Board of Alderman meeting for July 8th, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the Board chambers.
Ladies and Gentlemen, due to the fact that the City web site has apparently been "hacked" I asked Mr. Burke Wasson of the Sun-Crest Call to provide me with a copy of the agenda for the meeting. I am very happy to say that he has done so, and I am going to re-print it here for your information.
7:00 Pm Regular meeting.
1. Call to order
2. roll call
3. Approval of minutes
June 24, 2008 regular meeting
4. Public hearings
5. Reports, presentations, communications and appointments
Proclamation: Sappington House 200th anniversary
Resolution: Karen Rainey
6. Public comment
7. Zoning board report
8. City Administrators report, and associated bills
East west Gateway council of governments agreement (starrs)
Nov 11th BOA meeting conflict date - Veterans day holiday
Discussion of pay plan
9. Perfection of bills
10, introduction of all other bills
11. Reports from Mayor, board members and City attorney
12. Introduction of future bills
13. Old business
14. New business
15. Adjournment
Posted July o3, 2008 at 4:00 PM. (at City Hall)
It should also be noted that there will be a closed door session for personnel matters.
Tom Ford
NO.520
7:00 Pm Regular meeting.
1. Call to order
2. roll call
3. Approval of minutes
June 24, 2008 regular meeting
4. Public hearings
5. Reports, presentations, communications and appointments
Proclamation: Sappington House 200th anniversary
Resolution: Karen Rainey
6. Public comment
7. Zoning board report
8. City Administrators report, and associated bills
East west Gateway council of governments agreement (starrs)
Nov 11th BOA meeting conflict date - Veterans day holiday
Discussion of pay plan
9. Perfection of bills
10, introduction of all other bills
11. Reports from Mayor, board members and City attorney
12. Introduction of future bills
13. Old business
14. New business
15. Adjournment
Posted July o3, 2008 at 4:00 PM. (at City Hall)
It should also be noted that there will be a closed door session for personnel matters.
Tom Ford
NO.520
posted by Crestwood Independent at 12:44
43 Comments:
Thank God for our Freedom of the Press!
Not to mention the rest of our freedoms! We all know why it's necessary to preserve them, but every now and then something comes along to remind us!
Tom Ford
While not about the meeting, or written by me, it still is a humorous look at Government, and the regulation's that abound therein!
"In the year 2008, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said:
Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me.
Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans.
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.
Noah! He roared, I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark? Forgive me, Lord, begged Noah, but things have changed. I needed a building permit.
I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.
My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea.
I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.
Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl.
I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!
When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space. Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration and Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work.
The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience. To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.
Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.
Noah looked up in wonder and asked,
'You mean you're not going to destroy the world?' 'No,' said the Lord.
'The government beat me to it.'"
And so it is!
Tom Ford
What's the word on getting our new CA in place? Is that the personnel session?
2:44 PM blogger: I would guess the personnel matter would be about the new City Administrator, although we just lost another police officer to Kirkwood.
I am given to understand we had 33 applicants for the job. They were narrowed down to 5, and the Mayor has picked one to be interviewed by the BOA.
Tom Ford
I hope the person hired will be placed on a probationary period prior tobeing permanently hired. The job ahead for the person hired is going to be rough going for a while and as with Mr. Myers, he couldn't cut the mustard.
Frank couldn't cut the mustard. What mustard was there to cut? After all, I thought Roy ran the city. It's his city, isn't it? He has to train the alderman and he knows what is best, now doesn't he?
Woa! We lost another police officer to Kirkwood. Does this mean we will have more promotions in the police department? Like Deputy to the Deputy to the Deputy Chief of the Chief of the Lietenant Deputy?
BRING ON ST. LOUIS COUNTY:
Roy has nothing to do with the fact that Frank Myers, while he is a nice man, was incompetent at the job. Crestwood is still suffering from his decisions. Mainly from getting the city wrapped up in borrowing debt that makes our city pay more in penalties for every penny we save. So, the better we do, the more we pay on the debt every year. On the surface, it makes sense. But it's not a wise move for a city that apparently needs more money in an election. It's decisions like that that will make me vote NO.
Roy offered Frank to the BOA as HIS choice for City Administrator, Frank was Roy's man.
I too am voting NO due to this and the failure to provide the voters of Crestwood the real facts of our needs vs.our wants.
8:03 Oh sure, there are eight board members that had to approve the CA, but let's blame only Roy still and again.
There is nothing that Roy can do without the approval of the board of aldermen. Just like with every other mayor.
Otherwise, why have a board of aldermen?
You blame Roy and only Roy because that's who you dispise, but there are 8 people up there to can say otherwise. And don't even go into the veto thingf or breaking a tie; the eight aldermen are there for us.
I could be wrong but wasn't Mr. Meyers the only candidate that they had to choose from? If they said no.....we would have gone much longer without a CA.
Currently Mr. Ford has stated that there were 5 candidates, and the mayor picked 1????? Seems to me the BOA should have had a say prior to narrowing it down past 5.
"You blame Roy and only Roy because that's who you dispise,.."
Get a grip.... If the mayor only presents one individual to the BOA what to you expect????? Not blaming, just the facts.
Your point is valid. The mayor should have picked at least 2, preferably more for the board to consider.
What's wrong with the board of aldermen, can't they speak up and say we have a right to pick from more than one person for CA? But, that said, I do know that past protocal was always the one candidate. However, everything is questioned with this mayor as he is put under a microscope.
Still, if they only had one to choose from and the board didn't like him, rather than pick that one person, can't they say we don't want him? Sure, we would have had more time without a CA; so what, should they instead pick that one person anyway? Come on!
Board members should be just as accountable as the Mayor for decisions. The way some of you talk, I think they should desolve the board of aldermen if they are not going to be accountable for something after they took an oath of office to protect us.
If I was on that board, and the mayor wanted something I thought was not in the best interest of the city, I would protest. Why not protest; put an editorial in the paper saying so and why? I would not stand for it. I would at least have to let the people know how I felt especially my contituents.
Like it or not, you can blame Roy but he is not the whole governing body of Crestwood. You may not like him for many things he says and does, but don't ever try to make me believe he is the sole cause of everything going wrong in Crestwood. Some of you just don't stop with this stuff. We need a good CA.
But if you don't like the person in this case Roy, who makes the decision to choose a CA, you are probably not going to like anything even to the way he ties his shoes and the color of his shirts. Pure and simple.
What's wrong with the board of aldermen, can't they speak up and say we have a right to pick from more than one person for CA? But, that said, I do know that past protocal was always the one candidate. However, everything is questioned with this mayor as he is put under a microscope.
Still, if they only had one to choose from and the board didn't like him, rather than pick that one person, can't they say we don't want him? Sure, we would have had more time without a CA; so what, should they instead pick that one person anyway? Come on!
Board members should be just as accountable as the Mayor for decisions. The way some of you talk, I think they should desolve the board of aldermen if they are not going to be accountable for something after they took an oath of office to protect us.
If I was on that board, and the mayor wanted something I thought was not in the best interest of the city, I would protest. Why not protest; put an editorial in the paper saying so and why? I would not stand for it. I would at least have to let the people know how I felt especially my contituents.
Like it or not, you can blame Roy but he is not the whole governing body of Crestwood. You may not like him for many things he says and does, but don't ever try to make me believe he is the sole cause of everything going wrong in Crestwood. Some of you just don't stop with this stuff. We need a good CA.
But if you don't like the person in this case Roy, who makes the decision to choose a CA, you are probably not going to like anything even to the way he ties his shoes and the color of his shirts. Pure and simple.
You all had a chance to run against Roy and didn't do it and now make excuses for it. Still, you had your chance so let's be done with it.
"However, everything is questioned with this mayor as he is put under a microscope."
Well, let's see.... in the past not enough questions were asked and decisions were made with the information given. Didn't always turn out good, now did it.
12:20:
I agree almost completely. Our mayor has made some questionable decisions over the last few years. But it's ultimately the board's responsibility to get those done and vote on them. If you ask me, this board has coasted by with little or no criticism. And they've made some AWFUL decisions lately. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a board that spends $2 million more than it takes in at the start of the year has made some questionable moves at best. The city should have financed the communications system. Sure, it would have cost more in interest over time. But the city needs money NOW. Not later, when the mall redevelopment is supposed to bring in more money for us. And the board should have never paid all that money off early on the debt. Sure, that helps us in 2012 or 2013. But this board shouldn't be worried as much about 2012 as it should be worried about TODAY. It's moves like those that caused the board to then ask the citizens for more money every year through a tax increase to help bail them out for their bad decisions. If they knew things were going to get so bad, why did they make all these early payments now? It just doesn't make sense.
Until I do see some more sense, I vote NO in August!
This board has got to stand up some time. Why not prevent the inevitable and decide to take the tax increase of the ballot. I know people who are losing their jobs with the Chrysler plant closing in Fenton. And gas and food prices aren't exactly going down. Do they REALLY think the tax increase will pass? They're setting themeselves up for failure in a big way.
3:06 pm "not enough questions were asked in the past". True! But the only one being questioned now is the mayor and not his board members.
If the board of aldermen members were being put under the microscope like the mayor, it would be different, but they are not. All you want to do is put the blame for everything on the mayor, just like I said before. And why is that? Like I said before, because he alone is the one you have honed in on your radar. Nobody else is accountable according to you and that's wrong.
You can say and think that he is the only one who controls everything, but there are 8 board members and only 1 mayor. Don't begin to tell me that 8 people we elected to protect us, are not capable of making the right decisions.
Here's yet another reason why Crestwood should vote NO on a tax increase. Who are we here to take care of? Ourselves or city hall? I for one won't be squeezed any more until our economic slide improves. But our city leaders think they need to take more from people who are hurting . . .how disingenuous.
Local unemployment rate is highest since 1993
By Tim Logan
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
07/08/2008
The region's unemployment rate hit its highest level for May in 15 years, according to figures released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the latest sign of a slumping local economy, 6 percent of the labor force was looking for work, up from 4.7 percent in May, 2007. It was the highest level for the month since 1993, when the unemployment rate hit 6.1 percent. Unemployment has been higher in other months, including January and February of this year, but those are not typically compared because the numbers have seasonal variations.
The national unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, up from 4.3 percent in May 2007.
The BLS also reported that the region shed 9,000 jobs compared to the same month last year. St. Louis was the only metropolitan area in Missouri to post a net loss of jobs year over year.
"And the board should have never paid all that money off early on the debt."
If the cash in the bank exceeds the 5%, payments are required to be made towards the loan.
The only alternative is to spend the money (in my opinion on items that have been delayed due to lack of funds) or convert the loan to be taxable which will cost more money.
Yes, converting the loan to taxable would cost more . . .over time. That can be budgeted for and planned. The city needs money NOW. It makes no sense to me to be compelled to spend money now when the city is apparently low on cash. If Crestwood didn't have a cash problem, why would they be asking for a tax increase?
If our aldermen are more worried about four years from now than today, we're all in trouble.
"Don't begin to tell me that 8 people we elected to protect us, are not capable of making the right decisions."
Not saying they are not capable of making decisions but they should be standing up to the Mayor (which they don't do).
Maybe you don't know how many times the mayor had FORBIDDEN the BOA to bring up a tax increase discussions in 2007. And I do mean forbidden. If he can direct them not to talk about the tax increase, how many other areas do you think he controls?????????? Think about it.
4:11 you are right on the mark. Remember when the Mayor refused to allow any talk of a plan B in the Ways and Means Comm. meetings? Remember when the Mayor made the claim that he controlled the whole City, while an Alderman only controlled a Ward?
Remember when Ms. Tate following the instructions of our Charter told the 9 elected officials of the on coming financial storm? Remember the Mayors response?
If you don't, look it up on the City Web page, darn I forgot, strangely enough our City website has been hacked, tisk tisk, guess we will have to rely on what the Mayor says is the truth til it gets fixed.
The Mayor is at fault regardless of what I feel about the person named Roy,( kind of like him a bit), but as a Mayor he has become rotten.
Well then you should have run against Roy last time. Or run against him now.
I'd tell him to go suck an egg if he tells board members they can't speak their minds during any meetings with the Ways and Means Committee meetings or any meetings. Unless people are not following the guidelines on an agenda sheet of a meeting, and goes off a subject, I wouldn't put up with it, if I were a board member.
I am truly sick and tired of people who are trying to bully us around whether it be the mayor or anybody else.
But if we cannot depend on board members to bring forth our problems to the city's elected officials including the mayor, we have nothing.
However, to blame everything on the mayor is just not convincing me.
Also, how many of us really call our aldermen? If you are really fed up with things the mayor says and does, why don't you call your aldermen and tell them? See if they past the acid test.
I hope one of the Alderman will inquire (at the meeting) into this "Hacker" job on the web site.
Let's see, a small town, a web site with less that up to date info on it, and NO vital data, and it's "hacked?"
I know there are dumb criminals in this Country, but that dumb?
Tom Ford
Why even fill the CA position?
Has that position ever provided the City a benefit?
10:17 because our un changable beloved charter says we are run by a C/A, that's why!
Question?
The Civil Service Board recommended and the BOA agreed to do away with the City's Pay Plan. Now the acting City Admin is requesting and the Board approved same, a return to the same Pay Plan.
Why?
3:47 PM 7/8
What are you thinking? If the Tax Increase fails the BOA is not going to fail. We the citizens are the ones setting ourselves and our city up for failure. If this city folds we will all be paying more than what it costs us now. But it is obvious that the majority of the people posting on this blog have not taken the time to investigate our financial situation for themselves. You would rather be complacent and just complain than check out what is really going on for yourself. If the BOA says there is trouble on the horizon, don't you think it would be prudent to at least listen.
What happens if they are right?
To 7:12 AM July 9
Quite some time ago, the Civil Service Board recommended that the BOA adopt a NEW pay plan, because the plan being used at the time could not (and still cannot) be funded. Until the alderman's recommendation a couple of weeks ago, no action had been taken to address the situation.
The board's recent vote will not only allow the city to adopt a pay plan that is affordable (perhaps budget-driven) but also to discontinue using a suspended pay plan.
There was never any suggestion that the old pay plan be re-adopted.
Martha Duchild
We have a new city administrator and he's already here!
I just saw this on the Call's Web site:
BREAKING NEWS (as of 10:54 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9)
Crestwood Public Services Director Jim Eckrich promoted to city administrator
BURKE WASSON
Staff Reporter
July 09, 2008 - Crestwood officials confirmed Wednesday morning that longtime Public Services Director Jim Eckrich has been promoted to city administrator.
Mayor Roy Robinson recommended Eckrich to aldermen during a Tuesday night closed session.
Crestwood Fire Chief Karl Kestler has served as interim city administrator since March 28, when former City Administrator Frank Myers resigned to accept a position as city administrator of neighboring Glendale.
The city received more than 30 applications for the position, and city officials had whittled those applications down to five in June after Robinson assessed this spring that "eight to 10 of them are probably capable."
The city had advertised for a new city administrator at an annual salary range of $75,000 to $95,000.
Myers previously was paid an annual salary of $91,800 in Crestwood and now is receiving that same salary in Glendale to go along with a more comprehensive benefits package.
Read next week's Call for more details on Eckrich's promotion to city administrator.
In my opinion, Eckrich is a fantastic choice. I've always found him to be very professional and very hard working. He'll be a good one. Nice job, guys.
"But it is obvious that the majority of the people posting on this blog have not taken the time to investigate our financial situation for themselves"
And where have you been able to get answers regarding the city's finances??????? A moving target.
12:14 PM I agree. Jim Ehrich is a great choice. I am glad the mayor and board approved this. I too think it was the right move.
Jim is a good engineer and nice guy. I hope he's not getting in over his head. Being a CA is a whole different ballgame from being a department head. Let's all wish him some luck... he is going to need it.
If a police chief can be a CA, I don't know why a engineer can't. Good luck Jim!
The charter states the mayor has to present only one candidate for C/A and BOA has the option to say no. The mayor continues to offer candidates until one is accepted.
The BOA cannot, per the charter. present its on candidate for C/A. The only time the charter allows the BOA to select its own candidate is after they have declined the mayors selection for a substitute alderman.
Glad you stated the rules; now maybe some on this blog will shut up about the mayor only giving the board one choice for CA. See what I mean about people who love to just stick it to Roy about things. Those who make him the enemy just wait in the bushes for anything to point their finger at.
Yeah, see, Roy is perfect, its the other guys up there that are the problem.
Signed
Mrs. Robinson
p.s. I wish I could point my finger and that other thing you do to him all the time like you bloggers do.
Maybe the Charter should be amended. Having more than once choice to vote seems like common sense to me.
It is being amended by Golterman and Paillou by their failure to know and follow it.
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