Someone does not want recording equipment installed in the
conference room at City Hall. Why? At tonight’s 7:30 committee meeting, in the
conference room by the way, the
announcement was made that next week the League of Women Voters will present
Council with a check for $10,000 toward the purchase and installation of
microphones and recording equipment.
Mayor Sutherland was absent tonight but Finance Director
Renee Mahoney stated that the Mayor does not want the recording equipment in
the conference room. This has been in the works for a long time and an
agreement already in place. Meetings in the conference room are pivotal. They
are open to the public and this is where much debate and explanation occurs. As
a resident says -“It’s where the magic happens.” The statement that the Mayor did
not want the recording equipment in that room caused heads to spin and people
to jump out of their seats a bit.
Council appropriates the money, so it doesn’t even sound
like it’s the Mayors call. A member of the League was there to set the record
straight. The agreement is that the money is for the conference room AND
Council Chambers. It is not one or the other. If the money is not used for
equipment to be installed in both rooms, the agreement is void. After the
meeting some wondered if that was the ultimate goal of the Mayor.
Ms. Mahoney was being challenged but she pointed out that
she answers to the Mayor and the thought was to have all the meetings in
Chambers. I’m sorry Ms. Mahoney had to be the messenger.
When questioned by the audience, Council President Paul
Koomar said these are his meetings - which I took to mean that Council will
abide by the agreement with The League of Women Voters and not by the whim of
the Mayor.
Another resident that attended the 5/4/15 meeting added this to the discussion:
ReplyDelete"Ms Mahoney stated that, while Council appropriates the money, the Mayor signs the purchase orders ("and I work for the Mayor"). When asked about the additional $8000 that will be needed for the recording equipment in both Chambers and the conference room, Ms Mahoney restated "I work for the Mayor and she signs the PO's." The direct implication was that the Mayor will hold the money for the recording system hostage if it's to be installed in BOTH rooms. Unbelievable."