Jasper Strategic Planning and Leadership Initiative delayed?
Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz’Strategic Planning and Leadership Initiative was struck a blow at the Wednesday Common Council meeting.
An ordinance was introduced during April’s council meeting to move $33,000 from a line item concerning computer upgrades to fund the final phases of the leadership training. The vote during that meeting was a solid four to three to introduce the ordinance but it lacked the necessary unanimous consent from the council to pass an ordinance the same night it is introduced. The mayor was forced to table the ordinance until May’s meeting but appeared to have the support needed to pass it.
A side note; the majority of ordinances introduced are passed the same meeting they are introduced. The formality of unanimous consent is to allow the council time to review the ordinance if so necessary.
The procedure for the introduction and passing of an ordinance requires the ordinance first be read completely or by title only. The majority of the time the council approves a reading by title only. This did not occur at Wednesday’s meeting when it was introduced. Councilman Dave Prechtel made a motion to have the new ordinance read by title only but did not receive a second, forcing City Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt to read the entire ordinance out loud to the council and audience. After the meeting Shaneyfelt stated this was the first time in his long career in which he read an entire ordinance out loud to a legislative body.
After the ordinance was read completely, Prechtel made a motion to accept the ordinance as read and adopt it. Again no other council member offered a second, the motion died and Mayor Seitz quickly moved to the next item.
According to Seitz the council’s lack of support was a surprise. “I was surprised but I don’t go around and tally up votes,” he said. “I am very much disappointed. I think we have a need, but again at least we have the privately funded part which at least gave us a leg up on the strategic plan.”
Prechtel also made the motion to adopt the ordinance during April’s meeting and stated he saw a need for the training and supported the initiative. Newly elected Councilman Earl Schmitt seconded Prechtel’s motion in April but remained silent on Wednesday. He was unavailable for comment after the meeting.
Councilman Tom Schmidt voted to have the ordinance read at the April meeting but stood silent at Wednesday’s meeting. “Just because I voted to hear it doesn’t mean I support it,” he said.
“I really haven’t given the next step much thought,” Seitz said. “Perhaps if it’s a budget consideration we can look at that and adopt it then.”
Sad. Sounds like politics at play.
Can't agree more. The citizens elected a mayor – the CEO of the city – and then their elected representatives don't support his leadership to improve the leadership of the city. He's not saying or in any way nor even suggesting there's a single thing wrong with any of his managers – in fact he's praise them at virtually every turn. Rather, he only wants to provide the training and opportunities in a rapidly changing world for them to IMPROVE, both individually and collectively as a team, and for the ultimate benefit of the city and citizens.
Is there anyone so high and mighty that they don't think they and other city leaders need to learn or improve themselves? Are they simply content with the status quo – to leave well-enough alone – if it ain't broke don't fix it, etc, etc??? What a shame – they lack the very leadership and insight that Mayor Seitz knows and wants to share and bring to his team. Why are these representatives, who approve tangible purchases of equipment and projects in the tens of thousands of dollars with nary a hiccup, afraid to invest the equivalent of the purchase cost of a single vehicle, in the most precious and integral resource of all – the human factor? Some in this group have indicated various and unfounded rubbish tantamount to distrust and cronyism – in a word, poitics. Again, a shame.
Yes maybe it is politics, it is very possible that the council members are doing as those who voted for them have ask them to do.
In a perfect world, wouldn't that be wonderful – elected reps doing the will of the people and the will of the people being for the good of all. In reality, however, this rarely happens to any sufficient or accurate extent in terms of numbers. Think about it – if this were the case here, hundreds of people have somehow been canvassed in each council precinct and the majority have told their rep one thing and other precinct residents have told their rep the opposite. It may sound good to say it, but it's hardly likely or possible. More likely, if anything at all beyond the council member's opinions, is that a couple of "those who voted" (good-ol-boys) here and there – ignorant of current-day leadership issues beyond the "do it my way or the highway" of yesteryear – have expressed politically biased opinions. In short, there is no other reason for not supporting a newly elected, educated mayor with a background in personnel and leadership training, who is savvy and progressive enough to understand this need for employee training in improving city services and relations. For some to think the city is somehow above or immune to this need is sheer and haughty pride – and politics. Plus, there is no local entity that offers these professional services.