Questioning Council Actions

To the Editor:

The Common Council of the city of Sheboygan doesn’t have a clue as to how the city has gotten into this financial holocaust, nor how to get out of it. They are led, rather than lead. They are cub-cadets, without “military” experience, in a battle for their lives (and ours). These people were elected on their popularity and not on their experience as leaders. They continue on the very path that led this city into this mess.

I watch the council meetings and see examples of confusion, inadequate preparation and lack of knowledge, and the approval of resolutions and documents that few have understood or even read.

I hear that the fire department is making money with the ambulance service, yet the city closes it’s newest fire station. I hear that the city has to hire outside legal council because the salaries and grievance committee can’t handle the negotiations with the labor groups. I hear that the city is going to reduce cutting the grass, snow plowing and waste disposal as a means to solve the financial crisis. I hear that the city taxpayers have to contribute $300,000 dollars to the public employee trust fund because that fund’s investments lost money for these employees. I hear the council hire “outside” people to fill city employment positions. I hear that current city employees live and pay taxes outside of the city. I read articles in the Sheboygan Press and the Beacon, written by some of these aldermen, that make no sense at all.

But what I don’t hear or read, from this council, is how the city got into this situation and how they are going to get out of it. I hear excuses from the leaders of this council as to why they can’t do, but not what they should be doing. All that I do hear and read is the “stitches and band aid” suggestions to cover the cuts and bruises, and a few off-the-wall suggestions that they believe are the answers to their problems. What I do not hear are the real solutions to solve the problem and keep it from happening again.

I, as well as many other people that pay taxes in this city, cannot believe that this council lets the tail wag the dog. All of the aldermen are elected to represent the people of this city, not its employee unions, nor their employee trust funds. When the “taxpayers” are gone, will the council turn to the state and federal government to run our city?
Patrick A. Gillette
Sheboygan