Its All About Control by One Person!


Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 2:56 PM MST


Dear Editor:


I appreciate the writer of a recent, signed letter-to-the-editor who asked, “where is the Finance Committee?” and “aren’t they supposed to be looking over the Manager’s shoulder?”.

I can provide some insight. Ward 2 Councilperson Mitch Lindemann:

1. As committee chairperson, allowed the committee to violate Resolution #96-115 for six months.

2. Because it required quarterly meetings, describes this Resolution as not being “flexible”.

3. Said because we now have “professionally managed government” (as though we never had such before), there is no need for financial oversight.

4. Proposed the new Resolution #11-862 which:

a. Reduces the committee to only a budget recommending committee.

b. Remoes the quarterly meeting requirement.

c. Takes away ALL oversight responsibilities.

d. Gives him the sole power to change the agenda.

e. Does not require him to consult anyone about placing agenda items.

There was effort at the December Council meeting to restore the quarterly meeting requirement; however it was not successful because:

• The City Manager refused to allow action on restoring quarterly meetings.

• Wrong advice was given; the advice should have been that any previously-passed item can be placed as new business on an agenda and acted upon at any subsequent meeting.

• Lindemann argued “the old. . . resolution did not have any flexibility”.

There is serious business on a quarterly basis for the Finance Committee to be kept informed about and to discuss in order to make sound, knowledgeable recommendations to the Council. There is reason to believe the City Manager becomes unreasonably defensive when public oversight is mentioned.

Why does Lindemann seem to wish to control the committee to such an extent? Why does he seem to be protecting city officials from public oversight?

Sincerely,

Michael F. Nava - Douglas Resident

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Crazy wrote on Jan 15, 2012 11:02 PM:

    " Well, maybe if you start listening to this crazy man, things would be better around our schools and city! "

    Go Away wrote on Jan 10, 2012 9:18 PM:

    " What a waste of newspaper space. Constantly printing this crazy man's stupidities. He needs to "go away" and stop giving people the impression we have nuts like him in Douglas. He gives our city a bad name. "

    the truth wrote on Jan 8, 2012 11:11 AM:

    " the truth is there are people who cannot stand to NOT get their way. The author of this letter is a prime example. He will misrepresent the facts and even lie to make his point of view seem right.

    People are simply tired of his tirades and untrue accusations about city government and the school system.

    Many people won't even read his letters or give him the time of day. In fact with his history you'd think he would be quieter! "

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