There's a first time for everything, we guess. Ace Reporter Schwebke reports this morning that Godfrey administration officials issued a public apology at last night's city council work session for their major budget-busting screw-up on the administration's Dining Car/Tourist Information Center. Frankly, we don't recall the Godfrey administration ever apologizing for anything before. Seeing is believing:
OGDEN -- Members of the administration apologized to the city council Thursday night for a snafu involving about $80,000 in cost overruns for the conversion of a rail car into a downtown information center.Can we see by a show of hands how many among our gentle readership believe that Boss Godfrey and his henchmen weren't "trying to hide something?" Alternatively, we wonder, how many of our readers believe that this is merely the latest example of the old Boss Godfrey "Bait and Switch?"
"Sorry about this one," John Patterson, the city's chief administrative officer, told the council during a work session. "It was not an effort on the part of us to hide something."
Mayor Matthew Godfrey admitted that mistakes were made in determining how to fund the cost overruns.
"People made judgment calls that were wrong," he said during the work session.
And we just loved Councilman Stephens' quoted remarks and query:
City Councilman Doug Stephens said he believes the rail car information center will benefit Ogden.Who will be the first lumpencitizen to provide Councilman Stephens the possibly painful information he seeks?
However, he's concerned that the public may perceive that the council wasn't on top of the cost overruns.
"Citizens want to know, were you guys (council members) asleep at the wheel?"
Have at it, O Gentle Ones.
18 comments:
Note to Councilman Stephens: Don't continue to look like a clueless tool. Join with your fellow council members, and order a complete audit of Godfrey's books. Odds are that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I'm pleased to see that Gary Williams sided with the council for once. But he's obviously in a tough spot. The council needs its own attorney.
On the other hand, it looks like Godfrey and Patterson are trying to put most of the blame on Brookins and Arrington. Looks to me like Arrington should have known better, but if I had to bet I'd say he was under orders from Patterson to allow the illegal transfer of funds.
Birds of a feather politic together, making it easier to strike multiple hits with but one well-thrown stone.
Dan:
Thanks for tracker link, but it does not indicate, at least so far, final disposition of all bills.
Don't forget, people, Godfrey will have a Mt. Ogden Golf Course makeover proposal coming up very soon, which will require multi-millions of dollars in new city expenditures.
The idiotic Velodrome isn't the only project we need to worry about in an environment where the Godfrey administration goes 200% over budget on a dippy low cost local project.
Are you listening, Doug Stephens?
After almost four years on the city council we've all been hoping that you might have learned at least a little bit more about the lyin'sacko of Shit con man who sits on the imperial throne of Ogden City.
Get a clue, Doug. Do it right now. Distance yourself from Mayor Godfrey.
Put your thumb in his Pinnochio nose, we say.
Your recent performance in re Ogden City issues doesn't gravitate toward Weber County Forum support in the 2009 municipal election.
Expect Weber County Forum to rail more extensively in re this, Doug.
Try to get your shit together, Doug.
t believe our fine Mayor actually walked into a public meeting, and said, "sorry".
Its like a kid stealing your car for a joy ride, with full knowledge of the illegality of the act, and then only after being caught, going, "Sorry"!
Sure Mr. Mayor, you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Now, say you are "Sorry"!
Someone should check his house for city pens and paperclips. Or small remodeling projects.
You cant tell us that this iceberg tip floats without a chuck of frozen waste propping it up.
Curm,
I know. But you can at least use the Sierra Club tracker page to look up the numbers of environmentally related bills, then go to the legislature site and look up their status.
Rudi, you said:
Godfrey ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS issued a public apology
AND ...
MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION apologized to the city council Thursday night for a snafu involving about $80,000 in cost overruns for the conversion of a rail car into a downtown information center.
"Sorry about this one," John Patterson, the city's chief administrative officer, told the council during a work session. "It was not an effort on the part of us to hide something."
BUT, no where does it actually say GODFREY apologized. He said:
" ... that mistakes were made in determining how to fund the cost overruns.
"People [probably not including him, of course] made judgment calls that were wrong," he said during the work session.
CAREFULLY covering his own ass, BAU.
TLJ
Anyone who saw the hunk of crap sitting at the city shops knew that the $35,000 figure was pure BS. They were paying the mechanics overtime to get the thing ready. It was actually a such a priority that other city departments couldn't get vehicles repaired. Instead of fixing ambulances and police cars the mechanics were told to fix the railroad car first.
One of the city's fire engines has a leaking water tank and instead of fixing it properly this same bunch(ignoring what the fire department and the mechanics in the shops say)are going to spray the tank with rhino-liner.
Thanks Anonymous Employee, we need more insiders to these crooked deals. The Mayor acts like city money is monopoly money, hey you suits in city hall this is real money you are giving away. It is called being a good citizen...
How many months of the lease payments before the money is re-couped for the city? It is called return on investment.....
A tourist informational booth should of been in place the first day of the Frontrunner, not an after thought from the city. It is called good government...
The City Council who holds the purse strings needs to find every taxpayer penny the city holds in trust. It is called fiduciary responsability....
Ever department should show what is coming in every month. Where is the water and sewer rate hike monies sitting? How much more has been collected sice the rate hike went into effect. It is called good management...
The City Council should micro-manage the city money until they are comfortable with the administrationor the citizens will think the City Council is just watching the mayor spend as he see fit with no oversight.
Not only is the "Ogden Information" railroad car way over budget, it is one of the ugliest, non-welcoming eyesores around!
Not too many years ago the fire department had to increase the level of certifications needed in order to apply because there were so many applicants.
In order to apply for the testing taking place right now you don't even need to be currently certified as a firefighter-as long as you were certified in the last five years you can apply.
Doug is a nice guy, but I can see where he could be influenced by Godfrey and friends. We need to get him aside and tweek his nipples a little bit.
Hey RJ Svengali, your ture identity wouldnt have the initials RH would they?
What does it matter?
We always post under the same pseudo-name; an occasional name with which we have hit skins, flanked coffee-laced battles, and agitated before the spin cycle.
Robert Hunter?
Rock Hudson?
Ron Hubbard?
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