By: Diane Benjamin
Bloomington agenda for tonight: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f71aedd4-5bbe-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1723138430.pdf
Only 1 item is on the regular agenda: https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/cityblm/05f44e6d7c7828b2db62b47b19b7427d0.pdf
Big government means big bureaucracy. Bloomington’s staff is MUCH bigger than just a few years ago. Something isn’t working right because this item hires a consultant to fix the organizational structure. Below is what they want the consultant to do:
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Cost this year:
Remember old City Manager David Hales who had to hire a consultant for everything? A second Deputy City Manager didn’t fix organizational problems? The only real fix is sticking to why government exists and cutting all personnel that aren’t providing essential services. Of course, that will never happen.
I have heard Iverson Consulting is top notch. Maybe the firm will recommend downsizing.
The City wants a piece of a class action lawsuit against credit card companies that charge fees. Of course lawyers always make money on class action suits, people share what is left. See this form the City has to complete: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2777441/Claim_Form.pdf
Staff has to be paid to locate fee information going back to 2004. Since this item is on the Consent Agenda it will likely pass with no discussion. I wonder if anyone took the time for a Cost-Benefit analysis?
The Liquor Commission is recommending a Liquor License be denied at 2010 Cottage Ave, Unit B. https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/cityblm/ef6bd797443600e1d5227389995a20a00.pdf
Click that link and go to the bottom. Read the Findings and Recommendations document. This might come up at Public Comment.
This is a link to the Liquor Commission hearing for this location: https://shorturl.at/B26et
Evidently the Liquor Commission only has two members and one wasn’t there!
At the April and May meetings Mboka was absent. In February Lindsey was absent. March was the only meeting this year with both present. They must consider ONE person a quorum.
The Liquor Commission website calls for 3 members, so why are there only two? https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/boards-commissions/liquor-commission
Might be a short meeting.
Why do we need expensive Deputy City managers and highly paid HR staff when you have to hire this out? Is the consultant going to tell them anything they don’t want to hear about any inefficient operations, overpaid staff, or duplication of efforts?
I’m interested in what those outside running want to do with this because anyone on currently, besides Montney or Boelen could be real tough to support.