October 20, 2009

City Council Meeting Video -- Oct. 19, 2009

video #00000.MTS 10-19-09


Begins with the usual City Council niceties

@01:05 mark -- Council proceeds with consent agenda

@02:55 mark -- City Officials report begins

@03:35 mark -- Mayor and Chiefski congratulate Officer Cacioppo on receiving an Award of Merit

@05:45 mark -- Mayor discusses his wishes for a Preliminary Budget Workshop

@09:05 mark -- Mayor gives an update on the Northwest Municipal Conference

@15:15 mark -- Discussion of Halloween hours for trick or treating begins

@16:10 mark -- Sarah and Ryan D. address the City Council and ask for consideration to extend the hours of trick or treating

@22:25 mark -- City Attorney begins interim report and discussion of Target Area 2 Insurance issue

@26:55 mark -- Local attorney Jack Owens speaks on behalf of former Mayor Howard Frimark

@30:42 mark -- Uptown Homeowners Association President Gwen Ritter addresses the City Council

@40:30 mark -- Citizens wishing to address the City Council on Non-agenda items begins; Ms. Joan Sandrik asks for an update on the placement of the street sensor at Granville and Cumberland

@41:38 mark -- Reports of Boards and Commissions begins with Ald. Sweeney moving for approval of first reading of an ordinance for proposed text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Case Number TA-09-02.

@44:05 mark -- Council votes 5 (Sweeney, Bach, Allegretti, Ryan and Wsol) to 1 (DiPietro) to defer

@44:38 mark -- Council begins Public Works with motion to approve contract for restoration of parking area for 31-33 S. Prospect Ave.



video #00001.MTS 10-19-09


Begins with continuation of discussion of contract for restoration of parking area at 31-33 S. Prospect Ave.

@02:37 mark -- Council takes a recess



video #00002.MTS 10-19-09


Begins with continued discussion of contract for restoration of parking area at 31-33 S. Prospect Ave.

@15:25 mark -- Council votes 5 (Sweeney, DiPietro, Bach, Allegretti and Wsol) to 1 (Ryan) to defer matter

@15:55 mark -- New Business begins with Ald. Ryan suggesting the City Council consider reinstating the position of a City Treasurer

@18:47 mark -- Mayor Schmidt requests explanation of Saturday night event and parking issues in Uptown

@22:15 mark -- Motion to adjourn


Another entertaining cluster f#%$, courtesy of your City of Park Ridge government.

18 comments:

Bean said...

So...Jack Owens shows up to speak on behalf of HOward Frimark and profess innocent ignorance on HOward's part about the City being any part of the PRC insurance issue...

Well...wasn't HOward an Alderman for two years, during which time the PARTNERSHIP contract between PRC AND the City was negotiatied and inked?

Wasn't HOward the Mayor for four years, during which time there was much back and forth about the PARTNERSHIP contract between PRC AND the City?

...and HOward didn't know the City would have a part in premium payments for any insurance policy?

Really? REALLY?

Also...this is a real hoot! It is now to be determined by the "corporate authorities"...read, Aldermen...to decide whether or not to proceed on an ethics violation complaint against HOward, with whom no less than 4 of them have a "mutual/back and forth" "economic relationship"...???

...and nobody can know what the City Attorney's opinion to the "corporate authorities" has been because the Aldermen (who have had an "economic relationship" with HOward) haven't determined to puruse an ethics violation complaint...and if the Aldermen (who have had an "economic relationship" with HOward) choose not to pursue an ethics violation complaint...then nobody will ever know what the City Attorney's opinion on the matter has been???

I believe "cluster f---" might be too kind in its characterization of the situation...

Anonymous said...

A cluster * is not surprising since Howard Frimark is involved.

Anonymous said...

the aldermen will cover this up. no way will they go after frimark. it will get dropped and nothing can be done about it.

Anonymous said...

Bean,

Give the guy a break. He has to find some way to pay his property taxes.

Frimark probably conveninetly forgot to think about if the city was party to the insurance contract.

Anonymous said...

This is so so dirty!!!

Stuart Sutcliffe said...

Why does this surprise anyone? There is no limit as to Howard’s greed. With all due respect to our current Mayor, more people voted against Howard than voted for Dave. As time went on more and more people began to see what a scum he really was. This is just another is an ongoing series of events in which Howard operates. And as for Jack Owens; He must not have mirrors in his house, because there is no human on earth that could look himself in the face with the crap he spews.

Anonymous said...

And politicians wonder why voters are cynical.

I see the council having a conflict of interest on this. If as Bean said a majority of them have economic relationships with the former mayor, how can they be impartial in deciding on this?

Everyone has to make a living but I see this as more a favor to the former mayor then only a business transaction.

How things are done sometimes is as important as why they are done and I don't see this being done in a proper way.

In order to have the highest integrity in our government, things should be done very strictly according to the rules but I don't see that here.

I won't say it is dirty but I think it is wrong after reading the ethics ordinance.

Anonymous said...

Frimark should know better, but this isn't all on Frimark. The Uptown developer and that woman from the Condo owners association have some part in this mess.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 5:41:

I agree. There are 3 legs to the stool and each has responsibility for holding up their part in agreeing to make this deal.

I give credit to the Mayor for asking for a legal opinion and watching out for the city.

Anonymous said...

To answer the question Mayor Schmidt had about Saturday night.

I think that was the kickoff penthouse reception being put on for the Brickton Art Center.

Anonymous said...

But wait, no one has filed a complaint.

The mayor just asked for an opinion and did not file a complaint. DiPietro specifically pointed out that the ordinance says "complaint" and none has been filed.

So when they return to the issue, it will go like this:

Allspaghetti: Since there is no complaint on file, we have nothing to consider.

DiPietro: Thats right, there is no complaint.

Bach: But 30 other people complain all the time, wait, they complain about flooding and airplanes, not about insurance. Nope, no complaint here.

Carey: (absent)

Ryan: If there has been no writ, we cannot even vote to acquit.

Wsol: I am still reading the papers



SOMEONE NEEDS TO FILE A COMPLAINT

Anonymous said...

7:40, that was pretty good.

It sounded to me as if the legal opinion given probably says this is a violation, or why would the option to proceed with a prosecution even be being given?

If the city is now aware of an ethics violation, even without a complaint, how can they let this deal go through?

I bet the mojo wires are on fire.

Anonymous said...

7:01-there was some sort of Asian thing going on at the Pickwick. I was told I could NOT park at the library's public parking lot. The City claims they had no idea about it. It was true chaos. The lot at Summit/NW Hwy was full and the lot behind Panera/Oberweis was full.

The people directing traffic were directing traffic on Prospect at the library and at Touhy/NW Hwy/Prospect. No where near the Brickton event. And they were not with the City, they were part of the event at the Pickwick.

Do you think the Pickwick will answer for this? No. Not ever.

Fandango's Papa said...

With respect to the Saturday parking problems, I believe this was due to the Lena Maria concert at the Pickwick...here's a link to the performance:

http://lenamariachicago.com/default.aspx

Sweeney may have been confused with Friday's House Walk kick-off party at an uptown penthouse.

Anonymous said...

Who can file a complaint? Can any one who lives in Park Ridge file a complaint? or does it half to be a city council member?

I think somehow, someway this should be brought to city council as a complaint.. I would pay to watch the alderman squirm as they have to "Disclose" campaign contributions that they received from Howard as well as campaign contributions that they gave to Howard before they vote!

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Anon@10:11 --

Anyone may file a complaint.

Go for it.

Anonymous said...

It is amazing that Don Bach foams at the mouth when he talks about the city getting a share of the money at the Maine South Concessions. Or that they city charge back the high school for police helping direct traffic at the school.

However when presented with the chance to pull in money by enforcing an ordinance violation he is going to let it go? Without a fight?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 10:27 AM

Remember who broght Bach, and the rest of the gang, to the dance. They fear this man and do not have the spine to challenge him.