Thursday, April 02, 2009

ISSUES- ISSUES- ISSUES

Transparency, oversight, bidding procedures

Issues- Issues- Issues
January 28, 2009

I am concerned about the honor farm deal with NEK that is being considered without competitive bidding.  There are those that say NEK is willing to invest their own money to make improvements.  That may be true.  But it must be remembered that NEK is a for profit company and their motive, most likely, for making improvements is not for the benefit of the community but for their ability to increase profits. 
Might there be better qualified companies/organizations interested in operating the honor farm facilities and are willing to invest in making improvements.  We may never know, because the city was not and continues not to be willing to go out on bid for the operations of the facilities.  Secret negotiations generally seem to be the preferred way of doing business.
It is my understanding NEK has been using the honor farm facilities for some period of time for training (a profitable service).  I would like to know how long NEK has used the facility and how much they have paid the city prior to the July, 2008 agreement and since that agreement.
This brings up the problem of little or no oversight of non-departmental operations.  I believe the proposed change of the city management hierarchy, which I believe is a step in the right direction, must include well defined oversight of these operations.  The honor farm/PMI situation is an example.
There is also another example, the fixed base operations at the airport.  Recently the city issued a RFP, possibly for the second time, for the fixed base operations.  I reviewed the RFP and came to the conclusion that the requirements to update and maintain the operations at the expected high level requested versus the risks and cost for an operator did not make good business sense for any potential bidder.
I attended to the bid opening, I was the only one that did, and it was no surprise to me that only one bid was submitted.  This was from a company that was incorporated in November of 2008.  This kind of situation seems to happen on a too frequent basis.  Why?  Is it lack of long term planning, and oversight, or is the city hard to do business with.  The people need answers on how the city can provide a more efficient and cost effective government.
Ted Freeman
 

City Council-City Manager or City Council-Mayor

The existing form of government does not appear to meet the needs or the will of the people.

City Council-City Manager
or
City Council-Mayor

Comments to City Council

January 26, 2009

I am concerned about the situation in which we find the city government; do we keep the council-city manager form and how can that be accomplished when we find that the city is without a city manager and there is an organized group in favor of changing the government to a council-mayor form.  How can the city hire a new city manager when these conditions exist?  Is it the right time to consider a council-mayor form of city government and for the right reasons?
I feel, as do others, that some of the reasons to change from the council-city manager form, real or perceived are;  primarily little or no transparency(the breakdown of communications between the council and city manager, and between the council, the city manager and the public);  little or no justification made public of criteria or basis on which decisions on major issues are based and independent of other council members;  the lack of opportunities for public input; the inefficient operation of some of the city departments;  the lack of oversight of non-departmental operations, including the Urban Renewal Authority.
Let’s examine or analyze both the council-city manager and the council-mayor forms of government in their simplest of terms.
A.   In the council- city manager form, the city council is elected and is obligated to represent their constituents and to serve the needs of the people.  The City manager hired by the council is responsible for the operations of the city at the direction of the council and as prescribed by the city charter.  The city manager shall be a professional manager both in education and experience.  In this form, the council has oversight on how well the city manager is performing the duties of the office.  Since the city manager is not an elected official, there is no direct obligation to the people but only to the council.
B.   In the council-mayor form, the council is elected as is the mayor and therefore both have a moral obligation in meeting the needs of the people.  Since the office of mayor is by election, it is implied that candidates for the office be a resident of Pueblo and not necessarily be a professional manager.  It brings additional political forces on the position but also provides that the leadership be based on the desires and needs of the electorate.  The council does not have oversight of the mayor, the people do.
Both forms of government appear to have their strengths and weaknesses.  I feel regardless of the direction taken a charter convention must be convened as soon as possible to either update the existing charter while maintaining the council-manager form or changing the government to a council-mayor.  Today, the existing city charter is not adhered to in many areas and should be updated due to new and additional needs of the city, new management techniques and procedures and technology.  Otherwise we must examine, analyze and modernize how Pueblo is governed.
I am concerned about Pueblo having the dedicated leadership required to bring together people with diverse ideas to create a new governance in which the largest of majorities can believe.  We must find this leadership.
Presented by,
Ted Freeman