This is primarily a “No, I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth” message. Anyway, feel free to use this space for commenting on the cat story, the TIF articles from the Daily Chronicle, city budget, etc.
Tag: city council
Lunatic Open Thread
I’ve long thought of people who show up at DeKalb City Council meetings as the City-watchers Club, but some of us have begun to embrace Council’s label, “Lunatic Fringe.” “Lunatic Fringe” Facebook page is here. “Lunatic Fringe” theme song is here. As of this morning, there are 40 members. I’m often ambivalent about Facebook, but…
Notes from the “Lunatic Fringe”
I love being called “lunatic fringe” by a City Council member. I really do. Let them show the world how far this body has fallen in matters of decorum and discipline. Let them demonstrate how much they despise the people they are supposed to be representing. Folks ought to know exactly who’s responsible for running…
FOIA for Council Members’ Health Insurance Participation Denied
Last week I submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain the names of the Council members who are signed up for the City of DeKalb’s health insurance plan, and have since been denied under the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), specifically 45 C.F.R. 164.501 and 164.502.…
Council to Discuss Involuntary Annexations
Click on the photo to see a larger version.
City Budget: Mulling Over Police, Fire and More
In 2008, in the midst of a self-proclaimed fiscal crisis, City Council voted to allow the (former) Community Development Department to obtain a new SUV. This is symbolic, see? The Police and Fire departments have had to put off replacing vehicles and some equipment since then. The Police Department, in particular, is getting nickel-and-dimed on…
City Budget Open Thread…Mayday! Mayday!
The proposed City of DeKalb FY 2011 budget has total expenditures going up by about $5 million over last year, mostly due to increased spending on the downtown TIF, health insurance and the airport. The budget as drafted will be balanced IF: there are cuts of 25-30 staff (or, alternatively, everyone takes a 12% pay…
Eliminating Health Insurance a Good Move
Looks like DeKalb is on track to eliminating the life and health insurance benefits for City Council members. This is an important move, and not just for the savings. When Council prepares to vote on health insurance plans and premiums for management employees and union workers, its own participation creates conflicts of interest. We’ve also…
Comments on 4/12 Meeting
I jumped in about 7:30 last night, in the midst of citizens’ comments so the proclamations must have taken a long time! Here’s my assessment of what I saw. The Bad The saddest part, of course, was Council’s approval of almost all of ReNew DeKalb’s wish list. With that they closed the door on the…
Verbic Does Work for Barb City Manor
Third Ward Alderman Pam Verbic did finally return my e-mail inquiry regarding her employment at Barb City Manor, confirming that she has worked there part-time for the past three years. You will recall that such a connection will require her abstention from votes on BCM and TIF 2. Thanks to others who made the same…