At the informal Common Council meeting on Monday, when the resolution to create the position of Assistant Youth Director was introduced and it was revealed that Third Ward alderman Calvin Lewis was to have that position, Council president Tom DePietro said that, although there was no rule that would prohibit Lewis from continuing as an alderman, doing so "raises too many problems." In an article published in the Register-Star yesterday, Lewis is quoted as saying he wants to stay on the Council when he starts his new job.
Discovered in the draft minutes from the May 18 meeting of the Common Council is an example of the "too many problems" DePietro may have had in mind. That was the meeting at which the Council voted on a resolution to increase the annual salary of the newly hired Youth Director from $50,000 to $58,000. According to Gossips' account, the resolution passed with the narrowest possible margin: 6 to 5. One of the six votes in favor of the salary increase was cast by Lewis. In the draft minutes from the meeting, following the account of the discussion of the resolution and the vote, this notation appears, on page 348:
Update: Aliya Schneider explores the situation of Lewis and the invalid vote in much greater detail in an article that appeared in the Register-Star online this evening: "Conflict wipes out youth department director's raise."
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So the alderman was negotiating his new job while voting to give his soon-to-be employer what it wanted and the margin was his vote . . . what's the problem?! Frankly, given his behavior, I find Alderman Lewis's decision making and public ethics troublesome; he shouldn't be hired by a City agency given what this action says about him. As a resident of the 3d Ward, I won't be voting for him (an empty gesture but politics is often filled with them).
ReplyDeleteThere will always be people who wander directly into trouble.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone doubt there's such a thing as human nature? But to see a whole culture doubting it, I see a whole culture wandering directly into trouble.
How many "youths" is this director counseling ?
ReplyDeletewasn't the whole operation on hold last year, with funding costs skyrocketing, while no one was actually attending any events or sports ?
Hudson is expert at patronage jobs that pay a lot, but exactly what is going on here ? does anybody have a count ?
i am for programs, and have even been a teacher in a few, but how many young people are going to benefit ?
Isn’t this the same alderman who introduced one of the Galvan apartment pilots to the Common Council WHILE he was working for them? Ethics are lacking from this alderman.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article cited above, I realized that the moral failings of Mr Lewis were worse than they initially appeared. He was not a candidate at the time of his introduction of and vote for the resolution. He had accepted the job. In response to questions about voting, he stated that he relies on guidance from the cc president and attorney on voting in controversial situations. Seriously? He does not have s sufficient moral compass to make this decision himself? This was not a grey zone. Not only should his lack of ethics disqualify him from continuing on the cc; it should disqualify him from the job at the youth center.
DeleteA few years back, we had an alderman who, in his professional role, had business with the city. When this situation arose, he resigned from CC. That is what ethical people do.
ReplyDeleteAs a new-ish resident of the 3rd Ward, I'm stunned by this situation. Voting yourself a new job and then a raise in that new job surely won't win you government employee of the week. But doing that while voting to provide your new employer what it needs from the city is the very definition of corruption. The citizens and taxpayers of this Ward deserve an explanation.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, that's all we, the public know at this time. What other deals have been made in secret? What other projects are in the works and what other financial benefits are flowing to people and organizations? We know the public salary of these jobs, but are there other "deal sweeteners" involved? It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out why the dog isn't barking.
Also, why hasn't the Mayor said anything about this happening on his watch?
The mayor is owned, lock, stick and barrel, by Galvan. Even assuming he cares about corruption (clearly not something that keeps him up at night) he doesn’t dare speak out against his landlord/boss for fear of loosing his home. By the way, would be interesting to know if the mayor has bothered to pay his federal income taxes yet or is he still subject to a federal tax lien?
DeleteTo all questions see above: human nature.
DeleteI looked at the City Charter for relevant information about conflicts and voting. I found nothing that indicates there is a mechanism for retroactively voiding or reversing a vote. Can we look at other resolutions in years past and see if there were conflicts there that might nullify potential swing votes? Who decides what the threshold is for conflict? A judge might have the power to reverse this vote-the city attorney or Common Council president certainly should not. If any attorneys with experience would care to chime in here, I'd appreciate the edification.
ReplyDeleteMr. Lewis should not have voted on this resolution. Where there are conflicts, there should be more transparent decisions made to engender, not degrade, public trust in government officials. (I might add that the Tourism Board Mr. Lewis chairs has steered a phenomenal amount of projects to members of the Board or members of their family-this vote is really just the cherry on top of some sustained, troubling actions taken by City officials.)
This lack of judgement and ethics should give everyone pause about his role either on the Common Council or the Youth Department. As well, the Youth Commissioner that encouraged both this hire and the previous director's shenanigans should be asked to resign as part of a departmental housecleaning.
I do feel some sympathy for Ms. Yorck, who as far as I have seen is professional and competent. She negotiated a salary in good faith that the people on the other side of the table had a base level of competence and ethical standards. She has quite a few hours to put in to expunge the rot that has settled over the Youth Department.