Curmudgeon's Corner

Once again, mismanagement at Village Hall results in asking for more.  Gee, I thought my property taxes were paying to have my roads maintained and repaired as necessary.  Silly me, actually, they were going to pay for a Taj Mahal Senior Center addition that was not needed, higher salaries and per diems for Village Board members, sweetheart loans to private developers, debt payments for un-needed and ill-advised TIF districts, etc.

Such mismanagement and poor decision making by our trusted leaders insures that we will continue to bounce around, in and out of holes in our local streets.  Keep up the good work guys.  Maybe after this you will have time to determine whether or not we should rename Mequon Road to Germantown Road.  Or better yet, pay somebody to study that option.

CONCERNED GT RESIDENT

I just went back to April 08, and found you have alot to say. Some I agree with, some I do not. #1-If & when you may need the services of the "Taj Mahal Senior Center", please let me know-I would love to be the first to block  acess to you, I think it's the least we can do for our seniors, they after all have brought germantown to where it is today, just ask Charlie Hargan- he's done a tremendous amount for this community-

& #2- Since you are so well versed-why don't you put your name on the ballot !!!

I received an email from Village President Tom Kempinski and wanted to provide quotes for clarification purposes:

From President Tom Kempinski:

"I have recently viewed your Blog in regards to the potential referendum for Road Improvements.

While I agree with most of what is written, I must point out that the Village Board is required to take the issue before the citizenry for approval of the increasing levy.  We are limited by the State in regards to exceeding our prior years levy.  We are only permitted to increase our levy by the amount of new growth %wise we incurred in the prior year.  I anticipate our growth going into this year's budget will only show about 2% increase.  By using either a 2% or 3% formula either percentages of increase will not give the Village adequate monies needed for road repairs.  Employee salaries could potentially take up the majority of either increase to the levy.

Over at least the past 8 years the Village Board has forced itself in making cuts to the Budget, in an effort of continuing down the path of striving to keep the tax rate down for the Village of Germantown residents.  State Shared Revenue has also declined significantly over the past 8 years.  Simply do more with less, a concept I along with many of my colleagues happen to embrace.

I have scheduled a Committee of the Whole for next Monday evening immediately after the Village Board Meeting, to discuss this issue and have the Village Board give direction to the General Government and Finance Committee to determine what the appropriate amount is needed for a continued road repair fund.  You have addressed most of the questions I wanted staff to investigate prior to presentation to the General Government and Finance Committee.  In closing, the 2 million figure was a number that was mentioned over the last couple of years, and I would hope a plan could be implemented where the amount would be considerably less."

A referendum is simply an easy way out for a board who wants to avoid making difficult decisions. Cut spending in certain areas and redirect the funds to roads. Pretty simple. Unfortunately the Village Board has found the funds to give significant salary increases to staff, a per diem to themselves (which appears to be being abused)and spending increases at rates greater than the rate of inflation to some departments.

So like the parent who has to tell little Billie that he cannot have the candy bar at the check out at Wal Mart, I will make it simple. No referendum is needed. Do your job, make the tough decisions and do what you should have been doing all along, maintain the roads. That may mean some staff layoffs or salary freezes but that is reality.

Deal with it, dont push your responsibilities off to others.

Irwin Fletcher

POMO17,

My criticism of the decision to spend more money on an elaborate addition to the senior center does not in any way criticize the seniors themselves.  That's a ridiculous way to defend that piece of questionable spending.  By that line of thinking one could assume that those who opposed the new elementary school were somehow being disrespectful of those students who could bring so much to the future of Germantown.

I don't think the Village has any more of an "obligation" to providing a space for seniors to congregate and get healthy meals than it has an obligation to provide certain amenities for its junior citizens.  It's great that we have that facility, but I personally don't believe such a massive expansion was necessary.

If the Village Board can make that decision on their own, why can't they make the decision to improve our pathetic roads in the Village?

Gee, I'm flattered that you went back to review all of my opinions.  Keep in mind they are "my opinions" and you don't have to agree with them.  That $140,000 the Village is spending on the parking lot at the Public Works building would certainly help on some of our worst streets, but you're right, I guess I can't express my opinion unless I'm on the Village Board.  The very same Village Board that wants everybody else to decide if our roads are bad enough to fix.