It may seem odd but the Morgan Hill City Council has never, in
recent memory, had dedicated offices. But now it does. Mayor Dennis
Kennedy has moved into the office vacated by the Recreation
Department staff and the four council members share a cubicle
vacated by Recreation Manager Julie Spier when the department moved
to the community and cultural center in early December.
It may seem odd but the Morgan Hill City Council has never, in recent memory, had dedicated offices. But now it does. Mayor Dennis Kennedy has moved into the office vacated by the Recreation Department staff and the four council members share a cubicle vacated by Recreation Manager Julie Spier when the department moved to the community and cultural center in early December.
Previously the mayor’s desk was huddled in a corner of the frequently used conference room just off Council Chambers. Other council members used what they could find.
“We were always ‘fighting’ for scheduled time in that space,” Kennedy said Monday. “There were very few opportunities to have meetings.”
Most other mayors of cities of similar size to Morgan Hill, Kennedy said, have their own offices.
Earlier plans to spend $80,000 to remodel the empty City Hall space into council offices went by the wayside with the current budget cuts.
City Manager Ed Tewes said less than $10,000 was actually spent. The remainder of the $80,000 was returned to the general fund, Tewes said.
Of the $10,000, more than half was spent to furnish the mayor’s office, according to Jack Dilles, finance director.
Kennedy now can work and hold meetings at a $917 desk and a $569, 48-inch table. The office is further furnished with a $546, two-drawer lateral file cabinet, an $827 credenza, a hutch for $530 and a $482 bookcase.
The mayor also has a new computer and printer for $1,667, including software. The total cost of furniture and computer, Dilles said, is $5,537.
“The office is available for council members’ use,” Kennedy said. “And I’ve found it to be very useful to meet with constituents – the public.”
Council members now share the old recreation department space fitted out with two desks and an old computer that will, Tewes said, allow them to check their E-mail.
Two task chairs were purchased – for $274 – for the council’s use. They, Dilles said, are brought into the mayor’s office for meetings.
“We did use some old furniture,” Dilles said.
“I’d like to see council members to get better space,” Kennedy said. But he agreed that improvement would have to wait for better economic times.
