This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“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, April 15, 2015
TASK FORCE MEETING 4 PM AT PERU CITY HALL TODAY 4/15
I KNOW THIS IS LATE BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. IF YOU ARE FREE AT THIS TIME AND INTERESTED IN THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR THAT MAYOR HARL WANTS, PLEASE COME.
34 comments:
Anonymous
said...
yes. 4:00 PM while the regular people are just getting of work.
yes true and I did ask at the last mtg, if the group would consider having some mtgs later when people who wanted to attend could come whereas earlier at 4 they are still at work.
Mayor Harl nixed that idea because he said the secretary who is taking the minutes leaves at 5 PM and would not be at work later.
I remember so many meetings in the past that were scheduled anytime from 5 to 7 PM and minutes were taken by someone and probably tape recorded as well. I mentioned why not a tape recorder. These are important meetings and should be scheduled at a time of convenience for all and not for the convenience of the mayor. As for the members I do believe that they would not mind meeting say at 6 PM because they did mention that time. Residents who are interested need to put the pressure on their aldermen and make sure they do their job and change the time.
The Boss does not want citizen involvement. This is a rubber stamp committee anyway. It will all be over after two or three meetings and some brother in law will be hired.
How many attend the city council meetings which are held at 7:30 PM? What makes anyone believe that a task force committee meeting would have a larger attendance. Past history has had such small attendance at any and all government meetings that a task force should not have to meet later than wanted to please one or two.If they want to meet at 4 why don't those who so badly want to attend arrange to be able to do so? Presently this committee is to evaluate whether it would be advantageous for Peru to employ a city administrator and the reasons for or against it. The city council meeting that this is presented will be the meeting to be interested in. The council meetings start at 7:30 PM and it will be interesting to have a count of attendance. In regards to minutes of the meeting wouldn't a brief summary suffice? I have read minutes of the Finance Committee Meetings which were not elaborate.
I attended the Task Force meeting and 2 other residents were there. This was one of the most interesting city meetings I have ever attended and please don't even compare it to the cut and dry city council meetings. Public comment was welcome and questions answered.
I think you would find more people attending the council meetings if our government officials acted like adults and understood that they work for the people. As it stands right now, our local government could not care less what the average citizen has to say. At best, they are patronizing. At worst, they are belligerent. Our local Peru Government views the average citizen as nothing more than a source of revenue. And it is only getting worse.
The task force was a new committee and set up for 1 task. Questions and comments are part of every committee meeting. City meetings are reports, discussion, votes. One topic. City council meetings deal with several topics and many of those have been discussed several times in committees. We are pleased that you are attending the task force meeting. You will quickly buy in to the city hiring a city administrator.
They need to advise that a change of government to the Council-Manager format - as outlined in the Illinois Municipal Code - is necessary to elevate Peru to the next level. A city administrator will be nothing more than a flunky hired by an incompetent mayor to perform daily tasks and provide a scapegoat for the political class. A City Manager will have legal power AND fiduciary responsibility to manage the city in accordance with the law. The Mayor and Council cannot, by law, be involved in hiring and firing of non statutory employees. The Mayor cannot approve "over time" to friends. A City Manager will enforce all laws and ordinances.
The legislative body (aka Council) will still create laws and approve budgets. However, the Manger will ensure the budget is followed - no capitol expenditures that are not budgeted without creating a law to make it happen. The Mayor will be a voting member of the council and provide ceremonial duties. The council will provide general guidance and help create the long range plan. The Manager will implement the long range plan free of political interference.
With a "administrator" we will get a guy that does what the Mayor tells him to do. That is it. He will be highly paid, but he will simply be another employee doing as he is told.
6:36 AM I don't think they were given that option (to discuss a city manager). I do know some of the aldermen would like to have that be open as an option. Wouldn't it be nice to have a "pro and con list" of city-manager form of government vs. city-administrator? However, these options were not, to my knowledge, given to this committee.
Anon 7:57 AM Please do not think that I am signaling you out but your comment is one that upsets me. For all I know you have voted and partake in city activities and government. This comment is aimed at those who do not and I am referring to the 80% of you who did not vote. If you did not practice the privilege of voting and in turn are having to accept a alternative which you do not want remember that each and everyone of you asked for it. Speaking as a practicing voter I have to say that the majority of citizens are happy with their representation as 3 of the 4 incumbents were reelected.
The resolution that created the Task Force was crafted to allow for consideration of City Administrator only. The idea of City Administrator vs. Council-Manager will never be allowed into the discussion at the Task Force meetings. That is by design. Remember Waldorf turning red in the face when Potthoff suggested the Task Force consider City Manager? Waldorf, said, "we agreed to keep manager out of it". This Task Force as it is set-up and the limited scope they are allowed to operate within is just another example of the purely political motives of Harl and his henchmen to maintain absolute power in Peru. It's so obvious it's hard to believe it's this easy for these people to manipulate things the way they do. It is absolutely disgusting the way manipulative and dishonest politics dominates the city of Peru.
11:14 - the reasons for that are obvious. When the government changes to Council-Manager, the manager will control the day to day activities - and in particular, the hiring, firing, purchasing, and contracting.
Why does the 7:57 comment upset you. First off, there are very few people in Peru that have any knowledge of our local government. I would say that 2/3 of them only care when their garbage isn't picked up or the street is not plowed. Of the minority that vote, 2/3 of them vote for a name - a name they recognize or the name of some schmuck that knocked on their door. Here are the only things that the vast majority of Peru residents care about:
1. Fire works 2. Snow Plows 3. Fire Works 4. Beer Gardens 5. Fire Works 6. Little League Baseball 7. Fire Works 8. Beer Gardens 9. Pickle Ball 10. Fire Works
Did I mention fireworks?
As long as these 10 things are attended to without raising property taxes, all is good in the mind of the Sheeple of Peru. That is another very important point. Peru residents like it when shoppers from other cities pay for their services. You see, many of my fellow Peruvians are very narcissistic - everything has to be about them. But they are so cheep they make Jack Benny look like a spend thrift. Don't try to guess my age using that as a data point. You would be wrong, and if you get the joke, that is why I put it in there. Because, another thing about Peru is that everyone is O L D.
Government inherently restricts freedom. It is the job of the people to institute "just enough" government to administer common needs that cannot be accomplished by the individual while remaining out of the way of everything else. When in doubt, government must err on the side of caution and let Liberty reign supreme.
And I say again his name will be Doug......he will rule the land known as Peru while his handler moves forward to greener pastures in state government. Then the great powerful administrator Doug will make his move upward and outward while those left deal with the debt and fallout.
I do not understand why people think Doug would even contemplate changing jobs to become a city administrator? A starting city administrator would probably earn approximately 1/2 of what Doug presently is paid. Also Doug has no formal background to successfully handle a city administrators position. Is the information that Mayor Harl will eventually become Franks replacement coming from a reliable source. I have heard that the head of LaSalle County Board is also interested. Does anyone have any idea how many will be interested if Frank was to take a different appointment?
To 3:37 PM, You pose a fair question. Here is the answer. The mayor, most of the aldermen, and the super chiefs are dishonest because they deliberately manipulated and designed the wording in the Task Force resolution to prevent consideration of anything other than City Administrator. It's dishonest because they did it to prevent any other options from being considered or discussed. The resolution itself is dishonest and designed to prevent open and honest research and discussion by the Task Force. Therfore, the people behind its creation are dishonest. When elected officials create a dishonest resolution they are in fact dishonest. Do you understand now?
With all the work Mayor Harl has gone to in creating a very talented task force to evaluate the suitability of having a city administrator in Peru and with the extreme efforts of the task force this occupation should only be considered if it is a full time position filled by someone who has the essential formal qualifications and education. Presently Peru has no one on board who qualifies to be a city administrator but with the present job market it would not be difficult to recruit this position. Mayor Harl has done a extremely good job in the creation of this task force team and giving them free reign. Peru which has become a $50M+ business definitely could use someone to direct the big picture in professional expertise and it is time to judge what will best accomplish the city's future.
11:04 I hate to burst your bubble but in reality I think the police chief already considers himself a city administrator. What other duties would hiring one have that Doug does not have or do now? And, should we hire an administrator where would that leave Mr. Bernabei?
11:04, there are two reasons he would push for that position, 1.Bernie is all about power, he has that controlling personality that the aldermen and mayor fell under, 2. He has it figured to get another Pension through the IMRF if he is administrator. He would be able to collect his police pension now. Don't think for one minute he is all about power and money,
Who cares if the police chief already considers himself a city administrator? He is not nor should he ever be. There are many other duties that Bernie does not do now or would not be capable to do as a city administrator. The description of Bernie given in comments are the exact reasons he should not be made city manager. Do you want to work with or for a person who is all about power, money and multiple pensions. A change from C,PPD to City Administrator has a huge advantage for Bernie which has never been mentioned on the blog nor in city government discussion nor will it ever be. As for the question of if a city administrator would be hired where would that leave Bernie? Who cares! Outstanding management calls for not putting all your eggs in one basket. Who is to cover all these jobs if a conscientious empire builder becomes ill (short or long term), unexpectedly dies, decides to move out of the area or with all these pensions build up retires. It is very doubtful that it is a money saver when ones' plate becomes overloaded and ample time is not available to perform 2, 3,or 4 full time jobs in one day. Also every time added jobs are involved so is a pay increase with the end result being less efficiency in performance in each position for more money. I would think that the task force committee is qualifying the city administrator as a full time position as members of the committee do not manage a hospital or school and cook in the cafeteria, and than later clean the hallway.
5:42pm.... You should care. Doug will get the job and with it a bigger salary and he will continue in the positions he already has. It's called a consolidation of power. Should it be done? Of course not but I believe the die is cast. Time will tell. The committee is smoke and mirrors to lend an air of propriety to what has probably already been decided. And does he have the credentials for the job? Of course not but so what. It never stopped the council before.
I am positive that there is no need to pay a city administrator $170,000 and still obtain maximum potential of the position. There are several options within the hiring procedures that could enable a recruitment of capable candidates to interview. College Placement Departments would have a list of former graduates who would be interested and will advertise for the city. When the task force committee decides upon if Peru should have a city administrator they surely should state specifically what specific qualities they would expect in a candidate and what a candidate with these qualities should be paid. Peru recently hired a city engineer, a technical engineer and a finance position. In my own opinion I would use their pay scale as a base line and try to hold hold it there. Someone who has 2 to 3 years working as a assistant to a experienced city administrator would be glad to receive this opportunity in a small town of 10,000. When hiring someone it must be remembered that the person asking for the most pay is not necessarily the best candidate.
34 comments:
yes. 4:00 PM while the regular people are just getting of work.
yes true and I did ask at the last mtg, if the group would consider having some mtgs later when people who wanted to attend could come whereas earlier at 4 they are still at work.
Mayor Harl nixed that idea because he said the secretary who is taking the minutes leaves at 5 PM and would not be at work later.
I remember so many meetings in the past that were scheduled anytime from 5 to 7 PM and minutes were taken by someone and probably tape recorded as well. I mentioned why not a tape recorder. These are important meetings and should be scheduled at a time of convenience for all and not for the convenience of the mayor.
As for the members I do believe that they would not mind meeting say at 6 PM because they did mention that time. Residents who are interested need to put the pressure on their aldermen and make sure they do their job and change the time.
The Boss does not want citizen involvement. This is a rubber stamp committee anyway. It will all be over after two or three meetings and some brother in law will be hired.
How many attend the city council meetings which are held at 7:30 PM?
What makes anyone believe that a task force committee meeting would have a larger attendance. Past history has had such small attendance at any and all government meetings that a task force should not have to meet later than wanted to please one or two.If they want to meet at 4 why don't those who so badly want to attend arrange to be able to do so?
Presently this committee is to evaluate whether it would be advantageous for Peru to employ a city administrator and the reasons for or against it. The city council meeting that this is presented will be the meeting to be interested in. The council meetings start at 7:30 PM and it will be interesting to have a count of attendance.
In regards to minutes of the meeting wouldn't a brief summary suffice? I have read minutes of the Finance Committee Meetings which were not elaborate.
I attended the Task Force meeting and 2 other residents were there. This was one of the most interesting city meetings I have ever attended and please don't even compare it to the cut and dry city council meetings. Public comment was welcome and questions answered.
Any indication that they will go off the reservation and discuss a change to Council-Manager?
I think you would find more people attending the council meetings if our government officials acted like adults and understood that they work for the people. As it stands right now, our local government could not care less what the average citizen has to say. At best, they are patronizing. At worst, they are belligerent. Our local Peru Government views the average citizen as nothing more than a source of revenue. And it is only getting worse.
The task force was a new committee and set up for 1 task. Questions and comments are part of every committee meeting. City meetings are reports, discussion, votes. One topic. City council meetings deal with several topics and many of those have been discussed several times in committees. We are pleased that you are attending the task force meeting. You will quickly buy in to the city hiring a city administrator.
What else would a group of administrators advise?
Hire a City administrator!
They need to advise that a change of government to the Council-Manager format - as outlined in the Illinois Municipal Code - is necessary to elevate Peru to the next level. A city administrator will be nothing more than a flunky hired by an incompetent mayor to perform daily tasks and provide a scapegoat for the political class.
A City Manager will have legal power AND fiduciary responsibility to manage the city in accordance with the law. The Mayor and Council cannot, by law, be involved in hiring and firing of non statutory employees. The Mayor cannot approve "over time" to friends. A City Manager will enforce all laws and ordinances.
The legislative body (aka Council) will still create laws and approve budgets. However, the Manger will ensure the budget is followed - no capitol expenditures that are not budgeted without creating a law to make it happen. The Mayor will be a voting member of the council and provide ceremonial duties. The council will provide general guidance and help create the long range plan. The Manager will implement the long range plan free of political interference.
With a "administrator" we will get a guy that does what the Mayor tells him to do. That is it. He will be highly paid, but he will simply be another employee doing as he is told.
6:36 AM I don't think they were given that option (to discuss a city manager). I do know some of the aldermen would like to have that be open as an option. Wouldn't it be nice to have a "pro and con list" of city-manager form of government vs. city-administrator? However, these options were not, to my knowledge, given to this committee.
Let me guess. His first name will be Doug?
Anon 7:57 AM Please do not think that I am signaling you out but your comment is one that upsets me. For all I know you have voted and partake in city activities and government.
This comment is aimed at those who do not and I am referring to the 80% of you who did not vote. If you did not practice the privilege of voting and in turn are having to accept a alternative which you do not want
remember that each and everyone
of you asked for it.
Speaking as a practicing voter I have to say that the majority of citizens are happy with their representation as 3 of the 4 incumbents were reelected.
The resolution that created the Task Force was crafted to allow for consideration of City Administrator only. The idea of City Administrator vs. Council-Manager will never be allowed into the discussion at the Task Force meetings. That is by design. Remember Waldorf turning red in the face when Potthoff suggested the Task Force consider City Manager? Waldorf, said, "we agreed to keep manager out of it". This Task Force as it is set-up and the limited scope they are allowed to operate within is just another example of the purely political motives of Harl and his henchmen to maintain absolute power in Peru. It's so obvious it's hard to believe it's this easy for these people to manipulate things the way they do. It is absolutely disgusting the way manipulative and dishonest politics dominates the city of Peru.
The city manager is not in the discussion. The manager had very little interest or support from the alderman and mayor.
11:14 - the reasons for that are obvious. When the government changes to Council-Manager, the manager will control the day to day activities - and in particular, the hiring, firing, purchasing, and contracting.
Why does the 7:57 comment upset you. First off, there are very few people in Peru that have any knowledge of our local government. I would say that 2/3 of them only care when their garbage isn't picked up or the street is not plowed. Of the minority that vote, 2/3 of them vote for a name - a name they recognize or the name of some schmuck that knocked on their door. Here are the only things that the vast majority of Peru residents care about:
1. Fire works
2. Snow Plows
3. Fire Works
4. Beer Gardens
5. Fire Works
6. Little League Baseball
7. Fire Works
8. Beer Gardens
9. Pickle Ball
10. Fire Works
Did I mention fireworks?
As long as these 10 things are attended to without raising property taxes, all is good in the mind of the Sheeple of Peru. That is another very important point. Peru residents like it when shoppers from other cities pay for their services. You see, many of my fellow Peruvians are very narcissistic - everything has to be about them. But they are so cheep they make Jack Benny look like a spend thrift. Don't try to guess my age using that as a data point. You would be wrong, and if you get the joke, that is why I put it in there. Because, another thing about Peru is that everyone is O L D.
10:45 DISHONEST? Who is dishonest? How is this dishonest? Everybody because they don't want a city manager?
Government inherently restricts freedom. It is the job of the people to institute "just enough" government to administer common needs that cannot be accomplished by the individual while remaining out of the way of everything else. When in doubt, government must err on the side of caution and let Liberty reign supreme.
And I say again his name will be Doug......he will rule the land known as Peru while his handler moves forward to greener pastures in state government. Then the great powerful administrator Doug will make his move upward and outward while those left deal with the debt and fallout.
I think you are right 5:11.
I do not understand why people think Doug would even contemplate changing jobs to become a city administrator? A starting city administrator would probably earn approximately 1/2 of what Doug presently is paid. Also Doug has no formal background to successfully handle a city administrators position.
Is the information that Mayor Harl will eventually become Franks replacement coming from a reliable source. I have heard that the head of LaSalle County Board is also interested.
Does anyone have any idea how many will be interested if Frank was to take a different appointment?
To 3:37 PM, You pose a fair question. Here is the answer. The mayor, most of the aldermen, and the super chiefs are dishonest because they deliberately manipulated and designed the wording in the Task Force resolution to prevent consideration of anything other than City Administrator. It's dishonest because they did it to prevent any other options from being considered or discussed. The resolution itself is dishonest and designed to prevent open and honest research and discussion by the Task Force. Therfore, the people behind its creation are dishonest. When elected officials create a dishonest resolution they are in fact dishonest. Do you understand now?
With all the work Mayor Harl has gone to in creating a very talented task force to evaluate the suitability of having a city administrator in Peru and with the extreme efforts of the task force this occupation should only be considered if it is a full time position filled by someone who has the essential formal qualifications and education.
Presently Peru has no one on board who qualifies to be a city administrator but with the present job market it would not be difficult to recruit this position.
Mayor Harl has done a extremely good job in the creation of this task force team and giving them free reign. Peru which has become a $50M+ business definitely could use someone to direct the big picture in professional expertise and it is time to judge what will best accomplish the city's future.
8:16 - all very well. But why not a change to the Council-Manager form? They are prohibited from discussing that.
11:04 I hate to burst your bubble but in reality I think the police chief already considers himself a city administrator. What other duties would hiring one have that Doug does not have or do now? And, should we hire an administrator where would that leave Mr. Bernabei?
11:04, there are two reasons he would push for that position, 1.Bernie is all about power, he has that controlling personality that the aldermen and mayor fell under, 2. He has it figured to get another Pension through the IMRF if he is administrator. He would be able to collect his police pension now. Don't think for one minute he is all about power and money,
and he does not have the credentials to be a City Manager.
Who cares if the police chief already considers himself a city administrator? He is not nor should he ever be. There are many other duties that Bernie does not do now or would not be capable to do as a city administrator.
The description of Bernie given in comments are the exact reasons he should not be made city manager.
Do you want to work with or for a person who is all about power, money and multiple pensions. A change from C,PPD to City Administrator has a huge advantage for Bernie which has never been mentioned on the blog nor in city government discussion nor will it ever be.
As for the question of if a city administrator would be hired where would that leave Bernie? Who cares!
Outstanding management calls for not putting all your eggs in one basket. Who is to cover all these jobs if a conscientious empire builder becomes ill (short or long term), unexpectedly dies, decides to move out of the area or with all these pensions build up retires.
It is very doubtful that it is a money saver when ones' plate becomes overloaded and ample time is not available to perform 2, 3,or 4 full time jobs in one day. Also every time added jobs are involved so is a pay increase with the end result being less efficiency in performance in each position for more money.
I would think that the task force committee is qualifying the city administrator as a full time position as members of the committee do not manage a hospital or school and cook in the cafeteria, and than later clean the hallway.
5:42pm.... You should care. Doug will get the job and with it a bigger salary and he will continue in the positions he already has. It's called a consolidation of power. Should it be done? Of course not but I believe the die is cast. Time will tell. The committee is smoke and mirrors to lend an air of propriety to what has probably already been decided. And does he have the credentials for the job? Of course not but so what. It never stopped the council before.
11:04 this new city administrator position is going to be paid $170,000, much more than Bernie is currently making.
I am positive that there is no need to pay a city administrator $170,000 and still obtain maximum potential of the position.
There are several options within the hiring procedures that could enable a recruitment of capable candidates to interview. College Placement Departments would have a list of former graduates who would be interested and will advertise for the city. When the task force committee decides upon if Peru should have a city administrator they surely should state specifically what specific qualities they would expect in a candidate and what a candidate with these qualities should be paid. Peru recently hired a city engineer, a technical engineer and a finance position. In my own opinion I would use their pay scale as a base line and try to hold hold it there. Someone who has 2 to 3 years working as a assistant to a experienced city administrator would be glad to receive this opportunity in a small town of 10,000. When hiring someone it must be remembered that the person asking for the most pay is not necessarily the best candidate.
probably closer to $200K when you include insurance, retirement, and other benefits - like 24/7 use of a car.
Too bad about your secretary if you are boss let her know she has to work later or tell good bye not rocket science wow
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