Commentary; Posted: 5/4/05
Wyoming City Council a conclave of its own
By Cliff Buchan
Weíve learned a lot this spring about conclaves and and their importance for the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John Paul IIís death brought the conclave back to modern terminology as the church and its cardinals went about the highly secret process of electing the new pope.
In the process, the cardinals are allowed no contact with the outside world. No phones. No e-mail. No radio or TV. No newspapers.
On a much smaller scale back home, we continue to experience a conclave of our home and its home base is the Wyoming Municipal Building where the city council meets, albeit briefly, twice a month. No, itís not a conclave of cardinals similar to what we witnessed in the Vatican City, but the Wyoming City Council is an elected body of leaders that is doing little to shed its image of a body that is cloaked in secrecy.
Weíve complained here in the past regarding this councilís clear disregard for any kind of public dialogue involving public issues important to the public. It has been this way since January and the arrival of the new council and it continued with the special election in February.
The reasons for the citizenry of Wyoming to be concerned by the policies of their leaders grows by the day. And it is the same citizenry that voted these folks into office.
A new concern falls with the ongoing talks for a merger and consolidation involving the city and Wyoming Township. The matter comes on the backside of the taking of 5000 acres of the township by Chisago City in its hostile annexation this winter. As the township looks to its future, it is only logical now that pairing with another city is an option for citizens to explore.
The Wyoming Town Board, chaired by Roger Elmore, has been diligent in its reporting to citizens. The town board has had well planned and thoughtful discussion of this important topic. There will be more of the same in the future. Kudos to the town board.
What about Wyoming City Council? The discussion on this topic has been next to none at the council table.
The mayor and one council member are meeting with township officials for the preliminary talks. At its most recent meeting, the council, by resolution with no discussion, appropriated $5000 for legal expense related to the planning process. The city funds match funds OKíd by the town board.
But why is there no discussion? A promise for a future update falls far short of what elected officials should be providing to the public. From what weíve learned from the township reports, some key foundation pieces for a future agreement have been put down.
At some point the matter will have to go to a public hearing. We wonder why city leaders are so hesitant to share information with the public? Silence is golden?
For the five members of the council to rubber-stamp a report and expenditure request is negligent public policy decisions and smacks of information sharing that is taking place outside of the council chambers. How else could council members feel comfortable in making such decisions?
We have been critical, too, of the councilís handling of the resignation of former City Administrator Jill Teetzel who reportedly left the cityís employ of her own accord on April 1. She was awarded a $33,000 severance package and the formal resignation, again unanimously approved by a simple resolution of the council, did not even carry the former employeeís name.
Under Teetzelís contract with the city, she would be entitled to a lump sum cash payment of three months aggregate salary if terminated for other than ìjust cause.î If, however, the employee voluntarily terminates her employment, ìshe shall not be entitled to any termination benefits.î In the former administratorís case, which is it?
City residents should be asking their council members why the former administrator was so financially vested at her departure. They should also be asking why the city council is proceeding in silence with the consolidation plans that could result in major changes for the city of Wyoming.
We have no desire to quarrel with city officials. But we will continue to be critical of a city council style that excludes the public and fails to operate government in the light of day where it belongs. Citizens of the city of Wyoming should accept nothing less.
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