City Council Meeting Recap, July 24, 2007
The meeting started off quite disappointingly. Alderman Phelan changed his vote from the last meeting on implementing health insurance to all city employees. What this had meant was simple: all city employees, per their union contracts, would have to pay for the first time, monies out of their own pockets; a deductible, co-pay for medicine, etc. Very modest mind you. For whatever reason, because none was given, the Alderman changed his vote. This means that $400,000.00 that would have been saved, can not now go towards the hiring of new police officers.

Having said the above, at the Special City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, there will be on the agenda an item by certain Alderpeople to hire 2 new additional police officers. With what money, I do not know. The people who want the new officers, as I do, voted against the health insurance implementation. So, apparently, these alderpeople want to bankrupt our city.

In other news, requests by certain liquor establishments to be able to stay open until four pm, were shot down. Some sanity prevails.

Question: how much should the city pay for holiday decorations?

The Finance Director keeps making changes to have run the city in a financially and prudent way. Yet, only by a 4 to 3 vote did her latest implemenation pass. She simply wants to do correct accounting.

And, that is pretty much it. Out of 48 items, the above is what is relevant. Stay tuned to see how the Special Meeting goes on Tuesday. This is ameeting to re-structure the city's debt and if it passes, we will be able to build a parking garage in the Depot District and to build a new firehouse on 16th Street.
- posted by Mark @ 11:16 AM