6/13/12
Monday night, Council voted unanimously to negotiate a contract as a part-time city administrator with William Joynes. Joynes was one of two candidates interviewed by the whole council last week.
The Insider has learned that Joynes has an extensive resume as a consultant, a professor at Hamline U. and as a past city administrator and manager. Of note is that he was the mediator working with the four cities in the South Lake PD JPA negotiation some six years ago.
Of real interest is that the intent is to have Mr. Joynes work three days per week and to retain him through the end of 2012. The Insider wonders how the council thinks the full-time position can be adequately filled by a part-timer. It'll be interesting to see if everything council wants done gets done as well as what strain not having a full-time boss puts on the staff for the rest of 2012.
The Insider continues to speculate that Mayor Lizee and her cronies have some nefarious plan up their sleeves and are just waiting until after the November election to spring it on the unsuspecting residents of Shorewood.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Watch the Planning Commission carefully. Whatever the scheme is, it will probably come out of the PC all set to be approved by the Gang of Four at one meeting with only token discussion and a voice vote.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the planning commission have to do with the appointment of an interim administrator?
ReplyDeleteWhat we don't need is a full time planning director, engineer or PW director. What we do need is a fully qualified Administrator that will keep track of projects and the budget of the City, which the Fab Four can't seem to get their arms around.
ReplyDeleteThis is a "get nothing done" council. What hasn't been done? Discussion of city water and results of the community survey, their plan for trails and roads, strategic planning, hiring a qualified administrator and bringing transparency and civility to the council. What has been done? Putting an ordinance together for AIS that Lizee feels "could be adopted throughout the State" (Sun Sailor). What's next? non-budgeted lobbying money?
ReplyDeleteIt's happened before.
The SLMPD JPA?
ReplyDeleteIsn't that where Shorewood got to pay 50% of the bill while having only 25% vote? If the past disaster is a guide, we are in trouble again.
A council can get away with anything as long as residents are inattentive. Shorewood is referred to as a "bedroom" community...the double entendre is that people here are "asleep" when it comes to knowing how their local government does business. We need look no further than ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI just took a look at the Planning Director's suggested goals for the Smithtown Crossing Development Guidelines. It includes the possibility of TIF money to finance a variety of housing "alternatives" in the area, as well as commercial development that benefits the community at large and not just the residents of Shorewood.
ReplyDeleteThe Smithtown Rd, CR19 intersection is referred to as the "Gateway" to Shorewood, with the scattered public buildings a "campus."
Campus? Really?
Last time I checked, Shorewood was a quiet, low-density residential city.
Why change it? And, more to the point, why should the city of Shorewood encourage the change? And spent taxpayer money subsidizing developers?
That corner looks like crap so I would welcome anything that would encourage improvement. I say bravo for council and commission to try and forge some kind of a vision for improving a community eyesore.
ReplyDeleteAnd shame on the Legion for letting that gas station stand there and become completely decrepit. Talk about an eyesore.
Agree – We spent $1.4m on that ‘gateway’ intersection just to watch it become blighted. Now that we have two abandoned gas stations - perhaps instead of calling it a ‘gateway” we should rename it ‘highway to hell’. A well thought out improvement would be a welcome sight. The Legion could do us all a favor, tear down the gas station and their outdated facility, and rebuild something the public could use and be proud of.
DeleteWell, I don't want to pay for it. Or waste city personnel time on it. And if LizZerby even mention TIF money from Shorewood to help, well..
DeleteSo, as residents, we are "investors" in this community. Would you really invest in that blighted eyesore CR 19 corner as it is? Why shouldn't it be cleaned up and improved? So that we can remain a fortress of old ideas? You say it yourself in the first paragraph: Community. Did you really mean "enclave?"
ReplyDeleteYou say there would be "commercial development that benefits the community at large." Do you imply that businesses in Shorewood should restrict their customers to Shorewood residents?
Quiet? You probably don't live near Hwy 7 or Hwy 19, or Cub or Old Market Road, next to Freeman Park or on Smithtown Road.
Low density? Been to the Manor lately? The Apartments? The Ponds, Marsh Pointe, Shorewood Oaks, Waterford Townhomes?
Suggestion: Run for office so your ideas can be publicly vetted and if they fly, we'll eat crow if necessary.
Slow day at the Real Estate office, eh?
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