The Observation Deck

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Edward Favre wrote:I'd like to hear why the City Manager conversation is being put forth in the first place. What is the problem(s)? Who advocates it?

Edward Favre wrote:[M]y question about City Manager is; what are the problems or issues that indicate we should change the current form of City government? What is the current form of government not doing or unable to do? What do we want done?

Ed,

Ironically, the city manager conversation is being started by almost everyone at City Hall, as well as folks like Jim O'Bryan and Steve Davis.

The various theories for wanting a city manager are based upon the following range of premises:

The residents are too stupid to elect a qualified mayor.
The current mayor and past mayors are all incompetent.
The current city council wants more control.
The current city council doesn't realize that it already controls the purse strings.
Dru Siley or Kevin Butler will be the next city manager and "City Hall and Friends" don't think they can win a city-wide election.
There are only so many times "City Hall and Friends" can scare good folks out of running for mayor.

As to the problem, there isn't one. The current system works just fine. If there is a problem, it rests with the person sitting in the mayoral seat, not the mayoral position itself.

As to who is advocating the "city manager" position, it appears to be everyone but you and me - oh, and probably all of the residents who are told about this charade.

As to what they want done, it’s a major power grab by “City Hall and Friends” and others are just sitting by “observing.”

Matt

Matt

I can nail this down even better than your breakdown, but you are wrong about some
of your breakdown.

Steve Davis on the fence
Steve has been pro for awhile now, going back to a person he thought was in now way
qualified for mayor.

Dr. Keller - on the fence - I have heard Larry discuss the pros and cons pretty well. They
did come up with a City Manager version of the charter. If this was a faux committee, it
would have been far easier to appoint Larry to the Commission.

Mayor Summers - I have heard him explain both sides.

Jim O'Bryan - Questions what a REAL manager could do with the city. I wonder the same
thing about my business as well. I was at BP was professionally managed from the #3
financial company to just outside the top 500 in an era when oil was king. It could be an
interesting exercise. *

Council President Mary Louise Madigan - Seems like she could go with a change to
government, though she believes in the power of the vote.

Kevin Butler - Charter wonk, that seems interested in City Manager, though he sat on
council, and is spoken of as a mayoral candidate.

Ed FitzGerald - Pro-City Manager until he caught a glimpse of the "seat."

Ed Favre, Retired Police Sargent and School Board member who has eyed the mayoral
position at least once. Anti City manager.

Matt Markling - Lawyer dealing with government affairs, and often spoken of as a possible
candidate, Anti City Manager.

Tom George - Anti City Manager

Peter Grossestti - Who knows.

The winds coming out of City Hall is that there is a desperation to get Dru Siley into a
position of more power. I have heard talk of him for mayor for years, though he has told
me personally he has "no interest." Which is what everyone interested says.

I have also heard both Dru and Nate Kelly names talk about with City Manager. Which
would indicate a certain desperation in getting them into leadership. I have also heard
Kevin Butler's name involved in mayor but not city manager.

To appointment Dru Siley or Nate Kelly City Manager would be a huge mistake. A city
manager allows us to go outside the city to find the best and brightest. The only way
this becomes a scam is if City Council pushes it through, and then comes up short in
carrying it out. One would hope, this is not their plan.

And why would it be. Lakewood has become basically Oligarchy anyway. And both of you
(Ed/Matt) know this. There would be no problem is going "Lakewood" on this. "Mayor
Summers steps down, they pull enough strings to get "Chosen Golden Boy" into the
position and then run him as an incumbent with pulling out the voting base from
North of Clifton, St. Lukes and Lakewood Catholic Academy. The three most powerful
groups in town trying to control the city for their own end.

Both City Hall and the School Board have been doing this for decades. It makes no sense
to put this Charter Commission into the middle of this. the only group to think that way
would be an out-going pissed off Superintendent and a School board left with his mess.

So Matt, why create a faux committee when they could just close Grant, errrrr bring
City Manager up for a vote without them?

A final point, is it better to wait for a worst case scenario before looking at this. Or as it
you say, "We have a great Mayor why even look at anything else?" What if someday we
are not as lucky as to have a mayor like Mike, who is open to looking at possible change.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:A final point, is it better to wait for a worst case scenario before looking at this. Or as it you say, "We have a great Mayor why even look at anything else?" What if someday we are not as lucky as to have a mayor like Mike, who is open to looking at possible change.

Jim,

I suppose there is a "recall process" if enough registered residents believe that any mayor needs tossed out of office.

A city manager only needs to count to four city council members - oh, and we haven't even discussed the fact that "City Hall and Friends" only want five city council members instead of the current seven - that would make a city manager responsible to only three city council members.

Matt

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I can nail this down even better than your breakdown, but you are wrong about some of your breakdown.

Jim,

I have read your response a few times.

I'm not sure where you think I am wrong on my breakdown.

You certainly add more nails to the coffin.

But the mayoral system funeral procession has already left the station.

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I can nail this down even better than your breakdown, but you are wrong about some of your breakdown.

Jim,

I have read your response a few times.

I'm not sure where you think I am wrong on my breakdown.

You certainly add more nails to the coffin.

But the mayoral system funeral procession has already left the tracks.

Matt

Matt

That is far from true again we disagree, go figure!

The trains has just pulled in and the process started. We will cover it from wall to wall
especially should they look at change of government, and you can help and take part!

So wait, and learn, and process, and discuss with friends at Winking Lizard.

Larry, Steve, Tom, Mary Louise and Kevin all have said let's open this up and use the tools
at our disposal, and I have reason to believe they mean it as of right now.

I guess if I put some nails in the coffin it is because I am being open and honest.

Matt, Let's be honest, I have heard that the best reason for this is "what if Jim O'Bryan
runs for mayor and gets elected?" Well we both know outside of cleaner safer streets and
parks, higher quality of life for residents, and a ton more fun. I can see what it is also a
good reason for City Manager. I mean what if you or Ed run?

Matt, I am aware of the reasons, the stories, the back channels, and most of the players,
let the show begin. The beautiful thing about a process that is over a year long, we will
have the 20/20 eyesight of looking back, while it is still happening. And I know we both
believe the best disinfectant is sunshine.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:And I know we both believe the best disinfectant is sunshine.

Let the sunshine in, Jim.





Matt

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Mayor Summers - I have heard him explain both sides.

How did that conversation go, Jim?

How does the current mayor explain why a city manager can do a better job than he is doing now?

Perhaps:

Jim: I hear that City Hall wants to get rid of your position and replace you with a city manager.
Mike: That’s what I hear, too.
Jim: So, do you think a city manager can do a better job than you are doing as mayor?
Mike: I’m 50/50 on the issue.

Matt