Pigs Cannot Fly

Lewis Carroll, creator of Alice in Wonderland wrote a book in 1872 (the year Wentzville became a town) titled; Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, where he included the poem; The Walrus and the Carpenter. One verse that stuck out and has remained in my memory for all these years since I first read it is:

"The time has come," the Walrus said,

"To talk of many things:

Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

I began this way because the time has really come to talk of many things.

Half way into the fourth month of Mayor Nick Guccione's office is not much different than his first week. I wish I had better things to report but I don't, he just does not understand that he is in a position of leadership and if he does, he hasn't shown any signs of it, he has yet to lead a meeting. This past Wednesday evening, once again the President of the Board of Alderman, Rick Stokes took charge to keep the meeting moving or their short agenda would have become another midnight affair. Guccione is a union man and must think he's on the clock because he makes no effort to control or move a meeting along. During a discussion of the Board of Alderman, a member of the audience butted in to speak at least on four occasions, not once did our Mayor ask him to be seated until called upon. The simple fact is that Nick Guccione is not doing the job the taxpayers hired him to do. Executive sessions have become a frequent occurrence again and just like in Lambi's final days, it tells me something big is going on.

Wednesday night after the executive session, I noticed something very strange indeed; a meeting was held in the closed door office of the Mayor which included: Mayor Guccione, Aldermen Rick Stokes and Chris Gard, and City Attorney Paul Rost. I can only guess what was going on but for my money, I'd bet it has to do with Guccione's lack of leadership. With any luck it was a shape-up or ship-out lecture but time will tell.

I am convinced that Guccione wants employees to love him and treats them like friends not employees, which makes it tough if he ever has to direct or reprimand. He does not direct, he doesn't know how, his day job management training obviously hasn't worked because it's more than likely called; seniority. It has been my observation that Mayor Guccione is derelict in his duties and I'm confident that it's not only on the surface where the public can see.

Now for an even more serious problem: As I've reported, Guccione's political principles will not allow for a replacement of the vacated Ward 3 seat, "it's my choice or it will remain vacant." To complicate having a hole in the Board of Aldermen, Chris Gard and Rick Stokes are both running for State Representative and if both of them should win and Guccione does not name acceptable replacements for the three vacated seats, the City will shut down because it takes four aldermen to have a quorum in order to vote on legislation. If only one of them should leave, if any of the four remaining Aldermen are absent for any reason, the city shuts down until the April election. Guccione needs to name an acceptable candidate now because if he doesn't, he's placing the City of Wentzville in jeopardy. This is a serious problem that I don't believe Mayor Guccione understands or even cares about, He really does not know the responsibility that goes with the title; Mayor. Mr. Mayor, the sea is boiling hot, either start bailing or jump overboard!

Nick Guccione reached his level of competence before he was elected alderman, five years ago. Today he's a Mayor with no skills to run a city other than to say he has five years as an aldermen. Looking at his record, there's nothing to indicate that he's accomplished anything in politics other than be elected. To Guccione, his job was not being an alderman, it was getting elected and re-elected. I can only guess what he thinks a Mayor is suppose to do but I guarantee it's not what a Mayor should do. Mr Guccione should admit that he can't handle the job and resign as Mayor before he gets himself and the City into serious trouble.

Should Nick Guccione continue driving the City over the cliff, his joyride will be stopped. It won't be pleasant for him or the City but it will be stopped. What he didn't count on is a Board of Aldermen who care about Wentzville and its future they will not stand by and allow an incompetent Mayor butcher the city. If he thinks this Board won't take action, I can assure him they will. Pigs cannot not fly and if you want to butcher something stick to chickens.

I am truly concerned for Wentzville, admittedly, Wentzville has had questionable leadership for the last sixteen years but they did have leaders. Today, we have a man who cannot comprehend the severity of his situation and given enough time he will destroy everything our community has worked toward for the past 157 years. I implore Wentzville voters to contact your Mayor and Aldermen, urge them to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat before Mayor Guccione forces a shut-down of our government.

If Guccione does not appoint an acceptable replacement for the Ward 3 seat before the November national election he risks the shut-down of the City. There would be no permits issued, no legislation passed, no bills paid, no road construction completed, and no one to complain to because city employees would be sent home for four months until the April election. Don't let politics destroy a city that has been the envy of St. Charles County for many years. Mayor Guccione needs to throw aside his political agenda and make an appointment that will work for our city. If the appointment is not made and Guccione puts the city at risk, he should be impeached, it is no longer a political statement, it's dereliction of duty! Pigs do not have wings and cannot fly Mr Mayor.