Here's what happened at Monday night's city council meeting.
There were two public hearings -- one on the proposed budget with its $1.59 per-thousand property tax increase and another on the water and sewer rate increase (adding about $12 per year to the average homeowner's bill) -- and no members of the public showed up.
A pair of local residents raised their concerns about a neighbor dispute they would like the police department to take action on.
And Elijah Monroe, above, presented a framed certificate to the Batavia City Council commemorating Batavia for being the Niagara Frontier chapter headquarters for the The Society of the Second War with Great Britain In the State of New York.
The society is affiliated with the General Society of the War of 1812, which is an organization for the male descendants of anyone who served in the War of 1812.
Maybe if they didn't schedule
Maybe if they didn't schedule it on a night when most people are doing something special, people would have come.
I believe people don't come
I believe people don't come because they realize the it doesn't make a difference..They are going to raise you taxes no matter what you say...Anyone one notice all the pot holes on all the streets that have been paved in the last couple of years..The city is good at doing things twice..
It's the City Council's fault
It's the City Council's fault that Valentine's fell on a Monday night?
Think of it this way. There
Think of it this way. There are four postings on this issue. Unless it's something vital you never will get to many citizens for a Batavia, NY City Council Meetings. Reason, No one cares. It's beyond race, economics. Batavia, NY is going to be run by a few people and what anyone else say's basically doesn't matter. It's been that way for thirty years and as long as certain people are around, it's going to continue to be run the way they seem fit.
The elected officials are
The elected officials are supposed to act in the best interest of the public who voted them in . So why do people have to show up to make sure this happens . I always see a comment that nobody from the public showed therfore the conclusion is nobody cares . This is not the case .We expect the officials to the job they were voted in for .
How does one go to the meetings if they work 2nd shift . Oh ya thats right , nobody works second shift anymore because there are no manufacturing jobs in Batavia (Sarcastic remark)
GCEDC jobs created for the city of Batavia (hotel desk clerk fired and then re-hired because they got a tax break .
Thats one fake job , and this my friend is how they count jobs created .
Lisa, the budget meeting
Lisa, the budget meeting didn't have to be that particular Monday.
Peter, Anyone who wanted to
Peter,
Anyone who wanted to could speak about the budget at any other Council meeting, not just the "official" hearing.
And there will be at least another meeting before the budget is voted on. Anyone can speak at that meeting also.
John, Its too bad anything
John,
Its too bad anything said at these meetings falls on deaf hears, or at least ears that purposefully plugged.
In the end the people don't matter.
I have heard nothing about the inconsistencies I mentioned a couple weeks ago about the budget. At least if I was on the council I would monitor pages like this to hear from people following the situations the city is involved in. And I would like to think I would take some time to at least research and comment on things like what I previously posted.
That guy with the Pizza has
That guy with the Pizza has great hair. Fantastic hair, and Tommy is right. But I won't care until I come back home and you make me Mayor. Batavia will become a really good place, a little at at a time. Howard doesn't want it, or to even think about a grow your own ordinance like Jesus would have us respect. God said: "What the world needs now is love sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just to little of." I'm all for heeding that advice.
And man I hope it warms up, up there. May maybe. My Tomatoes go in tomorrow, but I'm pushing it.
Have you ever done a picket?
Have you ever done a picket? Have you ever made a hundred picket signs and walked in circles in the sun? I have. Vote for me when I run for Mayor.
Peter, Which Council member
Peter,
Which Council member did you actually talk with?
Peter says "Nunya" John. As
Peter says "Nunya" John. As in "Nunya business" 'cause it ain't. Vote for me. Look for Geo on the ballot. In ten years I'll be Mayor of Batavia. And your life will improve. "If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it." God said that, I concur y'all.
I am sure more people would
I am sure more people would have showed up if it was advertised that Tommy Chong was going to make a guest appearence. Poor guy must have had the munchies cause he had a pizza with him :)
Interesting that the 1812
Interesting that the 1812 club is for men only.
Read Tommy Chongs's book Tim.
Read Tommy Chongs's book Tim. It will make you angry, and no doubt about it, that guy has excellent hair. You old forty and nearly fifty year old wimmen wanting babies need to make sure you keep him in the gene pool, if only for his hair. It is wonderful.
Posted by Peter O'Brien on
Posted by Peter O'Brien on February 15, 2011 - 3:11pm
At least if I was on the council I would monitor pages like this to hear from people following the situations the city is involved in.
That is a surprise. What happen to the belief that if you were on the council you would tell them that there is no compromise, it is your way or the highway? Doesn't sound like you'd be very interested in hearing anything contrary (from other council members or the public) to what you have already determined to be the only opinion worth considering.
Bea, Seeing as I am not on
Bea,
Seeing as I am not on the council, and I found plenty of issues with the budget....I think you see where this is going.
Just because I don't think my opinion will change doesn't mean I not look at things presented. More than likely I will not change my mind.
There is only one council
There is only one council person taking a stand for the tax payer and that is Rose Mary..the rest just want to nod their head yes and do want do ever the city manager say to do..There are many more ways to save money as Peter as writen about..There was one dept head that was approved for a new $500 chair..Lucky Mr.Robert Bialkowski found one for $300..These are the bs items that need to be cut..How many more times will they increase the tax rate before they get enough..Our Taxes have gone up by allmost 20% in the last four years.When will it stop..How many more $500 chairs do we need.. The streets in this city suck..They pave them and they fall apart in a couple of years.Its time to get some new blood in city hall...
Mark, There is an election
Mark,
There is an election this year for all 6 wards. Term is 4 years and you get about $1.25 per hour, or less ($2,000 for the year, before taxes).
Posted by Peter O'Brien on
Posted by Peter O'Brien on February 15, 2011 - 8:43pm
Just because I don't think my opinion will change doesn't mean I not look at things presented. More than likely I will not change my mind.
Why bother?
Just let your constituents know that any opinion other than your own isn't worth the effort.
Actually, this attitude makes you a perfect candidate for city council.
You can join the ranks of many who sit and looked bored while the public speaks about high taxes; crumbling infrastructure; etc.
You know what that is like. They were shuffling papers the night you spoke. Like you, most likely they weren't about to change their mind.
The only person, sitting on the council right now, that has any concern for the people is Rosemary. Her due diligence and research found money that will keep taxes from rising this year.
Ask her about the deal with the firemen; the increase in water rates; etc. She's done her homework.
Chances are I will have made
Chances are I will have made up my mind after doing my own research Bea. But if someone brought up things like I did in the other budget thread I would look into them before I voted.
And I would explain why I feel the way I do.
That's significantly different from what I experienced from the council. Rosemary heard where I live when I spoke before them but she made no effort to talk to me at all either after the meeting was over or in the days since.