As many people know, ex-Vice-Commodore Bridget Maniaci is now a Madison alderperson. And wouldn't ya know, Maniaci likes her new job--even though it's not intended as an actual job. So she was miffed when someone covertly notified the press that she was trying to get health insurance and pensions for Madison alderpeople. Maniaci's apparent motive was to facilitate making alderperson a full time career.
Isn't Maniaci aware that the whole point of a city council composed of aldermen ("elder men", or wise elders) is to involve successful, experienced--and hence older--citizens in important decision-making..? Apparently not. It's debatable whether or not Madison's common council actually makes important decisions anyway, considering that one of their recent votes was on whether to make the plastic flamingo Madison's official bird.
But back to Maniaci. Did her year or two on the Hoofer Sailing Club BOC make her a wise old man (or woman)..? Hardly. Instead, it appears Maniaci picked up some bad habits from Hoofers, likely from her ex-boss, the criminal Jim Rogers, who has spent the last three decades sliming his way into every nook and cranny at the Wisconsin Union. He has made a career out of positions that were not intended to be long-term, e.g. 15 years as head sailing instructor.
Similarly, alderperson is not intended to be a career move, but health insurance and a pension would sure help with that.
And doesn't the article say that Ald. Maniaci was miffed because she sent a group email to all the other Alders to "feel them out" about her proposal that...ermmm...wasn't proposed PUBLICLY yet? If all the Alders respond and say, "why yes, Bridget, I will vote to give myself a state pension and health insurance," does that not show a violation of Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law? You know; the same Open Meetings Law the Hoofer Board on which Maniaci served claims exempts them from it? Jeeeeeez, I can't figure out where Ald. Maniaci learned she may act above the Law on a governing body of any sort if she just keeps her proposals and meetings secret from the Public.
ReplyDeleteAnd if somebody dares leak it to the Press, they must be intimidated and retribution imposed! Thank you Director Guthier at the Wisconsin Union for educating this gem of a public citizen about proper ethics in government!
Oh, that's a really good point. Yes, Wis. open meeting law prohibits intra-committee emails like that. The whole point of open meetings law is to make government activities transparent, and the public obviously can't be aware of what is a de facto meeting (by email) like that. This does look an awful lot like Hoofers which rabidly insists that their board meetings are not public, meanwhile they constantly engage in secret, self-serving considerations just like this.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the Union and Hoofers are ruled by Director Guthier, not by the law. Kudos to whatever city council member notified the press.
Check it out; this cockroach Maniaci got nowhere with her fellow council members, so now she is trying to take hers by axing 5.7% from the paychecks of real city of Madison workers reporting to the Mayor. Oh, my, my, the lessons at Hoofers are those for a lifetime!
ReplyDeletehttp://isthmus.com/daily/article.php?article=31248