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)
posted by Merger Study Web Site Administrator
2 COMMENTS
2 Comments:
(The following comments are from former Mayor Ben Uchitelle in response to an email from Mr. Andy Rochman. Mr. Uchitelle requested that this exchange be posted)
-----Original Message-----
From: Uchitelle, Ben
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 11:12 AM
To: 'Andy Rochman'; Wendy Bell; Vivian Eveloff; Thomas Smallwood; Susan Culican; Sally Kopman; Sally Cohn; Richard Hyde; Mark Livingston; Marcus Holmes; Lori Fiegel; Loren Ettinger; Lee Hanson; John McCormick; Joan Newman; Jim Thompson; Jill Belsky; Jerry Bollato; Feder, Gary; Ed Notter; Doug Fluchel; Human, Daniel; Claire Halpern; Charles J Cook; Carl Barnes; Bob Denlow; Alan Richter; Joyce Walsh; Ed Notter; Kathy Wright
Cc: Steve Lichtenfeld; Mayor Goldstein; Judy Goodman; Bev Wagner; alex berger; Michelle Harris; James Beck; Tim Gallagher; Camille Greenwald; Michael Jones; Paul Lore; Gina Mitten; Lillian Underwood; Connie Williams; Mayor Humphrey; Michael A. Schoedel; Amy Hamilton
Subject: RE: JSC Recommendations
Andy,
I am pleased that we agree on the principal draft JSC recommendation to create an ongoing Committee consisting of the two Mayors, an Alderman and a Councilman, and the respective City Managers to meet monthly to explore specific possible partnering and sharing services. I share your conclusion that any recommendations coming from this Committee would have to receive both Clayton and Richmond Heights Aldermanic and Council approval, and I think that would be both legally and politically correct and advisable.
With respect to your concerns on draft JSC recommendation to further explore combining the Parks and Recreation activities of the two cities and also Brentwood and Maplewood, I would strongly urge that the potential for major savings and broader benefits for our citizens should be fully examined. There is so much to be possibly gained from such an ongoing study, carefully conducted and thoroughly explored.
Likewise, the draft JSC recommendation to further explore potential cost savings and efficiencies in the Information Technology departments clearly poses the potential for efficiencies and better long-term benefits for both our cities.
Finally, although the JSC draft report is silent on the issue, I would recommend consideration by the respective Chambers of Commerce of Richmond Heights and Clayton of partnering or merging. Once again, the potential for both greater benefits for our business and retail citizens and cost savings, I believe, clearly calls for such a study.
Thanks again for your continuing review.
Ben
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Rochman [mailto:arochman@att.net]
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 9:28 AM
To: Wendy Bell; Vivian Eveloff; Thomas Smallwood; Susan Culican; Sally Kopman; Sally Cohn; Richard Hyde; Mark Livingston; Marcus Holmes; Lori Fiegel; Loren Ettinger; Lee Hanson; John McCormick; Joan Newman; Jim Thompson; Jill Belsky; Jerry Bollato; Feder, Gary; Ed Notter; Doug Fluchel; Human, Daniel; Claire Halpern; Charles J Cook; Carl Barnes; Bob Denlow; Alan Richter; Joyce Walsh; Ed Notter; Kathy Wright
Cc: Steve Lichtenfeld; Mayor Goldstein; Judy Goodman; Bev Wagner; alex berger; Michelle Harris; James Beck; Tim Gallagher; Camille Greenwald; Michael Jones; Paul Lore; Gina Mitten; Lillian Underwood; Connie Williams; Mayor Humphrey; Michael A. Schoedel; Amy Hamilton; Uchitelle, Ben
Subject: JSC Recommendation
It is appeciated that the report that appears on the merger website is an initial draft, is not set in stone, and the final report may look totally different. It is requested that the JSC consider the wording, in particular, of the recommendation:
"The JSC recommends an ongoing committee to consider and act upon various areas of partnering or sharing services. It is suggested this Committee consist of the Mayor of each city, an Alderman and a Councilman from each city, and the City Managers of each city. This Committee would meet on a monthly basis to consider and direct and review areas of sharing and partnering."
The recommendation to meet regularly and discuss potential cost savings that may arise from sharing and consolidation makes a lot of sense. To avoid any misunderstandings, the recommendation, however, should be clear that (1) the sole purpose of this Committee is to make recommendations to the Clayton BOA and RH Council and (2) the Committee is not empowered to initiate or effect any action on its own.
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
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