Curmudgeon's Corner

Village Buzz - March 5th

Posted by Al Campbell on March 5, 2010

Germantown, Police, Political, Quality of Life, Village Board, Village Buzz

The discussion about our village’s governance continues.  The final report is available to anyone desiring it.  A copy can be read at the Germantown Police Department’s office or copies can be had for the nominal cost of $0.25 per page copied.  It is quite straight-forward and permits one to draw his or her own conclusion.  It is contained in Call Detail Report #10.001090.  The copy I have is not of sufficient quality to permit it to be scanned and presented in an Internet file.

To clear any misunderstanding, I never have had any copies of the review documents concerning the Village Administrator in my possession, nor have I ever seen those documents.  My information came as is indicated by Capt. Dan Buntrock’s notes from my interview session with him.

Fingers are pointed often in political matters; it is sometimes very difficult to know what is true in these situations, but the reports written by Capt. Buntrock give one the opportunity to at least draw some more-informed conclusions.  Each of us colors our opinion through the biases we bring to the table.  My opinions are colored by my biases and the opinions of commenters are colored by their biases.  My opinions are stated in “the open” since I do not have the luxury of using a “screen name”; you know my biases while you may not know those of the commenter(s).

It is my opinion that, at least in some respects, we have a dysfunctional village government.  There are political forces at work as one would expect.  There is a push-pull that exists in almost every political situation.  That is to be expected.  The issues for concern occur when those political motivations are permitted to color decisions by the participants that have an effect upon the citizens of the community.

It is clear to me that there is a split in our Village Board.  It is difficult to discern who is part of one or another camp, in most cases, since the scene shifts according to whoever’s statement is being read.  I believe that there is one true outsider and that is Al Vanderheiden.  I believe there are people who do not like the job done by our current Village Administrator. I believe there are “walking quorums” occurring which are illegal under state law and that those are sometimes flaunted.

I believe that not having had notes/minutes taken during one or more of the closed sessions is contrary to state law.  I do not believe that was an accident since some on the Village Board appear to see the Village Clerk as a person who is not supportive of their goals and who may have been the source of “leaks”.  I have never received confidential information from the Village Clerk nor do I know anyone who has.

I believe it is improper for anyone in a position of authority to order a subordinate to avoid contact with me or anyone else simply because that contact might expose something they wish not to be exposed.  The idea that certain civic organizations should be “off limits” to the Village Administrator is foreign to me.

It becomes apparent to me that there are trustees who do not like the idea that Germantown has a police department.  They seem to think that we ought to be policed by some other organization.  They think that the GPD is too large and that, apparently, the money spent in that manner could be better used elsewhere.

The process involved in the review of the Village Administrator appears to me to have been arbitrary and very poorly executed.  I believe that it was done with a preconceived notion of what the findings should’ve been.  I believe that there has been an atmosphere of intimidation at work in our village governance structure. 

The idea that I am privy to something not known by others is, from my vantage point, absurd.  I believe there are four other investigations ongoing because I have that information corroborated by the absence of denials to my questions concerning investigations in general and by specific reference to numbers of investigations.

The meetings that occur at McDonald’s and at the local George Webb’s restaurant on a regular basis sometimes equate to the appearance of “walking quorums” when three or more trustees are present in one setting such as that.  To me it is absurd to think that no village business is discussed during those “coffee klatches".  There is not ironclad “proof” of such conversations and, consequently, they continue on a regular basis.  Several trustees have admitted as much in their statements to Capt. Buntrock, however.

I believe that we have an opportunity, with the coming change in top leadership, to correct some of these issues.  If these issues continue after that ‘change of command’, then they will probably be with us for at least another three years.  The President makes key appointments, and it is through those positions that near-absolute control is achieved since agenda items do not appear if they are threatening to the position of whoever is in control.

I believe that to be a Village Administrator in today’s Germantown ought to qualify that person for hazardous duty pay…and job search assistance.  It is a thankless job today.

The issues that I believe to exist have not existed forever nor must they continue to exist.  A strong leader intent on causing change can make it happen, admittedly with some hard work.  The committee appointments will be telling.

Other than by position title, I have refrained from the use of names.  It is no secret that I have not been a big fan of President Kempinski since I have expressed differences over his tenure, so I do not feel that I am attacking him by use of the position title.

This will conclude the review of this set of issues unless a commenter chooses to engage me and I feel it necessary to respond.  Again, I encourage you to seek access to the final report if you wish.  I feel certain that most everyone with a vested interest has already done so.