As I recall, the “upstairs, non-televised work sessions” werelast instituted back in early 2008.  Doesanyone else find it interesting how Mayor Mulligan seems to bring this up rightAFTERelections???  If he is so afraid orashamed to discuss the people’s business in full view of the people, why didn’the make it an issue back in October…BEFORE the election???

This week’s workbook left me nearly speechless…nearly, butnot completely.

I urge everyone to take the time to read at least theminutes of the City Council retreat (pages 30 through 32 of the workbook).  You can find it by going here http://www.cityofmiddletown.org/council/meetings.aspxand then clicking on 2/21/2012 on the “Workbooks” pulldown menu.

Just in case you can’t make it through to the end, this seemed to be the retreat’s statedconclusions:

 “Council discussed goals and listed many: (1)bolder action to address housing issues; (2) taking one thing and marketing itwell; (3) create a positive message/tag line; (4) schools; (5) capitalize onthe riverfront; (6) entertainment; (7) Middletown Promise; (8) clean image; (9)reduce crime/drugs; (10) employment opportunities; (11) Financial Plan; (12)user friendly/customer service consistency; (13) relationships with neighbors;(14) infrastructure – streets/water/sewer/buildings/facilities.”

Reading between the lines, here is what I surmise are someof their unstated goals:

·      Raise income and property taxes

·      Increase water and sewer rates by 50 to 75%

·      Continue ignoring our deteriorating streets (exceptin selected neighborhoods--wink, wink)

·      Cease televising the “work session” portion of CityCouncil meetings

·      Begin photo enforcement of speed limits

·      Resume having additional council meetingsdisguised as “committee meetings”

Community Revitalization Director Adkins reported thesimilarities in the City’s Master Plans going back to 1963, and how they havealways seemed to fail.  Look for a “new”master plan to be prepared, identical to all of these old master plans.

Legislative Item Four deals with the agreement with HigherEducation Partners to either purchase (or otherwise develop?) “certain realestate” for use by Cincinnati State.  Thestaff report was not ready Friday and we will be ambushed with it Tuesday  it will be sprung on us at the last minuteit will be presented to council Tuesday evening. (This may even take another “executivesession” for the purposes of discussing the sale of public property atcompetitive bidding, when premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive orbargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse tothe general public interest.)

PS: I wonder if any member of council has ever read the veryNEXT two sentences of ORC section 121.22(G)(2): “No member of apublic body shall use division (G)(2) of this section as a subterfuge forproviding covert information to prospective buyers or sellers. A purchase orsale of public property is void if the seller or buyer of the public propertyhas received covert information from a member of a public body that has notbeen disclosed to the general public in sufficient time for otherprospective buyers and sellers to prepare and submit offers.” Think of the dozens of times over the last couple of years that councilhas gone into executive session invoking section 121.22(G)(2), yet they haveNEVER sold any property by competitive bidding…ONLY by negotiating with asingle, selected, party!!! And sometimes they have given it away, or even PAID the party to take theproperty!!!