The Council took a short agenda and made it longer last night. I missed the meeting, but will read through the Hour reports to get a flavor.
Last meeting there was much gnashing of teeth over delaying the vote on the contractor chosen for the Reed Street Extension. The City’s law department reviewed the bidding process and selection and then stamped its legal approval. THe council then voted to authorize the contract award.
Matt Miklave called the PoKo Partners conceptual site plans for the Wall street area redevelopment project innovative, and the council voted on awarding the land disposition agreements too. That plan moves on to zoning, and thus I will be getting off this commentary train.
The Common Council is moving forward with a live studio audience, wait, they already have that. No, they are moving forward with having cameras record the meetings. It’s about time.
The Nick Kydes Show, otherwise known as the ethics complaint was heard behind closed doors, or rather in executive session. Robert Koch provides this tidbit, “Tuesday night, members held their meeting in a caucus room. Muffled but raised voices could be heard through the door into the main Common Council meeting room.” I don’t think they were watching baseball in there.
Bill Krummel wants to know how infrastructure improvements for the West ave. plan went from $5 million in 2002 to over $100 in 2007. Simple, Bill, boondoggle. But its still a good idea to have an outside law firm tackle the nitty details on the financing aspect on the overall number. Since Krummel has been on all the committees over the years that have been looking at “infrastructure” he should have a much better idea about how those numbers grew so large, so fast, so vast. Let me just repeat the obvious, when one party controls the committees for the past 6 years that are supposed to be overseeing the details of city management, the bell tolls for thee.
sources:The Hour, September 26, 2007
Common Council backs turning camera on self, By ROBERT KOCH
Reed Street underpass contract approved, By ROBERT KOCH
Ethics complaint discussed in closed session, By ROBERT KOCH
Council approves legal help for West Ave. project, By ROBERT KOCH
Wall Street development plans approved, By AMANDA PINTO
