the third quarter results of the Fiscal Year 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey.
The Springfield City Council, if it ever decides to take the "investigator" or internal auditor position seriously, will have an invaluable oversight tool for assessing the operations of Springfield City government but, on this account, I'm afraid their eyes will continue to be wide shut.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Springfield Mayor's Pattern of Inappropriate Emails is Troubling
He says he'll stop. Read his previously unpublished apology to a Springfield resident.
Springfield, Missouri -- Apparently, Mayor Jim O'Neal knows an elected official's public image is one of importance. When I interviewed him by email during his run for Mayor in March 2009, in one of his answers, then, candidate Jim O'Neal wrote, "Here's something I learned from my work with the trucking industries efforts to enhance its image. It explains the role of image and why we should, w(he)ther we're truck drivers or politicians, be concerned about it. "Public image shapes public opinion which shapes public policy.""
Even during his campaign for Mayor, O'Neal appears to have had the perception that he was a victim of public or private attack. He wrote in answer to another question, "I have been recently and frequently the victim of attacks designed to incorrectly describe or attribute my allegiance or affiliation." He did not elaborate from where these frequent attacks sprang.
When O'Neal was campaigning for Mayor he emailed his supporters to ask them to write letters to the editor of the Springfield News-Leader in support of his election as Mayor. Again, O'Neal had perceived attacks from others, including frequent columnist for the News-Leader Ryan Cooper.
"It seems I am running against Mr. Cooper not Mr. Donegan, as he seemingly can’t speak for himself. I couldn’t find much in this article as to why Mr. Donegan would lead our city or his qualifications to be mayor; he simply attacks me in ways that are designed to stir up discontent," O'Neal told supporters in the email. Later in the email, he wrote, "Please mention in your letter about your support of the capital improvements tax and our support for citizens input and citizen task forces to develop solutions to community issues such as the pension problem. This organized, overexposed, vocal but small group wants to take away your right to vote on issues regarding the CIP, (Capital Improvement Program) parks and other issues designed to keep Springfield moving forward. The only way taxes can be changed are by a vote of you the citizens. These people don’t like that because the vast majority of people are voting for the CIP program, a program they want to kill....The last thing they want is for a broad based diverse group of citizens to have a voice in solving the problem. They‘ve already made up their mind and the public be damned."
While, in the above excerpt, O'Neal did not mention the Save Our Springfield Citizen Coalition (SOS) by name, SOS had proposed the City Council simply allow the CIP tax to sunset rather than approve its placement on the ballot for voters' potential extention in 2010. The current CIP tax is scheduled to sunset if the voters do not renew the tax. SOS favored letting the CIP tax expire as a part of their underfunded police and fire pension solution option.
On February 22, at a City Council meeting, Tom Martz read, as far as I know, the most recent inappropriate O'Neal email. Martz said the reading would be "uncomfortable." Martz was correct. It was certainly uncomfortable, especially when one considers it will air over and over again on the City of Springfield's dedicated cable television station and be archived online for a very long time at "CityView."
But, that said, it would not be appropriate to call the Martz address undeserved. As mentioned at the meeting, the inappropriate email Mayor O'Neal sent to Jim Hornaday was not the first inappropriate email the Mayor had sent to individuals who, much like the City Council, volunteer their time and energy for no fee (and no free lunch) to, as a result, reap the same sort of criticism the public, at large, has been known to hurl at the Council for all its well-intentioned effort. To be sure, when one enters the public forum, one is fair game for both criticism and praise. It is not without its advantages and disadvantages.
At any rate, it's all a matter of opinion whether Mayor O'Neal is or should feel warranted in accusing others of attack, my interest, as usual, was in preserving the information necessary for readers to form an opinion on the matter, not some spiteful attempt at exposing O'Neal. O'Neal has already been exposed and has already admitted the emails were inappropriate and apologized for sending, at least, the email to Mr. Hornaday.
So, without further ado, entered here, below, is the email from Mr. Hornaday to Mayor O'Neal, the email response from the Mayor to Mr. Hornaday, Mr. Hornaday's follow-up response after hearing back from the Mayor, and additionally, there is an apology from Mayor O'Neal which was not included in the documents made available at the News-Leader as a part of journalist Kary Booher's coverage of the issue, and has not, to my knowledge been published elsewhere.
Mr. Hornaday received the apology from Mayor O'Neal on Monday, February 22, 2010, about 25 minutes prior to Monday night's Council meeting, at which Tom Martz spoke.
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From: James Hornaday Jr. [mailto:railmet@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 12:17 PM
To: Council
Cc: Burris, Greg
Subject: Something I wrote as a comment in the SNL's web news response - - that I'd like to send you directly
I suppose it is a positive thing that our mayor and council are concerned about Mr. McGowan's latest setback in his search for financing any rebuilding of the Heers building. It is natural that the city council and administration have to DO something. The citizens are not as close to the details, and are largely in the dark. We sit in that dark, and sort of wonder just what's happening. So, I put the following in the SNL's reader responsesection. In case you don't peruse the SNL's web, I wanted you to know first-hand what I entered.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"In our prior City administrations, whenever the mayor's good buddies came into a financial trap, they'd work out a quiet little deal where the CITY would ease the burden and take another bite of the dead apple.
OK, we have a new mayor. He's huddled with McGowan. He's got a 'plan' he says just might work. All it needs for support is support from the rest of Council.
Hmmmmmm? Maybe our new Mayor would care to tell the citizens of Springfield how he plans to steam out the wrinkles in McGowan's latest version of "The federal government won't give me any money to rebuild the Heers building? ? ? ?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You collectively have the power to do something right, but you also have the capability for wasting MORE taxpayer money. We taxpayers are waiting to see what you intend to do with this problem.
Jim HornadaySpringfield MO
--------------end---------------
Subject: your vicious attack
From: Jim O'NealTo: 'railmet@sbcglobal.net'
Cc: Council; Burris, Greg; Cirtin, Brenda; Cotter, Anita Murphy
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 4:27 PM
Mr. Hornaday:
Why do you attack me so viciously? For a senior citizen, you’re woefully immature. Why don’t you grow up while you still have time? You’ve evidenced again today that you haven’t the slightest idea of what you are talking about. Everything you wrote was inaccurate, snide, and just plain ignorant. I have only met Mr. McGowan on three occasions: Once last summer on the square at a press conference for his announcement of HUD financing. I met his family, talked to him for a total of 5 minutes and we went our separate ways.
The second time was on Jan 21st in a meeting of his and city staff as they updated us on progress of his financing; a meeting that I simply listened to for less than 30 minutes without comment, and then again in a casual, informal, impromptu encounter last Thursday for a total of about 10 minutes. He simply said he had made progress in obtaining additional financing since he updated staff on the 21st, that he was confident in getting the project moving ahead and thought he might break ground by June. That is a great thing for our community even though you either can’t or won’t admit it. This is an issue this council inherited and we will do our best to see it succeed, if at all possible, and in a manner that benefits this city and its citizens. There are no guarantees, but we will do the best we can. I believe Mr. McGowan will get this done, but he may not. But you don’t have a blessed clue about the how, why and what it takes. Where do you get your facts? There are none at all in your web diatribe. Since the first time I met you, most every thing I’ve ever heard you say is biased, prejudiced, and grossly inaccurate, not to mention mean spirited, hateful, and vile. I have done nothing to deserve your scorn, yet you feel you have the right to slander me and others with wonton disregard for fact or civility. I do not know how you got to be such a bitter old man, but God forbid I live long enough to suffer your fate.
And you want me to appoint YOU to a committee of citizens who will require a modicum of intelligence, cooperation, analysis, and even the slightest decorum? Don’t hold your breath. If you can’t communicate without venomous spew, don’t expect me to listen without rebuttal. I’ll gladly debate you in any public forum any day of the week and expose your misconceptions, falsehoods, and lack of knowledge about city finance and you will be further revealed as a self centered, close minded miscreant with total disregard for truth or any thing that doesn’t line up with your warped philosophies. “Better to remain silent and appear a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” Abraham Lincoln
My very best personal regards,
Jim O'Neal
President
O & S Trucking, Inc.
3769 E. Evergreen
Springfield, MO 65803
417-829-xxxxx-766-2xx8 cell
Please consider the Environment before printing this email.
-------------------end------------------
Subject: Resolution of concerns
Thu, February 18, 2010 8:35:43 AM
From: James Hornaday Jr. railmet@sbcglobal.net
To: Jim O'Neal citycouncil@springfieldmo.gov
Cc: Council council@springfieldmo.gov; Greg Burris gburris@springfieldmo.gov
Mayor O’Neal:
I am sorry I seem to have generated this attack response from you. You seem to be easily irritated. Your stated desire to avoid achieving my aged ‘warped philosophies’ fate may be not reached if you pop off with a stroke or a heart attack.
It is interesting that you believe “most every thing I’ve ever heard you say is biased, prejudiced, and grossly inaccurate, not to mention mean spirited, hateful, and vile.” That is a quite all-encompassing statement. I wonder if you have forgotten the email I sent to the city on December 31st.
Dear Mr. Mayor O'Neal, Mr. Burris, and Council people:
You are all handling a most difficult job in managing the city. There are many aspects to understanding what has happened to the city in the recent past, and many of you could be fairly new in handling these responsibilities. As an interested citizen and a taxpayer, I share your concern that the city be run in as efficient a manner as possible.
If you know me at all, you will remember that I have been concerned about the city's financial matters, and that I have voluntarily dug into the city's published CAFR reports to at least partially understand how the city developed its current debt load.
After extracting debt data from the City's 2000 through 2009 CAFR's, I have generated a simple EXCEL file that at least partially explains (to me) the history of Springfield's debt history. I would like to share this with you. It may assist you in your future deliberations.
I recognize there were two major time periods when the long term debt and the city's total liabilities went up drastically. The first period was when bonds were sold to finance a number of park projects and downtown development. The second period was when additional bonds were sold were sold for construction of the Midfield Airport. Both those activities have essentially been completed. The two series of sales of bonds piled on the debt.
I believe the combined Council and Administration's efforts to economize during this recession have been effective. I think most people in Springfield recognize how operating expenditures have been properly adjusted to meet declining revenue, without causing undue strain on general operations. The fact that Springfield's debt load has been simultaneously reduced has not been equally recognized.
A third thing that has not been universally recognized is that the principal and interest payments the city makes every year on its existing debt is a heavy load on the City's operating budget. Most homeowners recognize the fact that their monthly mortgage payments must be paid out of current income. It doesn't make much long-term sense when money is tight to buy a bunch of 'stuff' with a near maxed-out credit card, or to use a cash advance from the same card to pay the mortgage.
Your financial actions in managing the past year's money crunch have been quite credible. I hope you (collectively) can continue running the City within your income, and that you don't initiate any big new expensive capital improvement programs that would add more debt.
Sincerely, Jim Hornaday
4470 S. Pxxx Ave.
Springfield MO 65810
I really intended that message to be a compliment to the way you and the city had handled the CIP budget in recent tight times. Possibly you didn’t think the message was sufficiently complimentary. Maybe you consider every public comment from any individual about your civic activities must be completely and totally complimentary. I really can’t read your mind on how you might view this situation. At best, I would venture the opinion that you could be just a wee bit inconsistent in your judgments.
Now, let’s look at the presumed lack of facts that you ascribe to my February 14th’s email’s “total disregard for truth”:
> Is it an urban myth or a fact that prior (not current) city administrations made commitments with the various owners of the Heers building that have cost the city more than anyone expected? You tell me whether that is a fact or not.
> Is it factual or not that Mr. McGowan announced he was unable to arrange any HUD financing for renovation of the Heers building?
> Did or did not the Springfield News-Leader properly report that you met with Mr. McGowan after his announcement of failure to achieve any HUD commitment for financing, and it was further reported that he had requested an extension of his requirement for starting his renovation work?
> Did or did you not make statements in the News-Leader’s story that you had some ‘ideas’ that might resolve this apparent delay in the building’s renovation, and that you wanted to discuss this new possibility with the rest of City Council?
City Council is not the only group of people in the city that would like to know what you might be proposing. I imagine everyone will be told when the issue comes up for Council discussion. Fair enough!
In the meantime, with our limited knowledge and the remembrance that prior administrations did not serve the citizens too well in situations like this, we wonder:
> Are you proposing another time extension for start-up of the renovation?
> Could your proposal require more city money to be invested in the project so that Mr. McGowan’s capital would be enhanced to the point that HUD would approve his major capital loan? Or,
> Might your proposal be something beyond our imaginings?
I do not expect this letter will change your personal opinions of my character one bit. I had a premonition that even before I wrote my February 14th email that you were intending to veto any application I might make for serving on any volunteer city committee. Your last email merely confirmed the thought.
I hope you can live with your easily aroused anger. As mayor, you will be confronted in many situations where other people will disagree with your opinions. Being Mayor is not the same as being owner/president of O & S Trucking, where you can fire anybody in the organization any time you perceive you have been insulted. Citizens in Springfield do have legitimate questions. We just would like to know what you are proposing.
Sincerely,
James R. Hornaday Jr.
Springfield MO 65810
------------------------end--------------------------
From: "Oneal, Jim" joneal@springfieldmo.gov
To: "railmet@sbcglobal.net" railmet@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Mon, February 22, 2010 6:04:54 PM
Subject: apology
Mr. Hornaday,
Please accept my sincere apology for my unwarranted response. You do have a caustic way about you, but that might be just a bit of spice in your character. I do in fact recall the positive message and I do appreciate it. You asked me four questions at the end of your response today about my allegation of your total dis-regard of the truth.
In item one: It is an urban myth. The city's previous administrations did however, "dodge a bullet" by divesting their (our) ownership of the building. My understanding is we have incurred about $250,000 of closing costs in the transactions. We have no obligation to purchase the building if Mr. McGowan does not succeed.
Item two: It is not factual. Mr. McGowan does in fact have a loan guarantee commitment from HUD. He must fulfill the terms of the commitment. The recent reports he has missed a deadline do not kill the deal. My understanding is it only obligates him to get a new appraisal, at his expense. The other sources of money, both public and private are nearly all arranged. However, I don't know if he'll get the deal done. It is complex and this is a terrible economy. Springfield's continued role in this is in fact rather limited. It is his project to get done or not.
Item three: If the News-Leader reported Mr. McGowan asked me personally for any sort of extension, that would be totally inaccurate. Any extension, frankly would not be mine to give. As I tried to explain in my poor response to you, the meeting reported was a casual, unplanned 10 minute visit at the Farmer's Gastropub, where he had just come from a planning meeting downtown. I was having dinner with my family. He actually spoke more to my daughter in law than me. He did say he was excited and had nearly everything in place for what he hopes is a groundbreaking in June. I wished him well.
Item four: I never said anything to indicate I have, as you referred to in your web blog, "A plan." I have no idea where that comes from. I have asked the City staff to prepare an update for council within thirty days. I hope that demonstrates fiduciary commitment, because that is why I asked for it. I did say something to the effect that this is a complex arrangement and his group may come up with some alternatives if portions of his financing arrangements don't materialize as he plans. The city staff can offer ideas as well. But I do not now nor have I ever said "I have a plan." Mr. McGowan has to make this happen.
I guess their is a larger lesson here. I will react more appropriately and all I ask from you is before you blog something like you did above, why don't we talk, have coffee? I have nothing to hide and while we might not agree on everything I'm sure we'll both be the better for it and learn rather than burn. You have my cell number. It is at the bottom of my previous e-mail fromO & S.
Again, I do apologize and will show more respect in the future.
Jim O'Neal
Mayor
City of Springfield Missouri
------------end------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Springfield, Missouri -- Apparently, Mayor Jim O'Neal knows an elected official's public image is one of importance. When I interviewed him by email during his run for Mayor in March 2009, in one of his answers, then, candidate Jim O'Neal wrote, "Here's something I learned from my work with the trucking industries efforts to enhance its image. It explains the role of image and why we should, w(he)ther we're truck drivers or politicians, be concerned about it. "Public image shapes public opinion which shapes public policy.""
Even during his campaign for Mayor, O'Neal appears to have had the perception that he was a victim of public or private attack. He wrote in answer to another question, "I have been recently and frequently the victim of attacks designed to incorrectly describe or attribute my allegiance or affiliation." He did not elaborate from where these frequent attacks sprang.
When O'Neal was campaigning for Mayor he emailed his supporters to ask them to write letters to the editor of the Springfield News-Leader in support of his election as Mayor. Again, O'Neal had perceived attacks from others, including frequent columnist for the News-Leader Ryan Cooper.
"It seems I am running against Mr. Cooper not Mr. Donegan, as he seemingly can’t speak for himself. I couldn’t find much in this article as to why Mr. Donegan would lead our city or his qualifications to be mayor; he simply attacks me in ways that are designed to stir up discontent," O'Neal told supporters in the email. Later in the email, he wrote, "Please mention in your letter about your support of the capital improvements tax and our support for citizens input and citizen task forces to develop solutions to community issues such as the pension problem. This organized, overexposed, vocal but small group wants to take away your right to vote on issues regarding the CIP, (Capital Improvement Program) parks and other issues designed to keep Springfield moving forward. The only way taxes can be changed are by a vote of you the citizens. These people don’t like that because the vast majority of people are voting for the CIP program, a program they want to kill....The last thing they want is for a broad based diverse group of citizens to have a voice in solving the problem. They‘ve already made up their mind and the public be damned."
While, in the above excerpt, O'Neal did not mention the Save Our Springfield Citizen Coalition (SOS) by name, SOS had proposed the City Council simply allow the CIP tax to sunset rather than approve its placement on the ballot for voters' potential extention in 2010. The current CIP tax is scheduled to sunset if the voters do not renew the tax. SOS favored letting the CIP tax expire as a part of their underfunded police and fire pension solution option.
On February 22, at a City Council meeting, Tom Martz read, as far as I know, the most recent inappropriate O'Neal email. Martz said the reading would be "uncomfortable." Martz was correct. It was certainly uncomfortable, especially when one considers it will air over and over again on the City of Springfield's dedicated cable television station and be archived online for a very long time at "CityView."
But, that said, it would not be appropriate to call the Martz address undeserved. As mentioned at the meeting, the inappropriate email Mayor O'Neal sent to Jim Hornaday was not the first inappropriate email the Mayor had sent to individuals who, much like the City Council, volunteer their time and energy for no fee (and no free lunch) to, as a result, reap the same sort of criticism the public, at large, has been known to hurl at the Council for all its well-intentioned effort. To be sure, when one enters the public forum, one is fair game for both criticism and praise. It is not without its advantages and disadvantages.
At any rate, it's all a matter of opinion whether Mayor O'Neal is or should feel warranted in accusing others of attack, my interest, as usual, was in preserving the information necessary for readers to form an opinion on the matter, not some spiteful attempt at exposing O'Neal. O'Neal has already been exposed and has already admitted the emails were inappropriate and apologized for sending, at least, the email to Mr. Hornaday.
So, without further ado, entered here, below, is the email from Mr. Hornaday to Mayor O'Neal, the email response from the Mayor to Mr. Hornaday, Mr. Hornaday's follow-up response after hearing back from the Mayor, and additionally, there is an apology from Mayor O'Neal which was not included in the documents made available at the News-Leader as a part of journalist Kary Booher's coverage of the issue, and has not, to my knowledge been published elsewhere.
Mr. Hornaday received the apology from Mayor O'Neal on Monday, February 22, 2010, about 25 minutes prior to Monday night's Council meeting, at which Tom Martz spoke.
--------------------------------------
From: James Hornaday Jr. [mailto:railmet@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 12:17 PM
To: Council
Cc: Burris, Greg
Subject: Something I wrote as a comment in the SNL's web news response - - that I'd like to send you directly
I suppose it is a positive thing that our mayor and council are concerned about Mr. McGowan's latest setback in his search for financing any rebuilding of the Heers building. It is natural that the city council and administration have to DO something. The citizens are not as close to the details, and are largely in the dark. We sit in that dark, and sort of wonder just what's happening. So, I put the following in the SNL's reader responsesection. In case you don't peruse the SNL's web, I wanted you to know first-hand what I entered.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"In our prior City administrations, whenever the mayor's good buddies came into a financial trap, they'd work out a quiet little deal where the CITY would ease the burden and take another bite of the dead apple.
OK, we have a new mayor. He's huddled with McGowan. He's got a 'plan' he says just might work. All it needs for support is support from the rest of Council.
Hmmmmmm? Maybe our new Mayor would care to tell the citizens of Springfield how he plans to steam out the wrinkles in McGowan's latest version of "The federal government won't give me any money to rebuild the Heers building? ? ? ?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You collectively have the power to do something right, but you also have the capability for wasting MORE taxpayer money. We taxpayers are waiting to see what you intend to do with this problem.
Jim HornadaySpringfield MO
--------------end---------------
Subject: your vicious attack
From: Jim O'NealTo: 'railmet@sbcglobal.net'
Cc: Council; Burris, Greg; Cirtin, Brenda; Cotter, Anita Murphy
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 4:27 PM
Mr. Hornaday:
Why do you attack me so viciously? For a senior citizen, you’re woefully immature. Why don’t you grow up while you still have time? You’ve evidenced again today that you haven’t the slightest idea of what you are talking about. Everything you wrote was inaccurate, snide, and just plain ignorant. I have only met Mr. McGowan on three occasions: Once last summer on the square at a press conference for his announcement of HUD financing. I met his family, talked to him for a total of 5 minutes and we went our separate ways.
The second time was on Jan 21st in a meeting of his and city staff as they updated us on progress of his financing; a meeting that I simply listened to for less than 30 minutes without comment, and then again in a casual, informal, impromptu encounter last Thursday for a total of about 10 minutes. He simply said he had made progress in obtaining additional financing since he updated staff on the 21st, that he was confident in getting the project moving ahead and thought he might break ground by June. That is a great thing for our community even though you either can’t or won’t admit it. This is an issue this council inherited and we will do our best to see it succeed, if at all possible, and in a manner that benefits this city and its citizens. There are no guarantees, but we will do the best we can. I believe Mr. McGowan will get this done, but he may not. But you don’t have a blessed clue about the how, why and what it takes. Where do you get your facts? There are none at all in your web diatribe. Since the first time I met you, most every thing I’ve ever heard you say is biased, prejudiced, and grossly inaccurate, not to mention mean spirited, hateful, and vile. I have done nothing to deserve your scorn, yet you feel you have the right to slander me and others with wonton disregard for fact or civility. I do not know how you got to be such a bitter old man, but God forbid I live long enough to suffer your fate.
And you want me to appoint YOU to a committee of citizens who will require a modicum of intelligence, cooperation, analysis, and even the slightest decorum? Don’t hold your breath. If you can’t communicate without venomous spew, don’t expect me to listen without rebuttal. I’ll gladly debate you in any public forum any day of the week and expose your misconceptions, falsehoods, and lack of knowledge about city finance and you will be further revealed as a self centered, close minded miscreant with total disregard for truth or any thing that doesn’t line up with your warped philosophies. “Better to remain silent and appear a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” Abraham Lincoln
My very best personal regards,
Jim O'Neal
President
O & S Trucking, Inc.
3769 E. Evergreen
Springfield, MO 65803
417-829-xxxxx-766-2xx8 cell
Please consider the Environment before printing this email.
-------------------end------------------
Subject: Resolution of concerns
Thu, February 18, 2010 8:35:43 AM
From: James Hornaday Jr. railmet@sbcglobal.net
To: Jim O'Neal citycouncil@springfieldmo.gov
Cc: Council council@springfieldmo.gov; Greg Burris gburris@springfieldmo.gov
Mayor O’Neal:
I am sorry I seem to have generated this attack response from you. You seem to be easily irritated. Your stated desire to avoid achieving my aged ‘warped philosophies’ fate may be not reached if you pop off with a stroke or a heart attack.
It is interesting that you believe “most every thing I’ve ever heard you say is biased, prejudiced, and grossly inaccurate, not to mention mean spirited, hateful, and vile.” That is a quite all-encompassing statement. I wonder if you have forgotten the email I sent to the city on December 31st.
Dear Mr. Mayor O'Neal, Mr. Burris, and Council people:
You are all handling a most difficult job in managing the city. There are many aspects to understanding what has happened to the city in the recent past, and many of you could be fairly new in handling these responsibilities. As an interested citizen and a taxpayer, I share your concern that the city be run in as efficient a manner as possible.
If you know me at all, you will remember that I have been concerned about the city's financial matters, and that I have voluntarily dug into the city's published CAFR reports to at least partially understand how the city developed its current debt load.
After extracting debt data from the City's 2000 through 2009 CAFR's, I have generated a simple EXCEL file that at least partially explains (to me) the history of Springfield's debt history. I would like to share this with you. It may assist you in your future deliberations.
I recognize there were two major time periods when the long term debt and the city's total liabilities went up drastically. The first period was when bonds were sold to finance a number of park projects and downtown development. The second period was when additional bonds were sold were sold for construction of the Midfield Airport. Both those activities have essentially been completed. The two series of sales of bonds piled on the debt.
I believe the combined Council and Administration's efforts to economize during this recession have been effective. I think most people in Springfield recognize how operating expenditures have been properly adjusted to meet declining revenue, without causing undue strain on general operations. The fact that Springfield's debt load has been simultaneously reduced has not been equally recognized.
A third thing that has not been universally recognized is that the principal and interest payments the city makes every year on its existing debt is a heavy load on the City's operating budget. Most homeowners recognize the fact that their monthly mortgage payments must be paid out of current income. It doesn't make much long-term sense when money is tight to buy a bunch of 'stuff' with a near maxed-out credit card, or to use a cash advance from the same card to pay the mortgage.
Your financial actions in managing the past year's money crunch have been quite credible. I hope you (collectively) can continue running the City within your income, and that you don't initiate any big new expensive capital improvement programs that would add more debt.
Sincerely, Jim Hornaday
4470 S. Pxxx Ave.
Springfield MO 65810
I really intended that message to be a compliment to the way you and the city had handled the CIP budget in recent tight times. Possibly you didn’t think the message was sufficiently complimentary. Maybe you consider every public comment from any individual about your civic activities must be completely and totally complimentary. I really can’t read your mind on how you might view this situation. At best, I would venture the opinion that you could be just a wee bit inconsistent in your judgments.
Now, let’s look at the presumed lack of facts that you ascribe to my February 14th’s email’s “total disregard for truth”:
> Is it an urban myth or a fact that prior (not current) city administrations made commitments with the various owners of the Heers building that have cost the city more than anyone expected? You tell me whether that is a fact or not.
> Is it factual or not that Mr. McGowan announced he was unable to arrange any HUD financing for renovation of the Heers building?
> Did or did not the Springfield News-Leader properly report that you met with Mr. McGowan after his announcement of failure to achieve any HUD commitment for financing, and it was further reported that he had requested an extension of his requirement for starting his renovation work?
> Did or did you not make statements in the News-Leader’s story that you had some ‘ideas’ that might resolve this apparent delay in the building’s renovation, and that you wanted to discuss this new possibility with the rest of City Council?
City Council is not the only group of people in the city that would like to know what you might be proposing. I imagine everyone will be told when the issue comes up for Council discussion. Fair enough!
In the meantime, with our limited knowledge and the remembrance that prior administrations did not serve the citizens too well in situations like this, we wonder:
> Are you proposing another time extension for start-up of the renovation?
> Could your proposal require more city money to be invested in the project so that Mr. McGowan’s capital would be enhanced to the point that HUD would approve his major capital loan? Or,
> Might your proposal be something beyond our imaginings?
I do not expect this letter will change your personal opinions of my character one bit. I had a premonition that even before I wrote my February 14th email that you were intending to veto any application I might make for serving on any volunteer city committee. Your last email merely confirmed the thought.
I hope you can live with your easily aroused anger. As mayor, you will be confronted in many situations where other people will disagree with your opinions. Being Mayor is not the same as being owner/president of O & S Trucking, where you can fire anybody in the organization any time you perceive you have been insulted. Citizens in Springfield do have legitimate questions. We just would like to know what you are proposing.
Sincerely,
James R. Hornaday Jr.
Springfield MO 65810
------------------------end--------------------------
From: "Oneal, Jim" joneal@springfieldmo.gov
To: "railmet@sbcglobal.net" railmet@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Mon, February 22, 2010 6:04:54 PM
Subject: apology
Mr. Hornaday,
Please accept my sincere apology for my unwarranted response. You do have a caustic way about you, but that might be just a bit of spice in your character. I do in fact recall the positive message and I do appreciate it. You asked me four questions at the end of your response today about my allegation of your total dis-regard of the truth.
In item one: It is an urban myth. The city's previous administrations did however, "dodge a bullet" by divesting their (our) ownership of the building. My understanding is we have incurred about $250,000 of closing costs in the transactions. We have no obligation to purchase the building if Mr. McGowan does not succeed.
Item two: It is not factual. Mr. McGowan does in fact have a loan guarantee commitment from HUD. He must fulfill the terms of the commitment. The recent reports he has missed a deadline do not kill the deal. My understanding is it only obligates him to get a new appraisal, at his expense. The other sources of money, both public and private are nearly all arranged. However, I don't know if he'll get the deal done. It is complex and this is a terrible economy. Springfield's continued role in this is in fact rather limited. It is his project to get done or not.
Item three: If the News-Leader reported Mr. McGowan asked me personally for any sort of extension, that would be totally inaccurate. Any extension, frankly would not be mine to give. As I tried to explain in my poor response to you, the meeting reported was a casual, unplanned 10 minute visit at the Farmer's Gastropub, where he had just come from a planning meeting downtown. I was having dinner with my family. He actually spoke more to my daughter in law than me. He did say he was excited and had nearly everything in place for what he hopes is a groundbreaking in June. I wished him well.
Item four: I never said anything to indicate I have, as you referred to in your web blog, "A plan." I have no idea where that comes from. I have asked the City staff to prepare an update for council within thirty days. I hope that demonstrates fiduciary commitment, because that is why I asked for it. I did say something to the effect that this is a complex arrangement and his group may come up with some alternatives if portions of his financing arrangements don't materialize as he plans. The city staff can offer ideas as well. But I do not now nor have I ever said "I have a plan." Mr. McGowan has to make this happen.
I guess their is a larger lesson here. I will react more appropriately and all I ask from you is before you blog something like you did above, why don't we talk, have coffee? I have nothing to hide and while we might not agree on everything I'm sure we'll both be the better for it and learn rather than burn. You have my cell number. It is at the bottom of my previous e-mail fromO & S.
Again, I do apologize and will show more respect in the future.
Jim O'Neal
Mayor
City of Springfield Missouri
------------end------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Recommended Viewing: Mayor O'Neal & Councilman Dan Chiles at the Lawn and Garden Show
A Conversation With Mayor O'Neal - Well Fed Neighbor
A short conversation with Mayor James O'Neal at The Home and Garden Show, in which he expresses support for The Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance, the local food movement and chickens in the city. - by Dale Wayne Jackson
Conversation with Councilman Dan Chiles - Well Fed Neighbor
Dan speaks about the importance of the local food movement in terms of personal health and alternative energy solutions. - by Dale Wayne Jackson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short conversation with Mayor James O'Neal at The Home and Garden Show, in which he expresses support for The Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance, the local food movement and chickens in the city. - by Dale Wayne Jackson
Conversation with Councilman Dan Chiles - Well Fed Neighbor
Dan speaks about the importance of the local food movement in terms of personal health and alternative energy solutions. - by Dale Wayne Jackson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Is Springfield's Police-Fire Pension Plan Doomed?
Or: Take that Smoking Gun Away from that Straw Man!
The first paragraph of Sunday's Springfield News-Leader article, "Observer scours pension's past for cause of shortfall" began not as a paragraph but, as a single question:
That's an interesting question, isn't it? Should past mistakes weigh into any discussion of the police and fire pension task force as they are seeking a solution to the underfunded police and fire pension plan?
In "Life of Reason," Vol. 1, "Reason in Common Sense," philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist George Santayana wrote, "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
The quote brought forth many variants, according to "Wikiquote," among them: "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it;" "Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes;" "Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it," and; "Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors are destined to repeat them."
Today's philosophers, Mayor Jim O'Neal, who has sloughed off such questions as a seeking merely to asign blame, and Pension Task Force Chairman Jerry Fenstermaker, along with many of the Task Force members, who say discerning past mistakes which contributed to the pension plan's current massive shortfall will not change or affect the recommendations handed down to the Council and, perhaps, journalist Amos Bridges, who has to ponder and ask readers to ponder how much that dusty old history has to offer, seem to disagree with Santayana.
Present City Manager Greg Burris, while noting, "We've tried to be very accommodating and very transparent," about past history related to the pension plan, in the News-Leader article added, "If other people want to delve further, we can keep trying to go farther in layers." That's one of the reasons for the citizens task force, he said.
Certain members of the task force have, in the past, suggested that looking into the causes of the pension plan's shortfall is not a part of their charge. Again, in the News-Leader article in Sunday's paper, reporter Amos Bridges noted, "city officials and most members of the task force say that work has been done and that dwelling on the past further is a distraction."
The first charge listed on the formal "Task Force Charge" pertained to determining the scope of the problem, and later states:
But, even though citizens might have expected the task force to fully research the problem and provide a thorough analysis, it appears there is an attempt being made to reduce the concerns of the citizens of Springfield who seek answers to the causes of the pension plan's shortfall to an ill thought out and immature search for a single cause (smoking gun) with the motive of finding a single boogey man to blame (hang). I believe that is a straw man argument formed to distract the public from finding the answers they deserve.
Repeatedly, in the Sunday News-Leader article it was implied that certain concerned citizens expected to find a single "smoking gun," or person responsible for the shortfall.
These are quotes and paraphrased quotes by the reporter for the News-Leader from Sunday's article:
I do not believe anyone is looking for a single cause of the pension's current shortfall, especially not those who have spent a great deal of time and energy in examining and researching the issue.
Who does believe there is a single cause of the shortfall, a single culprit to "hang," or a single "smoking gun?" If certain entities can characterize those seeking answers in such a light, they can make involved and time-contributing citizens seem ridiculous, marginalize them, discredit them and in the process make citizens who seek answers to legitimate questions fearful of asking those questions.
In fact, Alternate Pension Task Force Member Fred Ellison's actual statements, from that same article, never imply he believes there is a single "smoking gun" cause of the pension shortfall.
Every citizen of Springfield who has even the smallest interest in the pension issue must resoundingly cast aside the implied strawman argument that intelligent people, who would like to understand the historical actions which caused our police and fire pension fund to become so dismally underfunded, are simply a lynch mob looking for someone to hang or a single "smoking gun" cause of the short fall.
Are such implications being made to try to shift the focus away from a complete understanding of the pension issue, including an understanding of the mistakes that were made, because our City officials, City Council, Pension Board and Police and Fire Pension Task Force find it uncomfortable to hold accountable their own predecessors?
I'm tempted to agree that Mayor O'Neal, Pension Task Force Chairman Fenstermaker and the Task Force might have a point that understanding how the pension got into the troubled state it is in today will not, necessarily, change the ultimate recommendations made by the task force but, how can we know all the contributing problems will be addressed by the recommended solution if we do not know what all of the contributing problems were?
The larger issue is the public's right to know and understand how it happened. In fact, as reported in the News-Leader article in Sunday's paper, the Mayor agreed such questions are legitimate, even as he mischaracterized the motives of those who are asking them.
Some educated people believe that knowing the answers, all the complicated answers, to how the police and fire pension plan became so underfunded, and having those involved in overseeing the pension plan's management during the decline of the pension plan's funded ratio, recognize, admit errors, and take responsibility for them, would go a long way toward healing the wounds inflicted on the citizen taxpayers of Springfield so that they might be better prepared to accept and support whatever recommended and approved solution the task force recommends and the City Council approves.
And, just an aside, when are City officials and newspaper reporters going to stop playing silly games, mischaracterizing the thoughts, motives and concerns of the citizens of this city in a, seeming, effort to downplay, marginalize, and diminish taxpayer's concerns?
If, as O'Neal stated in Sunday's newspaper article, these are legitimate questions, then they are legitimate questions, period. Since I have yet to hear any citizen who has spent serious time examining the issue make any statement to suggest they expect to find a single cause or a single individual to blame for the pension's underfunding, I do not believe they exist so, why is it being suggested in what is, supposedly, a straight news report, mind you, they do exist? Who are they? Bring them, quote them.
Anyone who has spent any time at all looking at this complicated issue understands there have been many contributing causes to the pension plan's reduction in funded ratio.
Statements such as those found in the News-Leader's Sunday article were unnecessary, and served no purpose, unless it was an underlying desire to characterize those seeking answers to serious questions as some sort of fire and brimstone lynch mob looking for someone to tar, feather, and run out of town on a rail.
Hogwash! There is a very small handfull of people in this City who have taken the time to study, research and try to understand all the contributing factors that caused the pension to be in the state it is in today. It isn't necessary to tar and feather any one, and especially not those who are seeking answers to these complicated but, legitimate questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first paragraph of Sunday's Springfield News-Leader article, "Observer scours pension's past for cause of shortfall" began not as a paragraph but, as a single question:
"When it comes to the city's police-fire pension woes, how much more does the past have to offer?"
That's an interesting question, isn't it? Should past mistakes weigh into any discussion of the police and fire pension task force as they are seeking a solution to the underfunded police and fire pension plan?
In "Life of Reason," Vol. 1, "Reason in Common Sense," philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist George Santayana wrote, "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
The quote brought forth many variants, according to "Wikiquote," among them: "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it;" "Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes;" "Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it," and; "Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors are destined to repeat them."
Today's philosophers, Mayor Jim O'Neal, who has sloughed off such questions as a seeking merely to asign blame, and Pension Task Force Chairman Jerry Fenstermaker, along with many of the Task Force members, who say discerning past mistakes which contributed to the pension plan's current massive shortfall will not change or affect the recommendations handed down to the Council and, perhaps, journalist Amos Bridges, who has to ponder and ask readers to ponder how much that dusty old history has to offer, seem to disagree with Santayana.
"...that's of no benefit to the community or the task force right now," said Jerry Fenstermaker, the group's chairman. "We need to put together a plan of action ... If you go and do all this backtracking, you're not going to get to any different recommendations." - Springfield News-Leader, "Observer scours pension's past for cause of shortfall," page 1.
Present City Manager Greg Burris, while noting, "We've tried to be very accommodating and very transparent," about past history related to the pension plan, in the News-Leader article added, "If other people want to delve further, we can keep trying to go farther in layers." That's one of the reasons for the citizens task force, he said.
Certain members of the task force have, in the past, suggested that looking into the causes of the pension plan's shortfall is not a part of their charge. Again, in the News-Leader article in Sunday's paper, reporter Amos Bridges noted, "city officials and most members of the task force say that work has been done and that dwelling on the past further is a distraction."
The first charge listed on the formal "Task Force Charge" pertained to determining the scope of the problem, and later states:
"Please be aware that a significant commitment of time and effort will be required of all task force members in order to fully research the problem, analyze various options, and select one or more recommended solutions to address the problem. I encourage the Task Force to set an aggressive meeting schedule in order to permit a thorough analysis and the development of recommendations by the report due date noted above."
But, even though citizens might have expected the task force to fully research the problem and provide a thorough analysis, it appears there is an attempt being made to reduce the concerns of the citizens of Springfield who seek answers to the causes of the pension plan's shortfall to an ill thought out and immature search for a single cause (smoking gun) with the motive of finding a single boogey man to blame (hang). I believe that is a straw man argument formed to distract the public from finding the answers they deserve.
Repeatedly, in the Sunday News-Leader article it was implied that certain concerned citizens expected to find a single "smoking gun," or person responsible for the shortfall.
These are quotes and paraphrased quotes by the reporter for the News-Leader from Sunday's article:
1. "To try to pin it (the pension shortfall) down to which piece of legislation or which city official signed off on it...." - Pension Task Force Chair Jerry Fenstermaker
2. "...there is no elevator speech for how this happened -- it doesn't boil down to any one single action." - City Manager Greg Burris
3. "There's no "smoking gun," he (City Manager Greg Burris) said, and it's likely those looking for one will continue to be disappointed." - attributed to City Manager Greg Burris by News-Leader reporter Amos Bridges
4. "O'Neal said he thinks part of the motivation for the continued questions boils down to a desire to know "who are we going to hang?"" -attributed to Mayor Jim O'Neal by News-Leader reporter Amos Bridges
5. "Going forward there have been numerous mistakes made, but there's not one thing you can hang your hat on." -Mayor Jim O'Neal
6. "... If there was a smoking gun, I didn't see it." -Mayor Pro Tem Dan Chiles
7. "...right now there is no single smoking gun, unless you want to point to the election of 1958 ..." -Mayor Jim O'Neal
I do not believe anyone is looking for a single cause of the pension's current shortfall, especially not those who have spent a great deal of time and energy in examining and researching the issue.
Who does believe there is a single cause of the shortfall, a single culprit to "hang," or a single "smoking gun?" If certain entities can characterize those seeking answers in such a light, they can make involved and time-contributing citizens seem ridiculous, marginalize them, discredit them and in the process make citizens who seek answers to legitimate questions fearful of asking those questions.
In fact, Alternate Pension Task Force Member Fred Ellison's actual statements, from that same article, never imply he believes there is a single "smoking gun" cause of the pension shortfall.
"Having studied the pension plan for more than a year, he (Ellison) recently has focused on increases to the pension multiplier granted in the 1990s as a primary source of the current shortfall." -attributed to Ellison by Amos Bridges News-Leader article page 1
"He (Ellison) thinks increasing the pension multiplier -- the number multiplied by years of service and final salary to determine a retiree's monthly pension -- from 2 percent to 2.5 percent between 1991 and 1993 could account for much of the shortfall." -attributed to Ellison by Amos Bridges, News-Leader article page 2
Every citizen of Springfield who has even the smallest interest in the pension issue must resoundingly cast aside the implied strawman argument that intelligent people, who would like to understand the historical actions which caused our police and fire pension fund to become so dismally underfunded, are simply a lynch mob looking for someone to hang or a single "smoking gun" cause of the short fall.
Are such implications being made to try to shift the focus away from a complete understanding of the pension issue, including an understanding of the mistakes that were made, because our City officials, City Council, Pension Board and Police and Fire Pension Task Force find it uncomfortable to hold accountable their own predecessors?
I'm tempted to agree that Mayor O'Neal, Pension Task Force Chairman Fenstermaker and the Task Force might have a point that understanding how the pension got into the troubled state it is in today will not, necessarily, change the ultimate recommendations made by the task force but, how can we know all the contributing problems will be addressed by the recommended solution if we do not know what all of the contributing problems were?
The larger issue is the public's right to know and understand how it happened. In fact, as reported in the News-Leader article in Sunday's paper, the Mayor agreed such questions are legitimate, even as he mischaracterized the motives of those who are asking them.
"Mayor Jim O'Neal, who with Councilman Dan Chiles helped organize Ellison's meeting with city staff, said he understands the desire to find a clear reason for the current predicament.
"I think it's a legitimate question," O'Neal said. "It was attempted to be answered during the campaign but evidently not to the satisfaction of all voters.""
Some educated people believe that knowing the answers, all the complicated answers, to how the police and fire pension plan became so underfunded, and having those involved in overseeing the pension plan's management during the decline of the pension plan's funded ratio, recognize, admit errors, and take responsibility for them, would go a long way toward healing the wounds inflicted on the citizen taxpayers of Springfield so that they might be better prepared to accept and support whatever recommended and approved solution the task force recommends and the City Council approves.
And, just an aside, when are City officials and newspaper reporters going to stop playing silly games, mischaracterizing the thoughts, motives and concerns of the citizens of this city in a, seeming, effort to downplay, marginalize, and diminish taxpayer's concerns?
If, as O'Neal stated in Sunday's newspaper article, these are legitimate questions, then they are legitimate questions, period. Since I have yet to hear any citizen who has spent serious time examining the issue make any statement to suggest they expect to find a single cause or a single individual to blame for the pension's underfunding, I do not believe they exist so, why is it being suggested in what is, supposedly, a straight news report, mind you, they do exist? Who are they? Bring them, quote them.
Anyone who has spent any time at all looking at this complicated issue understands there have been many contributing causes to the pension plan's reduction in funded ratio.
Statements such as those found in the News-Leader's Sunday article were unnecessary, and served no purpose, unless it was an underlying desire to characterize those seeking answers to serious questions as some sort of fire and brimstone lynch mob looking for someone to tar, feather, and run out of town on a rail.
Hogwash! There is a very small handfull of people in this City who have taken the time to study, research and try to understand all the contributing factors that caused the pension to be in the state it is in today. It isn't necessary to tar and feather any one, and especially not those who are seeking answers to these complicated but, legitimate questions.
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Thursday, July 16, 2009
City Manager's Memo Paints Bleak Picture
Eliminations hit many City departments; effect all
In a memo to Mayor Jim O'Neal and the Springfield City Council, City Manager Greg Burris indicated there are currently 101 vacant positions within City government. In addition, Burris noted another 46 temporary, seasonal and contract positions have been eliminated. All of the 147 positions have been either eliminated or are frozen.
Burris said there is a potential for further reductions in City services.
He warned the Council, they may begin receiving complaints about service delays or, about services that simply are no longer offered.
"No one should claim to be surprised by these service reductions -- especially the print media outlet and others who accused the City of "threats" when this information was shared publicly in January," Burris wrote.
The City Manager also warned the City Council that their own information requests, while they would continue to be addressed, could have the impact of further slowing existing City service functions. He encouraged the Council to carefully consider citizen-generated information requests before, "simply forwarding that request to us."
While it isn't directly stated, it might be hinted that, in the future, the public may be requested to more routinely fill out a formal Sunshine Law requests, rather than rely on informal email correspondence in seeking answers from the City government.
"I am providing updated guidance to departments on the process on how they should respond to requests for information to the Custodian of Records -- the City Clerk's Office," Burris wrote. "Our goal is to be consistent and fair in our application of these new guidelines."
Following are programs and services which have been eliminated from various departments:
Planning Department
> The Neighborhood Assessment Program
> The annual Neighborhood Trash Clean-up Program
> The Urban Neighborhood Alliance's low-interest home improvement loan program for low- and moderate-income citizens
> Support for Center City revitalization program through the Urban Neighborhood Alliance
> Support for the Urban Districts Alliance and the Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District
> Caring Communities neighborhood revitalization program through Community Partnership of the Ozarks
> Hardcopy "Front Porch" neighborhood newsletter
> Services to registered homeowner's associations
> Hardcopy Monthly Service Request reports to neighborhood presidents
> Support for downtown Wi-Fi
> Contract for downtown on-street parking enforcement
Police Department
> The Dare program
> Grant Beach sub-station staffing
> Commercial Street sub-station staffing
> Annual Police Citizen's Survey
> Car seat checks and other Traffic Safety Alliance programs
Fire Department
> Fireworks patrols
> Staffing at the Ozark Empire Fair
> Free smoke alarm program
Public Works
> All annual flower plantings
Health Department
> Phelps Grove and Rountree neighborhood rental registration program
> Multi-family housing inspections
> A number of employee health and wellness programs
Parks Department
> Firefall event
> Outdoor concert series
Human Resources Department
> All police and firefighter testing programs
> A variety of employee training sessions and workshops
> Supervisor training programs
> Employee exit interviews
> The Employee Referral program
> Participation in the Partners in Education school program
> Employee service recognition
The above listed items do not include a listing of the services which were reduced. The lists above only include programs or services which have been eliminated.
In addition to the above eliminations, the employees of the City of Springfield are not scheduled to receive cost of living or merit pay increases.
Other employee eliminated benefits include: no "thank you" picnic; no computer purchase incentives; no employee wellness program; no health risk assessments or wellness incentives and; no employee sick leave incentive.
Other topics of the memo will be addressed in a separate entry.
Source: Memo from City Manager Greg Burris to the Mayor and City Council dated July 15, 2009
Related: For information about how to fill out a formal Sunshine Law Request, complete with a "fill-in-the-blank" form, go to this page of the Missouri Attorney General's Web site.
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In a memo to Mayor Jim O'Neal and the Springfield City Council, City Manager Greg Burris indicated there are currently 101 vacant positions within City government. In addition, Burris noted another 46 temporary, seasonal and contract positions have been eliminated. All of the 147 positions have been either eliminated or are frozen.
Burris said there is a potential for further reductions in City services.
He warned the Council, they may begin receiving complaints about service delays or, about services that simply are no longer offered.
"No one should claim to be surprised by these service reductions -- especially the print media outlet and others who accused the City of "threats" when this information was shared publicly in January," Burris wrote.
The City Manager also warned the City Council that their own information requests, while they would continue to be addressed, could have the impact of further slowing existing City service functions. He encouraged the Council to carefully consider citizen-generated information requests before, "simply forwarding that request to us."
While it isn't directly stated, it might be hinted that, in the future, the public may be requested to more routinely fill out a formal Sunshine Law requests, rather than rely on informal email correspondence in seeking answers from the City government.
"I am providing updated guidance to departments on the process on how they should respond to requests for information to the Custodian of Records -- the City Clerk's Office," Burris wrote. "Our goal is to be consistent and fair in our application of these new guidelines."
Following are programs and services which have been eliminated from various departments:
Planning Department
> The Neighborhood Assessment Program
> The annual Neighborhood Trash Clean-up Program
> The Urban Neighborhood Alliance's low-interest home improvement loan program for low- and moderate-income citizens
> Support for Center City revitalization program through the Urban Neighborhood Alliance
> Support for the Urban Districts Alliance and the Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District
> Caring Communities neighborhood revitalization program through Community Partnership of the Ozarks
> Hardcopy "Front Porch" neighborhood newsletter
> Services to registered homeowner's associations
> Hardcopy Monthly Service Request reports to neighborhood presidents
> Support for downtown Wi-Fi
> Contract for downtown on-street parking enforcement
Police Department
> The Dare program
> Grant Beach sub-station staffing
> Commercial Street sub-station staffing
> Annual Police Citizen's Survey
> Car seat checks and other Traffic Safety Alliance programs
Fire Department
> Fireworks patrols
> Staffing at the Ozark Empire Fair
> Free smoke alarm program
Public Works
> All annual flower plantings
Health Department
> Phelps Grove and Rountree neighborhood rental registration program
> Multi-family housing inspections
> A number of employee health and wellness programs
Parks Department
> Firefall event
> Outdoor concert series
Human Resources Department
> All police and firefighter testing programs
> A variety of employee training sessions and workshops
> Supervisor training programs
> Employee exit interviews
> The Employee Referral program
> Participation in the Partners in Education school program
> Employee service recognition
The above listed items do not include a listing of the services which were reduced. The lists above only include programs or services which have been eliminated.
In addition to the above eliminations, the employees of the City of Springfield are not scheduled to receive cost of living or merit pay increases.
Other employee eliminated benefits include: no "thank you" picnic; no computer purchase incentives; no employee wellness program; no health risk assessments or wellness incentives and; no employee sick leave incentive.
Other topics of the memo will be addressed in a separate entry.
Source: Memo from City Manager Greg Burris to the Mayor and City Council dated July 15, 2009
Related: For information about how to fill out a formal Sunshine Law Request, complete with a "fill-in-the-blank" form, go to this page of the Missouri Attorney General's Web site.
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Monday, June 29, 2009
June 29 City Council Meeting
Don't forget the City Council meeting tonight will begin at 6 p.m. rather than the usual 7 p.m. start time.
Mayor Jim O'Neal announced last week they were going to begin the meeting at 6 p.m. every other Monday night rather than the usual 7 p.m. time on a 2 month trial basis.
You can view tonight's City Council agenda here.
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Mayor Jim O'Neal announced last week they were going to begin the meeting at 6 p.m. every other Monday night rather than the usual 7 p.m. time on a 2 month trial basis.
You can view tonight's City Council agenda here.
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Springfield City Council to Start Monday Night Meetings at 6 pm rather than 7 pm on a Trial Basis
The City of Springfield announced Tuesday afternoon that the Monday night City Council meetings are going to start at 6 pm rather than 7 pm for a two month trial period.
"Public hearings that already have been advertised as starting at 7 p.m. will not begin before that time to comply with the advertised notice. The agenda will be adjusted at Monday's meeting to accommodate the advertised public hearings," the release stated.
Mayor Jim O'Neal was quoted as saying, "I felt like there was a lot of downtime for people who attend the meetings to wait until 7 p.m. I think this change should still give citizens enough time after the business day ends to do what they need to do and still get to the Council meeting by 6 p.m. I hope we'll get everyone home a little earlier on a weeknight."
If the new meeting time is successful, it will require a change to the City code to make it permanent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Public hearings that already have been advertised as starting at 7 p.m. will not begin before that time to comply with the advertised notice. The agenda will be adjusted at Monday's meeting to accommodate the advertised public hearings," the release stated.
Mayor Jim O'Neal was quoted as saying, "I felt like there was a lot of downtime for people who attend the meetings to wait until 7 p.m. I think this change should still give citizens enough time after the business day ends to do what they need to do and still get to the Council meeting by 6 p.m. I hope we'll get everyone home a little earlier on a weeknight."
If the new meeting time is successful, it will require a change to the City code to make it permanent.
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Tuesday, June 09, 2009
City News Release: Council Cancelled Wednesday Night's Special Meeting to Discuss Eminent Domain
June 9, 2009
News Release
For Immediate Release
Mayor Jim O'Neal said the special City Council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday to hear public input on City Utilities' proposed use of eminent domain for its new bus-transfer facility has been cancelled.
City Utilities informed City staff late this afternoon that it is withdrawing its motion in Federal Bankruptcy Court to lift the stay on the St. Louis Street property proposed for the bus-transfer facility. CU also has asked that its request to acquire that property be tabled at Thursday night's Planning & Zoning Commission meeting.
City Utilities presented information about its three-year site-selection process to the City Council in a special meeting today. Following the open presentation, the Council and CU representatives met in closed session under the Missouri Sunshine Law exemption for real-estate negotiations.
Council did not take any votes in closed session, which was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Source: City of Springfield Public Information Office
CU reverses course on eminent domain News-Leader.com Springfield News-Leader
June 10_Podcast: Vincent David Jericho talked with Becky Spence Attorney Larry Mass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Bus Transfer Facility Feasibility Report Available; Council to Discuss CU's Potential Use of Eminent Domain
The "Community Free Press" has posted City Utilities' (CU) Bus Transfer Facility Feasibility Report < at their Web site.
Monday night, the Springfield City Council voted unanimously to hold a special City Council meeting so that they, the public, and CU will have an opportunity to engage in an open discussion about the CU board's decision to exercise eminent domain to acquire property they have selected as their choice for constructing the bus transfer site, should it become necessary.
Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky seemed to prefer the Council make a more general statement about the use of eminent domain by Springfield's government entities but, in the ensuing discussion, after Councilman Doug Burlison raised a motion to consider the issue, Mayor Jim O'Neal was adamant the Council should make a statement on the specific case of the CU board's decision to exercise use of the measure to acquire property from a private property owner, should it become necessary to do so.
Assistant city attorney Nancy Yendez indicated the Council really has no standing in the decision process of CU's board. The Council would like the city's legal department to issue an opinion regarding what options, if any, the Council has toward weighing in on the issue beyond passing a resolution as to their position.
Mayor O'Neal said he and others among the Council have expressed their displeasure of CU's specific use of eminent domain in this specific case to the CU board, to no avail, "I want to get it on the table, get it on the floor," O'Neal said.
My understanding is that the City Council intends to pass a resolution, as a result of the special meeting, after hearing from the public and City Utilities. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7 pm Monday night, June 8, in Council chambers.
KSGF's Vincent David Jericho discussed the issue with the property owner and potential hotel developer, Becky Spence, on his program Tuesday morning. You can listen to all of his podcasts from that program here.
Related: CU backs off on plan to take land for station News-Leader.com Springfield News-Leader
busplunge: City-CU Statement on Bus Transfer Station Site
Brown on a Blog: The New Issue
Brown on a Blog: Lunch Update
Brown on a Blog: Welcome, The Water is Fine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday night, the Springfield City Council voted unanimously to hold a special City Council meeting so that they, the public, and CU will have an opportunity to engage in an open discussion about the CU board's decision to exercise eminent domain to acquire property they have selected as their choice for constructing the bus transfer site, should it become necessary.
Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky seemed to prefer the Council make a more general statement about the use of eminent domain by Springfield's government entities but, in the ensuing discussion, after Councilman Doug Burlison raised a motion to consider the issue, Mayor Jim O'Neal was adamant the Council should make a statement on the specific case of the CU board's decision to exercise use of the measure to acquire property from a private property owner, should it become necessary to do so.
Assistant city attorney Nancy Yendez indicated the Council really has no standing in the decision process of CU's board. The Council would like the city's legal department to issue an opinion regarding what options, if any, the Council has toward weighing in on the issue beyond passing a resolution as to their position.
Mayor O'Neal said he and others among the Council have expressed their displeasure of CU's specific use of eminent domain in this specific case to the CU board, to no avail, "I want to get it on the table, get it on the floor," O'Neal said.
My understanding is that the City Council intends to pass a resolution, as a result of the special meeting, after hearing from the public and City Utilities. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7 pm Monday night, June 8, in Council chambers.
KSGF's Vincent David Jericho discussed the issue with the property owner and potential hotel developer, Becky Spence, on his program Tuesday morning. You can listen to all of his podcasts from that program here.
Related: CU backs off on plan to take land for station News-Leader.com Springfield News-Leader
busplunge: City-CU Statement on Bus Transfer Station Site
Brown on a Blog: The New Issue
Brown on a Blog: Lunch Update
Brown on a Blog: Welcome, The Water is Fine
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The New Council: A Chemistry of Respect
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes....
Okay, I could tell you the cold, hard, factual details about the City Council luncheon today, I've got it on tape and I have most of the handouts that were available but, I'd like to touch on something a little different. Besides, I might follow up on Wes' report after it comes out in tomorrow's News-Leader.
I'd rather look at the attitude and chemistry of the new Council tonight. I like it.
I see a true consideration and respect for other members on the part of our new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Almost a deference to them that can only be described as a humbleness of spirit on the part of the Mayor and his new Pro Tem. It's a refreshing change.
Twice today, I witnessed the Pro Tem defer to Councilman Doug Burlison, who offered some good suggestions, and I think Mr. Burlison has, sometimes, felt a bit shut out in the past.
This is not to say that our past Mayor, Tom Carlson, did not allow other Councilmembers to speak, he did, but, while that is true, there never seemed to be the level of respect we are witnessing on the part of the new Mayor.
I don't really think I am the only one who got a sense there was a certain feeling of entitlement on the part of the old Council. Often, they seemed to decide how they wanted to act, with little regard to the sentiment of the public. I also don't think I am the only person within this city that sensed a certain arrogance on the part of some of the past members. Sure, they were all, personally, likeable people but, they didn't seem to be very approachable to the general public.
Another attitude I like is the respectful but firm manner in which our new Mayor deals with the City Manager. I know it is pretty early to pass any judgement on the way the new Council works but, Mayor O'Neal has already set a precedent of establishing his and the Council's unquestionable authority over Springfield's fledgling City Manager. The effect seems to be a more genuine deference to the wishes of the Council on the part of the manager. He seems a bit more tentative in recommending certain actions and time lines than he has in the past, and I believe, he may be starting to take his place, under the authority of the City Council, a bit more seriously than in his first days as manager.
All this is good news to me, in part, because I am going to be letting go of covering the City Council more and more as time goes by. I'm going through my own changes. The last 4 months has been a transitional time for me. [Really the last year, considering I lost my little dog and my sweet Mother in late December, 2007 and early April, 2008.]
I really enjoyed the work I was doing for the Community Free Press but, it became more and more clear to me that they really needed to use staff personnel for the increasing work load they were requesting of me, if, as it became apparent was the case, they were not willing to pay me appropriately for the work I was taking very seriously and spending more and more time upon. It was good business for them but, not good common sense for me.
Here's the confession: I loved what I was doing, so much so, in fact, I've been doing it for free as I have been slowly and quietly weaning myself from continuing in the same manner as I have been able to perform in the past. You see, I'm not a rich person who can afford to keep sacrificing my time in the endeavor, regardless of how much I enjoy(ed) it and regardless of how much I enjoy(ed) offering information as a community service to those who were and continue to be interested in city business.
Anyway, no promises. I'll write about the city if and when I have time or, if and when I feel like it. There's a big, broad, beautiful world out there and I have interests in other areas too. Life is good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, I could tell you the cold, hard, factual details about the City Council luncheon today, I've got it on tape and I have most of the handouts that were available but, I'd like to touch on something a little different. Besides, I might follow up on Wes' report after it comes out in tomorrow's News-Leader.
I'd rather look at the attitude and chemistry of the new Council tonight. I like it.
I see a true consideration and respect for other members on the part of our new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Almost a deference to them that can only be described as a humbleness of spirit on the part of the Mayor and his new Pro Tem. It's a refreshing change.
Twice today, I witnessed the Pro Tem defer to Councilman Doug Burlison, who offered some good suggestions, and I think Mr. Burlison has, sometimes, felt a bit shut out in the past.
This is not to say that our past Mayor, Tom Carlson, did not allow other Councilmembers to speak, he did, but, while that is true, there never seemed to be the level of respect we are witnessing on the part of the new Mayor.
I don't really think I am the only one who got a sense there was a certain feeling of entitlement on the part of the old Council. Often, they seemed to decide how they wanted to act, with little regard to the sentiment of the public. I also don't think I am the only person within this city that sensed a certain arrogance on the part of some of the past members. Sure, they were all, personally, likeable people but, they didn't seem to be very approachable to the general public.
Another attitude I like is the respectful but firm manner in which our new Mayor deals with the City Manager. I know it is pretty early to pass any judgement on the way the new Council works but, Mayor O'Neal has already set a precedent of establishing his and the Council's unquestionable authority over Springfield's fledgling City Manager. The effect seems to be a more genuine deference to the wishes of the Council on the part of the manager. He seems a bit more tentative in recommending certain actions and time lines than he has in the past, and I believe, he may be starting to take his place, under the authority of the City Council, a bit more seriously than in his first days as manager.
All this is good news to me, in part, because I am going to be letting go of covering the City Council more and more as time goes by. I'm going through my own changes. The last 4 months has been a transitional time for me. [Really the last year, considering I lost my little dog and my sweet Mother in late December, 2007 and early April, 2008.]
I really enjoyed the work I was doing for the Community Free Press but, it became more and more clear to me that they really needed to use staff personnel for the increasing work load they were requesting of me, if, as it became apparent was the case, they were not willing to pay me appropriately for the work I was taking very seriously and spending more and more time upon. It was good business for them but, not good common sense for me.
Here's the confession: I loved what I was doing, so much so, in fact, I've been doing it for free as I have been slowly and quietly weaning myself from continuing in the same manner as I have been able to perform in the past. You see, I'm not a rich person who can afford to keep sacrificing my time in the endeavor, regardless of how much I enjoy(ed) it and regardless of how much I enjoy(ed) offering information as a community service to those who were and continue to be interested in city business.
Anyway, no promises. I'll write about the city if and when I have time or, if and when I feel like it. There's a big, broad, beautiful world out there and I have interests in other areas too. Life is good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, May 08, 2009
Involved Springfield Citizen Kick Starts City Council Discussions on Community Improvement Districts
An involved Springfield citizen spoke to the City Council under the auspices of commenting on Council Bill 2009-099. The City Council will vote on that bill at their May 18 Council meeting.
But, Fred Ellison's comments had little to do with the bill he signed up to comment on, instead, Ellison addressed points involved in the philosophical debate surrounding the more general use of Community Improvement Districts (CIDs).
Why is it important?
Well, if I may refresh your memory, back at the Council luncheon on April 28, following some comments on CIDs by Councilmen Nick Ibarra and Doug Burlison, Mayor Jim O'Neal advised City Manager Greg Burris that the Council would like to engage in a philosophical discussion on the issue of CIDs before they vote on many more of them.
"It's (the CID) an interesting political creature and I understand there's some philosophical discussion behind that," O'Neal said at the luncheon. "We'd (the City Council would) like to have that discussion before we vote on many of these."
At the luncheon meeting, a majority of the City Council voted to authorize the Mayor to sign a petition to create the Shoppes at James River (SJR) Community Improvement District. That step is a necessary, preliminary step for the creation of the SJR CID but, it did not actually create the district, that will be considered by Council at a later date. Councilmen Ibarra and Burlison were opposed to the harbinger of the creation of such a district.
Councilman Doug Burlison expressed a concern about the continuing approval of such districts' potential to have a negative effect on passage of any sort of a sales tax, which might be initiated, as a cure for the police and firefighter pension plan (See: "JackeHammer:" CID, TIF, & TDD; Tools in the City's Tool Box).
Councilman Nick Ibarra didn't like the idea that a citizen frequenting a business within a CID receives no notification they are paying a higher sales tax rate at the CID business than what they would pay at a competing business, not located within a CID (See: above noted previous entry).
In light of these future, requested discussions, having a citizen taxpayer define his own philosophical objections to the use of CIDs should be of great interest to the City Council. So, for the sake of future reference, I felt it might be valuable to lock Mr. Ellison's comments into a more accessible and permanent form.
Ellison brought up some interesting points in relation to Community Improvement Districts. He noted that only property owners within any given CID have a say in the creation of the CID; People leasing properties within a proposed CID have no voice in the creation of the district; and a CID creates a competitive advantage for the businesses within it.
"You're allowing a business, another entity, to use the taxpayer to pay for improvements on their properties," Ellison said. "That's an expense that that business no longer has to bear on itself and, therefore, it gives them a competitive advantage over other businesses that may be existing within the same line of business."
Ellison also suggested that businesses within a CID should post notice to their customers that they are paying a higher sales tax rate within the district.
"I think that businesses within a CID should be forced to disclose the fact that they're charging a higher sales tax rate than other businesses within the City of Springfield," Ellison said.
Another suggestion Ellison had was that there should be a minimum number of property owners. He noted, in the case of the CID discussed at the prior City Council luncheon, there was only one property owner, other than the City's own interest in the district.
"I don't think that's what the State statute intended," Ellison noted.
While Ellison did not note it, it could be noted that, generally, a "community" implies more than one or even two involved parties. According to Ellison, the State statute does not define how many participants must be involved in order to form a CID.
When a "community" of business owners wants to initiate a CID, it is generally initiated because it enables the property owners within the CID to ask registered voters within that district to approve an additional sales tax, specifically earmarked for developmental improvements to the property in question. Supposedly, it pertains to improvements which would be beneficial to the entire "community" zoned within the particular district.
As Ellison noted, over 50% of the property owners in both number and assessed value are required to petition to create the CID, however, only the registered voters within the CID are allowed to vote for approval or denial of the imposition of the additional sales tax within their district, though, in most or, at least, many cases, other taxpayers within the City, who did not have a vote on the sales tax rate, but, who might frequent the businesses within it, have had no say in the higher tax rate and are not notified of its existence.
In the case of the Shoppes at James River CID, there was only one property owner besides the City of Springfield, and that is why it was required that the Mayor be authorized to sign the petition calling for the formation of that Community Improvement District.
If the City Council later approves a CID sales tax initiative be placed on the ballot for the Shoppes at James River CID and it succeeds, the SJR district would use the proceeds of the additional sales tax to improve a storm water basin owned by the City, and take over the ongoing maintenance of the basin.
Without an initial 1 percent CID sales tax, Developer Tom Rankin has said he would be unable to pay the $300,000 required by the City for the developments' initial use of the basin, the improvements which would be required to it, and the ongoing maintenance they have agreed to provide for that basin.
"We can't afford to spend that kind of money without getting some return," Rankin said at the luncheon (again, see: "JackeHammer:" CID, TIF, & TDD; Tools in the City's Tool Box
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But, Fred Ellison's comments had little to do with the bill he signed up to comment on, instead, Ellison addressed points involved in the philosophical debate surrounding the more general use of Community Improvement Districts (CIDs).
Why is it important?
Well, if I may refresh your memory, back at the Council luncheon on April 28, following some comments on CIDs by Councilmen Nick Ibarra and Doug Burlison, Mayor Jim O'Neal advised City Manager Greg Burris that the Council would like to engage in a philosophical discussion on the issue of CIDs before they vote on many more of them.
"It's (the CID) an interesting political creature and I understand there's some philosophical discussion behind that," O'Neal said at the luncheon. "We'd (the City Council would) like to have that discussion before we vote on many of these."
At the luncheon meeting, a majority of the City Council voted to authorize the Mayor to sign a petition to create the Shoppes at James River (SJR) Community Improvement District. That step is a necessary, preliminary step for the creation of the SJR CID but, it did not actually create the district, that will be considered by Council at a later date. Councilmen Ibarra and Burlison were opposed to the harbinger of the creation of such a district.
Councilman Doug Burlison expressed a concern about the continuing approval of such districts' potential to have a negative effect on passage of any sort of a sales tax, which might be initiated, as a cure for the police and firefighter pension plan (See: "JackeHammer:" CID, TIF, & TDD; Tools in the City's Tool Box).
Councilman Nick Ibarra didn't like the idea that a citizen frequenting a business within a CID receives no notification they are paying a higher sales tax rate at the CID business than what they would pay at a competing business, not located within a CID (See: above noted previous entry).
In light of these future, requested discussions, having a citizen taxpayer define his own philosophical objections to the use of CIDs should be of great interest to the City Council. So, for the sake of future reference, I felt it might be valuable to lock Mr. Ellison's comments into a more accessible and permanent form.
Ellison brought up some interesting points in relation to Community Improvement Districts. He noted that only property owners within any given CID have a say in the creation of the CID; People leasing properties within a proposed CID have no voice in the creation of the district; and a CID creates a competitive advantage for the businesses within it.
"You're allowing a business, another entity, to use the taxpayer to pay for improvements on their properties," Ellison said. "That's an expense that that business no longer has to bear on itself and, therefore, it gives them a competitive advantage over other businesses that may be existing within the same line of business."
Ellison also suggested that businesses within a CID should post notice to their customers that they are paying a higher sales tax rate within the district.
"I think that businesses within a CID should be forced to disclose the fact that they're charging a higher sales tax rate than other businesses within the City of Springfield," Ellison said.
Another suggestion Ellison had was that there should be a minimum number of property owners. He noted, in the case of the CID discussed at the prior City Council luncheon, there was only one property owner, other than the City's own interest in the district.
"I don't think that's what the State statute intended," Ellison noted.
While Ellison did not note it, it could be noted that, generally, a "community" implies more than one or even two involved parties. According to Ellison, the State statute does not define how many participants must be involved in order to form a CID.
When a "community" of business owners wants to initiate a CID, it is generally initiated because it enables the property owners within the CID to ask registered voters within that district to approve an additional sales tax, specifically earmarked for developmental improvements to the property in question. Supposedly, it pertains to improvements which would be beneficial to the entire "community" zoned within the particular district.
As Ellison noted, over 50% of the property owners in both number and assessed value are required to petition to create the CID, however, only the registered voters within the CID are allowed to vote for approval or denial of the imposition of the additional sales tax within their district, though, in most or, at least, many cases, other taxpayers within the City, who did not have a vote on the sales tax rate, but, who might frequent the businesses within it, have had no say in the higher tax rate and are not notified of its existence.
In the case of the Shoppes at James River CID, there was only one property owner besides the City of Springfield, and that is why it was required that the Mayor be authorized to sign the petition calling for the formation of that Community Improvement District.
If the City Council later approves a CID sales tax initiative be placed on the ballot for the Shoppes at James River CID and it succeeds, the SJR district would use the proceeds of the additional sales tax to improve a storm water basin owned by the City, and take over the ongoing maintenance of the basin.
Without an initial 1 percent CID sales tax, Developer Tom Rankin has said he would be unable to pay the $300,000 required by the City for the developments' initial use of the basin, the improvements which would be required to it, and the ongoing maintenance they have agreed to provide for that basin.
"We can't afford to spend that kind of money without getting some return," Rankin said at the luncheon (again, see: "JackeHammer:" CID, TIF, & TDD; Tools in the City's Tool Box
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Updates: Special Council Meeting to be Re-Scheduled; Chair and Vice Chair Appointed to the Pension Task Force
Mayor Jim O'Neal suggested a special meeting be called to fill Council's vacant Zone 3 seat at the last City Council luncheon. Originally, he called for the meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 28.
The meeting is being rescheduled, the new date has not yet been released but, it will not take place Tuesday, the 28th, due to conflicts in Council scheduling.
Also, last Tuesday, with Council approval of 6 new appointees, the Police and Firefighter Pension Task Force selection was complete, except for the Mayor's naming of a Chair and Vice Chair.
Yesterday, at a specially called news conference, Mayor O'Neal appointed Jerry Fenstermaker as the Chair, and Jerry Harmison as the Vice Chair of the task force. With the addition of Fenstermaker, the task force numbers 16 members however, Fenstermaker is not a voting member.
The City has provided links to the full task force and its formal charge.
Those interested may view the news conference at TV23, by selecting it under the "special programming" link.
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The meeting is being rescheduled, the new date has not yet been released but, it will not take place Tuesday, the 28th, due to conflicts in Council scheduling.
Also, last Tuesday, with Council approval of 6 new appointees, the Police and Firefighter Pension Task Force selection was complete, except for the Mayor's naming of a Chair and Vice Chair.
Yesterday, at a specially called news conference, Mayor O'Neal appointed Jerry Fenstermaker as the Chair, and Jerry Harmison as the Vice Chair of the task force. With the addition of Fenstermaker, the task force numbers 16 members however, Fenstermaker is not a voting member.
The City has provided links to the full task force and its formal charge.
Those interested may view the news conference at TV23, by selecting it under the "special programming" link.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Mayor O'Neal to Introduce Chair and Vice Chair of Pension Task Force
Mayor Jim O'Neal plans to announce and introduce the Chair and Vice Chair of the Police-Fire Pension Fund Citizen's Task Force at 2:30 this afternoon, Wednesday, April 22.
He will also discuss how the Task Force will proceed.
City Manager Greg Burris presented the City Council with his draft, recommended charge for the Police/Fire Pension Fund Citizen's Task Force on March 31.
To access all the entries made concerning the police/fire pension to date at the City's Web log, City Connect, click this link.
Past entries on the topic, made here, can be located by using the search bar.
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He will also discuss how the Task Force will proceed.
City Manager Greg Burris presented the City Council with his draft, recommended charge for the Police/Fire Pension Fund Citizen's Task Force on March 31.
To access all the entries made concerning the police/fire pension to date at the City's Web log, City Connect, click this link.
Past entries on the topic, made here, can be located by using the search bar.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Police and Firefighter Pension Task Force Selection Complete
Mayor O'Neal to appoint Chair and Vice Chair by Noon Wednesday
*Slightly edited for clarification*
From a list of 39 second round applicants for the Police-Fire Pension Fund Citizen's Task Force, the Council unanimously approved names which were recommended by City Manager Greg Burris on Tuesday, to fill the remaining 6 spots on the force.
The "Second-Round Applications" list included all of the new applicants who had applied after the newly elected City Council, along with remaining members, decided to reopen the process. Also included, according to City Manager Greg Burris, were about three or four from the previous list of applicants who had received 3 to 5 votes from the new City Council.
"If you look at the totals, it works out pretty cleanly because there are 6 individuals who received either 3, 4 or 5 votes," Burris said.
Burris recommended those 6 who had received between 3 to 5 votes, "be added to the 9 individuals who were previously selected to create the task force of 15."
After a motion was made by Councilman Doug Burlison to accept Burris' recommendation, the Council unanimously approved the applicants by voice vote.
The new task force members are: Lorenzo Baldwin, Gordon Elliot, Carl Herd, Bob Horton, Danny Hyde and David Trippe
The nine who had been previously selected were: Mary Beth Daniels, Jerry Harmison, Kenneth Homan, James Jeffries, Robert L. Jones, Peggy Kubicek, Charles Munsey, Craig Wagoner and Lloyd Young.
Mayor Jim O'Neal anticipates appointing the Chair and Vice Chair by noon tomorrow, after confirmation is made that the selected applicants will accept the positions.
"Let's make sure everybody accepts the position, nobody's got cold feet, then, once they have all definitely accepted, I will appoint the Chair and Vice Chair tomorrow," O'Neal said.
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*Slightly edited for clarification*
From a list of 39 second round applicants for the Police-Fire Pension Fund Citizen's Task Force, the Council unanimously approved names which were recommended by City Manager Greg Burris on Tuesday, to fill the remaining 6 spots on the force.
The "Second-Round Applications" list included all of the new applicants who had applied after the newly elected City Council, along with remaining members, decided to reopen the process. Also included, according to City Manager Greg Burris, were about three or four from the previous list of applicants who had received 3 to 5 votes from the new City Council.
"If you look at the totals, it works out pretty cleanly because there are 6 individuals who received either 3, 4 or 5 votes," Burris said.
Burris recommended those 6 who had received between 3 to 5 votes, "be added to the 9 individuals who were previously selected to create the task force of 15."
After a motion was made by Councilman Doug Burlison to accept Burris' recommendation, the Council unanimously approved the applicants by voice vote.
The new task force members are: Lorenzo Baldwin, Gordon Elliot, Carl Herd, Bob Horton, Danny Hyde and David Trippe
The nine who had been previously selected were: Mary Beth Daniels, Jerry Harmison, Kenneth Homan, James Jeffries, Robert L. Jones, Peggy Kubicek, Charles Munsey, Craig Wagoner and Lloyd Young.
Mayor Jim O'Neal anticipates appointing the Chair and Vice Chair by noon tomorrow, after confirmation is made that the selected applicants will accept the positions.
"Let's make sure everybody accepts the position, nobody's got cold feet, then, once they have all definitely accepted, I will appoint the Chair and Vice Chair tomorrow," O'Neal said.
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Mayor O'Neal Suggests Special Meeting to Fill Council's Vacant Zone 3 Seat
Tuesday, led by Mayor Jim O'Neal, a plan and process was laid out for filling the Council seat which was abruptly vacated by Ralph K. Manley at the end of last evening's City Council meeting.
The first step in the process is to make paperwork available to qualified applicants. That paperwork can be picked up at the City Clerk's office, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Those interested in applying for the vacant seat must have been a resident of of Zone 3 for at least one year, according to the City Charter.
O'Neal consulted with the City Clerk regarding the proper way to proceed, prior to the Council's luncheon meeting. He said applicants would not be required to gather petition signatures, as is required by candidates running in an election. He did however, recommend applicants include a resume.
The deadline for turning in applications will be Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m.
O'Neal recommended a special meeting be held a week from today, on Tuesday evening, April 28, wherein the applicants for the Zone 3 seat could address the City Council with a five minute oral presentation.
The Council would then discuss and vote for the Zone Council member.
O'Neal welcomed other ideas from the Council, but said he intended to follow through with a special meeting a week from today to select the new member.
"I have nothing but the highest regard for Mr. Manley," O'Neal said. "At some point I would like to appropriately honor his service to our City but, we have a lot of work on our plate and I do not believe we can hesitate nor delay the selection of a new Council person."
Update: The Special meeting, April 28, will be at 6 p.m. according to the City's news release.
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The first step in the process is to make paperwork available to qualified applicants. That paperwork can be picked up at the City Clerk's office, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Those interested in applying for the vacant seat must have been a resident of of Zone 3 for at least one year, according to the City Charter.
O'Neal consulted with the City Clerk regarding the proper way to proceed, prior to the Council's luncheon meeting. He said applicants would not be required to gather petition signatures, as is required by candidates running in an election. He did however, recommend applicants include a resume.
The deadline for turning in applications will be Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m.
O'Neal recommended a special meeting be held a week from today, on Tuesday evening, April 28, wherein the applicants for the Zone 3 seat could address the City Council with a five minute oral presentation.
The Council would then discuss and vote for the Zone Council member.
O'Neal welcomed other ideas from the Council, but said he intended to follow through with a special meeting a week from today to select the new member.
"I have nothing but the highest regard for Mr. Manley," O'Neal said. "At some point I would like to appropriately honor his service to our City but, we have a lot of work on our plate and I do not believe we can hesitate nor delay the selection of a new Council person."
Update: The Special meeting, April 28, will be at 6 p.m. according to the City's news release.
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