Liz Brown and Karen Goldner were especially unproductive Tuesday night at City Council. Goldner, who usually rambles through muddled rationale and comments lacking a point, took a shot at gratuitous Tim Pape as he questioned a city official over a million-dollar software contract. Pape was asking simple questions about the costs involved in one of the city’s software contracts. He listened to Jim Howard, paused and started a line of questioning that focused on “are we paying too much?” He asked a series of questions and then honed in on the service component that costs us $100,000 per year. He questioned whether the city had calculated the number of hours the contractor had put in toward service, whether the work could be handled locally, whether it would be better to hire two computer techs (at $50k each) to do the same thing, etc. Were we getting our money’s worth. Howard was having trouble answering directly.
As he questioned Mr. Howard, Goldner cut into the middle of one of his sentences and quipped “that’s how they make their money…” The vapid comment stopped Pape who turned his head away from Goldner and looked down toward the table. It was obvious that she had humiliated him and disrupted his line of questioning. Pape, it seemed, was honestly trying to understand. Goldner’s childish quip stung him and did nothing to further the discussion.
Then, twenty minutes later, during a discussion of the new ice complex at Wells and Northrop, John Shoaff questioned why three lanes of road twelve-feet wide each were needed within the private development. He was justified in this because the city was being asked in a spending ordinance to pay for part of the work. He was also justified in this because it is his job. Liz Brown blew her top and went on a tirade that included her references to her former life as a hockey-mom, being lost when she first came to town, personal criticisms of Shoaff and his efforts to “beautify the city” and then called the area a “gravel pit” of an eyesore. Welcome to Fort Wayne Liz. Tell us how you really feel.
It was not a collegial rebuttal to his point, but a simple high-pitched, angry, testy tirade. She has done this before. He has a reputation for insulting those with whom she may disagree. I watched her aggressively challenge a citizen during Buskerfest. He had done nothing more than to thank Mitch Harper for his stand against the changes to Calhoun. Liz jumped in with a raised voice and gesturing dramatically in the direction of the Court House. The young man looked deflated and backed off.
The fruits of Mrs. Brown’s reputation can be seen in recent defeats she has suffered to council. Twice, on two votes at the council table, one concerning a personnel contract and the second on the oversight of consultants, she has been squashed like a small bug. Hardly anyone supported her. In both cases, she raised excellent questions that effect the way our city runs, that involve our tax money and beg many further questions of propriety, legality and transparency. Unfortunately, she is a bull in a china shop, a blunt knife who just doesn’t know how to win people to her arguments because she has cut so many with her sharp and tongue. She will lose even when she should win. In short, the number of people who wish to work with her shrinks daily, with almost every contact she has with neighborhood leaders, or with we, the great unwashed masses. She is condescending, arrogant and rude.
As for Councilwoman Goldner, she is just muddled in her thoughts, speaks in equally muddled sentences and does not know when to sit quietly to allow her colleagues to finish a sentence.
Two ill-timed, self-destructive comments in one night. Perhaps it was the water, or the phase of the moon.
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How ironic, Liz speak of creating an eye sore regarding Wells Street “and then called the area a “gravel pit” of an eyesore”.. she doesn’t care now that Calhoun street is abysmal…..
Too bad she hasn’t been consistent with her concerns of spending money, either.
While I truly appreciate her conservative views, she has to be consistent to get elected, IMHO.
Mr Sack asks: “Perhaps it was the water, or the phase of the moon”?
Jim, the answer is that some members of the Imperial Fort Wayne City Council think of citizens and taxpayers as only obstacles in the way of whatever agenda they have been told to follow. While there are still members of this “club” who truly want to serve the citizens and do what they feel is right for the city and citizens, those few rotten apples continue to diminish both the effectiveness and reputation of this body. Gone are the days of healthy and spirited debate where all sides could be heard and accommodated in expressing their points. Now, it’s rudeness, and incivility that rule the day. The cheap answer is that this behavior is a reflection of today’s society. My observation is that a few individuals believe they have been “knighted” or somehow have been elevated the to the “ruling class” who now feel empowered to act without regard to the rules and constructs of fair-play, decorum, or even common decency. I can not decide whether the all-powerful Imperial Fort Wayne City Council needs a strong leader, an effective parliamentarian, a referee, or nanny.
Jennifer, I fought the changes to Calhoun as a waste of a perfectly fine resource (already paid for) and a waste of $1.8 million in spending to destroy and rebuild. Liz was in favor of that expenditure from the git go. I agree with you. She is inconsistent. She is also rude and arrogant, so it is hard to support her.
Doug, I agree. I will write one soon about their work load. Some seem very involved. Some not so.
Based on her mood swings, thinning hair, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, intense feelings, anxiety and irritability, one can only conclude..
It must be menopause.
This year I know of some local school leaders who have adopted the following quote from Benjamin Franklin:
“Well done is better than well said.”
Take from that what you will about the above.
As for your article, I am very impressed. Fair, balanced, and wholeheartedly truthful. I would love to read more in the future, Mr. Sack!