On Aug. 22, 2023, Councilperson Friedel talked about a meeting with MCSO Sheriff Penzone addressing the town’s financial concerns, with then Mayor Dickey, Councilpersons Kalivianakis and Grzybowski, Town Manager Rachel Goodwin, Attorney Aaron Arnson, Finance Director David Pock – and Penzone’s staff – including Russ Skinner.
That meeting eventually resulted in savings of over $722,000 ($611,638.23 for Town-specific vacancy credits and $110,222.56 for MCSO department-wide vacancy credits). It represented substantial reductions in town costs, with no service cuts and it did nothing to employee benefits. No press release, either, as Mayor Dickey didn’t flaunt what was her job, to help find budget savings for the town.
Thereafter – then Councilperson Friedel complained at a council meeting that, as a senior councilmember on this dais, he was not also involved. He said he thought he should have had a seat at that table for any negotiations going on with that contract for this town and the residents.
