By: Diane Benjamin
http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3322
Isaac Thorne from Connect Transit will do a presentation. He will tell you it’s your imagination the huge buses are empty. Have you noticed the newer buses have dark windows so it’s hard to tell? The rider numbers will be ridiculous, they either have no idea how many people use the bus service or it’s a secret. Nothing is on the agenda to approve or nix the budget. A vote on it can not legally be taken (on purpose).
Remember awhile back when there was a $100 a month lease for 305 S Linden on the agenda? It was taken off for “more work”. No, it’s not back – but taxpayers are still forced to pay this because the staff moved from that cheap building to an entire floor of 1 Uptown Circle:
The first floor of the Circle building is still vacant. When is Normal going to hold the developer accountable? Trail East isn’t needed, Normal can vacate the building and the Trail East future tenants can move in.
More property taxes – it isn’t for Fire Station #2, it is exempt. Whatever this property is the taxes were due on June 3rd, so a penalty for paying late is probably included.
This qualifies as redistribution of wealth, of course yours:
I’ve heard from Town employees who don’t want this gear. Their closets are full of it now:
Hope they had a good time at your expense:
All those free Uptown activities aren’t really free: (click to enlarge)
Normal actually outsources mowing, Bloomington should too. It would be much cheaper than salaries, benefits, and pensions.
How long will the meeting last when the questions start hitting Connect Transit?
Get ready for the show!
I’m sure the Citizens to Ensure Fair Transit will be there.
Regarding the History Gala, $400. Was that for eight tickets ? If so, who were the lucky recipients ? Our local governments are controlled by networking. Everyone gives each other money, taxpayer money. There are several government and private concerns in this area that are “in the loop”. Sooner or later this loop will become a noose and some will hang. “When it gets down to the brass tacks, it’s all about money.” JFK
I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too. –Steve Martin
Normal should definitely develop some sort of ‘opt-out’ for their employee swag. Based on my library board experience*, long-term employees would probably be happier with half as much rather than accumulating closets full. I still have and use some of my swag, but could easily see it accumulating if I had been on the board this whole time.
*Library board members don’t get paid. Assuming policies haven’t changed since my tenure, compensation is snacks at the meetings, swag like the employee shirts described above, no fees, 1 book, and a plaque if you’re an exiting long-term member.