This law firm must come highly recommended because this is the second time that they have taken Oshkosh taxpayers for a ride.
Ironically, it is nearly the same amount. The OASD paid Tony Renning nearly $20k for the recount effort 18 months ago.
I don't know if it was really worth it. I guess it will end up being a wait and see once we know which direction the city will go.
I have committed to the circulation effort for the Mayor referendum. I believe that the voters have a right to make the choice. Maybe it will result in the same, maybe this time it will be different. Either way, we needed the change.
One can hope that the circulation starts soon. There isn't much time.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Don't you just love this form of government? Isn't the price tag now about $150,000 to get rid of the "leader?"
What a waste of money!
It costs almost nothing to remove a non-productive mayor. You just vote him out. The money expended to allow Mr. Wollangk to "retire" is enough to make anyone feel that maybe a strong Mayor form of government is worthwhile.
The city budget was voted on last night. Not ONE person showed up, or called, according to Esslinger, to raise concerns about the money the city is spending to operate. Things are so rosy that the council actually voted to PUT EMPLOYEES BACK into the budget that had originally been cut, including their 'gravy train' benefits. Where was the uproar? Where was the demonstration? THERE WASN'T ANY! Funny...I thought citizens were going to DEMAND cuts of city employees, to show those greedy union people how the real world works. Gonna teach them a lesson, some said.
Did I mention no one showed up at the council meeting to voice their concerns about the budget?
Union staff is not affected by the operating budget. As many have mentioned, they live in a protective "arbitration" bubble. Mr. Fitzpatrick has chosen to keep that bubble intact, he panders to his fellow employees and is not motivated to reduce benefits as that reduction would also affect his situation. We will see what happens after the current arbitration decision is revealed. The potential of new leadership blood will also be in-play. The Mayor option would be better for the union employees as they could use their 600+ employee voting block to promote their financial position. The Manager option in this case would be better for the taxpayer as the Manager would not be so motivated from a political position, to appease the employees. It is good to know that the city employees at least acknowledge that they should be a target of criticism with the nation in a healthcare crisis and they maintain their healthcare benefit funded by taxpayers paying 95% of the premium.
It goes beyond Fiztpatrick and the 'pandering' you mention. The bottom line is that NO ONE called a city councilor to express concern with the workforce.
The argument has been made: if you want to control spending, cut positions. Several posters (or maybe just one loudmouth?) promised city employees would have their ranks cut. That would be the way to control spending.
How well were you heard? So well that the council ADDED 4 positions back into the budget!
Fizpatrick and city administration shouldn't be your target. Maybe the councilors you ranted and raved about--finally some people who will listen, like Esslinger, and McHugh, and Palmeri-- they ALL voted to put the positions back in!
And don't kid yourself. I am not acknowledging my part in the national health care crisis. You've put words in others' mouths before, but I am correcting you. YOU made the threats. Interesting how the silence was deafening.
QUID PRO QUO
Just another example of how some public sector positions have total disregard for those that pay for their wages and benefits. The entire public sector employee base needs a firm evaluation to reign in run-away costs which go to provide these gold plated benefits.
MADISON — New rules would require University of Wisconsin faculty to take sick days even when colleagues cover their classes and would financially punish those who fail to report their leave.
The rules could rein in a lucrative benefit for some university employees, who can convert unused sick days into cash to buy health insurance in retirement. They come in response to an audit 14 months ago that suggested UW employees abused the perk by failing to report sick days.
The investigation found the average faculty member had a benefit of $222,000 to buy health insurance upon retirement, three times as much as other state employees.
Post a Comment