Council needs to get on track
To the editor:
To search, or not to search – that is the question! It was great theater this week at city hall with a cast of characters that Shakespeare would have recognized. Secrets were revealed, there was a score to be settled, and a white haired father figure emerged from the shadows to show his influence over some of the current servants on the council.
The question was: should council give the interim manager a one year contract as city manager, or should the council “search” five states or stay local and choose someone from the enormous “pool of talent” that lives in the city?
Councilman Donnell, who is neither eloquent nor long winded, but always eclectic, made a motion for the city to negotiate with the interim manager for a one year contract. He was insightfully concerned by the recent rise in tensions between city employees, city administration and several council members whose veiled demands and innuendos, masked as “questions” were creating a whirlwind of turmoil that was sure to make a difficult situation worse. With the gentle hand of the astute city attorney, the legal details were delineated, and a motion was made and a second given.
Then from the shadows of the chamber, the former mayor, with resplendent white hair emerged, took the microphone and begin quoting selectively chapter and verse of the city charter citing Chapter 4.10 while ignoring 4.14. The charter allows council, not any individual, to “question” but not “order” city staff. Then the ex-mayor recounted his personal experience with former city administrations that he felt had “deceived and manipulated” him helplessly when he ruled. He seemed angry. It was obvious he was the “brains” behind this gang of four on council that were going to “take back control of the city” from the “evil” administration. One of the gang of four stated he agreed with the white-hair ex-mayor, that he “believed” the former manager had built a “VAST EMPIRE” in city hall to control the elected officials of the people and that was the reason for all the “bad” decisions. This has been the mantra of the Gang Ahead Group and now we know who its real author is.
It is ingenious! It is no secret the white-haired ex-mayor has been mentioned to be Cape Coral city manager. He convinced that group to call for the resignation of his former adversary, he has written the narrative of “evil” in city hall for their campaign speeches, and if he should sit in the “city manager” seat his victory would be stunning.
The plot revealed and the characters in place, now the climax, the vote on the motion. Remember the Gang Ahead Group has vowed to vote as a block for truth, justice, and the American way. I think I saw the ex-mayor holding his breath.
Three were in favor of the one year contract, three against. Then the vote fell to Mr. Diele, one of the gang of four. He breaks rank and votes “aye”, 5-3 motion passes.
There was so much more: overhead power lines, budget, outsourcing, it was a real maze. The mayor said his “fee” for the RO Plant is probably not legal. He asked for suggestions. I thought that was why he ran, because he understood the problems and had the answers. Another councilman suggested it is time to bring back the U.E.P. for discussion because it is probably the only fair and legal way to pay for the R.O. Plant. Most surprising was the observation from several councilmen that this council does not have a good track record so far for understanding and solving city issues in a timely fashion.
Council needs to stop the speeches, to stop looking for blame and start solving problems. Wake up Cape Coral and get these guys on track.
F. C. Perry
Cape Coral