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.