http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/11/24/59695643/index.xml
Created: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:37 p.m. CST
By ELENA GRIMM - egrimm@daily-chronicle.com
Created: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:37 p.m. CST
By ELENA GRIMM - egrimm@daily-chronicle.com
City to look into Wogen's absences
DeKALB – Along with taking action to prevent business dealings with a city employee or elected official from going unnoticed, the city council may be taking action regarding an alderman's absences from recent meetings.
Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen missed both regular city council meetings in November, plus a special meeting between the city council and the Finance Advisory Committee.
Wogen's absence on Monday was publicly noted during the meeting by both members of the public and by a fellow alderman, but the council did not further discuss his absence.
Mayor Kris Povlsen said Tuesday that he has been in contact with the 3rd Ward alderman as recently as a week ago and that Wogen is making some personal decisions. Povlsen said he thinks Wogen needs to make some public statements about his status on the council, but noted that was Wogen's decision.
If that wasn't done in the near future, Povlsen said city officials would have to take some action.
Wogen's cell phone number was disconnected when the Daily Chronicle attempted to reach him Tuesday. Wogen did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.
According to city ordinance, any council member who isn't at a meeting without a good reason can be fined. It's up to the members present at the meeting to determine what constitutes as an adequate reason for missing.
Alderman on Monday did discuss making changes to policies when there's a financial conflict of interest at hand – proposed changes that stem from public projects that Wogen's now-defunct masonry company performed in 2008 by submitting the lowest bid quote to the city.
Because each of the six projects was less than $20,000, they didn't require city council action, according to state statute.
Revisions to city policy, which follow state law, passed on first reading Monday and will be up for a final vote Dec. 14. If approved, those changes would give the city council more power over the purse strings.
Before voting, several amendments were made to the ordinance to grant the city council more power.
Not only will the council have a say when elected officials have a financial interest, but all city employees who have a business interest with the city that is "above and beyond their normal job" would be subject to the same limitations, City Manager Mark Biernacki said.
The council also wants the final say on all purchases exceeding $10,000 – regardless of whether an elected official or employee is involved. And any contracts between $1,500 and $10,000, in which an elected official or employee is financially involved, would require council approval.
Giving council authority on smaller purchases will slow government, Biernacki said.
"I respect council's wishes but I think it's a mistake in the long run," he said. "Certainly there was a desire – which I support – to limit council involvement in city work, but to go one step farther and limit the city manager's spending authority will result in slowing down of city business and normal day-to-day operational issues."
Povlsen said he was pleased with the direction new policies are going.
The council has taken the task to examine how the city is spending money "very seriously," he said.
Though elected officials wouldn't be banned from doing business with the city, Povlsen said the changes reflect more disclosure and a greater role that the city council will have in making spending decisions.
Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.
DeKALB – Along with taking action to prevent business dealings with a city employee or elected official from going unnoticed, the city council may be taking action regarding an alderman's absences from recent meetings.
Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen missed both regular city council meetings in November, plus a special meeting between the city council and the Finance Advisory Committee.
Wogen's absence on Monday was publicly noted during the meeting by both members of the public and by a fellow alderman, but the council did not further discuss his absence.
Mayor Kris Povlsen said Tuesday that he has been in contact with the 3rd Ward alderman as recently as a week ago and that Wogen is making some personal decisions. Povlsen said he thinks Wogen needs to make some public statements about his status on the council, but noted that was Wogen's decision.
If that wasn't done in the near future, Povlsen said city officials would have to take some action.
Wogen's cell phone number was disconnected when the Daily Chronicle attempted to reach him Tuesday. Wogen did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.
According to city ordinance, any council member who isn't at a meeting without a good reason can be fined. It's up to the members present at the meeting to determine what constitutes as an adequate reason for missing.
Alderman on Monday did discuss making changes to policies when there's a financial conflict of interest at hand – proposed changes that stem from public projects that Wogen's now-defunct masonry company performed in 2008 by submitting the lowest bid quote to the city.
Because each of the six projects was less than $20,000, they didn't require city council action, according to state statute.
Revisions to city policy, which follow state law, passed on first reading Monday and will be up for a final vote Dec. 14. If approved, those changes would give the city council more power over the purse strings.
Before voting, several amendments were made to the ordinance to grant the city council more power.
Not only will the council have a say when elected officials have a financial interest, but all city employees who have a business interest with the city that is "above and beyond their normal job" would be subject to the same limitations, City Manager Mark Biernacki said.
The council also wants the final say on all purchases exceeding $10,000 – regardless of whether an elected official or employee is involved. And any contracts between $1,500 and $10,000, in which an elected official or employee is financially involved, would require council approval.
Giving council authority on smaller purchases will slow government, Biernacki said.
"I respect council's wishes but I think it's a mistake in the long run," he said. "Certainly there was a desire – which I support – to limit council involvement in city work, but to go one step farther and limit the city manager's spending authority will result in slowing down of city business and normal day-to-day operational issues."
Povlsen said he was pleased with the direction new policies are going.
The council has taken the task to examine how the city is spending money "very seriously," he said.
Though elected officials wouldn't be banned from doing business with the city, Povlsen said the changes reflect more disclosure and a greater role that the city council will have in making spending decisions.
Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment