Editor’s note: Click here to read the proposed ordinance that, if approved by the City Council on June 27, would give Westfield class 2 city status effective Jan. 1, 2024. Click here to watch the City Council meeting held Monday, June 13, when the public hearing on the proposed ordinance was discussed.
Dear Editor:
Changing the city’s status is not as “black and white” as the mayor and his supporters would have you believe.
There has been an abundance of public comments and PR efforts indicating this change is needed for more representation on the City Council and “professional” financial management by way of a Financial Controller or CFO, which would, coincidentally, be an employee of the mayor’s and only follow his/her edicts.
Power. Money.
These are the words to describe the mayor’s push for the change in city status.
Given the absolute disgraceful waste of taxpayer funds by the mayor over the last two years, especially on legal expenses, he should not be given ANY additional staff or control of the city’s finances. Period!
Instead, his staff and ALL discretionary funds in the Administration should be decreased, especially his personal press secretary and expensive legal services.
The mayor has offered to let the Council participate in selecting his CFO. That’s a classic sleight of hand of move because once hired, the CFO won’t answer to the Council, only to the Mayor.
In addition, if the chosen CFO doesn’t work out, the mayor will quickly pass blame to the Council.
Fear. Threats.
These are the words to describe the mayor’s actions to those resisting the proposed change. Fear of missing out on unknown opportunities, threats in the way of frivolous lawsuits.
Some have likened government to a corporation or a business; that is neither a true nor accurate representation. Governments are not constrained by limited funds and don’t have to make money in order to continue their existence. This city administration is not transparent as it claims but is very opaque.
Power. Money. Fear. Threats.
None of the other cities in Hamilton County rushed to change their status. Fishers and Carmel were both nearly 100,000 residents when they made the switch; their growth and government operations weren’t hindered by being a second-class status city.
Westfield was founded in 1834, incorporated in 1849 and first became a city 2008. Why the hurry now?
Some examples of the mayor’s ineptness:
- Ignoring the Council’s rejection of his $6 million dream of a single tunnel for the 161st Street Monon crossing, he has continued to spend taxpayer funds on making it a reality.
- The continuing deterioration of the Village Park area roads, curbs and landscaping is a travesty to this long-time cash cow for tax revenue and diminishes the image of Westfield, as it is the southern gateway to the city.
- Where is the $6 million “loaned” from the utility sale net proceeds that was used to finish Grand Park? Why hasn’t it been repaid to the City’s General Fund? When will it be repaid?
- The Economic Development Commission has been without a member from the County Council for over 10 years because the mayor has refused to acknowledge its unanimous appointment of two different Westfield residents. WHY? Because the mayor knows they would not be “YES” men, and he cannot tolerate dissent.
- Pursuit of numerous projects that offer tax abatements and/or providing developers with city financed parking garages is chasing fools’ gold. Greater benefits to the city would be achieved through an update of the comprehensive plan, tightening the building standards to require higher quality structures and pursuit of commercial enterprises that don’t or won’t request a tax abatement.
- The RFP to buy/manage Grand Park has been attributed to the Redevelopment Commission. Yet, the commission has never met or voted to authorize an RFP. Who actually authorized an RFP and wrote the specifications? Why hasn’t THIS information been forthcoming?
If it was simply the RDC’s Executive Director, who is not even a resident of Westfield, that is disturbing to the highest level because Grand Park has been touted by the mayor as the city’s biggest real estate asset.
I conclude by saying the decision to reject the move to second-class city status at the present time should be as simple as “A-B-C”: Anybody But the Current mayor.
Rick McKinney
Westfield