Democrats Delay In Hopes to Deny
There may be some changes coming to the make-up of the Waterworks Board. The Board hasn’t been able to reach a quorum because Democratic appointed members Frank Short and John Bayt, are having problems showing up to meetings.
The two haven’t shown up for weeks, delaying a vote on the transfer of the city’s water and waste water facilities to Citizens Gas. However, an unintended consequence of Short’s and Bayt’s inability to show up is that their absences are putting close to $4 million worth of water projects on hold which could cost the city thousands of dollars in penalties.
Waterworks director Matt Klein, would not offer an opinion on why Bayt and Short weren’t showing up but he did outline what was at stake with board members being absent.
The fact that Short and Bayt haven’t been able to show up, has caused some Waterworks Board members to ask the Mayor’s Office about what action can be taken. According to Council ethics rules Board members can only be removed for cause, and attendance can fall under that category.
However, since Short and Bayt are Democratic appointments, the more likely scenarios are the Council could dissolve the Board, expand the Board membership and give the Mayor more appointments or simply eliminate the Board’s power to vote on the deal. The Waterworks Board was created by ordinance, not state statute, so it exists at the pleasure of the Council.
But this is the perfect reason why water company should not be in the hands of politicians but professionals who know what they’re doing and don’t play games with the ratepayers time and money.
