I know I might be sounding like a pain in the a--, but there has been a very real change in attendance for Pleasant Prairie Village Board members.
When I was on the board, I did not miss ONE board meeting until the 20 MONTH of my term. This occured only because my family was enjoying a well deserved vacation in FL in December, and the flight home for a Monday night meeting was a bit expensive.
AND that was the only meeting I missed in the entire 2 years I was on the board.
This past Monday Village Trustee Mike Serpe was absent AGAIN. Maybe buddy boy Village President deemed his absense "EXCUSED", but as a citizen and taxpayer I find the current trend "INEXCUSABLE"!
While I was not really counting anybodies attendance (except my own) during my 2 years, from a subjective perspective I would say that likely 1 or 2 maximum absenses by any board member for the ENTIRE 2 years, and we are only in the 10th month of the current term.
Status for far thru 2/5/2008:
----Village President John Steinbrink absent once, late once.
----Trustee Monica Yuhas - zero absenses! Way to go Monica.
----Trustee Steve Kumorkiewicz --zero absenses! Well at least he practices what he preaches. And he takes his hat off in buildings too.
----Trustee Clyde Allen -- THREE ABSENSES. Thats 12% absense rate of the 26 meetings so far in his term. Whose 'side' is that again, Clyde?
----Trustee Mike Serpe -- THREE ABSENSES. Same as Clyde, AND MUCH higher than before. Watch out Mike, anyday now Steve Kurmorkiewicz is going to give you a real chewing. How are you doing on Plan Commission meetings -- these REALLY bother SK.
So what does this mean? You tell me and the readers.
BUT, from where I stand, apparently its not as important to be at meetings anymore as it used to be when honest debate actually occured when I and Jeff Lauer (when necessary) questioned proceedings and potentially would vote in opposition (for those of you that forgot, OPPOSITION is when a trustee has the nerve and gall to vote opposite of what Super Trustee Mike Pollocoff 'recommends'.)
Just for information purposes: Since the current board took office on 5/7/2007, by my count, 277 votes have occured. The current board since that date have voted UNANIMOUSLY 275 times (or 99.3%)!
To her credit, Moncia Yuhas has been the only honest broker I have witnessed so far. She actually has some questions and has taken positions that has made others squirm. I compliment her for this, but also have noticed that others have taken pot-shots against her any time she deviates from the 'norm'. Key it up, Monica! And I will be happy to vote for you next year.
So there you have it? Is this okay with you? Or does it just suggest that the meetings themselves are pre-conceived, and the lack of dedication shown by certain board members only proves it??
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
ATTENDANCE -- NO LONGER REQUIRED?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
38 comments:
It's only an issue when you are not what "they" want. I attend as many PC and VB meetings as I can. Some trutees have even become slack on attending those meetings (or showing up at the end). Remember how they always said that Alex and Jeff needed to be at PC meetings to understand the issues and explanations? Gene the finance guy even had to explain to Clyde the "I understand finance" the whole bond issue and how it worked. Just being at the meeting doesn't necessarily mean you understand what is going on.
You're right...you do sound like a pain in the a**...because it's the same ole Alex, who IS a pain in the a**.
You know, I probably shouldn't even acknowledge this last mindless comment, but I can't help it.
You again betray your narrow-mindedness.
My comments (which you will not agree with of course) are a fair gripe on behalf of all citizens and taxpayers who depend/demand/expect our elected officials to represent ALL of us, and in order to do that they must be THERE.
Pathetic Dr. Stranglove-ian video tapes DON'T CUT IT.
BUT, all you can do is focus on my initial comments about being a pain in the a--.
How small and feable you are.
Come on big shot, who are you? Or are you going to continue hiding behind your anonymous 'grandmas apron' mask?
I was at that meeting and didn't see or hear Gene do much more than relate the latest "bottom line" interest rates. Also didn't see or hear any confusion on Clyde's part. Nothing particularly complex.
I don't think you get it!
I will make a simple comparison for you:
2 boys are in the same class, one is there all the time, doesn't do the homework and spends a great deal of the time disrupting the class and the others, taking away from everyone else's learing experience. The boy misses once in a while but does all the homework even extra credit and passes the class with flying colors. Now, who is the student?
the pet who plays hookie passes with flying colors because the teacher gives him all the answers? the problem in the end is that the student gets the grade, but he still doesn't know anything. and then when the pet actually thinks he's smart he asks a dumb question, and the show is over. hopefully now you get it. if the shoe fits, etc.
Anyone who thinks grades are the end all doesn't know what our current US President's grades were. Think he was the smartest kid in his class?
"So what does this mean? You tell me and the readers." Means that since Alex and Jeff are gone, attendance isn't a priority because they were afraid it would be used against them in the election. So who even attends these things anymore? Does anyone even speak or make comments? At least there was some life before. Village residents probably learned (instead of "learing") more because it was discussed in the open. Now the Village posts on their website some information. One question, why did it take the RecPlex Director issue nearly two months to come out in the open?
How much did Alex actually accomplish even when he was there??????????????
Alex tried very hard to represent and resolve the concerns of the average taxpayer instead of being a pushover for developers and other outside interests.
It is difficult to accomplish a lot when you are always up against a voting bloc.
That is why attendance was so critical before--that majority HAD TO BE MAINTAINED less something be passed that disagreed with what the good ol boys wanted.
Now it appears it no longer matters whether some trustees attend, as all board members, with the occasional exception of Monica, just go along with whatever is proposed with little or no discussion.
Did not mean to be anonymous in my previous comment.
"How much did Alex actually accomplish even when he was there??????????????" How much did you accomplish while you served on the Board?
DearFleeced and the last anonymous,
THANK YOU for seeing it like it was.
If I EVEN THOUGHT about doing or acting in someway outside of 'accordance' with their royal hind-nesses, they swarmed like bees and made sure (using their power of majority in tandem with a very biased village administration) to make sure that I got nowhere.
Again, in round 1, more than 50% of village voters wanted to see some kind of balance. The power holders made sure that would not happen, and effectively SILENCED the majority of voters (not just me and Jeff Lauer, but the VOTERS).
I appreciate your comments, and advise all MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKS to try it themselves.
Regards,
Alex
Here is an exchange from Rennert's blog that indicates that words written are not on the up and up!
John Roscioli said...
Thank you for posting my VOP on your website. It's much appreciated.
February 9, 2008 7:39 AM
Village People said...
You're welcome. The reason I put them here is I figured it would get more read by the people who care and are involved than in the newspaper. This way everyone can have their say and their comments are for all to see. Sorry I initially misspelled your name. My scanner changed some of the text when I copied and pasted and I missed the spelling change.
February 9, 2008 7:52 AM
Anonymous said...
Here is an email from Mike Renner to Mark Satter it sounds a little different than his above statement:
Beth is pissed that this Tobin Woods guy has misquoted me. Here's what Cooley said and here's what I said. Roscioli's last paragraph completely invalidates everything he said above because he says it is OK to question leadership. So which is it? What a dope.
Mike Renner
February 9, 2008 10:01 AM
Who cares what Rennart has to say? He's a nobody in this Village anyways. Get over it. Are you afraid of him? Why keep giving him recognition?
Be careful! Wording has been altered!
To "VillagePeople":
Wording has NOT been altered.
I have a copy of the email!
Nice try on damage control. Speaking nicely to someone on your posting and then sending an email calling him a "dope". I thought you were smarter than that.
The wording is altered from the e-mail originally sent. I have the original, not a copy.
Post the original email and leave in the part where you call Roscioli a dope.
Between Alex and Renner, who is the biggest conspiracy theorist? Everyone is always against them, the whole village won't listen to them.
If only they were given power, taxes would go down, the Village would run a surplus, streets would be magically plowed, and all of our school children would be above average.
Laughable!
What's wrong with lower taxes? Or budget surpluses? So now we know we have the current Board to thank for the largest tax increase in years. Great job guys. Thanks. That's what's laughable.
You forgot to add that if were Alex & Renner were in POWER we would have a thousand miles of bike trails in the village.
And smaller Board (members).
Hey everyone,
What does Mike Satter and John Roscioli have to do with ATTENDANCE OF BOARD MEMBERS???
I read Mr. Roscioli's VOP from WED 2/6. I think I understand what he was trying to say even though it was confusing. The letter began and ended with some high minded non-VPP specific philosophy which I agree with, but the middle sort of took away from those concepts.
Civilization and citizens DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY to 'question leadership'. That is what I WAS trying to do as an elected member of the board, and also as a citizen.
The problem that existed then and now is that 'questioning' is met with severe disdain.
Mr. Roscioli should try it himself. More citizens should try it too.
As a locked out member of the minority in my 2 years most anything I did was ridiculed, and fought. But measurable and visible changes have occured.
Meetings times are now 6:30, and pre-2005 'convenient for board members and village employee' 5:00 meetings times have not returned.
You CAN listen to village meetings on the village's own website. Do you think its totally concidental that this started when I started recording video and broadcasting on YOU TUBE.
I cannot lay sole claim to efforts many have fought over the years, but the village leaders know that folks are watching now, and cannot just do whatever they want anymore (meeting behavior, budget manipulations, taxation rationale, etc...)
On the other hand, as a board member and a citizen, I have been very complimentary to the village leadership for good things -- of course those are forgotten. I have reservations about some development and its financing, and I think any cautious person should.
I believe taking money out of peoples pockets (taxes) is the most precarious thing an elected official may be called to do, and I believe this should be done with extreme openness and grace--unfortunately these things are lacking on 39th Ave.
Keep going to board meetings and 'question leadership', Mr. Roscioli and anyone else who might think that nothing can be improved.
And by the way, whats wrong with taxes going down, and the village running a surplus, and the streets being plowed, and children being all above average.
We did it before with lower taxes...why can't we do it again??? These guys would take more money out of your pockets if they could, but they can't. Quit criticizing and start explaining why?
Wow -- now you know why I was compelled to moderate comments.
I don't think it's fair to say Alex accomplished nothing while on the board. Alex's main accomplishment was in getting the meeting time changed to 6:30 p.m. so that more citizens could participate (and village staff could get dinner).
One of Alex's major shortcomings was (and is) an apparent lack of understanding of the council-manager form of government and the role the council plays in it. He is not alone in this.
So you never post anonymously? Posting private e-mails gets ugly. What's next, private phone calls?
I think he and others understand the 'machine' all too well. Unlike the ignorant.
Yes RAG (Dick Ginkowski) I am not alone in this 'mis-understanding' of the 'COUNCIL-MANAGER' form of government.
MANY are 'mis-understanding' along with me as you correctly indicated. It would be really nice if every voter didn't 'mis-understand' things as well as you think they should.
IF Pleasant Prairie is a perfect example of this form of government, then I on the contrary apparently know it all too well.
Maybe it's just that I don't agree with the approach.
It may be efficient, but it ain't democratic.
If one actually believes this is best, then interestingly the most influential person in the direction of a municipality as such is a 'hired gun'.
AND as long as the hired gun has a simple majority of elected officials supporting that hired gun, then the hired gun and all that report to him/her are insulated from the taxpayers that pay all the bills, and the less-than-50% voters that support change.
I think you hit in on the head with a glancing blow. I had the 'benefit' of experiencing this for 2 years, and know it all too well, but maybe, just maybe, it's just not the best way.....
Also, please be advised (and you probably welcome this) that I no longer intend to read or make submissions on your RAG blog. My 'submission' from last night took some time to write and it was submitted with all identification required. But, since it included perspectives that apparently you did not find 'positive' for the village viewpoint, you chose NOT to publish. You are welcome to continue commenting on my 'un-censored warts and all' blog.
Poor Alex. Since Dick won't post your comments, your message isn't getting out, is it? Boo hoo for you. WAAAAAAAA. You cry like a baby.
Thanks anonymouse,
Now that you brought up the Dick thing he will have to post my comments. It's the only FAIR THING. You know you guys like to talk about 'fairness' all the time.
He better, or else I will take my ball and go home. You are really funny. I like the boo hoo and WAAA stuff. I bet your second grade English teacher would really love this.
PS. If the second grade teacher stuff leaves you wondering "what is he talking about", then I apologize as it was some other gifted anonymouse that offered that wisdom up recently. My sincere apology to you.
You guys crack me up. Keep it coming. By the way, my message is getting out -- you goofs confirm it everytime you write your enlightening comments. Ouch. But please keep it coming.
If you tried posting, Alex, it didn't go through. There was nothing in the "in box" for comments. Did you hit "preview" by mistake?
RAG:
How DARE you suggest that Alex made a mistake! He's like the Pope...infallible.
RAG (DICK) and partially anonymouse,
I will accept your explanation, but I know for certain that I submitted my comments as I did see the reply that 'the blogger has enabled moderation......'.
So, maybe something else happened?
Regardless, the content has been pretty much covered via other avenues.
It's good to know that you didn't purposely delete me.
Pope Alexander IX
(sounds nice!, and definitely better than Pope Anonymous)
Alex,
When a comment is submitted, two things are supposed to happen: (1) I get an E-mail which includes the text of the comment and (2) an alert is displayed when I log in. In the situation you mentioned, I neither got an E-mail or alert.
Feel free to resubmit. (I had to type this twice, btw.)
The software on this site is known to have issues (i.e., spell checker hasn't worked for several days) and it's good to have feedback to know about them. Since the service is free, it's hard to complain too much.
Unintended or not, both Steinbrink and Romanowski had trouble 'recognizing' Yuhas. Just listen to audio and see tape for yourself. She definitely is her own person and not like the rest.
That's why as I said, I will not hesitate to vote FOR her re-election in 2009, while on this April 1 (most appropriately) I will vote for Elmer Fudd and Howdy Doody (whether they show up or not at meetings will not make ANY difference).
Elmer and Howdy? OK, which is Serpe and which is Steve?
You mean you could tell a difference?
Post a Comment