The City of Monroe won't need a parking monitor when the meters are removed from the downtown Square. But perhaps it could use a traffic cop at City Hall.
Apparently, at least a handful of Monroe City Council members weren't aware of what they'd approved when the council passed a resolution Feb. 18 to authorize the removal of the meters when streetscape work begins on the Square. Aldermen on the Public Safety Committee on Monday modified that directive, voting to remove the meters in phases that coincided with the construction schedule.
But Alderman Mark Coplien objected during Tuesday's council meeting, saying the matter already had been decided in the resolution. Aldermen, Coplien said, understood that the resolution provides for meters being "removed together" at the same time. So Public Safety Chairman Charles Koch said the committee would rescind its motion, and council President Keith Ingwell said the committee's action is "a moot issue."
Parking meters on the Square will be removed all at once, at least for now.
Ultimately, there was no harm in the confusion over what had been passed only weeks earlier, but it is embarrassing. And it's further evidence of the need for the city to have a professional directing operations at City Hall. A good city administrator would have clarified the council's decision, and informed the committee of the proper procedures to follow. Koch said he "questioned several people" at Monday's meeting and was convinced the committee should make the decision.
The best news to come from Tuesday's set of city meetings was that the city's Salary and Personnel Committee took a first step in filling the administrator position that has been vacant since last May. The committee reviewed the administrator job description and noted minor changes it would like to make.
Hopefully, the council will continue to move forward in a thoughtful and efficient manner toward bringing in an administrator to right a city government ship that at times in the past year has swerved off course.
Apparently, at least a handful of Monroe City Council members weren't aware of what they'd approved when the council passed a resolution Feb. 18 to authorize the removal of the meters when streetscape work begins on the Square. Aldermen on the Public Safety Committee on Monday modified that directive, voting to remove the meters in phases that coincided with the construction schedule.
But Alderman Mark Coplien objected during Tuesday's council meeting, saying the matter already had been decided in the resolution. Aldermen, Coplien said, understood that the resolution provides for meters being "removed together" at the same time. So Public Safety Chairman Charles Koch said the committee would rescind its motion, and council President Keith Ingwell said the committee's action is "a moot issue."
Parking meters on the Square will be removed all at once, at least for now.
Ultimately, there was no harm in the confusion over what had been passed only weeks earlier, but it is embarrassing. And it's further evidence of the need for the city to have a professional directing operations at City Hall. A good city administrator would have clarified the council's decision, and informed the committee of the proper procedures to follow. Koch said he "questioned several people" at Monday's meeting and was convinced the committee should make the decision.
The best news to come from Tuesday's set of city meetings was that the city's Salary and Personnel Committee took a first step in filling the administrator position that has been vacant since last May. The committee reviewed the administrator job description and noted minor changes it would like to make.
Hopefully, the council will continue to move forward in a thoughtful and efficient manner toward bringing in an administrator to right a city government ship that at times in the past year has swerved off course.
