Councilwoman Marby Lee shed light on an issue at City Hall to
which her colleagues gave a collective
”
What’s the big deal?
”
But it is a big deal in that it shows city staff’s lack of
communication and disregard for the role of the City Council.
Questions shed light on practices
Councilwoman Marby Lee shed light on an issue at City Hall to which her colleagues gave a collective “What’s the big deal?” But it is a big deal in that it shows city staff’s lack of communication and disregard for the role of the City Council.
In a statement read June 3, Lee said she was concerned that she was “rubberstamping the wants of staff” and requested the report after learning that the $33,000 fence upgrade for the new skate park was approved by the council two weeks after the order had been placed. Generally, any change order of more than $20,000 needs council approval. When Public Works Director Jim Ashcraft approached the council for approval, he didn’t mention he’d already ordered the new fence. That surely couldn’t be done in the private sector.
Cutting corners is not the answer
While it’s understandable that staff is working to keep projects on track, cutting corners to meet deadlines is not the answer. Either wait for approval before purchasing equipment or change the process. City Attorney Danny Wan said that in the future, staff reports will be “explicit” if orders have already been made. That’s a start. Better communication between city staff, the city manager and the council would go a long way to alleviating some of the tension between Lee and staff.
Likening the lengthy 56-page report to a slap on the wrist from staff, Lee said that for her, there’s certainly a trust issue.
“If I’m going to be challenged when I ask why you’ve done things, why even have a council? That’s a frustration. I’m not going to be made the bad guy when, if you had just told us in the first place, (it wouldn’t be an issue),” she told reporter Natalie Everett.
Fix the problem and move on
Kudos to Lee for asking the hard questions and shedding light on difficult issues. City staff – and Lee’s fellow councilmembers – need to remember that they work for the residents of Morgan Hill. Perhaps the 50 hours staff spent on the report will go a long way toward facilitating change. And, though it appears to be an isolated incident – albeit one with 42 incidents in which change orders or amendments to contracts were made by staff prior to council approval – it’s time to correct the problem and move on.
Contact Mayor Steve Tate, and councilmembers Greg Sellers, Larry Carr, Marilyn Librers and Marby Lee at [email protected]
