THE PAUL LIVIUS REPORT
THE PAUL LIVIUS REPORT
Chief of
Police
to be Chosen Soon
Last week
the Raytown Report received comments from Raytowners who rallied around a post
by Ward 5 Alderman Derek Ward. Alderman Ward had posted that he welcomes any
questions or discussion from constituents on who should be our next Chief of
Police.
The
comments came in the wake of a press release from City Administrator Damon
Hodges naming three nominees
Alderman
Ward’s suggestion is spot on . . . elected officials should encourage
discussion with those they are elected to represent.
Board
members are often on a first name basis with many in their constituency. This familiarity
with the public is a big “plus” in a small town like Raytown.
For
instance, we can tell you from conversations with people in Raytown that they
believe it is important for the new Chief of Police to have a stake in the
community. Many believe the new Chief of Police should live
in Raytown or at least very near to Raytown.
In a post on
the Raytown Report’s Blog page last week we promised more information would be
forthcoming about the candidates. The original press release was introductory in
nature. According to Aldermen there has not been any additional information to the Board of Aldermen from the City Administrator or Mayor.
As soon as
we have more information we will publish it immediately.
New Park
Board Member
Nominated
by Mayor
Jennifer
Perkins has been chosen by Mayor Michael McDonough to fill the unexpired term of
Michael Hanna on the Raytown Park Board. Hanna abruptly resigned his seat at
the last Park Board meeting. He has not given a reason for his resignation.
The
unexpired term ends June, 2021.
The
appointment requires approval of a majority (six votes) of the Raytown Board of
Aldermen. The vote will be held this Tuesday during the Board’s regular business
session at Raytown City Hall.
In a
prepared statement Ms. Perkins wrote, “I am passionate about seeing our parks
be used, maintained and over time, renovated. I am vocal and very passionate
about family friendly Parks. I am very comfortable with working with a team,
coming to a solution and finding compromise where needed.”
 |
| BY GREG WALTERS |
Greg’s Rant
I recently
ran into an old acquaintance of mine. He is a successful (retired) public servant.
He had served the people as a County Judge, in the Missouri House of
Representatives and on the Missouri State Senate. He is retired from the
political stage and in the process of writing his memoirs.
We had
been talking about how some elected officials seem to be happy to just sit at
the table. They do not grasp the serious role of their position as a decision
maker.
Case in
point is a situation developing in Raytown.
It has
been about one year since Jim Lynch resigned as Chief of Police. The City hired
a consultant for $30,000 to conduct a search for qualified applicants to fill
the position of Chief of Police.
That was close
to six months ago.
The City
Administrator recently released a short biography of three candidates. Judging
from the format used, the biographies came from the consultant.
The
release caused somewhat of a buzz in social media in Raytown. The Raytown
Report promised to release any additional information as it was released from
the City. There is not a doubt, the people of Raytown are very interested who
the Board of Aldermen will choose as the next Chief of Police.
Since then
there has been nothing from the Mayor or City Administrator.
Some Board
members, frustrated with the lack of information, have taken it upon themselves
to look into the background of the three candidates. Good for them. They want
to make an informed decision.
It has
become clear that the McDonough Administration only wants to bring one
candidate to the Board for consideration. A number of Board members have asked
for more information about all three of the candidates. The administration has
been reluctant to provide any additional information.
If only
one candidate is brought forward, it reduces the role of the Board of Aldermen
to that of a rubber stamp.
It is not
a formula for a successful vetting process.
My old
friend told me he understood the situation, and, had seen it many times in the
public offices he had held.
He
suggested we ask a simple question to the Administration.
The question is . . . Why are we meeting?
The answer
is simple. It is for City Staff to present information on which candidate should
be chosen as the City’s next Chief of Police.
The next
step in the process is through a public vote of the Board of Aldermen. This brings
home the fact that the Board has the final say on who is chosen.
The ten
men and women the voters in Raytown have elected have a job to do. For the job
to be done properly, they need all the information gathered when the Board decided
to spend $30,000 for the search to be conducted.
More
plainly stated, the City Administration must hand over all the information from
the six month, $30,000 search conducted to narrow the field down to three
candidates.
If the
information is not forthcoming the Board of Aldermen has every right to vote “no”
on every candidate brought before them.
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