Much was discussed during the six-hour meeting of September 11th and I'll try to report on a few of the highlights without getting side tracked by the lack of our Mayor's participation—or his fashion trend. The overwhelming preponderance of the evening's talk was focused on finances. There were reviews of various projects, but I think everyone already knows that Splash Station is a half-million dollars over budget and now scheduled to open in November. I hope our Wentzville residents bring their fur-lined bikinis and thermal-Speedos to the grand opening.
On April 4, 2013 The Wentzvillian posted Mayor Guccione—First Year Review which listed Mayor Nickolas Guccione's accomplishments of 2012. Unfortunately, he didn't give the City a list of initiatives for 2012, so I listed only his accomplishments.
Now we get to Board objectives, when each Alderman had the opportunity to tell the people of Wentzville their accomplishments for 2013 and their vision of what needs to be done for 2014. After they finished, Guccione attempted to move forward with the agenda when Board President, Rick Stokes asked; "Mr. Mayor, don't you want to give the public the status of your 2013 goals and objectives?" This is becoming cliché, but after King Nickolas shook off his thousand-yard stare, he said, "I don't remember what they were, and I didn't bring them with me." WHAT!!! On March 29, 2013 The Wentzvillian posted; 4 Days to the Election, and... where Guccione's goals and objectives for 2013 were listed. It was fun to go back and see just how many have been pursued or realized by the Almighty, can anyone say; NONE?
Guccione is famous for saying some pretty imbecilic things, but "I don't remember ... ," (referring to his goals and objectives) has to be one of the all-time most dicrous statements ever made by a seated mayor. Isn't it the job of a mayor to have a vision and work toward seeing it through, how could he not remember? To hear him say, "I don't remember ... " is like hearing a gunfighter say, "Hold on a second, I didn't remember to load my pistol and I didn't bring any bullets."
I find it totally irresponsible that for the second year Guccione is not telling the people and staff his goals for the future, and now can't remember his objectives from last year. The city is going into budget mode, shouldn't the mayor tell the city what he wants to accomplish in 2014 so it could be budgeted? So what is really going on?
Guccione is not, and never has been one to set goals. If he were to announce anything he wants to do, he would then take ownership of a potential failure. He doesn't want to take responsibility for anything that might not happen—to him it would be political suicide. If he ever does commit to something and it doesn't happen you can make book on him already having a list of people in his pocket to blame for the failure. I've heard from several of my sources that he is already blaming the last two City Administrators; T. Michael McDowell and George Kolb, for things that he himself should have taken care of. He gets away with it because one is in another state, and the other passed away. Deceive, divert, and redirect, is and always has been Guccione's mode of operation. Never take responsibility, never commit, and always have someone to blame it on.
Politics is our mayor's first priority; getting elected and re-elected is his objective. It has been this way since he first ran for alderman in 2007 and that position has never changed. Keeping his eye on the political ball and controlling every election comes before any City of Wentzville business. Right now, our mayor is out knocking on doors furthering his political agenda to replace Aldermen: Rick Stokes, Sonya Shryock, and Forrest Gossett with his own candidates. It's the same every year, controlling the Board of Aldermen, that is his vision for 2014. He's not committing to anything to better Wentzville, he wants total power over the city. There is absolutely no chance of you ever hearing him say; "I didn't remember the election," or any aspect of it.
i talked with several friends about guccione and they all agree that he is a terrible mayor. i have spoken with him and although he smiles and seems like he cares, he blames the aldermen for what is wrong with the city. how do we get him to do his job?
ReplyDeleteGooch has gone into his full-tilt election mode. He's got Linda Wright geared up to run against Rick Stokes in an attempt to foul up the election the same way she did last year. Between her and Gooch, they managed to get Plastic Guccione, Michael Hays elected by 6 votes.
ReplyDeleteGooch and his band of election manipulators have been trying to dig up dirt on Stokes since last year and he now believes he has enough slanderous crap to beat him. The question remaining is; who does he have lined up to run as a third candidate for the ward 3 seat?
Stokes is the best alderman ward 3 has had in years and Gooch's hypocrisy knows no bounds. When he steps over the ethics line (and he will), during or before the election of 2014, will the aldermen and the city finally say; "That's enough!"
If the Mayor crosses the line of ethical and moral behavior on the upcoming election, he will be tested to the wall with every word he has uttered publicly and privately to anyone in this city.Every time he lights up, someone will watch him and who he is talking with.
DeleteRadio Shack sells listening devices and recorders that have strong, long range listening capability.
THE SHADOW WILL BE AROUND EVERY CORNER!
I voted on your polls here. But you used to have one that rated Mayor Guccione's job approval, what ever happened to that one?
ReplyDeleteMayor Guccione's job approval rating through his first year in office was a dismal 19 to 21 percent.
DeleteI don't know how he could get it any lower, but with all the bone-head things he's done so far in his second year it's more than possible.
I only found the Wentzvillian a few weeks ago, but I'm telling you it is great, thank you! I wish there were more sources of political insight into our Wentzville government. It takes a certain kind of nut to buck the system and have balls enough to tell it like it is. Thank you again, and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteBucking the system or speaking out does have consequences. The last three mayors, and some aldermen have hated me and everything I stand for, simply because I exercise my freedom of speech by telling the citizens of Wentzville of their management shortcomings.
DeleteWentzville has become a petri dish of dysfunction, caused by poor management and leadership. Consider the following organizational concepts:
ReplyDelete1. The Peter Principle - People tend to rise to their level of incompetence. Mayor Nick is clearly at that level, so any advancement will violate this principal.
2. Dunning–Kruger Effect - Unskilled individuals can suffer from an overestimation of their abilities. Enough said...
3. Negative Selection - People in power select people who aren't threatening to their power. It's a small sample size, but Nick's selection of Mike Hays is a fit. I presume that the candidates Nic selects for the upcoming election will not be assets to Wentzville. They will be assets to Nick.
4. Nature Abhors a Vacuum - Mayor Nic's lack of leadership results in Alderman seeking to expand their influence.
People often rise to challenges. Nic simply doesn't have the necessary talent to lead people. The messy board meetings were an early hint. The staff dysfunction in simply a confirmation that Nic can't lead. It'll be a bumpy road at city hall until the next mayoral election...
The staff is in a very awkward position. There is no CA to go between a demanding Board of Aldermen and an extremely paranoid Mayor who will throw any of them under the bus in a heartbeat to save him from the ridicule of failure. The staff is saddled with not only trying to their job but have to guess what Gooch wants because he will not direct them. They have all been Gooched!
DeleteI feel truly sorry for them because they are going to go through two and a half more years of insanity at the top of the food chain. I can only hope that our highly educated and effective staff can hold out and live through the firestorm of the narcissist they work for, Gooch!
Why is Guccione even involved in the coming election, it doesn't effect him. Why isn't he saying that, and also that he is busy doing city business?
ReplyDeleteI'm curious: If Mayor Guccione is as bad as he's made out to be here, why is he still in office?
ReplyDeleteThere is a question that can only be answered by our aldermen. Call your aldermen, ask them, tell them how you perceive our mayor and his job performance.
DeleteHe's in office because people don't pay enough attention to municipal elects. I refuse to believe that Nic Guccione accurately reflects the intellect of Wentzville's voters.
DeletePlease don't turn him into a martyr by advocating an impeachment.
A "martyr," he could never be a martyr. He would be another shamed politician who is such a narcissist he wouldn't even recognize that he did anything wrong. He'd be the Bill Clinton of Wentzville.
DeleteDelete
I had the delightful opportunity to speak with Wentzville's Mayor Guccione at a luncheon a few weeks back. A charming person, but I had difficulty understanding much of what he was saying. Being polite, I didn't keep asking "What did you say," and embarrassing him due to his obvious speech impediment. However, from the short time I was with him I can tell you that his impediment is not only with his speech.
ReplyDeleteI can not believe that a town as progressive as Wentzville who boasts the fastest growth in the county would elect a man like Nick Guccione to represent him in public, especially other city's. Perhaps he's the best Wentzville has to offer, and if so, I sympathize with your citizens who are represented by someone as uneducated, unprofessional, and lacking in speaking skills as he.