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Wanted: Council candidate with experience |
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Monday, 31 December 2007 |
It is unfortunate that the city of Forest Lake faces the need to seek a fifth member for the city council. The city is now accepting applications from city residents who are willing to hold the seat on an interim basis. The appointment became necessary in the fall after Councilman Bo Bogotty suffered a serious stroke. He has been unable to return and his long-range availability is uncertain. Thus the need for the appointment to take place.
Under the current plan, applications will be taken until Jan. 14. On Monday, Jan. 28, the council hopes to act on naming a replacement.
The replacement will serve as a caretaker for Bogotty’s seat with the understanding he or she must give it up should Bogotty recover and be able to resume his elected duties. 2008 is the second year of a four-year council term that he won in the 2006 city election.
The appointment is needed. We would encourage our current four-member council to choose someone with experience.
We are not alone among observers who have watched this council struggle with decision-making. It was a problem with the development of the 2008 city budget and property tax levy and it was also clear on Dec. 21 as the city took action to approve several wage and labor agreements with city employee groups and non-union employees.
At this point, not many city residents have come forward to offer their service to the city as a council member.
We would welcome the likes of a former Mayor Ray Daninger, a former town board member Dick Damchik or a former city council member such as John (Tom) Lynch as potential candidates.
We don’t know if any of the trio has an interest, but these are individuals with the strength and experience to hit the ground running. They have the qualities that will make this council much stronger. It would not be improper for anyone on the council or city staff to make a telephone call to find out if they are interested.
There would be no training period. There would be instant benefit to the existing elected officials and the city staff.
Serving in elective office is not an easy job. It is not a job that simply requires attendance at a meeting. It is a job that requires hours of work at home and visiting issues that impact the city.
And it can be thankless.
We believe all of the current council members are doing just that. If there is a weakness, it may come in not providing staff with the direction and parameters early in the process, be that process budget development or contract negotiations.
The Dec. 21 decision to approve wage agreements should not have left some city employees with a bad taste in their mouths. It was more of an approval by default.
Public employees no more than private employees should be highlighted as sacrificial lambs in terms of their wages and benefits in tough economic times.
The real question is staffing and the service the city can get for its number of employees. Councilwoman Susan Young is right in saying the city may well face the difficult task next year of trimming staff if budget fears for 2009 become reality. Once again we have a topic that could have been handled months ago as the budget was being developed.
One voice may not make a huge difference, but a new voice on the council may provide the help that this council needs to continue to move forward as a proactive council and not a reactive council.
We would encourage city residents who are interested in serving on the city council to get involved.
For application information, it is as easy as calling City Administrator Chip Robinson at 651-209-9750.
For someone interested in serving, it’s a way to help their community.
For someone with experience in government, it could be a special gift for the community and one that is most needed. — CLIFF BUCHAN
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