Tuesday, October 19, 2010
IML Convention expenses 2005 thru 2010 total $36,645.
We looked back to the previous five years for our report on this issue. Year to year average for city officials for the past five years was around $1,000 per person per year to attend the conferences. In 2009 Aldeman Mikyska was the only official to attend at a cost of $1,025. From 2005 thru 2008 there were usually seven or eight city officials in attendance each year. Lois is going to attempt to post all of the records the city provided us in order for you to view and draw your own conclusions. It appears there has never really been a proper procedure in place for expense re-imbursement. Another example of a lack of professionalism. If there was a standard form provided by the city it was not used properly by all officials all the time. So, like so many things in Peru during previous years there was no consistent policy or rules in place regarding expenses and accountability for city officials. Totals year to year are as follows, 2005 $7,300 / 2006 $9,757 / 2007 $10,236 / 2008 $8,330 / 2009 $1,025 / 2010 $5,444.
In looking through some of the files you will see a number of expenses claimed and paid without proper reciepts or verification. This should never be allowed. You will see some excessive meal expenses. For Example, former Building Inspector John Micheli enjoyed a meal at "The Chicago Chop House" in 2008 that cost us $335.35. I think that qualifies as excessive. You will see that at least a couple of your aldermen like to frequent a place called "Hooters Chicago". I only go to Hooters for the Chicken Wings. You will notice that one alderman was re-imbursed for the cost of treating he and another alderman to a pricey meal one evening for a total in excess of $200 but neglected to provide any type of reciept to verify the expense. And new for 2010, you will see that some of your aldermen were a bit more conservative than they typically have been in past years on the taxpayers dime. That's a good thing, right? But others maybe not so much. So look through the files and you be the judge. The jury is still out in terms of what if any dividends may result from our elected officials attendance at this or any previous convention and if it was worth the cost to the citizens of Peru. You decide.
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9 comments:
MY OPINION IS, WHEN THE CITY IS CUTTING BACK ON HIREING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT WAS A WASTE OF MONEY, FOR ANY INTELLIGENT ALDERMAN, TO GO TO THE IML CONVENTION. THEY DIDN'T BRING BACK AN EARTH SHATTERING KNOWLEDGE DID THEY? g
Thanks for sharing Steve, this is INSANE!!!
Steve - I don't think that your total for this year included the $500 given to each alderman before they went to the convention. I believe that $3,000 needs to be added to your total.
I wonder if the Aldermen were living pay check to pay check with a tight budget at home what their spouse's would do to them when they got the credit card bill in the mail from Hooters?
I know my husband would be packing his lunch and surrendering his credit/debit card.
Perhaps city officials that spend, spend ,spend should surrender their seat.
This issue is history. Are you going next to the cementary and dig up some of the relatives????
What do we do for the future? Where is Heidi and Stephanie expenses for this year ? Did that get swept under the rug ? Did they fill up the gas tank in chicago or peru ?
Where do we post the question about CLOSED CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ?
For the past 40 years of the Baker administration there was ONE closed city council meeting.
Under Mayor Harl there seem to be a closed session almost EVERY MONTH . Again tonight (oct 20)
What is going on, in this PROMISED TRANSPARENT adminstration ?
Steve would say this is better?
The people are not worthy of the information I guess. My opinion, we should close the door at the next mayor election, and get him OUT..
ANON 6:35 I've heard rumor that their expenses totaled roughly $150. I also know that Heidi went to learn more about grant writing and has already gotten the city 2 grants - 1 for $56,000 and 1 for $32,000. Pretty good return for our investment wouldn't you say? Have yet to hear what, if anything, your aldermen brought back with them.
Seriously, you can't tip the bellboy $2 without asking for reimbursement?
6:35 p.m. - This issue is not history. This issue will remain fresh as long as aldermen continue to see the convention as a "perk" or as something they are entitled to attend at taxpayer expense. They had an opportunity to show some fiscal responsibility by sending one or two aldermen instead of six of them. Heidi and Stephanie went for a day at a minimal cost and returned with knowledge which can benefit the city. The aldermen were there for an extended weekend and returned with nothing more than a fist full of expenses.
6:41 p.m. - So you are of the opinion that closed meetings are some sort of conspiracy perpetrated by Mayor Harl. That's an interesting interpretation. Paranoid, but interesting. This is a great issue to make a comparison between the current and former admimistrations. Closed meetings are used to deal with specific issues that have privacy implications for things like personnel decisions like hiring and firing or discipline as well as property transactions that have not been officially finalized by the city. Closed meeting minutes are recorded and there is a record of what happens in closed session. There is a need for "Closed Session" and I understand and support it, always have. Baker never used closed session because he never needed to use closed session. He never encouraged or accepted input or discussion from the aldermen in any decision making and they were quite content to allow Don to make each and every critical decision on every issue. So try to understand. Don ruled on all issues outside the scope of "any" meeting. It was all done "Back Room". Why would Baker waste his time going into closed session to discuss issues that were never even discussed in "open" meetings during his administration. Baker used to wear the "We never use closed session" thing like some sick and twisted badge of honor. But the fact is that administration did "all" it's business completely out of public view.
You really don't seem to understand the Open Meetings Act. Please do some research before you comment.
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