Once again, thanks PRU readers for your patience; here's a quickie report on last night's city council slumber party.
Your representative's were treated to eloquent statements from several residents who all stated that they were speaking for the specific purpose of lending their support to Alderman Dave Schmidt (1st ward), and the principles of open government. And each spoke under the portion of the agenda set aside for those wishing to address non-agenda items.
What that tells us is, people are beginning to pay attention and they are talking to each other about their city government and what they have the right to expect from it. The PRU Crew could not be more pleased.
Reports from our sources say the Mayor and Aldermen sat grim faced while speakers expressed their displeasure and strongly suggested that the council discontinue the practice of keeping public policy discussions secret from the public.
Neither the Mayor nor any member of the city council responded to any of the resident's statements.
Another matter on the council's agenda last night included a much needed modification of the tentacled reach of the Fair Housing Commission's complaint procedure. The Fair Housing Commission's chairman, Nan Parson, complained about the limits on the commission's mandate. On a motion from the Lord of the Manor, Ald. DiPietro (2nd ward), the council referred the Fair Housing ordinance back to the Procedures and Regulations committee.
The council was also set to consider approval of a resolution to place a referendum on the November ballot asking voters to approve the staggering of terms for aldermen. The council opted to defer action on the item until an opinion from the State's Attorney General could be received. The council is unsure of what State law requires for when the staggering of terms may begin.
The PRU Crew is amused that the council is seeking the opinion of the Attorney General on the matter of staggering aldermanic terms, while at the same time seeking to ignore the stated and re-stated opinion of the Attorney General on the matter of disclosing closed session information.
But logic and reason are not legal requirements for holding elective office; they are only hoped-for qualities.
February 12, 2008
Flatliners.
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3 comments:
PRU---a million thanks for keeping us informed. Without YOU, we would not be able to get up and speak, and put those silly looks on the faces of the alder-monkeys.
Whenever you used to ask Howard a tough question his response was always “I’d like to help you, but those Alderman won’t let me.” So, he convinced the public that he could do a much better job with less of them. It would now appear that Howard is having trouble keeping his gang of four together.
You see Howard even the bottom of the integrity barrel here in Park Ridge is having trouble allowing themselves to look like idiots on your behalf.
By the way, I’m having lunch with Barbara when she gets back. In the words of Bob Dylan, “How does it feel?”
After several months of seeing the Fair Housing Commissions changes to ordinance on agenda at Procedures and Regulations and now on Council, it is going back to P & R again. We also hear that Nan Parsons is recruiting Fair Housing Complaints these days. It has been rumored that Nan believes that the reason Park Ridge has never had a fair housing complaint in 12 years or more is because people do not know where to go with their complaints.
Maybe the reason we have never had a fair housing complaint is because our local realtors and businesses are actually following the law and doing their jobs!!!
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