Thursday, December 8, 2011
Ready For The New Year
Evaluation is a data driven process. Selecting the right technology to collect the data can involve several data collection strategies. Since we are adding expansive amounts of new data while reducing the number of employees available to do the work means exploring strategies and methods that will be using data from systems no longer used to project the new needs.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Super Majority
A slight change in organization format is now required, but no significant change to what will occur.
The newly approved budget incorporated the separation of the Clerk/Treasurer duties. The approved budget recognized the changes in the scope of the job over the years and resulted in the City Manager opting to appoint a Finance Director and incorporate the Treasurer duties into this position. The charter ordinance would have separated the Clerk’s statutory duties from the Treasurer’s duties because the tasks of the Treasurer and Finance Director are similar and the statutory duties of the Clerk are consistent with the Human Resource activities.
The City Manager will have to create minor administrative offices that are attached to the Clerk-Treasurer and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer positions and appoint persons to fill those positions without confirmation by the Council. Such officials serve at the City Manager's pleasure and may be removed without notice and hearing or a finding of cause.
The manager’s authority includes the appointment of department heads and subordinate employees, preparation of the budget, and creation and termination of minor administrative offices. Sec. 64.11(3), Stats.
The newly approved budget incorporated the separation of the Clerk/Treasurer duties. The approved budget recognized the changes in the scope of the job over the years and resulted in the City Manager opting to appoint a Finance Director and incorporate the Treasurer duties into this position. The charter ordinance would have separated the Clerk’s statutory duties from the Treasurer’s duties because the tasks of the Treasurer and Finance Director are similar and the statutory duties of the Clerk are consistent with the Human Resource activities.
The City Manager will have to create minor administrative offices that are attached to the Clerk-Treasurer and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer positions and appoint persons to fill those positions without confirmation by the Council. Such officials serve at the City Manager's pleasure and may be removed without notice and hearing or a finding of cause.
The manager’s authority includes the appointment of department heads and subordinate employees, preparation of the budget, and creation and termination of minor administrative offices. Sec. 64.11(3), Stats.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Funds
The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued Statement 54 “Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions” in February 2009 and is effective with the 2011 reporting year. These new requirements will mean the Council needs to officially set a fund balance policy and provide the required definitions.
GASB 54 separates fund balances into five categories. Under the old standards, there were three categories; Reserved, Designated and Undesignated. The new categories are more descriptive and focus on how the City plans to use the funds. The resolution provides the definitions for the new classifications and sets a fund balance policy.
GASB 54 separates fund balances into five categories. Under the old standards, there were three categories; Reserved, Designated and Undesignated. The new categories are more descriptive and focus on how the City plans to use the funds. The resolution provides the definitions for the new classifications and sets a fund balance policy.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Passing Thoughts
In times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and eternity.- Abraham Lincoln
Yes, I have said a lot of things I wish I could take back. A man who sees and reacts to the world through his strengths and weaknesses is different than the man who can see and react to it through others strengths and weaknesses.
To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. – Will Durant
Aw, the true definition of politics today. We all do it and enjoy our clever conversations. My favorite answer to give and least liked to receive is they all do it.
The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. – Thomas B Macaulay
A man contained by nothing other than the values he exposes in public; I wonder what it would be like – never seen it and don’t know if it could really exist. I’ve seen men who want to be good make mistakes and men who want to be bad accidently do something good.
Look at the word responsibility—“response-ability”—the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling. – Stephen R. Covey
I once thought I was responsible – now I’m not sure. What principles’ should determine if you’ve been responsible or not. As I work on continual learning – my perspective has changed.
Yes, I have said a lot of things I wish I could take back. A man who sees and reacts to the world through his strengths and weaknesses is different than the man who can see and react to it through others strengths and weaknesses.
To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. – Will Durant
Aw, the true definition of politics today. We all do it and enjoy our clever conversations. My favorite answer to give and least liked to receive is they all do it.
The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. – Thomas B Macaulay
A man contained by nothing other than the values he exposes in public; I wonder what it would be like – never seen it and don’t know if it could really exist. I’ve seen men who want to be good make mistakes and men who want to be bad accidently do something good.
Look at the word responsibility—“response-ability”—the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling. – Stephen R. Covey
I once thought I was responsible – now I’m not sure. What principles’ should determine if you’ve been responsible or not. As I work on continual learning – my perspective has changed.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Love Sidewalks/Hate Special Assessments
Wisconsin Statutes prescribe the procedures by which cities must follow to specially assess property for local improvements. The Wisconsin Supreme Court, discussing special assessment procedures, has stated that "[t]he power of a municipality to levy an assessment against a private owner is one which exists by right of statute, and the restrictions of the statute must be met if the assessment is to be deemed valid." Elaborating on this point, the court has further declared that "[a] special assessment, to be valid, must be levied pursuant to and in strict compliance with the statutory powers of a municipality." Municipal statutory powers to impose special assessments include both the complete procedure set forth in Wis. Stats. § 66.0703 and the power to adopt an ordinance setting forth a local special assessment procedure under Wis. Stats. § 66.0701. Chief among the requisite procedures are notice and hearing. Failure to comply with mandated procedures may result in the voidance of the special assessment.
The Council is being asked to pass the preliminary resolution that establishes the 2012 sidewalk project area as Stony Road and Plainview Terrace. This resolution authorizes staff to start the plans and develop estimated assessments.
For sidewalk projects, the Public Works Board conducts preliminary public hearings to discuss the project and the proposed special assessments. All affected property owners are notified by mail of the public hearings. The notice includes a brief description of the project and an estimate of the total cost. At the preliminary public hearing, the Board will hear all interested persons regarding the proposed assessments and will consider all written objections and statements before the final plans are prepared for the City Council.
The Board decides whether or not to recommend the proposed assessment to the City Council. It then goes to the City Council for public hearing and Council action in accordance with Wis. Stats. § 66.0703.
This Resolution is the actual start of the process. Staff will use this resolution as authorization to start preparing a set of design plans for comment at the final resolution public hearing.
The Council is being asked to pass the preliminary resolution that establishes the 2012 sidewalk project area as Stony Road and Plainview Terrace. This resolution authorizes staff to start the plans and develop estimated assessments.
For sidewalk projects, the Public Works Board conducts preliminary public hearings to discuss the project and the proposed special assessments. All affected property owners are notified by mail of the public hearings. The notice includes a brief description of the project and an estimate of the total cost. At the preliminary public hearing, the Board will hear all interested persons regarding the proposed assessments and will consider all written objections and statements before the final plans are prepared for the City Council.
The Board decides whether or not to recommend the proposed assessment to the City Council. It then goes to the City Council for public hearing and Council action in accordance with Wis. Stats. § 66.0703.
This Resolution is the actual start of the process. Staff will use this resolution as authorization to start preparing a set of design plans for comment at the final resolution public hearing.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
