Dropped Email

On closer reading of the email exchange (see comments to Friday June 22 Post following) between Mr. Uchitelle and me regarding the JSC Final Report Draft that was published, it is noteworthy that Mr. Uchitelle's email omitted my specific criticism of the draft. Apparently, only the portion of my email that appeared to agree with a portion of the recommendation was published. Here is what was omitted from the commentary:

The report points out that "the combining of the Parks and Recreation activities of the two cities together with the cities of Brentwood and Maplewood, and sharing with the Clayton School District, would produce substantial revenues." The words "would produce" offer an assurance that may not materialize. This ambitious conclusion is based soley upon information provided by the cities' department heads and assembled by the JSC without the review or input of any outside, disinterested professional.

The report also concludes that "the cities should further explore costs savings and efficiencies of shared information technology facilities and services. Sharing of services and facilities could have significant [empasis added] cost savings and lesson redundancies for the two cities." This conclusion does not follow from either the IT Summary report or from the "Total Merger Impact By Department" financial summary.

Andy Rochman's Reply To Ben Uchitelle

In posting of the email exchange between Mr. Uchitelle and me regarding the JSC Final Report Draft, Mr. Uchitelle omitted my following reply to his email. (I have also added this in the comments to the June 22 post.)

Ben,

(1) Recommending the exploration of parks consolidation/sharing is certainly an appropriate recommendation for the JSC to make. Stating that great savings will be reaped, while possibly true, needs to be demonstrated. Final report wordsmithing is recommended to avoid any misunderstandings.

(2) Your postulations regarding recommending exploring the IT functions are not supported by the report. To make such recommendation, despite the IT Subcommittee's findings to the contrary, repudiates and trivializes the Subcommittee members' concerted efforts.

(3) The JSC report is appropriately silent on recommending an exploration of a merger of the Chambers of Commerce just as it is appropriately silent on recommending exploration of a merger of Schnucks and Straubs. The Chambers are independently chartered and sponsored by citizens and businesses of their respective communities and are not city departments. Recommending exploration of the combination of the Chambers, whether or not a praiseworthy suggestion, is outside the JSC's scope of study.

Glad you welcome and appreciate my review.

Best Regards,
andy

Public Safety Subcommittee's Final Report

Public Safety Final Report 8 pages

(* to be presented to the JSC on June 28, 2007)

JSC Meeting Minutes

April 25, 2007 – JSC Minutes

Draft JSC Final Report for Review

July 2007 – Draft JSC Final Report (8 pages)

Note: Click on Comments below this post to review an exchange of comments between former Mayor Ben Uchitelle and Mr. Andy Rochman, a Clayton resident)

JSC General Meeting Agenda for June 27th

June 27, 2007 – JSC Agenda

The April 25th JSC Meeting Minutes will be posted when available

Video of May 30th Public Forum

The video of the May 30 JSC Public Forum airs on Clayton's Government Access Channel 10 at 7 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Central Newsmagazine - Cover Story in June 13th Issue

'Merger Study Has Brought More Awareness Of Neighboring Communities'
By Casey Godwin

(Central Newsmagazine is Central St. Louis County's exclusive direct-mailed community)

Public Safety Subcommittee Meeting Agenda

June 6, 2007 - Public Safety SC Agenda