MAYOR MUST RUN MEETINGS
The idea of city council hiring a speaker to chair its meetings never deserved serious consideration. It would be outrageous to incur a hefty annual cost simply because council members can’t stay on topic and remain focused.
Even the committee debate over a paid speaker reflects council’s ineffectualness. The group discussed the subject for about 90 minutes Tuesday before narrowly agreeing to refer it back to administration for more information.
The problem with meetings that carry on too long — sometimes for a second day — is that overtime must be paid to the employees who are required to be on hand. Open-ended meetings are a poor use of everyone’s time.
City manager Jeff Fielding observed in November that council meetings weren’t being chaired effectively, prompting a request for the city clerk’s office to look at different chairing models. The resulting report estimated it would cost approximately $170,000 annually for a paid speaker to chair council meetings, plus additional expenses such as office space.
That works out to a whopping $5,483 per meeting. And given that the mayor’s salary is being reduced to $200,747, the speaker’s remuneration wouldn’t be much less than what the city’s top politician is paid.
Long meetings aren’t the only challenge prompting council to consider bringing in outside help. Last spring, the city engaged its first integrity commissioner and ethics adviser, two part-time positions that serve as watchdogs for our municipal politicians. The jobs were created after a confidential whistleblower report by the city auditor found “systemic problems” in council offices, though details about possible malfeasance are elusive.
Ideally, such positions wouldn’t be needed in a well-functioning city hall. What certainly isn’t needed is a highly paid speaker to keep council meetings flowing as they should.
It’s obvious deliberations can be kept to a reasonable limit. When Mayor Naheed Nenshi was away May 29, Ward 8 Coun. Evan Woolley served as the chair and the meeting ended before 5 p.m., earning him praise from his colleagues.
The fact is Nenshi needs to improve his handling of the meetings. He is, after all, the only member of council elected by voters throughout the city, as opposed to representing the constituents of a single ward. And as mayor, it’s expected he’ll demonstrate leadership, such as chairing meetings that serve the public well.
There’s no need to bring in high-priced help. The mayor must ensure meetings are efficiently run and end punctually. It’s not a lot to ask of any senior public official.