By Jim Sack

It was a marathon session last night at city council. I will try to be brief.

First up, James Sturgio, the gentleman who watches over the city’s 20-year old self-insurance program. Good news almost top to bottom. “You have saved millions over the years” through being self insured, the corpulent New Yorker chirped. Fort Wayne has some of the lowest claims rates of cities of comparable size in the county, he boasted. Mr. Sturgio, who reports annually to council, lauded city hall insurance officials for resolving claims very quickly so that legal fees did not mount, as well as for strong risk management programs. “Absolutely spectacular” came out of his mouth once, “just spectacular” another time. He did, however, suggest an increase in the amount of money council sets aside to cover claims. “Every five, six, seven years” you have a bad year he warned. “Just being conservative.”

There was a lengthy discussion of an ordinance amending city code concerning ethics. It was mostly informational, Karen Goldner, representing the north central, authored it in order to make sure council members’ (and immediate family) conflicts of interest do not effect votes. Marty Bender, council president, and Tom Didier, member representing the northwest side of town, seemed confused by the ramifications, but were helped by fellow council members. Tim Pape, representing the south central, had questions, probably still has questions, but seemed generally comfortable with the measure that will set up a board to hear complaints. Mitch Harper, the gentleman from the west side of the city, suggested that the board might also be advisory, that is, give council to members who were concerned, but not sure, whether they might be in conflict.

Then, on to a lengthy, ad nauseum, discussion of an ordinance requiring appointees to report annually to council as to their participation on boards and commissions. Liz Brown, councilwoman at large, pushed the bill complaining that some appointees do not bother to attend meetings. Tim Pape called the bill a waste of resources, an unnecessary layer of unneeded government that would, in essence, accomplish nothing. Having been a board chairman of a city committee for many, many years each set of minutes carries attendance records and comments. The information is already there. One would think that would be enough. Mrs. Brown stewed during most of the discussion as if the council members around her simply “didn’t get it.” Tom Smith and Tom Didier teamed to water down the ordinance by giving an extension to anyone failing to provide said report, really an attendance report, to council. City hall failed to act, so he called the gentleman, chatted with him a bit, and, upon better understanding of the gentleman’s situation, suggested he resign. Which he did. There are, as Pape, a Democrat, suggested, better ways to handle problems than more legislation. Brown stewed. Much ado about nothing, and much, much too much time spent.

During the debate Tom Didier tried, in vain, to offer an amendment. He had voiced his concern over a section of the ordinance and, in rambling, general terms, tried to amend the ordinance. He was asked by Mr. Harper to reduce his thoughts to a sentence which he could not do. Again, he rambled along until others came to his rescue. “His” amendment passed.

Council then went from committee session to regular session, sort of like a mini-migration from winter pasture to summer meadows, from one side of the room to the other, but only to deal with the same matters handled at the “table.” When finally seated again, when the American flag was moved ten feet to facilitate the pledge, after the moment of silence, the matters discussed at the previous campsite were presented again for “formal” vote. Most passed with no discussion, some bills were clustered, they were that important.

The main event came in public discussion time. After all the bills had been dispatched the public was invited to speak. Up came representatives of groups opposing the sale of K-2, or Spice, in area convenience stores and filling stations. The stuff is supposed to be incense, but some folk are smoking it. Plenty of anecdotal information, not evidence, was presented to demonize the substance and to encourage council to be in the business of protecting us from ourselves. Council jumped happily in by introducing two measures to outlaw its local sale. Push back. A group of young men complained that the whole thing was media hype, that alcohol, tobacco and over-the-counter drugs were all much more dangerous, but council was not trying to outlaw them. The opponents were worried about their kids, the young men were worried about their privacy. They sounded the true libertarians. A man said one traffic accident had been attributed to K2, so the rush is on to outlaw the substance. Why not texting, why not cell phones, why not applying lipstick, lighting up in the car, or eating while driving? Another noted council was wringing its hands because people were using K2 other than per label instructions. A young man recited a litany of common products, such as spray paint, that are used in unintended ways, but not on council’s agenda to eradicate. Hmmm. Council’s foremost libertarian, Mr. Harper, is the author of the measure and he and council got an earful from the young men. Marty Bender graciously told the guys that they had given him much to think about. Other members nodded.

If you find this article informative? Consider donating any amount you choose.

No related posts.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 8:58 am and is filed under City & County Government, Fort Wayne. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.