Jul 16
From the diary on my campaign site:
Getting tired of the whole “we have a balanced budget” and “we have a surplus” talk…Tell you what -– let’s go with that. Let’s just say we believe the surplus is real, on condition that if it disappears right after the election, the city manager is held responsible and dismissed.
Nobody’s been held responsible or dismissed yet, except for 3 firefighters.
Jul 16
“The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum.”
The New York Times, 19 January 1962
Jul 14
Near the end of the Council meeting tonight, I argued against Re:New DeKalb’s getting another agreement with the City of DeKalb because of breach of contract. Re:New has not been turning in the documentation called for (which could then be accessed via the city through the Freedom of Information Act) nor has it been following the Open Meetings Act. I can verify this provision has been ignored for at least two years.
The mayor mumbled something about having Legal look into it, then called for a vote on the resolution with no further discussion. Re:New gets $45,000 of our money this year and follows whatever rules it wants to. Or none, I guess.
A lot of other business was conducted tonight, almost none of it good. Use this as your council meeting open thread if you like.
Jul 12
But first, though, in case you didn’t receive Rep. Bill Foster’s automated phone call: He’s now got an outreach program of constituent services for “any problems you are having with the federal government,” such as social security or veterans’ issues. You can find the congressman’s staff on hand to help you in the DeKalb Public Library on the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m.
Moving on…Rep. Foster is one of 22 representatives who have signed a letter to the congressional leadership in support of a “robust public health insurance option” in healthcare legislation.
The heart of their argument: Read the rest of this entry
Jul 10
Good for AFSCME. The union did its job.
AFSCME members voted Wednesday night on a proposal where they will take a wage freeze for one year, and in return, the city will not lay off any workers through the remainder of the contract, which expires Dec. 31, 2010.
I think it would have been fairer to the rest of us if the no-layoff period and the wage freeze period had ended up the same, considering how this affects flexibility in dealing with the financial crises; but, at least they’re holding firm on th — oh, wait.
In addition, AFSCME’s health insurance premium costs will not go up in 2010, Biernacki said. Currently, employees pay 15 percent of the premium, which was supposed to increase to 20 percent on July 1, 2010.
How does the city’s continuing to pick up that 5% of the premium for 70 employees affect the purported $480,000 in FY2010 savings achieved with a citywide wage freeze? The question must be asked and answered before Council can vote on the proposal. I tried to look at Monday’s meeting agenda online to see if it is addressed in a memo but not only did the agenda not load properly, it messed up my browser.
Jul 10
Yesterday I mailed a complaint about City Council’s failures to adhere to the Open Meetings Act. It is on its way to the Illinois Attorney General, cc’d to the DeKalb County State’s Attorney.
I selected three violations occurring in May and June to include in the complaint, beginning with the decision to address the financial consultants’ (EPI) report after FY2010 budget approval. Read the rest of this entry
Jul 9
Sent this in last week and was told Monday it would be published in the Chronicle “in a couple days.”
DeKalb City Council passed a resolution June 22 authorizing the city manager to reduce the number of firefighters for Fiscal Year 2010 as a means to present a balanced budget to the community. Let me make it clear that I am no fan of the firefighter layoff option. However, a resolution is a directed plan of action, and the FY2010 budget ordinance—approved on the same day—depends on this plan of action.
Yet following a 45-minute closed session during a special meeting on June 29, Mayor Povlsen suddenly announced that the city was still in negotiation with the firefighters’ union. In short order, Council violated its own Resolution 09-41, (budget) Ordinance 09-34, and the Open Meetings Act, which prohibits decisions being made in closed session.
City government is becoming a law unto itself. Read the rest of this entry
Jul 2
In response to community need, Voluntary Action Center (VAC) will be serving meals three evenings per week at the Senior Services Center, 330 Grove Street. Dinner is served Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This is not just for seniors. Anyone who needs a meal is welcome.
Federal stimulus money will keep the program going for the next three months. After that it’s up to the community to support it. VAC needs volunteer servers and cleaner-uppers as well as donations of disposable tableware, juice mixes, peanut butter and jelly, bread and non-perishable food items.
Those wishing to contribute financially please make checks out to Voluntary Action Center. All types of donations can be dropped off at VAC headquarters, 1606 Bethany Road, Sycamore. Volunteers can call 815-758-3932 for more information and to sign up.
Please help spread the word about this effort.
Jul 1
see more Political Pictures
Whew! Is that all. I was afraid I’d missed Talk Like a Pirate Day again, mateys. Aarrrgh!