On June 13, Council held a Work Study Session (WSS) with two items; 1) Discussion regarding proposed recreational improvements at Fountain Park and 2) Discussion regarding the Town’s ten-year budget projections.

In WSS’s: No action can or will be taken; Public comment is not provided for without special consensus; There is no videotape or online streaming; For this particular meeting, minutes aren’t available until Aug. 15 due to their recess.

The agenda packet contained zero information about the first item for the public, or several Councilmembers, to view. Open Meeting Laws do not preclude posting full background materials well before the meeting. We had no idea what the “improvements” included, or that the Mayor/some Council would agree, without voting, to spend $40,000 on a lagoon feasibility study. The Manager has authority to spend $50,000 without Council approval, so while this “action” was legal, was it wise?

From what I understand, there is no video or minutes; only Councilmen Leger and Magazine had concerns about spending tax-payer dollars on this study. Remember they, like us, had not been privy to this presentation or the unofficially-formed committee working on it.

These same Councilmen demonstrated caution again at the June 15 meeting where others were poised to forge ahead, sight unseen, with a $30,000 annual commitment to the Chamber a proposed new office space on Verde River Dr. They were more successful, securing a postponement.

Here’s $70,000 most were willing to spend – yet earlier nixed a pavement study for $80,000 (updated at a small cost yearly) that mature leaders would want for responsible planning (supported by Councilmen Leger, Magazine and DePorter.).

The second item had plenty of information, including the looming $6 million annual projected shortfall.

We are seeing a disturbing theme of shutting out the public; unresponsive to residents and reality.