Bain-Blog

Monday, December 11, 2006

October Fifth Tuesday Forum notes

The notes from the October Fifth Tuesday Forum have been completed and are available on my website. The next Fifth Tuesday Forum will be January 30th at 6:00 p.m. at a location to be determined.

-Bryan

posted by Bryan L. Bain at 12/11/2006 07:50:00 AM

6 Comments:

  • Bryan,

    Thanks for taking the lead on the City Evaluation Study. I support that initiative.

    I think the results we might reap from this unbiased 3rd party study are certainly well worth the expense. There has been a very large perception that there is fat to be cut in our city departments. Comments are made of department managers taking a very parochial position about the inner workings of their departments. That type of attitude may lead to excess and unproductive processes masked by some department managers. Other managers may just need outside perspective to challenge the status quo, operations wise.

    This is a key accountability issue. There is a perception of excess in Oshkosh City Departments. This study could put that to rest. I encourage you to continue to play the lead role in driving this study forward and facilitating the implementation, as well as the recommendations that come as a result of the study. You are the right person for this job Bryan. You are a Statesman and Consensus builder!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 13, 2006 2:34 PM  

  • I would second that opinion on the study and the job you are doing Brian.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 14, 2006 11:51 AM  

  • I suggest looking over the "3%Workshop" budget workshop in a “different” light. Not for the dollars and cents but for the suggested cuts in personnel.
    If you look at those projected personnel cuts you should be able to determine where the excess personnel is.
    Each department head would have offered personnel cuts in order to present a balanced budget if they thought the positions were excessive.
    Team the proposed personnel cuts with the presentation from Wisconsin Alliance of Cities.
    This is information we already have. We just have to focus in on what was presented.
    This infomation may provide the answers without spending the $135,000 on a full efficiency study. The study can be more focused on productivity and service duplications at a lesser fee.
    Lastly; where in the budget did the council allow the $135,000 for this study?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 14, 2006 2:20 PM  

  • Whether there is support for the audit concept or not here is a list of the prerequisites for the audit consultants
    The efficiency audit NEEDS too:

    cut though the smoke and mirrors,

    drill down into the city government and root out excess,

    pull back the curtain and see if we can see OZ,

    find areas for improvement, reduction, consolidation or elimination of duplication,

    peel back the layers of government and see whats inside,

    find significant amounts savings uncovered,

    find things to improve on in our City,

    find the fat or waste in our City Government,

    find the saviors of the city that have some common sense,

    Final requirement we need it done CHEAP because there is no money in the budget for this study.

    We want it all and we want it for nothing; similiar to the services provided to the city by loyal employees.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 16, 2006 8:34 AM  

  • Bryan shows fine leadership qualities as a councilor. He puts Oshkosh first. He shows respect for others with differing opinions. He has taken it upon himself to do the work and search for answers. He listens and isn't afraid to ask questions and above all he looks for compromise.
    Let's give credit where credit is due this audit will go forward because BRYAN choose to be a LEADER.
    A FINE young leader that has my vote.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at December 16, 2006 11:13 AM  

  • Anonymous 12/13 @ 2:34, 12/14 @ 11:51 and 12/16 @ 11:13-
    I apologize for how long it took me to respond; the end of the semester is always a busy time. I appreciate very much your support and kind words.

    Anonymous 12/14 @ 2:20-
    There was no specific money allocated in the budget for the study. I spoke to the City Manager and he indicated that, if the study is approved by the council, the funding would come from fund equity (the reserves).

    -Bryan

    By Blogger Bryan L. Bain, at December 22, 2006 10:02 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home