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Council hears public comments about committee consolidation
By Kim Nguyen, Staff Writer
The Plano City Council met Monday night to hear citizen grievances in response to the consolidation of select boards and committees.
The Plano City Council members participated in a day-long retreat in June to address city operations in relation to the city’s budget. In an effort to become more economical, the proposed recommendations to the council were to consolidate Keep Plano Beautiful, the Global Advisory Committee, the Transition and Revitalization Committee and the Transportation Advisory Committee. The manpower behind each of the committees will be reduced to one appointed city staff member.
Ed Nalley, former chair to the Keep Plano Beautiful Commission, and John Caldwell, current chair of KPB, addressed objections to the Council Monday night, stating that the commission is too valuable to sunset.
Caldwell said he wanted the council to be aware of the income that KPB brings to the city
KPB's eight-member board is appointed by the Plano City Council. Members may serve two consecutive two-year terms. KPB is a member of the statewide organization, Keep Texas Beautiful and also a member of the national organization, Keep America Beautiful.
Councilmember Sally Magnuson emphasized that though Plano will not have an official Keep Plano Beautiful committee, Keep Plano Beautiful efforts will not be jeopardized and a good standing with the Keep America Beautiful initiative will be kept.
“We are wanting to streamline, not completely abolish the committees,” Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Harry LaRosiliere added. “We would appoint advisory liaisons in order to have a more efficient managing of all city operations.”
“In streamlining, Council means that they want to reduce the number of hours a paid city staff member will spend on various projects,” Caldwell said. “Which is understandable, but volunteers are a resource that would be more than happy to lend a hand to the city. That’s what volunteers do!”
“The study was done on the amount of staff time, not the money used by each committee,” City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck said to the council.
Caldwell said that the value of city volunteers was not accounted for during the study that was presented at the city council’s retreat in June.
In addition to hearing public comments in regards to the consolidation of boards and committees, the Plano City Council unanimously approved of the consolidation of two recently vacant positions on the Plano Police Department.
The Plano City Council also voted to approve 24 expenditure items; approve the terms and conditions and adopt nine resolutions; and amend and repeal six ordinances. The 39 items on the general consent agenda were approved with a unanimous vote.
Place 8 Councilmember Lee Dunlap stepped down from voting on three issues due to problems with conflict of interest.
Mayor Pat Evans was not present. Mayor Pro Tem Jean Callison led the Monday night Plano City Council meeting.
The Plano City Council will be holding the annual budget meeting at 7 p.m. on July 30.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Fraud wrote on Jul 30, 2008 6:15 AM:
" The reason they are cutting down on
these citizens is to control information to the public of what is reallty going on in City Hall. Soon, these being controlled by staff persons, will be led by persons that do not even live in Plano. What a fraud
upon the public. City leaders that vote for this ought to all be recalled! "
these citizens is to control information to the public of what is reallty going on in City Hall. Soon, these being controlled by staff persons, will be led by persons that do not even live in Plano. What a fraud
upon the public. City leaders that vote for this ought to all be recalled! "
Conflict Answer wrote on Jul 30, 2008 2:13 PM:
" Just follow the yellow brick road for an
understanding of this process...but in this caase it is a "green road"...each of
those items that he stepped down on was a contractor...He has a long history of stepping down for this one contractor...
see: its listed on the agenda...& he had to fill out a form for same...stating such,
Now, the Man has to make living, at least he is honest enough to step down, rather than have a conflict of interest.
Think about all the boards & commissions that the City of Plano has, ask yourself this question........DO THEY ALL LIVE IN PLANO>>>> and you will find, NO,
next question, how is that possible???
NOW THAT IS A CONFLICT!!! "
understanding of this process...but in this caase it is a "green road"...each of
those items that he stepped down on was a contractor...He has a long history of stepping down for this one contractor...
see: its listed on the agenda...& he had to fill out a form for same...stating such,
Now, the Man has to make living, at least he is honest enough to step down, rather than have a conflict of interest.
Think about all the boards & commissions that the City of Plano has, ask yourself this question........DO THEY ALL LIVE IN PLANO>>>> and you will find, NO,
next question, how is that possible???
NOW THAT IS A CONFLICT!!! "
interested wrote on Jul 30, 2008 4:45 PM:
" not Lee, I considerit a good thing that our council members are so connected to various parts of the community that they have to step down from votes. In fact, perhaps the other council members should be stepping down more often...or get better connected. It's also a sign of intergrity that he is stepping down instead of voting when he shouldn't be. "
See Scott Run wrote on Jul 31, 2008 7:03 AM:
" You wonder about Lee, why not wonder about Scott, he works at JCPenny, right
across the road from the Shops at Legacy, does he ever recuse himeself from votes. You bet not!! Why not,
and his wife works for Rent A Center,
nest to the same place, does he step down? No. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ALL OF THE COUNCIL!!
Or better yet, look at the Boards, & the member that does not even live in Plano,
yet continues & just got reappointed,
while he lives in McKinney! "
across the road from the Shops at Legacy, does he ever recuse himeself from votes. You bet not!! Why not,
and his wife works for Rent A Center,
nest to the same place, does he step down? No. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ALL OF THE COUNCIL!!
Or better yet, look at the Boards, & the member that does not even live in Plano,
yet continues & just got reappointed,
while he lives in McKinney! "
Whats the Cost wrote on Aug 3, 2008 8:26 AM:
" It is at a lousy $9,000 that the Council
is going to get rid of Boards &
cummissions.
The Mayor spends that much for lunch..
In China...
BOARDS & COMMISSION HELP SHAPE
YOUR COMMUNITY!!
This council wants citizens out of the place, & no one's opinion other than her
own...
If Dyer wants this job, he can start by telling us what he is going to do different! "
is going to get rid of Boards &
cummissions.
The Mayor spends that much for lunch..
In China...
BOARDS & COMMISSION HELP SHAPE
YOUR COMMUNITY!!
This council wants citizens out of the place, & no one's opinion other than her
own...
If Dyer wants this job, he can start by telling us what he is going to do different! "
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If he has so many conflicts then he shouldn't have run for Council. "