November 3, 2009

Freewheeling -- Interim Post!



Good morning PRU readers! We're working through the Melidosian Motionbox magic to bring you the videos from last night's City Council meeting. As soon as we can get our act together, we will post them.

In the meantime, anyone who cares to share their observations, thoughts, or comments can do so here.

Below is a short version summary of some of last night's festivities, submitted by one of our faithful PRU readers --

November 3, 2009 10:15 AM

Anonymous said...

Short version is: > City Attorney Buzz Hill got prodded into making a recommendation that the council vote to prosecute Frimark. This was done with him kicking and screaming and wishing he didn't have to do it but in the end he said the facts showed that Frimark violated the ethic ordinance and, in a court hearing, a judge might likely find against Frimark.

> Jack Owens got up and spouted off about how Frimark didn't know what he was doing... there was no intent. And then he started parsing words... "broker" versus "agent" and the meaning of "consideration".

> Several people got up to speak in favor of prosecuting Frimark. A couple commented on the council's ability to be objective since 6 of the 7 of them either gave and/or got money to/from Frimark during the last election cycle. A couple of people got up to talk about what a great gut Frimark was, how this was all a mistake and that the prosecution was out of proportion to the act. Oh, after that someone commented on if Frimark were such a great guy and a man of character why he didn’t pay his property tax bill... not sure what this has to do with the issue but it was good theater as the place went a little up for grabs.

> It went to the council and became quickly obvious that the majority would vote to NOT prosecute. Allegretti then went on a tirade about how this was all too political and mean-spirited. When the video comes out Allegretti's "speech" is a must see. Joe Sweeney was the only alderman who spoke in favor of letting a court do its job... once the aldermen voted to prosecute.

> The vote took place... every alderman voted NO to prosecute... including Sweeney who voted after the Mayor... who incredibly also voted not to prosecute. I think the general feeling in the room after the 8 - 0 vote not to prosecute was one of genuine surprise... especially the actions of the Mayor and Sweeney-after his earlier comments. So in summary... it was good to see what happened in open session (there was a chance this could have gone to closed session); as "sausage making" goes it was probably par for the course - definitely fugly.

>In the end, Frimark probably comes off looking bad to those who pay attention... but for the many who do not he will look as if he was "acquitted", so to speak. And in the end, he did lose the business and presumably the related commission that would have been paid since PRC pulled the related insurance policy from him (there was no explanation as to why this happened) after just one month in force.Bottom line... many are left to wonder about the teeth in the ethics ordinance if the end result in this matter is any example of how it is enforced.

>Finally, the matter could actually be continued if someone files a complaint with a sworn affidavit, at which point the City Attorney is bound to hire a Special Investigator to look into the matter. Any takers?

13 comments:

gypsy said...

Howard Frimark brings out the worst in everyone. When seeing him there last night, lurking in the crowd, I looked up at the current Mayor running the meeting and know we are going in the RIGHT direction.

Allegretti embarassed himself last night. Every village has to have an idiot. His tirade should be shown on the screen in the big theater at the Pickwick. The City could be in the black from the money they could make from the proceeds of that screening.

Anonymous said...

The slimy Frimak slips out again. It is only a matter of time before that slimy scum gets caught again and can't slime his way out of trouble.

Anonymous said...

The thing that made me throw up in my mouth was out in the lobby at the "break" of the meeting. Frimark was out there shaking hands and getting slaps on the back from the current aldermen. It was a victory celebration.

I guess that's what campaign contributions, current or past, will get you.
Rot in hell, Frimark. you are everything that is WRONG with Park Ridge. Too bad you have fooled those board members over at the Uptown Condo Association. Don't worry, they will learn sooon.

Bean said...

If there was nothing wrong with any of this...why did PRC cancel the policy with Frimark? If Frimark isn't acting as an agent and is only a "broker," then what's the problem?

...besides the council looking for a "way out"...?

Anonymous said...

if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck~~

Anonymous said...

gypsy:

Allegretti is a moron. Nuff said.

Anonymous said...

Frimark's bought and paid for cabal came through for him last night.

Just shows what and WHO money can buy.

My Wild Irish Prose said...

It is hard to imagine despising Howard Frimark more than I do, and there is no doubt in my mind that there was (another) ethics violation on his part. But I don't see the point in prosecuting this clown, when what we really need to do it move on. Electing Schmidt was only the first step. Next we have to get rid of Allegretti at al and replace them with a better grade of alderman.

Howard will Fri himself, sooner or later.

As for the mayor, he could have voted to prosecute simply as a grandstanding gesture to satisfy those who are after Frimark's blood (which is green by they way). For better or worse, Schmidt voted what he believed. We need to try and build a city government where that matters.

gypsy said...

Prose--he looked like the Grinch with that scowl. You are right, the blood is green.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't have been surprised at all if Allegretti had thrown himself on the floor, kicking and screaming during that tirade.
What the camera will NOT show are the confrontations he had with the citizen(s) after the meeting took a short break.

Seeking Nessie said...

Gypsy - if every village has to have an idiot, there are several nearby villages missing theirs. (Note to those villages - please come to Park Ridge and retrieve your idiot!)

As for the topic at hand, Mayor Dave sent out an email regarding his decision - draw your own conclusions.

"Although I am of the opinion that Frimark violated the ordinance and knew or should have known that he was violating the ordinance, I believe that the public admonishment of Frimark and the fact that he will not profit from the transaction was punishment enough under these particular circumstances. In my heart I did not believe that prosecution would further the purposes of the ethics ordinance.

....

I can and must be able to take criticism. If you believe I made a mistake, please feel free to share your thoughts with me.
(emphasis added)

gypsy said...

I believe Mayor Schmidt voted the way he thought he should, after reviewing the issue with all the information presented last night at the meeting.

As far as the email, it's nice to have someone so direct in public office. I have yet to see him be unprofessional, embarassing or have a tantrum. While I might find the latter very amusing, I doubt it will ever happen.

Frimark's been embarassed by the situation and that's good enough for me. I will await the next snafu that is uncovered about him. I truly have faith that NEXT TIME, it won't go so easily for him.

Anonymous said...

Last night's City Council game of Pin the Tail on the Frimark:

Politics - 9
(Frimark, Schmidt, Sweeney, DiPietro, Bach, Allegretti, Ryan, Carey and Wsol)

Good government - 0

Time of the Game: 2 hours, 10 min.

Field conditions: Nauseating