Searching for the right candidate
This is a very interesting article and while it pertains to the search for a city manager in Princeton, it also should be an educational bit of information for the residents of Peru. Particularly since Peru and Princeton are cities of a similar size. Each has their own city power and each is located on the I-80 route.
61 comments:
It looks like Barnaby Jones, our de facto City Administrator, wants to spend $80,000 on to save ash trees in Peru. Must be nice to have all that OPM to help butter the bread of your friends.
Yes Lois, there are many similarities between Peru and Princeton. The small story in the "Daily Disappointment" provides just enough insight to enable an intelligent reader to see the most glaring difference between Peru and Princeton. Here it is; Princeton officials are unselfish and dedicated to providing honest and "professional" city management to its residents without interfering in the day to day operations of its woking departments.
Peru officials, particularly its mayor, are interested in maintaining total political control over every aspect of city operations in order to ensure that political allies and other Peru insiders can feed unabated at the Peru hog trough. Two very different visions from two similar cities. Princeton leaders want professionals with statutory power to run an open and honest city with integrity and a vision for the future. Peru leaders want amateurs with no ethical compass to conduct political shenanigans and maintain the status quo of secret backroom dealings and no accountability on any issue. Just like the IVCC board showed recently. They blamed the citizens for not coming to their meetings as the reason for their failures. Governemnt for the people is not common around the Illionois Valley. That's for sure. I can see the benefits of raising a family in Princeton vs. Peru.
Princeton has a history of actively having a city manager. Peru is making a very intense study to determine if it would be wise to bring a city administrator on board. Presently a task force of experienced top level management personnel are conducting this study completely independent of any city officials including Mayor Harl, who formed this team. If a yes is determined surely a positive movement would be carried further, if a no is reached it would most likely be the conclusion of the question.
Personally I am hoping for a yes as I believe it would be another advancement to Peru to be conducted within a confident and professional future. Fortunately Peru presently has a Mayor who is willing to work within this framework of management and has utilized his time to understand it. If having a city administrator does not add to city management in the future a sunset of time could be applied for a discontinuation.
3:11 PM
The discussion of hiring a city manager is off the table for the business people which make up the Task Force. That is what they evidently were told by the mayor and they stated that fact.
The City Council also voted 6-2 against bringing up the City Manager position. Only Ald. Potthoff and Perez wanted that to be included.
If they do OK, an Admiistrator which will not be a City Manager, it is likely to be the person currently administering the Public Works Department. It will simply be a reinforcement of the decisions made by Mayor Harl to this point and things will go on as usual in Peru.
Most of the City Council members are against a City Manager and most may even by against a City Administrator.
Harl wouldn't place it on agenda for a vote unless it was a favored vote. We won't see a vote for an administrator if it's a majority no.
3:11 PM, please research the topic. You need to understand the difference between a City Manager, which involves a change in our government format, and the City Administrator which the "task force" is currently studying. The task force is not allowed to discuss, let alone consider, the position of City Manager.
This task force the Mayor has put together has one simple purpose. To affirm the decision that the mayor has already made. The mayor is good at using other people put a stamp of approval on his decisions. The sales tax committee was an example. Once they started to stray away from what he had already decided, the committee was disbanded.
You should also keep in mind why the mayor and many on the council are afraid of a change to city manager. They are afraid because they will be out of the loop on daily operations. They will no longer have closed sessions to talk about employee performance. They will not be able to approve phony over time or phony invoices. The council and mayor would be relegated to appropriating funds based on the budget and providing long term guidance on the direction of the city. They will NOT be buying the toilet paper and telling the clean up boy what to do.
To 3:11 PM, Well, Harl certainly has you thoroughly scammed. Your entire comment is easily discredited by the fact that Harl and the other city officials who are perpetrating this scam have only one intention. That is to maintain polirical control of the day to day operations of city departments and all employees. Their intentions are completely devious and unethical. They are dishonorable people with selfish and dishonorable intentions. A city administrator is nothing more than a political "enforcer" for a corrupt mayor and at least four corrupt aldermen. NOTHING MORE!
There is some interesting reading on the Illinois State Board of Elections web page. Specifically, Boss Harl's new campaign disclosure report. Interesting names on this list. Very interesting. Some of them even show up in the city monthly disbursements report. Yes, very interesting.
TEST and Chamlin are yearly contributors. No bid contracts are their rewards!
11:14, having a hard time pulling the info up. Exactly how do I get that info? I'm new to this forum. Thank you.
Anon 10:11PM, 7:41AM & 10:50AM
How could one person become confused, but when 3 become confused by a simple statement that Princeton has had a history of having a city manager and Peru is making a study if it would be wise to bring a city administrator on board. Is it this difficult to understand, are you trying to read something that has not been stated into it, or are you becoming over emotional in making a attempt to have your own way rather than the elected representation utilizing a highly experienced group of executives to facilitate the determination for the betterment of Peru.
7:41 Please reread my comment so you understand what has been written before telling me to research the topic. I can assure you that whatever your personal beliefs are pertaining to the differences of a city manager vs. a city administrator you are not in sole possession of the obligations for a city to adopt either nor would you be considered a top city representative of knowledge for either a city manager or a city administrator decision. As of now the the present task force has the sole goal of determining whether it would be advantageous to hire a city administrator for Peru. To continue any further would only serve the purpose of adding confusion to the already confused.
10:50 Rather than elaborate upon the majority of your comment I summarize that you do not like or respect Mayor Harl and certain other elected city officials. You have this right although it must be realized that they are the largest vote recipients for the offices they ran for.
Your last sentence "A city administrator is nothing more than a political "enforcer" for a corrupt mayor and four corrupt aldermen. NOTHING MORE!" If this is a true statement how is it that the position of how many city administrators in the United States are being so successful in managing so many cities?
To the three of you and a few others a large increasing number believe that your quest is not to build a better Peru but that it has become misguided to only oppose Mayor Harl and specific other elected officials that you are in disagreement with.
10:01, Thank you for the details post Your Honor.
9:30, go to https://www.elections.il.gov/
In the top center section of the screen, there is a link for "search all options" Click on it. There will be two columns of search options on the next page, click on the on second on the left - candidate disclosure search. On the next page type Harl in the field for last name and Peru in the field for city. Click through until you get to the reports.
You are right 10:01, Boss Harl is the enemy and must be stopped. People are joining forces now and the debate is really deciding which strategy to use. One camp says to run five candidates and force a runoff election with the hope that the Boss is eliminated in the first round. The other camp says to run one strong candidate and hit Harl hard on the issues and is obvious acceptance of influence from those that contribute to his bloated campaign fund.
To 10:01 PM, You still don't get it. I am sure a professional "city administrator" in municipalities with honest and honorable elected officials are functioning just fine. That is not the reality in Peru's current politically dominated climate. Therin lies the problem. A city administrator operating outside the Council-Manager form of government will always be totally subject to the poltical whims of the mayor and elected officials. A city manager operating in the Council Manager form of government will also be subject political pressure form the elected officials, but that city manager by statute has the authority to withstand that pressure and perform his/her dutites with integrity in nthe face of that political pressure. When the elected officials lack the ethics and integrity to do what is best for the people, as is the case in Peru, a city manager would have the authority to make the ethical decisions that Peru's officials refuse to make. As far as the last sentence of you comment....No kidding? It should be the duty of every able citizen to rid their community of elected officials they do not agree with.
Anon 7:12 AM For some reason your answer to 10:01 reflects that you are associated within a government level which is of close association to the Peru government. Why you have started with the viewpoint that a city administrator is nothing more than a deadly
poison and upon being confronted reduce your opinion to the level that a city administrator is no more than a bitter pill is puzzling.
I do not deny your rights of having a opinion opposite of mine nor do I take your familiar comment which I am sure you will apply to me as you always maintain with others "You still don't get it" as a cover to saying you are stupid for not agreeing with me and that I as every other elected city official that you are in disagreement with should be displaced.
Basically the biggest difference between our opinions is that I believe in the government system of voting for the representation that I believe will guide our government to its greatest degree of efficiency and that once the populace has made its entire decision in a vote the wall is torn down between opposing views and all move forward in a team method whereas you believe that upon being defeated you want to immediately change the rules of government.
In conclusion do you truthfully believe that it is the duty of every able citizen to rid their community of elected officials they do not agree with or that you do not agree with? No matter which you choose I remind you that all forms of elected government ideas and representation have frequent open elections with voting majority rules.
Its funny that if you look for campaign reports for the Mayors of larger cities in LaSalle county - they don't have anything listed.
Mayor of Bloomington Illinois - stopped fund raising and shut down his fund after last election.
Mayor of Peoria has a fund of about $15,000 and raised $8,000 last quarter.
The Mayor of Naperville IL has a fund of about $8,000. Although he did spend about $21,000 this quarter which depleted the fund.
Mayor of Mendota, Streator, never had a fund. Mayor of Ottawa shut down his fund after last election.
Mayor of Peru IL has a fund of $40,000 and raised about $9,000 last quarter. Our own Mayor Harl has a larger campaign stash than the Mayors of Bloomington, Peoria, and Naperville combined.
Does anyone see a problem here? Why is Harl raising so much money. Why is it that he takes donations from city vendors? No other Mayor in LaSalle County does this. Why does he take donations from City employees?
Hopefully he's raising all that campaign money to take himself higher up the political ladder and will get the "H"arl out of Peru!
To 9:39 AM, You like hearing yourself talk don't you? Because I really don't and I suspect I'm not alone in that thought.
Harl needs to prove that he can fundraise. Otherwise Michael Madigan will not let him run for higher office in Illinois. I'm convinced that one of two things are about to happen. He is either going to replace Mautino mid-term. Or his is going to take a shot at Sue Rezin.
$40,000 campaign fund for the Mayor of a city with less than 10,000 - as it will be in the next official census. Ya, right. One thing is clear, he wants to work for Madigan.
At the rate he is colleting donations it will be close to $80K by the run for Mayor. Ya, right.... he has his eyes on something bigger. Like a 30 year stint in the legislature.
I am a resident of Peru and today while buying tickets on the net for a concert this weekend in Elgin at Grand Victoria Casino, I went on to check out the City of Elgin website and WOW! What an excellent city website for what looks like an exceptional community. Peru residents should take a few minutes to search it out and check out what a city with real leadership and a plan looks like. Council-Manager form of government. Strategic Plan posted on the website. Six aldermen and all of them elected "at-large". Great parks and rec with a splash park, a full Ravinia style concert venue, and riverfront area. Kick-Ass leadership approach. Congratulations to Elgin.
Peru has just as much potential as Elgin folks. The difference between these two communities is in the quality of leadership and vision. Elgin has it and Peru has uh, well, let's see, a lot of sales tax. That's a good start, right. Before you Peru cheerleaders jump on me and tell me to move to Elgin, NO, I'm not moving to Elgin, I'm staying put and continuing to work to elect quality officials like those currently serving Elgin, IL. Oh, and we need to change to Council-Manager form of government also. OK, who's with me? Let's go! Here we go now! C'mon folks, right now! CRICKETS.......CRICKETS.......Well, I did see the Peru City Float at the Ladd Celebration last weekend. How proud I was to see all the "legendary" Peru leaders and their spouses, Mayor Harl, Tony Ferrari, and Mike Radtke I believe. So proud. Parade goers were just so impressed by the beautiful Peru float and it's riders. So we got that going for us in Peru. You gotta have priorities right? Floats, fireworks, and a big neon sign that's needed to remind the Peru electorate what city they're supposed to vote in. OMG!
Oh, I forgot about the float that we spent thousands of tax dollars on. Yes, we, the taxpayers, bought it from the friend of our elected officials.
To Mr. 9:39, you asked the question: "Do you truthfully believe that it is the duty of every able citizen to rid their community of elected officials they do not agree with or that you do not agree with?" Well your question is slightly redundant. But I'll answer with this. YES! I DO! I expand on it with this, It is the duty of every citizen to question government and to rid themselves of government officials that they believe are performing at a substandard level.
Did anyone get the Madigan/Mautino flyer in the mail today?
1:41, on the second part of your post, how has that been working for you?
No i did receive the flyer today but I am looking forward to it. Madigan is such a brilliant leader and Mautino pushes his area forward and gets money spent in it. They are surely representatives in Illinois that have a positive and polished image.
3:03, not today. I guess I get to put it in the trash where it belongs tomorrow.
Lois, could the list of people and contributions be listed on this forum under its own title for Harl?
6:57, aren't you the clever one. Frankly I'm a bit tired of the cliché phrase "how's that working for you" that is brandished toward any and all people on the unpopular side of an argument. Well, I'll answer you friend. It is working out great for me.
Are suggesting that nothing can be done, the politicians and those that have connected themselves to them are in charge and we might as well just shut up and send our money in? Is that your attitude? What kind of American are you?
7:15 Just what money does Mautino get spent in this area, that wasn’t originally tax money from the people of this area ?? Any year that he doesn’t bring a big project to the area, is a year that your tax dollars go elsewhere. Played in his Dad's shadow way to long.
I want a representative in Springfield that will NOT bring home the bacon. In fact, I want one that will let us keep our own money. That big check that Mautino brought down for the 911 center was a joke. So was the big check for the horse shoe pit with splash pad attached. It is time for the voters to finally learn that voting for someone that wastes money on local pork projects in NOT A GOOD THING!
And old Franky Boy is doing exactly has he is told by his Chicago bosses. The only reason he started handing out giant checks is because he just about got he behind handed to him for the first time. Might not be so luck next time.
10:38
Consolidation of government starts small with the 911 center. According to the news all will save money. That means everyone.
This is off the topic but yesterday there were 4 summer helpers in the little league diamond. Today there were 6. Does it really take that many to kids to work on them?
12:00, if that is what the supervisor needs than I don't have a problem with that, if you were in that position you would be mad that there is an armchair quarterback trying to micromanage.
To 12:00 PM, In Peru it does.
11:53, of course you are correct. But, there are unanswered questions around this particular project. First, it pretty much came out of nowhere right before the election. I don't remember reading anything about this before Mautino dropped off the check. Then it became a big front page story. Then there is the IVCC part that doesn't make sense. It seems odd to me that the 911 Board would build the new center on a college campus. What is the catch? Are they going to be paying rent to the college? No information available about this, so I must assume this is a way of funneling 911 telecommunications tax money to the college. Sorry, but that is how things roll around here. Everything involves some sort of scam. I'm also wondering why "we" are not thinking just a little bigger. The State Police dispatch centers are consolidation, why not jump on that wagon? Or, why can't it be rolled up into a County based system run out of Ottawa?
While we are talking - why not disband all of the city police and fire departments and put them under the control of a county based emergency management system. The only difference to the people working in each system would be who gives them the paycheck. Meanwhile many millions of dollars would be saved through consolidation of the command and administration structure. I for one would not mind having all local law enforcement in the county report to the ELECTED Sherriff on not town mayors.
The dispatch centers of the State Police are consolidating, not the service areas. Just like the local cities consolidating dispatch areas. 12:46 There has been no story of rent paying the college.
The consolidation is a good start and may lead to more tax saving thoughts. Please remember that each town has a tax base that provides for police, fire. It will come as more municipalities are faced with financial hardships.
When I was in Little League back in the 70's, the parents took care of the diamonds. Usually dragged the kids along with them. The city never paid to have that work done.
Now the city gives thousands of dollars to Peru Little League (revenue from the cell tower) and the city pays to have the diamonds manicured? Oh how the world has changed.
The first consolidation should be the La Salle Peru police, followed by La Salle Peru fire and then the regional might make sense. Otherwise what are we eliminating a few dispatchers?
Don't forget 12:30 we no longer cut the grass in the ball diamonds so why would a supervisor need 6 kids to chalk the field? Besides, they were all together in a group. And, regular season is over!
2:04, again your wrong as usual, the city does do all the cutting within the diamonds and the contractor does the rest. They also do more than chalk, such as spread diamond dry on and rake it out.
5:43 you are wrong. it's a fact that d and m cuts the diamonds. if you don"t believe me ask the asm. the diamond dry is only used for wet diamonds and you don't rake it out. you blend it in.
@5:43 PM Give me a break and 2:04 credit for being interested. I have been a groundskeeper for ball parks. At the level and condition of the baseball diamonds you are dealing with no background in rocket science is needed. Unless Little League has lowered it standards Peru Washington Park is not suitable for Williamsport Tournament Play.
The big diamond was at one time a gem but since ruined by the communication tower. No matter how much the tower pays for that particular location it will never be enough.
As for Veterans Park the field is laid out in the wrong direction with wind and dust coming off the cornfields. What was once good has been ruined and what has been built to replace the good is nowhere near the original.
10:16, good to know. My opinion, if Peru Little League with its annual revenue in excess of $50,000 can't take care of the baseball diamonds in Peru, then Peru Girls Softball should be given preferential use of the facilities.
They did make somewhat of a mistake with Veteran's Park. It should be surrounded by trees to cut down on the wind.
Oh... for the life of me I can't figure out how the cell tower interferes with a baseball game. Can you explain?
9:15, wrong the city cuts the diamonds, and guess how they blend the diamond dry in---they rake it!
Seems like changing Veteran's Park's diamond direction shouldn't be all that difficult. Just move the fence and base paths. There really isn't much to a ball diamond. And plant some trees to block the wind.
7:35
We've been thru this argument before and unless it's a special situation D&M cuts the ball diamonds on a regular basis. It's in their contract. If you are still in doubt look it up and if you are an insider and know this to be a fact then report it because we are paying D&M to do the work.
Would someone please e-mail the chief and ask him who cuts the diamonds? Does the city cut certain ones and d and m others? It is a simple enough question that should be easily answered. I am sure if the question was asked respectfully he would be more than happy to respond. I have e-mailed him in the past and has always been happy to help and answer any questions. just a suggestion on how to get an answer.
Why do we pay to "cut the diamonds." Why cant the Little League parents "cut the diamonds"? Why does everything in Peru have to be about exchanging tax money for services? What happened to volunteers? My God! What has happened around here? We are a small town of 10,000 - not the Chicago Park District!
Follow the money , Peru pays DM to cut grass on a contract awarded by Bernie , Bernie and DM owner are buddies way back to when he was in the valley, the owner of DM is a councilman in the valley . DM wasn't the lowest bidder if you remember.
Volunteers are not wanted or appreciated in Peru!
It's all about raising revenue through taxation and distributing it to your friends. Except in Peru - the entire region pays an inflated sales tax - municipal, school, and home rule kicker tax for streets. The F of H give back through donations to the campaign. The Circle of Life - the Peru Way!
11:37
How about the liability exposure. If a parent gets hurt I GUARANTEE you they would be suing the city, Little League and the other parent who were there.
We are a sue happy society.
2:25, Sorry, your argument does not work for me and it is the same argument that contractors and unions always use to prevent volunteers from doing work for parks and I'm really tired of that being used as an excuse.
They would need to prove some sort of negligence. Simply falling down on a piece of property does not make it the responsibility of the property owner. Otherwise the city would be flat busted broke from fighting frivolous lawsuits. Volunteers are exempt from workers comp requirements in Illinois as are independent contractors. You stand more of a chance of a legal judgment from an accident involving an employee than you do a volunteer.
Please do not use the threat of a lawsuit to prevent people from volunteering. It simply is not true and most judges would dismiss any such claim in this state - unless negligence can be proven.
Original Little League Rules provided for all work to be provided by volunteers, even umpires. Is the Little League concession stand manned by volunteers if not how? Also what is the gross and net per year of the concession stand? Do Little League players pay a fee to play or is it free?
According to the last form 990 available for Peru Little League (2013), they paid the Umpires and Score Keepers $11,000. The concession stand brought in $17K with $10 expenses - no description of the expenses.
4:30
Please don't take that comment as reason not to have volunteers.
I believe that they are vital part of any parks and rec. All I am saying is that from the city they are more concerned with fighting the frivolous lawsuits.
To them having and employee or a paid contractor do the work then they have insurance and workers comp to protect the city. All this is because of our "I'll sue them" mentality.
One of the problems in Illinois that Gov. Rauner is trying to fix is torte reform. But, it is a hard row to hoe since Madigan and Mautino are bought and paid for by the trial lawyers.
Who would have thought that searching for the right candidate could involve Little League Baseball, lawsuits determining if it best to have volunteers or paid workers, tort reform, and a conclusion of two farmers by the name of Madigan and Mautino who are hoeing a hard roe and getting paid for by lawyers.
Does anyone believe that Abbot and Costello had the the best answer in "Who's on First" or would it just be best to go back to bed?
Presently the only future this subject provides is a investigation of federal level questioning if another farmer named Harl is responsible for everything wrong with Little League and why No. 7 on the Peru Wildcats is not going to play Major League ball because he wants to become a farmer in Washington D.C.
11:11, well that was about as stupid of a comment I've read, you must have recently taken a creative writing course.
11:11, you might not be used to it, but this is a conversation - only in written format. As with any conversation, the subject meanders a bit. I'm sure you have experienced this yourself in face to face, spoken conversations. You start talking about going to lunch next Tuesday and before you know it you are talking about the best wind shield washer fluid to use.
Anyway - pretty soon we wont have to worry about Boss Harl. He will be in safe storage in Springfield with very little influence over anything for ten years or so. Everyone needs to start sending letters to Gov. Rauner to let Madigan have his way with the Mautino Appointment so we can "Get the "H" Out of Peru".
All Hail Mayor Waldorf!
It's time for Dave Potthoff to be Mayor of Peru! He has served his time and he's the most intelligent one of the bunch. Then SW can submit a letter of interest to take Potthoff's spot as alderman. He's a very smart cookie too.
I agree kinda sorta 4:33. However, I think Dave didn't speak up regarding asking serious intellectual questions about Harls appointed employees regarding qualifications. We are paying large salaries and a nice benefit package without knowing TRUE qualifications and work history and certifications of one appointee for them to oversee departments in which they should be able to perform the job themself. This is my opinion.
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