"Irreconcilable Differences"

The rumors about the possible departure (under unfavorable terms) of Wentzville's City Administrator, Dianna Wright, have come true. I've held off on this until now to gather as many facts as I could, so here goes: The rumors of her demise started in 2009 and was (unfortunately) spread citywide by then ex-Alderman John Luby when he walked into a meeting in town and interrupted the proceedings by expressing publicly his disappointment in hearing the rumor that she was to be fired. Prior to that I had heard it but didn't give it undo credibility, of course, I may be giving undo credibility to an ex-Alderman's knowledge, but since I had heard it from two other active Aldermen about that time I believed it—yet I remained questioningly silent (for me anyway).

Over the months, I watched the deportment of the board during regular meetings and the issue of Dianna Wright's fate began quacking like a duck—loudly. Last week August 24th at the regular public Board of Aldermen meeting, I realized it was true and that the end was near for Dianna Wright. How near I wasn't sure but I thought in a couple weeks she would more than likely be displaced. Boy was I wrong! That night they went into executive session after the meeting and I knew the subject would be regarding her termination.

Thursday afternoon, at about 1:30 PM, I was notified that Dianna had been given her walking papers a mere half-hour earlier at 1:00 PM that day. I'm going to have to tell my sources to be just a shade more prompt with news of this magnitude or ask for their resignations. There was no notice given by either the City or Dianna—just poof! That leads me to believe that it was not her choice and that a better option was not had for her. As time progressed, I thought it strange that none of the local publication's reporters knew anything about it and on Friday, A special meeting of the Board was scheduled for Monday August 29th—a full five days after her disappearance from city hall.

The only thing on the August 29th agenda was "Executive Session." It was to be regarding the press release that has now been sent to the various publications that serve the Wentzville area and surely what to do for a new City Administrator. The press release reads in part: "The Wentzville Board of Aldermen held a special meeting on Monday, August 29 to discuss continuity of day-to-day city management and the search for a new city administrator as a result of the sudden departure last Thursday of Dianna Wright as city administrator. City officials cite 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for Wrights departure..." Until a replacement for Wright is found, Wentzville's Director of Finance and Assistant Administrator, Dennis Walsh, will serve as the interim city administrator." Dennis has served as interim administrator for several departing city administrator's, I don't know why they don't just give him the job and start looking for a new finance director. Seems to me that he could get a modest raise and hire a new finance director at a lower salary than he is currently making, but that's probably too logical for the city to understand.

The details of Dianna's severance provision will be public information probably at the next general board meeting. The press release is usual lawyer jargon and can be interpreted however someone wants to read it. The term "irreconcilable differences" could mean anything; either the board fired her or she got so unhappy with the situation that she walked out. Either way it's not going to be a promotional bell-ringer at her next position. For my money, she got fired. This press release is the same as other city staff terminations in recent years, just the name has been changed.

Personally, I liked Dianna, she was attentive, cooperative (with citizens), and as smart-as-a-whip. It's unfortunate that she and the city didn't blend, but in the end, both must go on. It's a shame that she had to sell her home in Harrisonville and that she'll be moving on from Wentzville to her next assignment where she'll be buying another home. With her credentials, it's not like looking for a job at Wal-Mart. I wish her success where ever she goes. I guess they can scratch one more off of our population signs now to read: 29,069.

The Legacy of Lunacy.

As much as I follow Wentzville city politics and government, I'm not usually taken unaware at board of alderman meetings but every once in a while an issue will pop up that makes watching the process a complete joy. Lately, for about the last two months, I've been surprised more than not. The last time was when our Mayor (Lambi) asked the "Board of Crickets" for money to be donated to the 501c LINC organization. Watching him seething over the board's indifference to his pet project was a complete delight. At the meeting of August 24th, another surprise developed in the form of new business; the "David Hoekel Expressway" project.

Like his predecessor who lays claim to being solely responsible for the overpass at the Wentzville Parkway, Lambi has put his eggs in making the future David Hoekel Expressway overpass his legacy. The expressway has been in the planning stage for over a decade and will serve as an outer belt connecting Highway 61 with Highway 70. In the design, an overpass will connect the North Outer Road to the South Outer Road and eventually connect to the Page Avenue extension. The first phase of the project is the section from West Meyer Road to the South Outer Road of Highway 70. Lambi has made a fool of himself trying to drum up support for his pet projects and this one is just the latest in his long legacy of lunacy.

A three and a half hour meeting that could easily have been done in two hours had it not been for one relatively small agenda item under New Business: "Item 2, (ID #3411) David Hoekel Parkway - Grant Opportunity." Thinking that the board would look favorably on his plan and hoping to put his legacy in motion, Lambi had at least a half-dozen employees from the HNTB company (grant writers) in attendance. Unfortunately for them, they were not asked to present their grant plan so they left after discussion was had denying the request. Once again, just like the LINC proposal, he wasted HNBT employees time to come to the meeting for another of his pet projects. Sooner or later his counting chickens is going to come to roost on his political career.

For the particulars: HNBT would require $49,000 to write a grant for a "Tiger III" Federal grant that could fund $24 million to the project. The kicker: best estimate, there is a 3% chance of winning the grant. Lambi is so desperate to engage his dream that he is willing to roll the taxpayers dice for $49 large for a 3% chance at $24 million. I'm starting to get a feeling why he isn't a financial advisor anymore, but what the hell, it isn't his money. After a prolonged discussion by the Aldermen, they decided they aren't going to shoot craps and agreed not to entertain Lambi's proposal. Lambi who was not too happy disgustingly exclaimed, "Wow no investment in the future of Wentzville tonight!" and banged the gavel. In any one's belief, a $49,000 bet for a 3% chance is not what would be called an "investment."

The splinters from the gavel settled and they got into the second reading of 16 bills presented. After the readings, Lambi said: I want to revisit this grant proposal. He went on to ask; "what if we could get HNTB to write the grant on a contingency basis? About this time, I'm thinking—what company would accept a contingency contract for an estimated $49,000 on a 3% chance of getting paid. The answer was obvious to everyone except Lambi. An offer of this kind was just another waste of time. After another half-hour or so of discussion, the aldermen did accept his proposal with the "contingency" clause written in the contract. This idea is almost crazier that the first.

After the balance of bills were completed they entered the discussion section of the agenda; three different items, the second of which was : "(ID #3414) Vehicle Towing and Storage Services." This discussion was another long-winded debate when Lambi finally broke in to say; it's almost ten o'clock and he thought it a waste of valuable staff and board time so he closed the subject. Once again as I've stated on numerous occasions, if Lambi likes or wants something it's balls to the wall, regardless of time and expense.

Despite Staff crying budget woes—Aldermen cutting expenditures, and the city sporting the highest sales tax in the County, Lambi was quoted in a recent article featured on Patch.com: "The city is flush with cash," who do we believe? For my money it's probably somewhere in the middle—but that's another subject entirely. I know that the city is short $5 million in road repair and infrastructure. At any rate, I sincerely hope that Wentzville voters tune-in and turn-off Lambi's lunacy at election time.

Show Us You've Got A Pair!

It seems a little early but our elected officials are gearing up for the April 2012 election. "Politicizing" has become—"the word of the day"—used often in recent board meetings by Mayor Lambi and retorted by incensed Aldermen in rebuttal of his agenda seeking accusations. It is obvious that our mayor is not making any friends in city hall and the word on the streets of Wentzville is that he's not making many friends there either. Lambi is alienating more of his friends and followers everyday. I have yet to be in a small business, barbershop, or other public place where his name was spoken with affection.

The aldermen whose terms will up for reelection are: Leon Tow, Ward 1; Vann Samples Ward 2; and Rick Stokes, Ward 3. Of those, Tow has already announced his bid for Mayor, Stokes is likely to run for a second term, and Samples status is unknown at this time, it has been said that he most probably would not run again. For Mayor, the known candidates at this time are: Alderman Leon Tow,Ward 1; and Alderman Nick Guccione, Ward 3. Where incumbent Lambi is concerned; he made an anouncement at a local meeting several months ago that he was running, since that time there have been conflicting reports. It is known that his popularity is at an all-time low and many of his financial supporters have pulled their funding to give it to one of his opponents. As a personal commentary I would like to add: with the mood and unified determination of the current aldermen, if he runs and is somehow reelected, it will be the most miserable four years ever experienced in his political career. Lambi, just as his predecessor Vickie Bodecker, has lost touch with the needs and wants of the people who elected him.

The election of 2012 is going to be complicated. In the Aldermanic elections, if Vann Samples, who has a good record as alderman decides not to run, it will leave a vacancy that could create havoc on the board. "Lurch" (Bill Schuette) like a shark will smell the blood and may seek to get back involved and once again bring lunacy to the city. A definite candidate for Ward 2 will be the ever-present Donna Sherwood who doesn't know the meaning of the term: "three strikes and your out." Unfortunately, "Lurch," who doesn't know it either, does know that anyone running against her would be virtually unopposed . Hopefully, the machine will find a candidate to fill Samples vacated seat. Another potential problem is if Tow wins, or loses his bid for Mayor, his Ward 1 seat will given up to anyone wanting to seek office. I hope Brian Brinkly doesn't get wind of it because if he does, he'd jump on it like flies on a manure truck. If by some strange happenstance he should get reelected someone needs to tell him to get a new sombrero to wear at board meetings.

One thing that could be positive about the mayoral election is if Guccione should win, he would be in a position to nominate someone to finish out his vacated seat. There has been talk about Darrel Lackey being the appointee. Lackey, a two-term mayor is known for his "no nonsense" approach and would be a great addition to this board. Lackey has been asked about running for office since he left but has always declined. This time would be different, no campaigning, no hassle, just be approved by the board and serve out the last year of Guccione's term. That would be a win-win situation for him and the city. I urge anyone who knows Darrel (and that's most of the town) talk to him about filling the vacated seat. It would be an enormous advantage for the relatively inexperienced aldermen to have his expertise and knowledge of the city back on board. Especially if Tow loses and his 30 plus years is no longer serving the city. Come on Darrel, show us you've got a pair, Wentzville needs you!

How Do You Skin a Cheshire Cat?

I'm sorry to say; the Wentzville regular Board of Aldermen meeting of August 3rd was not all that it was cracked up to be, or at least what I had hoped for. For the most part it was droll and even sleepy at times. I was anticipating a repeat performance of the explosion of previous weeks especially regarding the "Personnel Board." Alderman Guccione has worked very aggressively toward making law and I was certain that something more will come of it. If I recollect, the staff was directed to prepare an ordinance for the "Personal Board," which could have made an exciting first reading.

Citizens are not privy to the subtle changes often made in the agenda, I mean we go to city hall and look at the agenda in the glass case outside the front door on Monday, but by show-time on Wednesday it's a whole new ballgame. I guess it's the fault of the citizen for not checking the City's website to see if there are any changes, only to find out later that changes were made too late to post. So in reality, citizen spectators are not in the loop. At any rate, there was some scrambling going on in City Hall the prior week to head off the "Personal Board" ordinance at the pass.

Mayor Lambi opposes this ordinance to the extent of having his staff contact the city's special attorney Ivan Schoeder to defend Lambi's position against it. He doesn't want to allow the Aldermen to be the final appeal for Wentzville employees who feel they cannot defend themselves, or get a fair shake in the current appeal process. He feels that it would undermine his authority. On a side note, I don't know what the special attorney charged or how many staff hours were used to prepare an ordinance, that wasn't used, and defend this but it seems odd that when Lambi has a crusade, he has no regard to staff hours or other financial obligations in order to aid his cause. An excellent example of his waste of "valuable staff time" was the 501c organization LINC, to which he wanted the city to donate money. The aldermen reminded him that the city cannot donate money to a 501c. A week later he offered a "contract for services," drafted by staff, and proposed it to the board of crickets (see Meeting With a Bang posted August 1, 2011). But if aldermen request things, oh my! What a fuss he makes about using staff hours to give reports or request information. His immediate response is always, "do you want to waste valuable staff hours?"

Anyway, I assume there was an ordinance drafted but instead of a first reading, the "Personnel Board" was placed under Discussion items on the agenda. Which means the agenda changed somewhere in mid stream. The special attorney gave a talk on the reasons why the city could not set up a "formalized Personnel Board." Mayor Lambi sat there grinning like the Cheshire Cat the whole time. The aldermen asked questions and the special attorney responded to them. The attorney's focus was that; the city has a process in place for appeals and it is legal, but to appoint a hearing board as proposed is not; he has several state statutes and Federal laws to support him. Lambi concluded by rubbing his win in the aldermen's faces was by asking if the board wants to go forward with the ordinance, the "nays" outnumbered the "yeahs," five to one.

It disappointed me to see our mayor being so smug in his hollow victory; "hollow" is the operative word, this matter is not closed. One question asked by Alderman Gard set up what will follow. He asked the special attorney if the process in place can by changed by the board of aldermen? The answer was affirmative; I look for them to wipe the grin off of Lamb's face in the very near future. There's more than one way to skin a cat!

A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot!

The work session of August 3, 2011 was an historic event. I saw and heard things that I've never seen and heard in a meeting of the board. First, Alderman Rick Stokes, who was obviously on vacation (probably in some tropical place) was on a conference speaker phone set up right in front of the Dias. It was an indication that something very important to the City was going to be discussed. I was correct in my assumption, it was the expenditure of $20,000,000 of taxpayer dollars.

The discussion which dominated the meeting was the bid process for the new sports parks and Aquatic Center. The aldermen were questioning the process by which the staff selected the contractor that would build these projects. Without boring anyone; basically, they wanted to know why the sports parks and aquatic center weren't bid out separately, rather than lumped into one contract. The aldermen believe that the companies that specialize in sports parks, or aquatic centers only, were at a disadvantage to companies who do both. The staff presented their position of why they selected a certain company to do both. The mayor was on the defense offering his usual diversions and usual ridiculous similes.

Mayor Lambi said something to the effect of; you can't change a flight plan when your taxiing to the runway and that the aldermen need to stop politicizing this project. After he got done telling the aldermen what they can't do, he said; "If you don't take staff recommendations, you don't need a staff, you can do it all yourself." Alderman Tow, angrily retorted; "I resent your remarks." Alderman Stokes, obviously insulted said, "I am not politicizing this, you are and I resent your statement." Alderman Guccione said, "If we passed everything staff puts before us without questioning it, we are just a bunch of bobble heads." Alderman Gard was angry pounding his fists on the Dias, "If this Board doesn't look for ways to make things better, and represent our constituents who elected us, we don't need a board."

This subject went on for what seemed like hours, it was the greatest aldermanic demonstration of getting the city on track, that I've ever seen. The staff was on their heels and Lambi had humiliated himself—again. Someone needs to tell him that a closed mouth gathers no foot! I'd heard about board meetings in the 1970s when some members had raised their voices and hated the mayors but in those days the boards were filled with aldermen who had axes to grind and special interests. This group of alderman's special interests lay in saving the citizens of Wentzville tax dollars, and they are in agreement about how to do it. 2011 is the year of the people of Wentzville.

The next meeting of the board of aldermen promises to be round two—they will vote on several issues that have been vigorously debated over the last few weeks. I recommend that you make plans to see your aldermen defend you against a city staff who is hell-bent on spending as much as they can and a mayor who can't find his ass with a radar screen. If you can't make it, make sure you watch the video of it on your computer next Thursday, it should be a daisy. Catch it at http://www.wentzvillemo.org/.

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Meeting With a Bang!

If you are a concerned citizen, the July 27, 2011 Wentzville board of aldermen meeting proved to be a most splendid occasion indeed. The Aldermen have taken control of overspending and the bulging bureaucracy in city hall, which is exactly what the citizens who elected them sent them there to do. This meeting started with a bang and heralded a long night for the unhappy mayor Paul Lambi.

After the usual Call To Order, Open Forum, Consent Agenda, blah, blah, blah, they got to Unfinished Business: LINC Services. In a last-ditch attempt to get the city to fund the 501c organization, Mayor Lambi introduced a "contract for services" to lure them into entertaining his pet project. He asked for discussion—the sounds of crickets could be heard from a block away. The city of Wentzville seemed to stop in time; no traffic or trains could be heard, only deafening silence. As the aldermen starred blankly into their computer screens, an uneasiness could be felt from the dais. After what seemed like minutes, suddenly the mayor spoke; "seeing no discussion, I'll close this item." BANG went the gavel. That shot was so hard, I swear I could see splinters flying—the staff woke up, the aldermen jumped, and the mayor got the message; the LINC subject was "finished business." This point in question is unfortunate; after all, LINC is a deserving organization. Mayor Lambi must have gone out on a limb and promised something to LINC Services that he had no place or right to promise. If he wants support for anything from this board in the future, he will need to query the aldermen ahead of time to see whether he has their support before embarrassing himself and the city. Ramming things through or intimidating a bunch of junior and first-term aldermen won't work anymore.

After the dust and wood chips settled, the subject turned to new business. The most interesting of it was the "Prospect Road (east) Booster Pumping Station Contract Award." Without going into great detail, our aldermen questioned and listened to testimony of the staff and vendors, and nodded through the flaccid justifications of the mayor. Following a lengthy discussion they rejected the staff recommendation and awarded the contract to an equally qualified lower bidder. The bottom line is a savings of almost $100,000 in taxpayers' dollars. To anyone watching the proceedings, it would be easy to surmise that the staff has favorite vendors whom they recommend regardless of the cost to the city.

Mayor Lambi has to have heard it loud and clear; these young aldermen are not afraid of him anymore. I have a hunch that the rest of his term is going to be tough. If he decides to run again in 2012, and he should happen to win, it's going to be the most miserable four years he's ever spent in office. If he's smarter than he's acted in his last two terms, he won't run for re-election.

I can't wait for the next meeting; it promises to be a dandy, It's going to be hard not to laugh out loud, or for the younger generation LOL. Inside, I'm sure I'll be ROFLMAO!