State of the City Address
Mayor Dan Rivera was greatly influenced by President Obama during his recent trip to Washington for the State of the Union Address and it was obvious in his presentation of the State of the City Address which was all about hope.
It sounded more like a campaign speech full of promises and future plans instead of a “state of the city,” which should have mentioned that he found the city with a balanced budget and a big surplus. After all, it was something Lawrencians wanted to hear. It wasn’t negative and about a hopeful city.
What is an Enterprise Fund?
The City of Lawrence has four departments that produce revenue. They are: the airport, cemetery, parking lots and garages, and the water department. Whatever income they receive, is to be kept within that department and no monies can be transferred to the general funds or any other account.
During the budget hearings in the spring, the directors of each department must present to the City Council a narrative of their budget and annual expenses but they operate with their own monies, not part of the city budget.
Until recently, the parking lots and garages had two accounts, one of them was a “revolving account” that could be used for expenses outside of the department but it was eliminated. Any income earned by parking lots and garages must be used for its operation.
In years past, the administrations solved their budget problems by raiding accounts with a positive balance and a way to balance budgets. Using those funds for anything not relevant to the department’s administration or transfer is absolutely illegal
Which brings me to Mayor Dan Rivera’s city car. The press release he sent out announcing the Conflict of Interest Seminar that was offered to all employees said that “…this effort looks to make it clear to everyone that works for the city and runs the departments, that we are to follow the rules to the letter of the law.” Yet he doesn’t find it wrong that the Water Department paid over $30,000 for the car he is driving.
We have heard three different reasons for taking it: That the car was there because former Mayor William Lantigua had ordered it for himself; that it was purchased for the Water Commissioner, Robert Fazio but he decided to go into retirement within a few days of the inauguration; and the third one, that he needed a car because his own had a flat tire and a broken window.
Everyone in the city knows that Mayor Lantigua believed that no mayor is entitled to a city car and always used his old one. The Water Commissioner had no intention of retiring until the improvements on the system is completed and was forced to leave. The last excuse given was rather childish.
He said to be entitled to a car because he is the CEO of the city and all departments. Earning $100,000, he can afford to buy his own. Should he be allowed to keep it, the Water Department should be reimbursed for the value paid for the car.
My issue is not with the car but with the illegal maneuvering using forbidden funds. If that practice continues, it is expected that money could run out, we get an increase in the water rates or the Water Department may even end up with a deficit.
By the way, I sent an email message to Robert Nunes, the overseer on this issue and he never responded. I left a telephone message for Marc Iannello, budget and finance director. He also left me a message saying that John Isensee should be able to answer my questions regarding the car. I thought these two people are in charge of watching where the money goes. I assumed that they wouldn’t allow the funds of an enterprise fund to awry.
Freedom of the press – not for Rumbo
John Isensee, director of the Department of Public Works has an open door policy for anyone wishing to see him and has always been very cordial with me but out of courtesy, II called him last week to set up a convenient time for an interview.
In order not to interfere with his day, we agreed to meet on Monday at 7:30 in the morning to clarify several things I had in mind. Within a couple of minutes, he called me back because the mayor’s office requested that I submit the questions in advance.
Needless to say I sent nothing and showed up at the agreed time. Mr. Isensee was as usual, a gentleman and we had a great conversation.
I don’t know what kind of government Mayor Rivera is establishing but I know for sure that he wouldn’t dare request any newspaper or reporter to submit questions in advance.
