Of course the numbers put up on the Village web site today are couched and abbreviated to cover up what was really spent. We should see what was spent in 2005 and 2006 as well, when McKane Kenna and Camiros were in for the bigger numbers. I know Kane McKenna was at least $100,000 - maybe $120,000. Camiros must have gotten $250-300K out of us over this period. They could have easily done this but chose not to. More misleading BS.
Riverside Info » About Riverside
Consultant numbers...
(13 posts)-
Posted Friday Sep 12, 2008 16:35 #
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I know. HAHAHA. How stupid do they think the taxpayers are? Pretty stupid I guess. I love it how they put people in there who do actual work - like janitors, engineers and ambulance, with the junk. Those are contractors, people, not consultants.
The TIF stopped in May 2007. The part of the surplus blown on lawyers and consultants would be from the start of giving way to the VC through May 2007. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. Gee, do you think if I called, they would publish it? No, I've already asked for it in print, so it is not my resident request to which they refer.
Still, now we have their version of 07/08. Was that so hard?
Now where is 2006 backwards for the time the majority of this board with this village manager has been seated?
Posted Saturday Sep 13, 2008 10:26 # -
I distinctly remember that a decision was reached at an open meeting back in the spring that they would stop engaging Camiros. Yet they were at the hearing on the garage zoning, and I believe they have been working on the B1 zoning over the summer. At what public meeting was that money Ok'd? Does anyone remember the meeting where the Board FINALLY, after waiting way too long and wasting far too much money with Kane McKenna told the Village Manager to stop engaging their services, and she complained that then she wouldn't be able to call them for advice? Is this like that? Good people, be on the lookout for things new and costly to be proposed for Burlington and along Harlem. We need a new broom to sweep clean to get a new direction going here, one that is not steered by real estate interests.
Posted Saturday Sep 13, 2008 11:16 # -
I recall they told her to stop talking to them about the TIF. But as you know, I cannot endure most meetings.
Posted Saturday Sep 13, 2008 11:50 # -
True - but they still paid them a last payment. And Canmiros is a different kettle of fish. Their "opinions" and judements have been used as reasons for many of the worst decisions that have been made. No one should forget that the TOD study goals were adopted by the Board as the official plan of the Village, so some such. Despite the fact that it was roundly criticized and rejected by the majority that saw it and attended the workshops. BTW, where are the results of the "survey" they did twice? Anybody seen what we got for that $16K or whatever it cost?
Posted Saturday Sep 13, 2008 12:46 # -
No, no release of that study through the many means. Did the people give the "wrong answers"? Will someone have to file a FOIA request for that too?
Posted Sunday Sep 14, 2008 00:14 # -
At tonight's Board Meeting I asked for the true consultant expenditures for 2004-5-6 and was told they will be posted on the website. So check there later and see what they say. We were told that the Board stopped paying Camiros but the Planning Commssion engaged their services and so Camiros is being paid on their behalf, so some such nonsense. When one of the Commission members called that a scam we were treated to another soliloquy from Trustee Sells who brands us as unreasonable and worse. He seems to believe that it is wrong to question the Board members because they are all good citizens attempting to do what they think is right. Granting he is correct, it still seems it is correct to question the information we are given and their choice of priorities. Once they adopted that TOD study as the official "vision" for the Village this Board solidly stood behind what we think are some misguided and WRONG directions for the Board to pursue. This is not Belarus, so we are entitled to speak out and not accept the oft times lame excuses or evasions we are given. If Trustee Sells chooses to write letters and speak his mind at the meetings where he has the bully pulpit, and in doing so brand us as unreasonable, then he has become the spokesperson for the views we oppose, and by default becomes one of those we are against. All these people, I believe, were OK'd or sponsored by Caucus, so from the opposition point of view, they are all part of the same problem. "If you walk like a duck, and quack like a duck... " Is that so difficult to understand. There are a lot of people in this Village who have told me to keep arguing against the misguided policy represented by the VC, the TIF and the TOD Study. Since the members of this Board voted for those policies (and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in pursuing them, and since the same Board spent the money to buy the Burlington properties in pursuit of development, and since this Board gave incentives and were planning to give more for development projects that are now a blight, I think we must deny them more funds that they could use at their discretion to possibly further these plans. Get a new Board, maybe a new RESIDENT Village Manager, and we can look at raising taxes for some of the good causes that people agree would benefit Riverside. Give this Board a blank check - no way.
Posted Monday Sep 15, 2008 23:24 # -
Mr. Spatny,
I for one thank you for being present at the town meetings and reporting back on forums such as this. As a person that works way too much for what little money I get to keep, I believe that it is important that we have people like you and Catherine and others who attempt to keep our village in check. It is sad to see that we have a number of years left with this current board, but the upside is that it should give potential candidates a little bit of time to prepare to run against the current regime. Assuming that we will continue elect our officials in the usual democratic fashion. How does the Village Manager get to the seat of power? How long has she been there? Sadly, I have not lived in town long enough to know enough about the key players, but I have lived here long enough to see my taxes go up a third and to have RB force through another increase on the heals of a recent tax increase on their behalf. I believe in good schools, don't get me wrong (no flames please), and I think that RB is among the best. But I also believe that we need an accurate system of checks and balances in addition to having those that we hired to represent- us
So thank you to all who can go to the town meetings, and those that speak up in my behalf. You are doing an important job. I intend to sit next to you at these meetings in the near future. For now, I have to work to pay taxes to fund wayward projects.
Posted Tuesday Sep 16, 2008 06:18 # -
Thanks, Cheryl. Actually 4 board members will be up for re-election in 2009, so there is an opportunity for a new majority if some independent candidates not selected by the Caucus are able and willing to endure.
The current village manager has been there 10 years, from what I have heard, and they signed a new contract with her the duration of which I cannot recall.
I am looking but not yet seeing the transparent disclosure of 2004-6 spending on consultants (including lawyers.)
Posted Wednesday Sep 17, 2008 12:07 # -
The administration's accounting of consultant (including legal) expenses from 2004-2008 is now available at its website, click news, click the unlikely title Year to Date consultant expenditures.
There are no totals, so add them up and make of them what you will.
Posted Wednesday Sep 17, 2008 16:22 #
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