“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Read the current disbursements online and ask your questions?

Charges for the ICSC Chicago Deals keep coming in and now we see that our Economic Director (Volunteer) had a partner on his trip to Chicago and we paid for the cost in the amount of $1,219.20. On this months expenditures we paid the $5,500 to MCS and an additional $95.00 for embroidery done by Locker Room on shirts the city paid for from Bergners which I believe were $59..
Not sure what the EC was doing at the IMEA but there was a phone chg and expenses for $259.51 in the October disbursements.

Did he go along with Mayor Harl ($211.35) and Ald. Jim Lukosus ($148.40) who also went to the monthly IMEA mtg? Now I am all for educational expenses but they should be dispensed to all aldermen to improve the knowledge they have about the city committee they have been appointed to. Oh, forgot for a moment we only have 2 committees for aldermen to be appointed to.  It used to be 4 committees and the appointed aldermen had to do their work or at least try to be up to date on what that committee should be doing. Now I notice with only 2 committees that is no longer true and it sometimes it is no more than signing an attendance sheet and sitting thru the meeting. We sometimes critique the aldermen for not having discussions at council meetings but in reality their legs have been cut off at the knees, because they are now required than to do exactly that.and nothing more.  The committee chairman of Finance is very capable of handling that meeting by himself and the remaining committee of Public Service is pre programed by Mayor Harl who sits in attendance at both meetings as the "hall monitor" The Mayor and the Treasurer do not speak unless necessary and that is pretty much true of the City Clerk and the Mayor also.

Can you only imagine what that type of work environment must be like at City Hall?

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21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Potthoff is the Finance Chairman. Does he speak to the Mayor?

Peru Town Forum said...

I believe he does, at least at public meetings.

Anonymous said...

It is a chilling "indictment" of the Harl administration and a sad commentary on his abilities as a mayor when you realize that his relationship with the majority, if not all of the people at city hall is one of "dysfunction" and hatred". Mr. Harl has demonstrated an uncanny ability to burn bridges and alienate people very quickly since he came to power. It is a primary function of the top executive to provide for an atmosphere of cooperation and harmony in his or her administration. Peru needs a bonifide City Manager to break the culture of dysfunction in our community. Council/Manager Referendum needs to happen asap.

Anonymous said...

Lois, as a everyday working stiff carrying a brown sack paper lunch and appreciative to my employer for giving me a job would you please tell me what the letters ICSC represent and what is its mission?
where was this convention held, who choose the two individuals who attended on a Peru City Expense account and what department head or committee ok'd it
Finally what is the total expenses to the city for the ISCS and what is going to be the return on the total expenditure?
When a Directorship of Economic Development position was created by Mayor Harl and Mr. Vickrey the expense account was started at $14,000 per year, now a few short years later it is up to $35,000 per year. Mr. Vickrey sold himself for this volunteer position as a professional with the necessary knowledge needed already in his resume. After a few years in this position is this resume holding true or is Peru wasting money and time on a buffon?

Anonymous said...

Is Mr. V covered by the City's health insurance ?

Peru Town Forum said...

1:59 PM

I am pretty sure he is not as he is a volunteer who gets a nice chunk of expense funds but not a paycheck per se.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Vickery walked into city hall and proposed the idea of him being designated a position later known as the Director of Business Development. This postion is a unpaid volunteer with a expense account which started at $14,000/year and in a few years has fattened up to $35,000/year. This $35K/years is larger than Mayor Harl's salary of $32,000/year.
Mayor Bakers' salary was similar to Mayor Harls but he, himself, performed both the Mayors position plus the Director of Community Development and Business Development at the Mayors Salary and he brought in manufacturing facilities and retail districts not bakeries and auto part stores.

Anonymous said...

the business development director or whatever the position is called is just a way to funnel money to cronies... everything from bakery items, to shirts, to web pages, to news paper adds...

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:12 I believe, to the best of my knowledge, the trip cost approximately $14,400. It was held at Navy Pier and I believe it was a retail expo. Nobody chose who would attend. Mr. Vickrey just makes the decision on his own. I guess the charges go thru the finance committee but I don't think either of our two committees suggested he attend. ICSC stands for International Council of Shopping Centers. Hope this answers your question.

Anonymous said...

3:17 Where is the expense account of $35,000? Your creating numbers and why? What has he used that amounts to his expenses of $35,000? Do you understand what a expense account is? Its personal expenses in the amount of $35,000?
Please share what is accurate.

Anonymous said...

What are everyone's thoughts on the barricades into Hobby Lobby parking lot? Really I can't blame the owner for taking action!

Anonymous said...

6:41 I think it's just going to put more traffic in front of the businesses which will make it more dangerous for the shoppers coming out of the stores.

Anonymous said...

.No numbers are being made up. The budgeted expense account is $35,000 per year. It has been increased from a starting budgeted expense account of $14,000 per year. What concerns most people who take interest in Peru politics is not the $35,000 per year budgeted expense account but that Peru is getting nothing back in return for it.
Anon 4:34 PM You can beat a dead horse all you want but your still ending up with a dead horse.

Anonymous said...

6:41 - why does Peru refuse to install stop lights? That is the root cause of all traffic problems in Peru. We have an infrastructure sales tax. Use it for something useful! We cannot continue to use 4-Way stop signs and wonder why the traffic backs up.

Anonymous said...

10:31 What is your term of no getting anything back in return? No new business? That's a stretch.
You have now admitted that you understand that $35,000 is not a expense account and its not a salary. Its a number in a budget that is utilized for the stated term called economic development. Other communities spend hundreds of thousands for economic development and have much less in return.

Anonymous said...

@12:00 PM What other communities?

Anonymous said...

Has anyone considered the safety factor with the recent barricades at the entrance to the shopping center with Hobby Lobby? It seems that with a shopping center that large there should be more than one entrance/exit in case of fire or if an ambulance were needed. It seems that there would be zoning regulations to allow more access in case of an emergency.

Anonymous said...

The city was involved in the placement of the barricades, the Peru Fire Department was directing where to place the barricades, yet when the city was called they denied involvement. Reminds me of Chicago....closing an airport in the middle of the night

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:00 PM Yes to you and me $35K is a budgeted figure for a guidelint but in Peru it is a expense account because efforts will be made to asure that next year it will be larger because all $35K will be spent this year. I believe that you have negelected to answer 2:45 PM. I also would be interested in your answer to specifically what other communities?

Anonymous said...

2:45 every community, look east/west.

Peru Town Forum said...

4:24 PM

You forgot something and that is the important words "in my opinion". I see lots of activity east and west and south and north, it depends upon how far you want to go.