Ineffective Council Policy Making

I’ve preached for over a year about the lack of communication on public policy issues between the members of the Council. Some like to say that they primarily vote unified but that only applies to non-controversial issues. Where the issue is complicated; they split their votes routinely. So, I’ll rehash some reasons and hope they will consider the information and not the source.

This will sound strange to them but the difference between a study session and an executive session in other cities is one of subject only. In executives the members sit around a table and have a family discussion on a confidential subject. In study sessions they have the same discussion on public policy that is non-confidential. Not in Northglenn. Unfortunately, the present members of the Council and those from recent years have no idea that they are sabotaging their own open communication.

Presently their study sessions are being controlled by their reliance on the staff. Presentation after presentation with the staff leading and the Council reacting is no way for the elected folks to make policy. They have it backward. Staff should be silent unless a member needs their input and then it should be brief. There is the need for staff involvement but what about trying an old fashion procedure. Instead of visual and oral presentations, send all of it to the members several days in advance. Let the members read, think and make notes before the meeting. And, then let the members discuss it in a group setting with the staff and public in quiet attendance.

Another change that should be made lies in the seating arrangement. In the executives they sit around a table and converse. Long speeches and “making points” is not the name of the game. Talking, give and take and the freedom to modify opinions and freely ask questions are. Conducting study sessions from their thrones is a big mistake. They need to get off the dais and converse with each other.

They do have a physical problem with the present council chambers and the lack of a conference room that will also seat the public. If they don’t want to place some tables in the chambers, perhaps they could remove the walls at the back of the room and hallway. The conference room they currently use for executives could be used for the study sessions and the chamber area could seat the public. Turn around a few chairs and presto. Besides, the extra space would be useful since too many of the council meetings are frequently packed with the public. Just an idea for consideration.

The members of the Council also have a tradition of gotcha on controversial issues. You don’t have to introduce a resolution or ordinance to make a point knowing that the majority will vote it down. Just make a speech or a point without a formal document. You’ll get your point across and be on public record. The only items that should be on the agenda for a formal meeting should be those that have been previously discussed at a study session; true emergencies and know routine matters excepted.

I’ve made my speech again. Hopefully the overwhelming majority of the Council will use these comments to start a new era in communication and in the making of public policy.

Council Shirks Another Responsibility

The Council meeting on the 9th reminded me of two items I have been preaching about for over a year. The subject of this posting is the continued lack of oversight by the Council on municipal operations.

Section 3.10 of the Charter says, “The Council shall deal with the administrative service solely and directly through the City Manager, and neither the Council, its members, nor committees shall either dictate the appointment or direct or interfere with the work of any officer or employee under the City Manager.” In deciding what constitutes “interference”, the City Attorney again told the members Thursday night that they are the interpreters of the limitation.

For many, many years Northglenn Councils have been in a world of their own by following an extremely lassie-faire interpretation of their oversight responsibilities. From last meeting’s audio here are two quotes by the same person, Mayor Novak.
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“When we approve a budget that has a dollar amount and we tell our staff what it is we want them to accomplish within that dollar amount and beyond that it is up to the city manager to see that the goals are accomplished and that we are within budget.” “We appropriate money to accomplish tasks and ask the staff to accomplish those within a given budget.”

The Mayor and her followers on the Council have taken the position that they provide the money in total and the Manager has the authority to use it throughout the year as he deems best. As a career-retired city manager, I assure you that our Council is way off track and I challenge them to seek professional advice from other Councils and their Managers.

The quote came during a discussion on the creation and filling of additional positions before our new manager, AJ, arrives. The minority of the Council wanted the present staff to hold off knowing that if AJ felt that some staff increases were not needed, his hands would be tied because it is unprofessional and cruel to lay off newly hired employees.

Here are the details of the new staffing discussion. In November of last year the staff proposed in the budget and the Council approved a full-time staff of 215 employees for 2006. With two interim managers at the controls since February, the Council was asked to approve six additional employees during this year. So, what actually happened? The staff increased itself to 242 full-time employees without the Council’s knowledge. What were the Mayor and her friends’ reaction? Listen to the third audio from the meeting. It was, “so what”.

What kind of bucks are we talking about? Out of a $56 million dollar budget only $28 million goes for day-to-day operations. According to the Mayor and friends, as long as the City Manager achieves their goals, he is entitled to use the $28 million anyway he deems fit. For good or bad we have a staff responsible to no one thanks to the majority of the present members of the Council.