I did not personally attend the mtgs last evening due to the organization of the meetings. There was a Committee Meeting of the Whole scheduled and the agenda was poorly organized and was nothing more than a listing of the committees in summary form. Since I had attended Finance and others had attended Public Works, I did not need to hear a summary of those minutes. And to have this scheduled prior to the council meeting still makes no sense to me. It appears to just be organized to discourage attendance and the actual meeting agenda was the second reason not to go. I do wonder if this is all being done according to Municipal Law. It is well known that the mayor and several alderman do not encourage public participation.
Later I found out that they did not publicly follow the agenda that the city created but instead went into closed session. Personally I find this insulting to those who took the time to come to the meeting. This is not the first time this was done and I do believe it is done on purpose. Why not put on the agenda that this Meeting of the Whole will consist of a closed session. Give the people who take their time to attend some respect.
I would like to thank Ald Ferrari for being the only council member who had the courage to ask a question about the Concerts for a Cause. The organizer has been publicly advertising concerts that were not approved by the city this year. At last I believe it was Public Works that announced last night at the next council meeting they would approve the concerts.
I did notice on the information in the meeting packet for last night, the city had a disbursement of $10, 291 for the concerts before anything had been discussed. Talk about business being conducted behind the scenes, this is a prime example. Looks like nothing has really changed down at City Hall. And please tell us what that funding is for?
39 comments:
"...is a graduate of St. Bede and Illinois Valley Community College.."
I already distrust this individual. What to local. Peru needs new blood.
Lois, I have thrown my share of criticism towards the mayor and council but I also call it as I see it. Last night was the most organized professional functional council I have seen. They have a plan that is above board and makes complete sense and takes care of running our town very well. I think we owe the new team a chance. You could have heard a pin drop last night and everyone was very impressed. they deserve it and so does the town. Please wathc the video.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation probe of Peru must be much deeper than initially thought. I personally would take it as a insult if someone complimented me as saying "they have a plan that is above board and makes complete sense".
No personal like or dislike of the Mayor or City Council but I have to make my judgments from years of historical data rather than one night of growing fear from a government investigation.
For additional info would you please inform us of who comprises the new team?
Isn't it a little late to have our council discuss and give approval to these concerts? Hasn't she already gone public with the July 13th date and the performers she has contracted? Somehow, someway, somebody seems to have given her the impression that she has their blessing and permission to hold her next concert. Yet, it was stated last night that the council will discuss this issue at their next meeting - May 19th? And yes, alderman Ferrari did seem to have some questions that he felt needed answering. Too little - too late??? Is this really how we want to conduct business in Peru? Not professional in my opinion!
What could that SOMETHING BIG be that is promised by our mayor?
There have been so many unfilled promises from "our mayor" starting with his campaign of 2009 until now that it is doubtful anyone believes them. Remember when the mayor and ald. lukosis went to Washington DC. and came back saying the Federal Govt. was giving Peru the Armory North of Peru. When does that become official. I know their trip was paid for long ago.
what would we do with that old rat trap besides demolish it?
Read today's paper about this and king and bernabei's positions . I'm very confused at this article. So we don't have a police chief? Just read article. Maybe my comprehension in reading this article is wrong. Lois, maybe you can post a link to this article and people can comment on. No pay was mentioned, is pay the same?
Has ESDA been eliminated? It was not mentioned in today's paper regarding who oversees it. Was this part of Kings salary when he was appointed all the positions by Harl that included co-chair for ESDA ?Wasn't Bernabei a co-chair also of ESDA? Not mentioned either in paper.
`Has anyone noticed that His Honor is more willing to delegate his responsibilities than perform them himself? It is evident that he believes that being called Mayor and getting his picture taken with entertainers at the concert plus appearing at ribbon cutting ceremonies are the extent of the interest he has for the office.
Who is the new engineer related to? The name is not familiar. There has to be a connection of some sort. Who juiced him in?
Comments on here are pathetic. 5:20 comments like yours and 6:13 make you look like fools. I love how people complain that all of the young people leave the area but then one comes back to be an engineer in our own city and that's a problem for you. You will complain no matter what happens. Count me among those as a critic, but also seeing some very positive things going on. Not everything is a conspiracy.
People should be hired with a true resume or bio with the qualifications and experience to successfully and accurately perform the duties of the position being hired for, not for their big talk pretending to know how to do the job. A person who is hired or appointed as a manager shouldn't be hired as a manager if they don't have the qualification or knowledge of the jobs they are telling/guiding employees to do. Talk the talk-Walk the walk.
This is Peru. The only qualification that matters is who you know and who you are related to. So I say again. Did the new guy get juiced in or was he truly not associated with anyone involved with Peru city government, at least before his fist interview?
ask bernabei
BS 11:44. Plenty of people have been hired with no connections. Find a small to mid-sized town where someone isn't related to someone. You obviously hang around the "in crowd" that you seem to know so much about. Tell us since you know so much how many relatives of current city council members are full time employees of Peru? We will be waiting for your answer.
Also many of you do not understand business management. It is far more than knowing the job. The CEO of Starbucks does not need to know how to make a good cappucino. He needs to know how to run a business and manage people. We need leaders who know how to manage, it does not matter if they are an electrician or a pipefitter. I would argue that has been the very problem. What Peru has been doing with King and Bernabei has been working whether you would like to admit that or not. We are making progress.
Who is going to handle the power outage which new supervisor do you really think either can handle that or any kind of public works problem what a sad state of affairs that city of yours is in
Not true 2:14 - every person employed by the City of Peru has some sort of juiced in connection. Every contract awarded by the City of Peru is due to juice. No juice, no play - that is the Peru way.
7:19 PM
matters might be more complicated when one is out of town for several days or a week.
BS 7:26. You are wrong. Again name one relative of a city council member working for the city. Who is Waldorf's relative on payroll? Radke? Ferrari? How about Mueller? Sapienza? Potthoff? Name one! Stand by your "juiced" accusation. Come on conspiracy theorists! Don't just talk! Prove it!
Why such a concern about a power outage? Are not the city employees of the electrical department capable of handling a situation such as this? Haven't they been doing it for year after year?
The PWD being structured similar to the ED, long term employees with problems of a recurring nature, should be capable of performing repair and maintenance of their departments without a full time baby sitter. When the electric department needed professional advise for a survey they had to go out of town. Rest assured that Peru, Illinois will not have any public works or electrical problems that some one else has not already had and repaired. Knowing how to use the computer and outsourcing vendors for answers is today the knowledge needed. City employees should be capable of performing their responsibilities.
I'm sorry 7:19 our city is most definitely NOT in a "sad state of affairs." I don't know where you live but if your taxes are lower and you have more amenities and a better quality of life and better schools then we do, then good for you. I have a feeling that is not the case. Please do not judge Peru by the comments on the blog. We have our issues like any community but despite some of the comments you see here the world in Peru is far from falling apart.
9:08 Pm
Not falling apart but certainly could use better leadership and decision makers.
I frequently watch You Tube videos on city council meetings of other cities nationwide, and am constantly amazed to see many functioning in such a way as to be considerate not only of the people in attendance but of the city in general. If I am impressed I head off to their city web site to verify the set up of the city and how they function as a community and what their programs are for the people. Try it it will open your eyes and you will also see the improvements that need to take place here in Peru in order to encourage people to want to live here for reasons other than low taxes.
Potthoff's son and Bartley's son both worked as summer employees. The juiced theory pertains to TEST and Chamlin's always getting the work without having to bid or get RFQ's for the work.
Lois I want to make clear that I absolutely think we need to improve and leadership can be better in the mayor seat in particular. No offense to you but the blog atmosphere only brings out negatives and does nothing to help improve anything whatsoever. In fact, it has the opposite effect as there may be some valid points from time to time but no one will ever take it seriously because of the crazy things that get posed on here. It's pretty sad but that's the way it is. Your effort is appreciated but what gets posted on here does not help our community.
So 10:02 a $40 million budget and you bring up two people who have kids who worked in the summer? That's what you have for you have to be "juiced in" to get a job as a policeman, firefighter, engineer, regular worker or anything else? If anything, you have just proven that it is quite the opposite. That's it? Wow.
Whether you like it or not both TEST AND Chamlin do the same work for too many municipalities to count and they have done so for many years. The city does not have to RFQ for engineering if they are happy with their engineer. If you have expertise over the people running the city or their engineer selection, why don't you run for office and show everyone why it should be changed in your campaign? Most of the city council members have changed and yet they still believe that these two entities are best for the job. That is not being "juiced in".
In other words why don't you get up and do something rather than making ridiculous accusations on a blog and try to back it up with two kids who worked in the summer. It's time to stop the ridiculous lies and fabrications on here and instead try to focus on what really needs to improve to move our community forward. Step up and lead or contact your city leaders and talk to them. Otherwise your foolish comments will be like all others on here which is long forgotten.
10:02 We reviewed the recent payroll, and last summer. We did not see those names on the payroll sheets. Do either of them have step-kids with a different last name?
11:01 I have to agree. So much that is allowed here is only venting, gossipy, personal attacks. There are intelligent posts attacking problems and elected officials or shady business arrangements, and I have no problem with those.
But it does make the blog less credible when it starts to sound like bitching at Duffys after a few beers. And that hurts it.
No, the kids were named Potthoff and Bartley. If not last year, check the couple years before that. They were definitely on the payroll.
11:12 You did not review last summer's payroll because I have it in my possession and Mr. Bartley's son along with several other city employees relatives (i.e. Callie Schmidt) are indeed on it.
The secret has been told and now I'll share it with you folks. Carls is Heidi's cousin .
Isn't everybody from the Illinois Valley related???
1:06 Big deal last summer a few kids were on the payroll, summer help. I bet that both of those kids listed, showed up for work and did what was requested. Is this a conspiracy? And is this what some of you have pulled out of your bag of tricks to create conspiracy? Boring stuff. I do have advice, keep kids names out of your comments. Its creepy!
You need to keep in mind that it is not just relatives. Its friends of friends and friends of relatives.
I also do not believe that a child's name should be published. If you disagree with the City of Peru's hiring practices state the problems you find and the corrective guidelines you recommend.
Peru has a staff of personnel which should comprise a great interviewing body headed by Human Resource Manager.
The mayor's administrative assistant was also hired because of who she is related to.
@10:07 ... If that is true why do fireman from liberty interview , vote on hiring and vote on firing the city fireman? HR does not intervene in fire dept business.
I am 10:07 and my comment was directed stating the hiring problems of the City of Peru and the corrective guidelines recommended. My recommendation would be to have a professional who is already hired and available, Human Resource Manager Kim Reese, to be appointed as the point person of a impartial group of citizens to create and enforce guidelines.
I do not and will not pretend to understand the present set-up of Liberty and the PFD. I do know that they are in a city building and that the full time Ch., PFD is paid $84,000/year. How one is to presently apply for this position and to whom I do not know and to whom is responsible for the final decision as to whom is to be awarded this position.
Alderman Sapienza serves on the Public Health and Safety Committee so possibly he would feel a responsibility to inform his constituents with a clear detailed explanation of the various questions about the PFD. I do know that the position of Ch, PFD was not advertised when it became a full time position with a pay increase of $73,000/year. I do know that Alderman Sapienza has a responsibility to his constituents to explain why the new position, a change of part time fire chief to full time was not advertised.
When is TEST new building to begin at site of old Peru Hotel?
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