Jasper mayor unable to get unanimous consent for Stategic Planning and Leadership Initiative

Things went smoothly at the Jasper Common Council meeting last night until discussion began on Mayor Seitz’ Strategic Planning and Leadership Initiative. The newly elected mayor announced the funding for the first phase of the training during his celebratory meeting the night of the election. The first phase of training for leadership in the city and the community has been completed and he would like to fund the final two phases of the training.

The program is facilitated by Indianapolis-based Chorus Inc. (http://www.chorusinc.com/). Chorus has served as a strategic adviser and execution partner to executives, executive teams and boards throughout the United States for Fortune 500 companies, universities, and government entities. The funding will pay to bring the Chorus trainers to Jasper to complete the one-on-one training with the participants.

The Utility Service Board approved $22,000 (40%) of the final cost of the training contingent upon the council’s approval. Mayor Seitz would like to transfer the remaining $33,000 from a line item in the 2012 budget. The line item consists of $100,000 for computer upgrades. “There is nothing to do with that money,” Mayor Seitz stated. “There are no upgrades planned. I think it was put there for technology potential. There is nothing I am advocating to spend a $100,000 on today.”

Councilman Kevin Manley explained that he views the initiative as two separate issues. He supports the strategic planning initiative but is uncertain about the necessity of the leadership training. “The only thing my constituents are hitting me on is the leadership aspect of the training. They are concerned about how we are spending their money.” Manley stated.

Manley suggested the city move forward with the strategic planning portion of the initiative and wait to begin the leadership training until after the budget hearings in July. This would allow time to assess the needs of the participants in the leadership training.

The mayor explained the reason the two go hand in hand is due to the fact the leadership of the city would implement the strategic planning. During the leadership portion of the training an assessment would be done on a personal basis.

“I don’t see a problem with the leadership of the city,” he said, “but fundamentally doing things the way we’ve always done it, is just really not acceptable. This is a different time. This is a different mayor. The city itself when you go door to door is saying you’re complacent and you can do better, means two things; get us a road map to go and having our people help get us there.”

The mayor pointed to his campaign and how he ran on making Jasper better. He pointed out the people have spoken by the support for his campaign resulting in his appointment as mayor. The mayor also stated delaying the training could put the benefit of the initiative behind by two years. “Put the onus on me, I’ll gladly accept the mantle, I ran on this and I have very great belief that it will benefit the community.”

Manley pointed out that the disagreement is based on the necessity of leadership training to initiate the strategic planning.

The mayor continued to implore the importance of the development of leadership for the city and the connection to the strategic planning. He described the benefit of the training as immeasurable at this time but could create savings for the city and its shrinking budget. “What we just approved tonight is exactly what I am asking. We just put $6000 in EDIT funds to tear down a house. I’m asking for $33,000 to invest in our people. It’s not new taxes, it’s a transfer. I think that our people are worth more than a house in Frogtown to tear down.”

Councilman Dave Prechtel said he considered the expense as continuing education and held that Chorus appeared to be a good company. “I think we need this.”

Councilman Randy Buchta pointed out that it appeared the funding and completion of phase I of the training was put in place to invoke the city to follow through in completing the final phases of the training with city funding.

“Right away they were upset about even though the money wasn’t city money, you going out and hiring this company and spending the money and then assuming you were going to get the money from the city,” Buchta said. “That’s what many people are upset about.”

The mayor contended he “never held the hammer over anyone’s head” in forming this initiative. “Phase I was simply meant to stand alone,” he said. “I have said that, I can think of at least six different times, publicly. I am sorry for the misunderstanding.  I am very pleased we’ve had companies invest in us without any consideration. I’ve never asked for anything in any coercive manner, just, with this being done, we now have other options to consider.”

Councilman Ray Howard stated he was against the initiative due to the budget concerns that have been plaguing the city. The council learned earlier in the meeting that the city would receive approximately $818,000 from the state due to the recent accounting error and Howard stated the city should look at those funds put the departments in a position to serve the city better. “Once we get that done, then hey, let’s move forward with looking at the strategic planning.” Howard stated.

The mayor pointed out the council had budgeted a new vehicle for the city engineer and a city position for an engineer tech in 2011 and rather than buying a vehicle and filling the position externally, they had utilized an existing vehicle in the city motor pool and filled the position internally. He stated this had saved roughly $35,000 to $40,000 based on the salary ordinance and the vehicle that the council authorized. “There are some savings this mayor has done,” Seitz said. “I didn’t do it for a quid pro quo, a tit for tat just to exchange, but I can tell you if you look at those things that you have budgeted for alone that I haven’t incorporated, that I have saved, we’ll call it even.”

An ordinance to transfer money funding a technology upgrade line item to the contractual services line item was introduced but failed to pass unanimously as it must if it is to pass on the night it is introduced. Buchta, Howard and Manley voted against the ordinance. It will now be considered at the next common council meeting on May 23.

After the meeting Manley further clarified his position. “If you really want to talk about leadership, the five levels of leadership are position, relationship, production, people development, and person-hood. That’s John Maxwell’s definition of leadership.” Manley said. “Right now we haven’t taken any time to have any relationship to assess in my mind what our situation is and before I can approve spending the money on something that is touchy-feely, I need to know why we are doing this.”

The mayor compared the transfer to the transfer the council approved earlier in the meeting to fund the demolition of a home purchased in a flood zone on Main Street. (Story here)

“They transferred $6000 to tear this building down, I am simply asking for a transfer of $33,000 to invest in our people,” Seitz stated. “One is tangible and one isn’t.”

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