April 7, 2009: Catching up on Council

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April 7, 2009: Catching up on Council | April 17: You might be a right wing extremist.... | April 17, 2009: Tea parties not about taxes...but about Big Government | April 20: City Council | June 10: Here's what I think | June 16, 2009 The Council Meeting Another no bid contract | June 17 -- Picking our pockets, one no-bid contract at a time | June 22, 2009 SCS Voice is back | June 22, 2009: Retired chief runs for Council. Can we afford him? | June 27, 2009 -- 'Bidding?...We don't need no stinkin' bidding!' | June 30, 2009: EPA Coverup on Climate Change | June 30, Guest Column...Letter Shows Stabenow believes health care a "right" | June 30, 2009: House energy bill a piece of S***T | July 3, 2009: Forget Socialism --we're racing toward Totalitarianism | July 4, 2009: Independence Day | July 6, 2009 Letter to Editor - Climate Change Not Real | July 6, 2009: Seniors Beware! Government run health plan might just kill you | July 10, 2009: Bill Clinton would be proud...it depends on what your definition of a 'bid' is...business as usual in the Shores | July 10, 2009: Minutes of Special City Council -- Ahearn and Activities Committee, 2006 | July 20, 2009: City Council: Sometimes you just get tired of the BS! | July 21, 2009: You decide | July 23, 2009: ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009’’ is anything but. | August 3, 2009: VOTE TOMORROW | August 3: Shocking things from Health Care Reform Bill! | August 3: Look at Frederick's property on Elizabeth | August 12, 2009: Bev, get a life! | August 12, 2009: President's rigged town hall | October 11: Teddy Boys' support should be kiss of death | November 3, 2009: Now comes the hard part | November 11, 2009: Wahby distances himself from losers; Veteran's Day and other matters | November 16, 2009 A new day | November 19, 2009: A personal message | November 17, 2009: Socialized medicine failing in Germany | City -- Some Pension Costs, Oct. 2007

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

The past few council meetings have been very interesting, to say the least.

THE GOOD:

We have seen our residents come out in force to address an issue -- dubbed "Drive By Snow Shoveling" --

and the city, recognizing its own culpability in the matter, agreed to waive the administration fee something which would not have been done had not so many had the courage to speak out.

We have seen residents come forward -- and are still coming forward -- to question the expenditure of millions of dollars on a water-meter replacement project, especially in these hard economic times. The city must do a much better job of explaining to residents any benefits which might be gained from going forward with this project and why it is necessary to bond for this. The "Economic Stimulus Recovery Plan" has $5,400,000 pegged to pay for this project. You can click here Stimulus Watch to see all the projects proposed for St. Clair Shores.

We have seen the City adopt a policy of allowing residents two minutes to speak on agenda items, prior to discussion and vote by council, thanks in no small measure to the efforts of former council member, Erin Stahl.

We have seen council packets placed on-line, again thanks to the efforts of Erin Stahl (and to those council members who voted to put the matter on the agenda for a vote) which will give residents greater insight into how and why council makes some of the decisions it does and which will give those who have questions the opportunity to air their concerns via e-mail and phone, prior to the meetings, or even to use the new Two Minute Rule at the meetings.

So, there has been great progress towards a more open city government. This is a never-ending project and requires diligence on our part to make such steps continue forward.

THE BAD and THE UGLY

The power to speak at council meetings, while a constitutional one, also demands restraint on all sides.

Some of the comments made by both residents and council members at the recent meetings have been very disturbing. The personal attacks have been something to behold. Council members calling residents trouble makers; residents making personal allegations; other residents booing those who speak out and even attacking their motives for doing so and council members actually clapping when this happened.

Words of wisdom to Council, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

While one can disagree with the policies of the city and of it's treatment of residents, especially the Mayor when he puts on his "I Am King" hat, a bit of discretion is always called for when it comes to personal attacks on individuals.

Do we question why Mr. Dumas was able to resign as Mayor, and in spite of what appears to be a conflict with the city charter, be appointed to DPW Director? Yes, we do. Can we question the ever increasing spending by this Department on equipment of a dubious benefit to the city? You bet we can and we should keep doing so, not only for the DPW, but all departments.

That there are some on council who have almost never seen a spending project or piece of equipment they can say no to -- and there are at least four of them -- is something to be defeated at the ballot box.

As for Mr. Podolski being made city manager, this is a moot issue. You have to strike while the iron is hot and the time has long passed to keep beating this dead horse. Council approved his contract and has renewed it. If you have issues, it's council whose feet need to be held to the fire.

As for Ms. Wolny's position, it does appear that there is some concern over her handling of Code Enforcement, but this, too, is an issue which needs to be resolved if there is a problem, by administration and the Council. Personal innuendo and attacks have no place in this debate.

The recent discussion about Mr. Dopke and his family and it's 'possible' relationship with individuals in the city was totally inappropriate and a real 'lowlight' at a recent council meeting. Mr. Dopke took personal hits because it was his company, Landscape Services, which did the "Drive By Snow Shoveling." So, while we can disagree with what Landscape Services did, Landscape Services was operating at the direction of the City Manager. It is he who has to answer to the residents about this 'policy' which he attempted to do in a rambling and confusing manner, and to the Council for his decision making.

That the city needs to better clarify both its ordinances and the implementation of the ordinances regarding snow removal is the bottom line to this issue, especially when one listened to Mr. Ihrie try to justify how an ordinance was used and Mr. Podolski try to justify how and why he ordered Landscape Services to shovel the sidewalks. His criteria seemed to be that when he shoveled his snow, you were expected to shovel yours. To think that Code Enforcement received over 3000 complaints from citizens about hazardous, snow covered sidewalks is ridiculous.

Ultimately, it is City Council who must be held responsible for the actions of not only of Mr. Podolski, but the various department heads and the way they are or are not carrying out their responsibilities. They are the ones who must approve their actions. If you are unhappy with the direction of the city and its policies, the only place to insure change is at the ballot box. You will never win a battle while allowing those with whom you have real issues to remain in place.

Finally, as one who has spoken before council many times and have used these pages to point out issues and voice my opinions about them and members of council, I have had my share of personal attacks. Rumors and innuendo about everything from my personal life to my smoking and drinking habits--get it straight, I smoke Salem's but yes, I do drink "cheap wine" -- Pisiano is my favorite table wine and currently goes for about $11 a gallon and is great with most meals -- as well as my personal integrity have all been attacked, usually anonymously. Whisper campaigns have certainly surfaced about me and my motives.

And, that's fine for just as I said about council, "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," and I intend to stay in the kitchen.

But it has been my experience that personal attacks are almost always used when there are no facts to refute what is being said, or as I believe in the case with most residents who have legitimate concerns over issues and have yet to have those issues answered fully, simple frustration. True, you're never going to be able to please everyone, but that so many have come forward in the recent past should alert the city to the fact that they -- thecity, the council and the department heads -- have real issues with which they need to deal and that you don't do that by dismissing those who question actions and policies as 'troublemakers' and 'grandstanders'.

That said, it's time for a little restraint on both sides.

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