Listless CITCOM Meeting Produces Sound Results

David Poulton has been voted Mayor Pro Tem.

Former commissioner Carlo Ginotti has agreed to fill CITCOM's empty seat for the rest of the year. And Pat Capello was present even though she wasn't  there.

Only four topics were substantively addressed: Besides the Poulton and Ginotti decisions, CITCOM addressed only the budget, sort of, and Arts, Beats & Eats, sort of. There was more of interest during the brief Public Comment than when working the agenda.

The general tone of the meeting was . . . listless? Indifferent? Lazy? Transitional sans Capello?

Starting with Public Comment, here's how the meeting went:

Mayor Jim Ellison attempted to explain, once again, why the sudden interest in fences after a resident, once again, raised the question of "why?" and "why now?"  Giving up after a few minutes of suggesting 'many fences were built improperly" and "once we began looking at the public safety issue, we had to keep going," Ellison concluded that a full and formal explanation should, soon,  be made part of the agenda.

Long time retailer, Anne Kuffler, of Ariana Gallery, alerted CITCOM of a coming survey of downtown retailers which will focus on the impact of Arts, Beats & Eats. Ms. Kuffler suggested that the vote on approving the ABE contract should be postponed until after that survey is completed and analyzed. Later -- during discussion of the contract, Commissioner Peggy Goodwin agreed that the decision should be postponed, and she cast the lone No-vote when the contract was approved 5-1.

Once again -- "This is the last time," City Manager Don Johnson assured us, a Lot Split public hearing was held, and sure enough, half a dozen people complained about aesthetics, knowing full well that CITCOM has no authority to reverse the Administration's decision. Ellison patiently re-explained the basic law. Of interest here is that Incoming Temp Carlo Ginotti, is/was a lover of Lot Split hearings! And Goodwin opined that even though the commission has no authority to reverse Planning Commission decisions, the public is well-served by letting residents speak publicly.

Going through the legally required process, CITCOM listened as Johnson described several last-minute changes to the Budget, then -- without question or comment -- approved nine or ten related resolutions. One, I think, had to do with spending a few thousand dollars on repairing some small aspect of City Hall. Try to imagine that many financially focused resolutions being approved without analytical comment had Capello been at The Table.

About approving the Arts, Beats & Eats contract, Goodwin repeated her call for waiting for the results of the forthcoming survey of downtown retailers; Jim Rasor stressed promoter Jon Witz's willingness to adjust as complaints have been raised; Kyle DuBuc agreed that it is reasonable to expect Witz to continue to cooperate; Ellison reminded everyone that retailers had complained that there was no business during Labor Day weekends until ABE came along. The contract was approved 5-1.

Exploring the several options available for filling the vacancy at The Table, much of the quiet argument centered around filling it quickly; any formal search or reach-out would leave the seat into July. Ellison was a bit gingerly as he slowly revealed that he had approached Carlo Ginotti, who has agreed to serve, then step away. This was the only time during this meeting that the group wandered a bit before voting unanimously to approve Carlo. During the dialogue, Ellison recalled times when a 6-person commission reached 3-3 votes. A tie-vote is a No-vote.

The decision to appoint David Poulton Mayor Pro Tem was easy, primarily on the basis of seniority. David accepted that decision.

The tone of this first Capello-less CITCOM meeting can only be decided as "listless." Another appropriate term might be "transitional."  With only two non-housekeeping decisions to make -- Budget and Arts, Beats & Eats -- listlessness worked.

Frank Versagi is the editor of Versagi Voice.