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Advice from the Appleton Common Council: keep us in the dark and we’ll tighten the noose on your purse-strings.

The mayor chose the 2007 budget presentation to spring a brand new Department of Facilities Management on the council. They didn’t appreciate it.

And they heard excuses. Excuses, excuses, excuses. A strong, effective leader doesn’t make excuses. And alderpersons wouldn’t hear of the several offered by the mayor. Instead of doing due diligence on the new department’s budget allocation, discussing the sorry state of taxpayer-paid-for assets during budget hearings Saturday, the council spent almost two hours trying to understand the creation of a major new department.

The new Director of Facilities, Dean Gazza, pointed repeatedly and convincingly to a facilities maintenance effort that had been woefully inadequate, badly managed and poorly supervised. (Those duties in the past were the responsibility of the self-same Duane Leaf who “managed” the water plant debacle and whom it took Mayor Hanna three years too long to fire. Dang it.)

However, Gazza’s well-informed presentation and convincing arguments fell on half-deaf ears - alderpersons were just darn mad. Perhaps disappointed is a better way to say it. The mayor simply hadn’t kept the council apprised of a major change in the works. The Fire Department recently brought a significant reorganization to the Council for its approval. Ditto Valley Transit. Again, Mayor Hanna had all sorts of excuses why he didn’t come forth in the same way with the reorganization of the facilities management function.

Alderperson Jirschele quoted the mission statement of the newly proposed department: “In partnership with the Common Council and the Mayor, we will provide a safe and productive working environment….” Mr. Jirschele said “I don’t see any partnership here.”

Mr. Gazza and the mayor presented a well thought-out plan. Nevertheless, Mr. Gazza’s already slim budget was cut by an employee and a half solely because the council hadn’t been informed in advance of serious changes afloat.

It would have gone a long way if the council heard the mayor say “I’m sorry.” “I’ve learned.” “I must do a better job to keep you all in the loop.”

It’s good advice for all of us. Just pick up the darn phone. In so many ways, as we all move through each day, communication is the key…….

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