Brown, Vaslo, DiSanto, and Kandis all understand that the City is fighting for its financial future. I don't truly believe that Murphy has any idea of what is happening with the finances of the City. The only thing he wants to do is solidify his base of low income and fixed income supporters. And then he insults his own base by making insensitive comments about grocery stores that cater to this market. Strange. Very strange.

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I don't see this wife. He's argued many a times against raising taxes and fees for all of LP, not just the low incomes.

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Arctic Cat Thundercat Test Pilot

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I think that Kandes, Vaslo, Murphy and DiSanto DO see the big picture. They can comprehend the long-term vision. This isn't to say that Brady, Murphy and Higgins don't have good intentions and good ideas, but they are a bit short-sighted and narrowly-focused. That's what frightens me about those three being involved with leading our city.

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Mr Kandes, Mr Brown and Mr Vaslo claimed the city was near Receivership.

Then they voted a big fat raise for the City Manager.

And they wanted to spend money to move city hall into the library.

Do they know the definition of Fiscal Responsibility?

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A Five Year Millage? Yes
A non-limited Millage? Never
Vote NO on Proposal R

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jeyhey (09-15-05), Mumzzee (09-15-05), Mayday (09-15-05), assistant (09-15-05), robynette (09-15-05), Veritas Scriptor (09-15-05), Robbie (09-16-05), TheGirlNextDoor (09-16-05), RubberArm (09-16-05), Robin (10-06-05), Banner (10-07-05), Rocky (10-07-05)

Excellent, Excellent point! Magoo hit that one right out of the park!

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God I hate agreeing with Magoo, but I do!

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Believe half of what you hear and none of what you read, especially in the News Herald!

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I hate agreeing with Magoo as well, but when he's right, he's right.
Who is really the council people that are narrowly focused.
In the middle of a financial crisis, they hand out a 25% increase to our city manager, and then Kandes & Vaslo turn around and look into a new city hall that will cost the taxpayers close to million dollars.
I certainly don't call that fiscally responsible. That has more to do with being narrowly focused than looking at the big picture.

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Three for Three with the agreements with Magoo!!

Kinda spooky that these guys are so liberal with money when we are so broke!!

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God only mad a few perfect heads the rest he put hair on!

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I ask you this, sir:
- Are Kandes, Brown and Vaslo the only council people who claimed the city was near receivership?
- Are they the only council people who voted to give the city manager a raise?
- Regarding moving the city hall, city councils discuss all sorts of things. Apparently moving the city hall into the library was one of them. Then, because they do know the definition of fiscal responsbility, the council decided not to proceed.
I'm not going to "blame" Kandes, Brown, Vaslo or anyone else for discussing the issues and options. Besides, it's not like the three of them could have gone ahead and carried out the move without the rest of the council's approval. Sir, the mayor and his so-called machine cannot operate in a vacuum.

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Rmc2017 (09-16-05)

I don't think it was fiscal responsibility that stopped this.

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"I'm sick and tired of hearing things from uptight, short sighted, narrow minded hypocrites. All I want is the truth, Just gimme some truth"

- John Lennon

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TheGirlNextDoor (09-16-05)

Who brought up the idea, and who seconded it?

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I agree with Jujitsu50 to ask,

Are they the only ones to vote YES! on giving the raise.

if it only takes three votes what are the other 4 people for?

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jujitsu50 (09-16-05)

Jujitsu50, bear with me. I am a tired old man and not too swift as to the ways of elected officials.

You say they were merely "discussing" moving city hall. Didn't they also pay for drawings of renovating the library? Didn't these drawings cost quite a bit of money? Thousands as I remember.

I do not remember a Council Resolution to approve such drawings. Do you? How could money be spent for such a thing if it was not approved by council?

And what about drawings for the building they were going to move the library into. Was there ever a council resolution regarding that?

Pretty expensive "discussion" if you ask me. But then again, I am just a tired old man who has no idea what goes on inside city hall. They would never consider polling certain councilman for such approval. Never.

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Mayday (09-16-05), RubberArm (09-16-05), Veritas Scriptor (09-16-05), TheGirlNextDoor (09-16-05)

Since Murphy, Higgins and Brady regularly frequent ,
I'd like them to answer those questions. Was there a resolution to go out for drawings? Were drawings prepared? By what company? Who approved paying for the drawings? How much?

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I saw these drawings with my own eyes. There is no need for your tactic of trying to taint these people with this intrigue.

Next time you are speaking to Mr Vaslo ask him about these drawings. Ask him who approved funding for them.

And while you are at it, ask him what phone numbers Ms Brady is jotting down on Monday nights.

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Juji seems to me like you should read over the Council minutes. I do not recall any such resolutions.

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I don't think so. This has been pretty common knowledge amongst members of council.
No. I think the only members to vote against it where Brady and Murphy. I don't recall if Higgins voted against it or not. But I remember it being a huge issue...council chambers was packed that night. Not just with residents of LP, but residents of Sterling Heights (where Duchane previously "served"), and city workers (firemen). Everyone vehemently opposed giving this raise to Duchane. But you know what? Those who voted yes already knew how they were going to vote...they didn't listen to a single person who spoke out against it.

Remember that in November, folks. They didn't care about all of the people who opposed it. So show them that you don't care to have them reprisent you anymore.
It was more than just a "discussion". They had actual meetings about it. They spent thousands of dollars researching it. And it wasn't fiscal responsibility that squashed it...it was the fact that Murphy and Brady found out about it and, during an open meeting, mentioned the secret talks that some members of council were having about it. If memory serves, Higgins was not aware that members of council were discussing it, either. This was strictly a Vaslo, Kandes, Brown issue.
I would blame them for discussing an option that stood to cost taxpayers $2 million. An option for something that isn't neccessary. An option that only demonstrates the lack of fiscal foresight these members of council have.

When the city is broke, why would you even entertain the option of spending $2 million to relocate City Hall? Time, money, and resources were spent "discussing this". That's a waste of taxpayers dollars...don't you think?

You're right. But if you haven't figured it out yet, here is what they do:

• They secretly get together to discuss plans unbeknownst to the rest of the council for the purpose of determining how they're going to "sell" the idea to just one more member. If they can convince one more member to go along with it, then they have their 4th vote.
• Higgins, often times, is the 4th vote. I've said before that I don't view him to be the wisest member of council, but he has excellent ethics and morals. Nonetheless, he is easily duped into voting for something without fully understanding it.

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recordar la yocorazon

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Veritas Scriptor (09-16-05), Robbie (09-16-05), Mayday (09-16-05)

I ask again, was there a resolution to go out for drawings?
What was the vote? Were the drawings prepared and by whom? What did they cost? Who paid for them? These things would have discussed at a council meeting.
No intrigue here, Magoo, just some straightforward questions. If someone can answer these questions, it would be most helpful to all of us I'm sure.

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The problem, juji, is that these things weren't discussed in an open council meeting. They were discussed and implemented by a few members of council unbeknownst to the others.

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