City Council: Where was the professionalism?

[sweet_chin_music]

I caught the Feb 14 meeting on channel 17 earlier today and for a moment; I thought I was watching a few 4th graders and a few adults hold a mock city council meeting. There were numerous comments that simply did not belong among adults. A few times after a person who was against the animal shelter raising fees spoke and the moderator (Schilling?) asked if there was anyone else wishing to speak, a very audible "I hope not" or loud sigh was heard coming from the council.

The exchange between Schilling and the woman (I think her name was Marilyn) about donating money to help people "bail" out their dogs was downright comical, but somewhat disturbing as well. From the looks of things, the woman had made waves concerning the council before (I would love to hear what the deal was about Mr. Sova and gavel tossing) but got a lack of respect from the start. The women certainly didn't help her cause any with her later remarks, but then again she isn't an elected official.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I thought that our city council was there because they WANTED to be there. Sighing loud enough that a mic can pick it up or making comments like "I hope everyone is done speaking" or talking under your breath (watch the meetings and count the number of times that something inaudible is said by a member of council when someone else is talking) just shows a complete lack of respect to EVERYONE that takes time out of their night to attend these meetings. Maybe they don't have anything constructive to say or they only come out to push their agenda or their new conspiracy theory about the animal shelter, but they do have a right to speak and to be treated with respect.

One last note, if you attend one of these meetings...don't sit on the camera side and pick your nose! Anyone watching channel 17 will see it. It is funny however to watch the people sitting behind the floor speaker roll their eyes when something is said that they don't agree with. :lol:

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Here we go again . . I guess televised happenings at any Legislative meeting is an insight showing the public that they may have drafted the "Clown" Section of the Circus to do the public biddings. CSPAN shows somewhat of the same thing, especially in Congressional Committee hearings. Especially the House of Represenatives.

However, The City Council's demeanor has deteriorated considerably over the years. When "Filthy Fred" Wiesbrod was the Honcho, if a councilman come off like some of these guys do, there would have been a severe ass chewing either at the "Birdwatchers" or the Mozart. And it wouldn't have happened again! That's something City Managers don't do anymore!

Probably the biggest reason for their bored and lackadaisical attitude is that everything is pretty much cut and dried before they show up for the public meetings. It's all done in the Afternoon Workshop the previous day. And it used to be, the City Manager KNEW where the public stood on an issue, and had all the wrinkles ironed out, before the work session got hold of it.

It also seems that these Clowns are just like the County Commisioners, for the most part. One guy sounds like the expert, and the rest just kind of follow along, bleating and bahhing . . right up to the time somebody out in the Public Sector does his homework.

E.G. You think the County Commisioners screwed up the Wal Mart deal . . ? What about the Honorable Randy Thurston ramrodding the Colorado Springs Water Pipe deal down the Council and the Public's throat . . only to find out later that he was very premature and "Sold the Farm". These clowns made the deal before the details were out there! Now they're Pissing and Moaning because the public is down on 'em, and they can't change the deal.

And that's also something that continues to bother me, the public's participation . . Dunno if it's the lack of understanding or education. A very large percentage of people have no idea of how these procedings work. They come unprepared, shooting from the hip, with little or few facts pertaining to their subject. And are usually emotional about whatever it is they're talking about . . So they ramble . . and of course, with the current crew's attention span, somebody on the council will "pop wise" and there you are . . who sounds dumber, the speaker or the speakee?

And as far as the Animal Shelter goes . . we have both bunches of clowns involved in this one . . And neither wants any financial responsibility . . it's a barrel of snakes, the cost of the building is one thing, keeping a good infrastructure is going to be expensive, and neither side wants that responsibility . . .

Another City Council "Catch 22" is the William White Boulevard Extension. Planned in 1968, the city has tried in so many different ways to get County money . . agreements, extortion, sex, lies and videotape . . Heh, heh, Dunno what the problem is . . We're connecting the city . . . to the city . . how the Hell did the county get involved?

Just another case of dealing with our "Civil Servants" . . . which are neither civil, nor servants.