Saturday, February 28, 2009

Filing A City Lawsuit By Poll

According to Commissioner Jolley and an article in today's paper, the Commissioners were "polled" individually regarding the appeal of the Public Service Commission's original decision regarding electric meters.

No public meeting.
No public discussion amongst the commissioners.
No public comment.
No public record.

Highlights from today's article:
Beecher: "He is comfortable with going ahead with the appeal". (Commissioner Beecher likes doing business this way).

Rosenbaum: "It's our customer." According to the article, "he didn't think the Legislature intended to allow NorthWestern Energy to hinder the city from serving existing customers".

Stebbins: "Monopoly is a hard thing to give up", referring to NorthWestern.

Patton (assistant city manager): "It seems like a question that has to be decided."

I guess the consensus was at least three commissioners were for it. Bronson wasn't quoted as saying anything.

Taken from the Vision Statement and Goals of the city charter:

Our core values of honesty, respect and openness will constantly guide our actions.

Uh...I don't think so.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is what happens when the dopes have a MONOPOLY on the city commission.

Rubber for brains and a rubber stamp.

Anonymous said...

I would be curious to know if this kind of action violates any laws? Of course it does violate proper common sense procedure and cuts the public out of the process. Our state Constitution states that the citizens have a right to participate in governmental process, so what gives with these people?

Anonymous said...

Since ECP is guarenteed to lose money by contract with bennifis, what exactly is the purpose of sueing NWE to lose more?

Shoulden't we thank NWE for keeping the meters and ACTUALLY SAVING US MONEY?

Anonymous said...

Have the rules been stretched just a tad with serious costly decisions being made by the polling of our commissioners by city staff? Both the staff and the compliant commissioners have broken the public trust - once again!

Can our elections come too soon.......

These are excerpts from our city charter:

Open Government
All records of the City, including the city commission and all boards, councils, committees, and commissions, shall be open to the public as provided by Montana law. All meetings of such bodies shall be publicly announced in advance and shall be open to the public as provided by Montana law.

Citizen Involvement
The city commission may establish and appoint persons to boards, councils, committees, commissions, and other bodies of an advisory or substantive nature to assist the commission in the exercises of its duties. The City of Great Falls encourages citizens to participate in these bodies by serving as members, attending meetings, or other similar methods.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the 'Gulag'....

Richard Liebert said...

Commissioner Bronson,

please follow the 'courage of your convictions' and inform the public of how you voted regarding the PSC complaint. It's the right thing to do.