Council Members Price and Crow Deny No Confidence Statement Is Retaliation for Reprimand; Cite Budgetary Concerns
Council member Byron Price said the city manager's handling of University City's budget propelled him to support a Statement of No Confidence.
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Council member Byron Price said his backing of a No Confidence Statement concerning the performance of City Manager Lehman Walker had nothing to do with the city council's approval of a resolution to formally reprimand him for his behavior at a February 14th council meeting.
Price told University City Patch the Statement of No Confidence was broached before he received the mayor's letter of reprimand. The letter stated that if Price's "disorderly conduct" continued the mayor would recommend proceeding with further disciplinary action.
"I'm confused, how did 'X' become something happening," said Price. He believes 'X' was already planned. "What happened between the 14th and the last (City Council) meeting" to warrant formalizing the reprimand.
Price said the reprimand is an infringement on his right to free speech. "I'm an American citizen and I have First Amendment rights."
Both University City Mayor Shelley Welsch and city manager have stated they believe the No Confidence Statement is in retaliation for Price's reprimand.
"I am disappointed that these three members are concentrating on petty “payback” instead of the work of the City," Mayor Welsch wrote in an email to U City Patch on Wednesday.
However, Price insists the statement of No Confidence was solely based on his concerns over some decisions the city manager has made.
"I totally disagree with the budget decision," he said. "I'm saying the budget is solvent." Walker has said that while the City has approximately ten million dollars in its reserve fund, the City should not rely on these funds to balance the budget.
When you spend more than you take in and your only option is to use your reserves "I consider you to be in dire financial straits," said Walker.
Price disagrees. "You use your reserves when you have to, that's why you have reserves," he said. "Don't make catastrophic movements when you have reserves."
Council member Terry Crow also denied any correlation between Price's reprimand and his filling of the No Confidence Statement. Simply put, he said he made the filing concerning the city manager's performance because -- he has no confidence in him.
Crow told University City Patch that he has questions about a number of the city manager's decisions. One being staff reductions. "I do not agree with all the terminations."
Additionally, Crow said he put the Statement of No Confidence in the city clerk's agenda box before noon on Thursday, February 24th. He said at that time he was not aware Council member Price's reprimand would be on the council agenda.
In 2009, three University City council members signed a Statement of No Confidence in the city manager's performance. This time however, the parties who tried to oust the previous city manager are now standing behind the city manager.
In December 7, 2009 current Council members Lynn Ricci and L. Michael Glickert and former Council member Robert Wagner signed a statement of No Confidence in then City Manager Julie Feier's performance.
Council members Terry Crow, Arthur Sharpe Jr., Byron Price and former U City Mayor Joe Adams stood by Feier and opposed the No Confidence Statement.
Jump to Monday, February 28th, 2011 - Council members Sharpe, Price and Crow sign a No Confidence Statement concerning the performance of City Manager Lehman Walker. Opposing the No Confidence Statement are Council members L. Michael Glickert, Lynn Ricci and Stephen Kraft as well as University City Mayor Shelley Welsch.
Craig Brown
7:27 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
How about "we the people" give the entire U-City government a 'vote of no confidence'!
Grow up, do what you were elected to do and stop acting like spoiled children. All of you look foolish, childish and petty.
Linda Reimann
8:38 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
I second that. It's embarrassing. it appears to be pointless posturing on all sides.
cam
8:45 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
Yes, they keep throwing paper at each other - get back to work and figure out the budget!
Stephanie
8:57 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
Or you could keep firing people with families to support. That's the answer. Who's doing those jobs now? Oh, right, no one!
Holston Black Jr.
11:53 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
I agree, our attitude in this town and elsewhere about firing hard working, lower paid citizens when there is a surplus is ridiculous. Those who are making a little above poverty don't seem to mind that our own people are starving. I remember the late Mayor Mooney saying there was no poverty in U. City. firing people is the easiest way to go for some people as long as it's not theirs who are being fired.
Creativity has brought this country a long way but unless we start using our grey matter we are going to be on the bottom. To stay on top or at least to get back up we are going to need all of us. People can hide behind pseudonyms and racism but as Lincoln said "A house divided against itself cannot stand".
3rd Ward Rogue
9:06 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
I agree. I also think that spending reserves has to be agreed upon by a majorty in Council and obviosly that's not happening. I always thought reserves were left for things like natural disaster, (like Wilson buyout), but it still takes a majority. By putting on a show for his audience, Price ended up angering some on Council, not a good way to convert them to your side.
Cindy Thierry
9:19 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
Stephanie, It's true, so some positions were vacant. But we now have one less fireman and one less police offer. Haven't recent articles talked about the upswing in crime in our community. Less police should help. And for those who did lose their jobs after years of dedicated service to the community, I'm sure they appreciate your sympathy.
The city manager is effectively dismantling our city infrastructure. He is destroying what has taken decades to build. He has the support of the council majority because it was the majority that hired him. Let's remember the council, at the resident's request, voted to hire a national search firm and then decieved the residents by hiring Mr. Walker ten days later.
The mayor and city manager can try to pass this off as sour grapes of the consequences of change, but I don't believe it is change that have the council minority concerned. Is anyone concerned about how these major discussions are being railroad through without thoughtful discussion or consideration of other ideas?
The city manager has a consultant's report that says "University City can continue to operate the Solid Waste Division, including the funding construction of a new transfer station and funding equipment replacement for an amount equivalent to a private operator." The CM could potentially balance the budget by collecting the deliquent trash bills, but he is still wants to outsource Solid Waste.
George Lenard
9:53 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
I agree with all of the above comments. But I would add that there are hard decisions to be made, and the way the City Charter allocates power between City Manager and Council is tricky (hint: City Manager potentially wields more power in many ways than Council or Mayor). This vote of no confidence may sound extreme, but my recent review of the legally mandated organization of U. City government suggests that sometimes such a blunt instrument is required. It's like a boss being unable to fix a problem with your work directly, or even order you to make a specific fix, but having to either let it slide or write you up for having done it wrong. (And I'd welcome a comment telling me my analysis is wrong and why!)
3rd Ward Rogue
10:04 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thanks George for expanding on that. It seems like an unfortunate consequence to Charter govt., but it has its checks and balances.