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
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Administrative Task Force Decision Peru City Government
I did not previously post this task force decision because I had anticipated a lively and interesting discussion to be taken by the Mayor and Peru City Council.
Instead the report was personally delivered by members of the task force to the officials at a meeting. It has never been discussed or voted upon by our elected officials. It was I believe an insult to you who live in Peru to have a NT reporter be the one to give you the decision and not your personal representatives known as Aldermen and Mayor. The reporter did a good job but certainly not the way it should have been handled.
The mayor attended the first mtg of the task force and Ald. Potthoff attended none. Neither saw the non verbal communications present in all the interviews and the minutes though very well done cannot tell you the whole story either. Why wasn't there a designated alderman present or at least one at each mtg, done on a rotating basis? Mayor Harl has received what was expected and was the reason he set up this task force with limitations as to the types of government they could discuss. It was strictly and Administrator or nothing else.
So when can we expect this topic to be put at least on a committee of a whole meeting for discussion? I'd like to see how each and every alderman feels about this decision and what they play for the future should something happen to upset the apple cart. I don't understand why this information was fed to the news tribune before it was presented to council and the citizens of Peru.
Leaving a change in the government format made the entire process useless. Same as the infrastructure committee. This is how the Boss deflects all culpability.
I can't wait for him to pack his bags and head down to Springfield.
First of all I'm amazed that these professionals would ever utter the words "difficult if not impossible to replicate". Not to insult anyone but the experience they have should have proved to them years ago that anyone can be replaced. All due respect given to the two men being discussed, neither had the skills necessary to perform what they are doing at the start of this endeavor. They learned and made mistakes while being buffered by the mayor and the council. They learned, like any other competent person, to do those jobs. Me. Bernabei will be gone soon to bigger and better things. This panel knows that and vaguely admits it. I guess Mr. King will retire at that time as well. They will take those large pensions and run. We won't even know what hit us.
It was in the best interest that no Mayor or Alderman were involved in the process. It was set up to be non political. I think the only Alderman that went may have voiced their own opinions. The task did the investigation and the last thing they needed was the slanted viewpoint of the Mayor. The task force didn't need city council members babysitting the process. Read the minutes and come up with your own conclusions.
If it is "difficult if not impossible to replicate" then it has not place in a government structure.
The municipal code has different government formats that might work better. I for one would prefer a shift to a the Council-Manager format. That is the only way to guarantee that a professional manager that is above political influence will ever be hired.
The council will not debate this report. The advertisement was put in the paper for two purposes. First, to generate "buzz" about Boss Harl for the Democrat Party to justify giving him Mautinos's seat. Second, to convince the less than active electorate of Peru that they are in good hands when the Council appoints one of their own as the Boss's replacement.
Good point 3:51. Boss will be leaving for Springfield, Potts will be the new mayor and Bernie will be the city administrator. I can see it so clearly now. And it is pretty evident that is why that article was put in the newspaper because Harl, Bernabei and Potthoff were mentioned several times.
Wouldn't that arrangement be a put down for Ald. Potthoff as he has such a long history of working within the city as 4th ward alderman and certainly more familiar with how the city should work than Bernabei. Additionally Potthoff was one of the aldermen who wanted to include the option of City Manager in the Task Force discussion.
The Boss's replacement won't be Alderman P. There is no official succession plan for mayor, other than the council will appoint one if the office is vacant between elections. Straw pole indicates Alderman W. would be appointed.
If all the X's and O's are already positioned as these comments lead one to believe I would anticipate the city council to follow the advise of Alderman Potthoff in the majority of future decisions. The present Mayor if granted a political appointment to Springfield will have the city administrator position to hang his hat on and than begins the fun. In no way is the future Mayor or city council committed to any present city employee and especially one who has the sole ambitions of accumulating titles, increased salaries and pensions to the point that many of his motives, responsibilities and performances are questionable. Whether or not Mayor Harl has left Peru, if he is actually going to leave, the council will want a professionally trained city administrator with a educational background in gear with wheels already on the ground and ready to fly not a inexperienced ASM or PSM in On the Job Training (OJT). Depending upon Mayor Harls future positioning by fellow party affiliates if Alderman Potthoff becomes the Mayor of Peru he will have to appoint his replacement in the 4th ward. This will be and should be his choice, but a highly qualified individual lives in the 4th as the Alderman knows because 6 years ago they had a hotly contested and close race only determined at the final minutes of the vote. This person finishing second at that time and 2nd in the most recent election deserves to be offered the 4th ward vacancy if it becomes offered.
Do you really think Bernie is ever leaving Peru at $125,000 per year and all the freedom he is provided. This guy is running his own show and selling tickets at the same time to see it.He answers to no one in Peru and has a vindictive dislike of being questioned.
How many long before Dave Potthoff can retire from the Y or can he retire anytime he wants? Peru would have no need of a full time Mayor if it has a cooperative and efficient city administrator or city manager. .
The city ran for 44 years with no administrator. There was simply a Mayor that was devoted to the job. I think we now have a Mayor who wants the job but doesn't want the work.
7:04 No way. If Ald W. would have had a strong competitor run against him in the recent election with his no bid contract to TEST and his ridiculous campaign tactics he'd been trounced. Also the vendors that a Alderman does city business with must be taken out of campaigning. Presently a city official can buy his way to victory spending our money foolishly.
7:04PM- What ridiculous campaign tactics? The only ridiculous tactics were the huge to-do about signs. The majority is happy with TEST. The only candidate that lost in the recent election was the one who voted against keeping those jobs local.
8:59, It has very little to do with voters. In fact, the voters are the least important part of the Peru city government. When The Boss moves up to the legislature, he needs to put someone in charge that will carry on the will of the Party. Therefore, he is lining up votes to get W appointed. Once appointed, W will start gathering money. The Boss will maintain is control of Peru, as long as Barnaby Jones and Not the King retain their present positions.
It is clear. In all actuality, since he has set up a quasi police state under Barnaby Jones, we should start calling the Boss "Dear Leader."
I have worked for the city for a long time. Most every other person I work with think you nameless people are a joke. Peru has never run better. We may have problems sometimes. WE aren't perfect like some of you. We are sick and tired of these constant false attacks against everyone who is part of the city. You keep attacking and lie ing about everything from the newest worker to the top person. What joke. You know what win an election and lets see what you have to say. Got to go got to get to work in case you are watching us.
8:41 PM I have to agree that no way would W be appointed mayor before Potts. The council would never do that to Potts, and it's the council's decision. It will become more evident soon if Harl has any chance of going to Springfield, and if he does, Peru politics will become even more entertaining.
Isn't Bernie on the township as well? That's another pension. I also believe he retired from SV PD to take the Peru Chief job. Once he has eight years on Peru PD he's locked in that pension. Probably paying into the municipal pension for the secondary money and title he gets from the city. My guess is he could be collecting 4 government pensions if and when he moves on. What a concept.
Too bad he is retired from nothing and you are wrong 9:27 but please keep perpetuating lies for no reason. Right or wrong the man is doing two jobs, it is working fairly well for now and it actually is saving a lot of money.
Well said 6:54. Pay not attention to a few crazies. The sole purpose here is to criticize everything. Anything positive is part of a "propaganda machine". Lol. How sad people can be.
927 bernabei is not collecting a sv pension and is not paying into pension for his admin job with the city.lies lies and more lies plus he has been in peru for over 10 years already. also he is not in township pension plan cause trustees don't participate. This blog is turning into the joke of the town. I just verified all of this myself. lois call bernabei up and verify if you don't believe this.
Comments are getting a bit off track here but I understand the frustration of the folks who know what a scam this whole task force situation has been from day one. It's strictly "politics and power". It has nothing to do with anything other than "politics and power". The task force may have been made up of so-called "professionals", but all they accomplished was exactly what Harl wanted form them. That is, to legitimize Harl and Bernabei's "mongrel" administrative structure by providing a phony report that says nothing other than it's unusual, it's working ok, and the world will end if you change anything so you probably shouldn't change anything. What the hell kind of wishy-washy, white bread, phony baloney recommendation is that? This is exactly the ridiculous outcome many predicted from this phony committee months ago. The funniest thing about the task force report is that it makes it absolutely clear that Peru needs a City Manager but their hands were tied and they were gagged to never allow the mention of the words City Manager. Pure "politics and power".
And some of us sat thru most of the mtgs and did not get the same vibes the committee did and I believe it was because hardly anyone was unknown to those present that were not a part of the committee.
30 comments:
I did not previously post this task force decision because I had anticipated a lively and interesting discussion to be taken by the Mayor and Peru City Council.
Instead the report was personally delivered by members of the task force to the officials at a meeting. It has never been discussed or voted upon by our elected officials. It was I believe an insult to you who live in Peru to have a NT reporter be the one to give you the decision and not your personal representatives known as Aldermen and Mayor. The reporter did a good job but certainly not the way it should have been handled.
The mayor attended the first mtg of the task force and Ald. Potthoff attended none. Neither saw the non verbal communications present in all the interviews and the minutes though very well done cannot tell you the whole story either. Why wasn't there a designated alderman present or at least one at each mtg, done on a rotating basis?
Mayor Harl has received what was expected and was the reason he set up this task force with limitations as to the types of government they could discuss. It was strictly and Administrator or nothing else.
So when can we expect this topic to be put at least on a committee of a whole meeting for discussion? I'd like to see how each and every alderman feels about this decision and what they play for the future should something happen to upset the apple cart. I don't understand why this information was fed to the news tribune before it was presented to council and the citizens of Peru.
Leaving a change in the government format made the entire process useless. Same as the infrastructure committee. This is how the Boss deflects all culpability.
I can't wait for him to pack his bags and head down to Springfield.
First of all I'm amazed that these professionals would ever utter the words "difficult if not impossible to replicate". Not to insult anyone but the experience they have should have proved to them years ago that anyone can be replaced. All due respect given to the two men being discussed, neither had the skills necessary to perform what they are doing at the start of this endeavor. They learned and made mistakes while being buffered by the mayor and the council. They learned, like any other competent person, to do those jobs. Me. Bernabei will be gone soon to bigger and better things. This panel knows that and vaguely admits it. I guess Mr. King will retire at that time as well. They will take those large pensions and run. We won't even know what hit us.
It was in the best interest that no Mayor or Alderman were involved in the process. It was set up to be non political. I think the only Alderman that went may have voiced their own opinions.
The task did the investigation and the last thing they needed was the slanted viewpoint of the Mayor. The task force didn't need city council members babysitting the process. Read the minutes and come up with your own conclusions.
If it is "difficult if not impossible to replicate" then it has not place in a government structure.
The municipal code has different government formats that might work better. I for one would prefer a shift to a the Council-Manager format. That is the only way to guarantee that a professional manager that is above political influence will ever be hired.
The council will not debate this report. The advertisement was put in the paper for two purposes. First, to generate "buzz" about Boss Harl for the Democrat Party to justify giving him Mautinos's seat. Second, to convince the less than active electorate of Peru that they are in good hands when the Council appoints one of their own as the Boss's replacement.
Good point 3:51. Boss will be leaving for Springfield, Potts will be the new mayor and Bernie will be the city administrator. I can see it so clearly now. And it is pretty evident that is why that article was put in the newspaper because Harl, Bernabei and Potthoff were mentioned several times.
4:33 P.M.
Wouldn't that arrangement be a put down for Ald. Potthoff as he has such a long history of working within the city as 4th ward alderman and certainly more familiar with how the city should work than Bernabei. Additionally Potthoff was one of the aldermen who wanted to include the option of City Manager in the Task Force discussion.
The Boss's replacement won't be Alderman P. There is no official succession plan for mayor, other than the council will appoint one if the office is vacant between elections. Straw pole indicates Alderman W. would be appointed.
Harl is not going to Springfield. Why do the same people post the same old nonsense time after time.
If all the X's and O's are already positioned as these comments lead one to believe I would anticipate the city council to follow the advise of Alderman Potthoff in the majority of future decisions. The present Mayor if granted a political appointment to Springfield will have the city administrator position to hang his hat on and than begins the fun. In no way is the future Mayor or city council committed to any present city employee and especially one who has the sole ambitions of accumulating titles, increased salaries and pensions to the point that many of his motives, responsibilities and performances are questionable.
Whether or not Mayor Harl has left Peru, if he is actually going to leave, the council will want a professionally trained city administrator with a educational background in gear with wheels already on the ground and ready to fly not a inexperienced ASM or PSM in On the Job Training (OJT).
Depending upon Mayor Harls future positioning by fellow party affiliates if Alderman Potthoff becomes the Mayor of Peru he will have to appoint his replacement in the 4th ward. This will be and should be his choice, but a highly qualified individual lives in the 4th as the Alderman knows because 6 years ago they had a hotly contested and close race only determined at the final minutes of the vote. This person finishing second at that time and 2nd in the most recent election deserves to be offered the 4th ward vacancy if it becomes offered.
Potthoff desperately wants to be mayor. He has a full time job. I doubt very much he'd want the city administrator job.
Do you really think Bernie is ever leaving Peru at $125,000 per year and all the freedom he is provided. This guy is running his own show and selling tickets at the same time to see it.He answers to no one in Peru and has a vindictive dislike of being questioned.
How many long before Dave Potthoff can retire from the Y or can he retire anytime he wants? Peru would have no need of a full time Mayor if it has a cooperative and efficient city administrator or city manager.
.
The city ran for 44 years with no administrator. There was simply a Mayor that was devoted to the job. I think we now have a Mayor who wants the job but doesn't want the work.
7:04 No way. If Ald W. would have had a strong competitor run against him in the recent election with his no bid contract to TEST and his ridiculous campaign tactics he'd been trounced. Also the vendors that a Alderman does city business with must be taken out of campaigning. Presently a city official can buy his way to victory spending our money foolishly.
7:04PM- What ridiculous campaign tactics? The only ridiculous tactics were the huge to-do about signs. The majority is happy with TEST. The only candidate that lost in the recent election was the one who voted against keeping those jobs local.
8:59, It has very little to do with voters. In fact, the voters are the least important part of the Peru city government. When The Boss moves up to the legislature, he needs to put someone in charge that will carry on the will of the Party. Therefore, he is lining up votes to get W appointed. Once appointed, W will start gathering money. The Boss will maintain is control of Peru, as long as Barnaby Jones and Not the King retain their present positions.
It is clear. In all actuality, since he has set up a quasi police state under Barnaby Jones, we should start calling the Boss "Dear Leader."
I have worked for the city for a long time. Most every other person I work with think you nameless people are a joke. Peru has never run better. We may have problems sometimes. WE aren't perfect like some of you. We are sick and tired of these constant false attacks against everyone who is part of the city. You keep attacking and lie ing about everything from the newest worker to the top person. What joke. You know what win an election and lets see what you have to say. Got to go got to get to work in case you are watching us.
No way Harl is getting Mautino seat, he can only dream for that spot, too many bodies in the closet
Skoog will be in that seat for sure and then will Bob V be positioning for the county position ? That's the big ?
8:41 PM I have to agree that no way would W be appointed mayor before Potts. The council would never do that to Potts, and it's the council's decision. It will become more evident soon if Harl has any chance of going to Springfield, and if he does, Peru politics will become even more entertaining.
Isn't Bernie on the township as well? That's another pension. I also believe he retired from SV PD to take the Peru Chief job. Once he has eight years on Peru PD he's locked in that pension. Probably paying into the municipal pension for the secondary money and title he gets from the city. My guess is he could be collecting 4 government pensions if and when he moves on. What a concept.
Too bad he is retired from nothing and you are wrong 9:27 but please keep perpetuating lies for no reason. Right or wrong the man is doing two jobs, it is working fairly well for now and it actually is saving a lot of money.
Well said 6:54. Pay not attention to a few crazies. The sole purpose here is to criticize everything. Anything positive is part of a "propaganda machine". Lol. How sad people can be.
Yes, Barnaby Jones has it figured out. Same as Bobby V.
927 bernabei is not collecting a sv pension and is not paying into pension for his admin job with the city.lies lies and more lies plus he has been in peru for over 10 years already. also he is not in township pension plan cause trustees don't participate. This blog is turning into the joke of the town. I just verified all of this myself. lois call bernabei up and verify if you don't believe this.
12:09
no bernabei isnt collecting a pension from the township but that doesn't mean he hasnt tried!
Comments are getting a bit off track here but I understand the frustration of the folks who know what a scam this whole task force situation has been from day one. It's strictly "politics and power". It has nothing to do with anything other than "politics and power".
The task force may have been made up of so-called "professionals", but all they accomplished was exactly what Harl wanted form them. That is, to legitimize Harl and Bernabei's "mongrel" administrative structure by providing a phony report that says nothing other than it's unusual, it's working ok, and the world will end if you change anything so you probably shouldn't change anything. What the hell kind of wishy-washy, white bread, phony baloney recommendation is that? This is exactly the ridiculous outcome many predicted from this phony committee months ago. The funniest thing about the task force report is that it makes it absolutely clear that Peru needs a City Manager but their hands were tied and they were gagged to never allow the mention of the words City Manager. Pure "politics and power".
3:19 PM
And some of us sat thru most of the mtgs and did not get the same vibes the committee did and I believe it was because hardly anyone was unknown to those present that were not a part of the committee.
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