PB: Schaffer’s First Move – Shut Out The Public
by SDM
Following a hostile little exchange between new Vice Mayor John Dubois and Mayor Shelley Stanczyk (31:00 – 33:00) at last night’s first meeting of the new council, new Councilman Tim Schaffer made his first controversial decision: to shut out the public from village “shade” sessions.
Before SDM covers this disturbing act of Amigo-ness, let’s roll back the tape to Mayor Stanczyk’s “welcome” to Vice Mayor Dubois. The Village Attorney asked to schedule a shade session to review the lawsuit involving Palmetto Bay and the company called Shores at Palmetto Bay, LLC, which is proposing a charter school on Franjo Road.
Mr. Dubois acknowledged that he was available for the proposed shade session, but also stated that he opposed holding shade sessions on principle – one that SDM shares. Namely, that the public should be present at attorney-client meetings because village money – taxpayer’s money – is at risk.
By the way, SDM learned something new in the discussion: that the heralded county holds ALMOST ALL of its attorney-client sessions in the sunshine! SDM would think Ms. Lindsay would be jumping up and down to conform the village code to this provision of the county code, especially given her obsession with that body of law. Of course, hypocrisy is nearly invisible to the eye of the hypocrite – even SDM suffers this malady at times.
After Mr. Dubois said his piece, the Mayor – as is her perpetual wont – commented on his comment. Mr. Dubois attempted to rebut her comment but the Mayor rudely cut him off. Her “little gorilla” law is that the best way to manage public discourse is to shut it down on the council or to keep it behind closed doors whenever possible. (SDM Wonders: Will Mr. Dubois stand up to the Mayor’s when she tries to channel her inner little gorilla? )
A few minutes later, new member Schaffer asked if the public was permitted to speak at these shade sessions, which drew a tumult of responses from the Mayor and others. It appeared to SDM that the Marathon Man first learned of the village’s practice of hiding information from the public last night! Amazing, really.
In the resulting hubbub, the Mayor and Councilwoman Lindsay sufficiently intimidated Mr. Schaffer so that he agreed to the shade session, thus making his first important act one that shuts the public out of the village’s decision-making process.
SDM Says: SDM hasn’t walked a mile in the Marathon Man’s shoes, but Mr. Scaffer’s first decision shows his little red truck is not fast enough to avoid being run over by the Two Amigos. But by being unprepared and showing weakness, Mr. Schaffer’s political career is not off to a very auspicious start.
Palmetto Bay has become Planet of the Apes.
Our esteemed mayor just can’t hold back her snarky comments to our Vice Mayor. I like at the 40 minute mark when Mr. Dubois is asking for a better itemized bill from the City Attorney and our Mayor says she hopes that this doesn’t make the attorney spend too much time on accounting and less on legal matters. She just can’t hold back can she?
Is it possible that our recently elected District 2 Councilman not understand what a ‘shade’ session is?
Sure looked like it to SDM. What did you see?
Every village needs an idiot. I have been inspired to write a new book entitled MUNICIPAL GOVERNING FOR DUMMIES and dedicate it to the council member representing district two. We now have the good, the bad, and the ignorant. Save me from my beloved Palmetto Bay.
They should have instituted IQ testing for candidates in our charter. Boy, Seeing Tim up there was embarrasing.
It is now time for Patrick and John to stand up and assert themselves against the NIMBYs. Stanczyk is a lightweight who can’t move beyond the script her handlers provider her. Patrick is no longer a rookie. They need to step aside if they cannot protect the rights of the residents against the stupidity of the Amigos.
SDM disagrees with this sentiment. Mr. Schaffer and Mr. Dubois both have much to learn about the procedures and rules they will be operating under. The difference in this instance is that Mr. Dubois understood the issue because he had prepared himself and Mr. Schaffer was caught unaware because he failed to prepare for the meeting.
Mr. Schaffer will learn that he must do more than read his agenda packet. He must contact the village manager and attorney and make sure that any request they might make of him is told to him in advance so he can be prepared to respond.
SDM hopes Mr. Schaffer thinks about this critical issue of whether the village will continue its practice of holding secret meetings without any justification offered to the public. Even last night the council failed to explain why this meeting must be held outside the sunshine.
It is not stupidity so let’s try to keep the dialogue at least somewhat elevated. Mrs. Stanczyk and Ms. Lindsay have a radical agenda they wish to implement. The agenda is designed to limit property rights and to regulate every resident’s lifestyle into rigid conformance with their view of the world.
They may be ham-handed, but they are not stupid.
I respectfully disagree SDM. They are stupid. They are stupid because they cannot see any of the unintended and harmful consequences created by their actions. The other shoe will drop soon on the NPO. We will then see why the residents were fortunate that a slim majority of voters dismissed Pariser from his job of enabling the Amigos to commit additional legislative mayhem. May Tim wake up and see what Pariser refused to see. May John and Patrick actually advocate for the residents and point out the folly in time to change votes. Voting in opposition is easy. It takes preparation and skill to advocate and change bad opinnions and derail ill intent.
Take your pick of applicable Taylor or the one Dr. Zaius quote:
Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!
It’s a mad house! A mad house!
About how Palmetto Bay has deteriorated from what it used to be:
Oh my God. I’m back. I’m home. All the time, it was… We finally really did it.
[screaming]
You Maniacs! You blew it up (with the NPO)! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
or Dr. Zaius: You are a menace. A walking pestilence.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNING FOR DUMMIES implies you are smart enough to read and learn from the book. Unfortunately, the three amigos reconstituted can do neither.
SDM. You seem to change and vary your opinions according to reader feedback. Not your style. Are you ok?
SDM is a human being, though Mayor Stanczyk might disagree. This blog attempts consistency but pleads guilty to failing to meet the mark at all times.
Mr. Schaffer has to decide who can he learn from. Does he continue to align himself with people who will brow-beat and castigate those not in complete agreement or does he seek out others who may listen and appreciate his opinions? He got a hard lesson at the meeting about being prepared – will he learn or continue to stumble. I’m willing to give him some more swings at the ball.