Showing posts with label Ward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ward. Show all posts
October 11, 2013
Mayor shrugs off criticism, plans to cut ribbon
October 2, 2013
Is Mayor Ward going to take a job with Covanta?
September 9, 2013
Ward backs one Republican, one Democrat
June 12, 2013
Zoppo loses her place on cemetery panel... but she's not buried yet
May 2, 2013
Ward taps Cockayne as designated replacement
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| Ken Cockayne, left, and Art Ward |
March 7, 2013
Ward won't hand over specifics of possible budget cuts
For more than a month, Mayor Art Ward has been sitting on paperwork submitted by municipal departments that outlines what each of them would do if they had to slice 10 percent from their annual budgets.
He won’t let anybody see what they had to say.
Ward, who is on vacation in Florida, said that he is still reviewing the documents and won’t release them to city councilors, Board of Finance members or The Bristol Press until he’s made sure they are completely ready. Until then, he said, they are drafts that don’t have to be handed over. Click here for full story.
Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
He won’t let anybody see what they had to say.
Ward, who is on vacation in Florida, said that he is still reviewing the documents and won’t release them to city councilors, Board of Finance members or The Bristol Press until he’s made sure they are completely ready. Until then, he said, they are drafts that don’t have to be handed over. Click here for full story.
November 26, 2012
Cockayne: 'The right person at the right time'
Here are the prepared remarks that city Councilor Ken Cockayne spoke to the Republican Town Committee tonight:
Today I am announcing that I
am running for Mayor of Bristol in 2013.
I am asking for your support in this endeavor and feel I am the right
person at the right time for this job.
I am the senior member of the
Council and have spent the last five years fighting for change and fighting for
you, the taxpayers of Bristol. We are on
the precipice of significant change and new leadership for Bristol. In the last local election, the people of
Bristol spoke and elected leaders to fight for them. Leaders, who are truly, fiscally
conservative, who understand that voters are not ATMs. The sitting Mayor controls the agenda, so
while the voters spoke, loudly and clearly, there is one more crucial
step. We need a mayor that will listen
to the people of Bristol and set an agenda that puts their interests first. We
need a true leader to drive the change that must occur and I believe I am that
type of leader.
I believe I am the right
person at the right time for Bristol. These
will be challenging times. We need someone
who can lead from the front. I have
spent the last five years doing just this.
I have never hid from an issue or avoided one. I have worked steadfastly for the people of
Bristol, even when it met that I stood alone. When we needed change in leadership
with our Police Department, I was the only elected official willing to attach
his name when asking for this change. When
our community was in danger of having no say in group homes for troubled
adolescents moving into established residential neighborhoods, I stepped up
immediately to fight. We wanted a voice for Bristol, and I was that
voice that brought this practice to light.
At times I have been the lone voice of dissent when voting on contracts,
for I refused to be a part of a rubber stamp council. I was voice for the West End, an often
overlooked section of our community, and called for increased police presence
and was an advocate for the formation of the West End Association.
I believe that I am not only
a person who leads from the front, but also the person with the right
experience to do the job well. In the
last five years, I have served on 21 separate boards, including the Bristol
Development Authority, the Bristol Downtown Development Corporation, the Board
of Public Works and the Salary Committee.
I have fought the tough battles and have an intimate understanding of
our municipal government.
These last five years have
been arduous, but the foundation is in place.
The current City Council is ready to work for responsible change to benefit
you, the taxpayer. The next step is to
put a person in the Mayor’s Office who will set an agenda to facilitate this
change. With my willingness to take on
challenges and embrace the fights that need to occur, coupled with my
experience as your senior councilman, I believe I am the right person at the
right time. I humbly as for your
support.
I may have a video to add sometime Tuesday for those who want to see it all in high def.
July 24, 2012
Rapper Fury seeks chance to sing downtown
Rapper Jason "Fury" Flores is in the news again, this time because he probably won't be allowed to perform a family-friendly version of his song "Bristol State of Mind" during the Aug. 4 Pop Up Piazza downtown.
Read that story here. For those who don't remember or never heard the song to begin with, here is a video of the January 2011 song that helped make Flores a well known figure in his hometown:
For those who are really curious about Fury, here's the original version of the video.
April 27, 2012
Ward challenges GOP to take the lead
Fed up by
Republican complaints that he is moving too slowly to consolidate government
departments, Mayor Art Ward recently offered to let the GOP-controlled City
Council spearhead the process.
| Bristol Mayor Art Ward |
“It is quite
evident, based upon the City Council’s level of frustration and suggestions of
the consolidation efforts not being done readily enough, that the members of
the City Council seem to possess more expertise on this project than I, or
anyone else involved up to this point,” Ward recently wrote in an email to the
council.
Ward said he
would “graciously entertain nominations for the names of any City Council
members who wish to volunteer their experience, time and wisdom to become the
chairperson of this effort,” Ward wrote.
The mayor
said that nobody has yet expressed interest in taking up the position.
The move
followed complaints by two GOP councilors – David Mills and Derek Czenczelewski
– about the slow pace of consolidation efforts.
Ward said
the initial push has been to try to consolidate the computer divisions of City
Hall and the Board of Education. He said it probably wouldn’t save money but it
would improve efficiency.
Mills asked
the personnel director in an April 11 email obtained through a Freedom of
Information request how come nothing has been mentioned about other potential
areas for consolidation, including “vehicle maintenance, putting all buildings
under one department and all public grounds under another.”
“Has this
even been discussed yet? It has been five months since it was proposed to the
mayor,” Mills said.
Ward wrote
back to Mills, “Patience is a virtue.”
Mills fired
back: “In other words, it hasn’t started yet.” Link to full story
April 12, 2012
Ward speaks to union rally at City Hall
Here is Mayor Art Ward speaking to a union rally outside City Hall before this week's City Council meeting:
And here is Mayra Sampson, the union leader for City Hall's workers, speaking at the same union rally (sorry about the wind):
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor to Cockayne: "Shut the f*** up"
And God knows that many have privately indicated they wish city Councilor Ken Cockayne in particular would zip it.
But Mayor Art Ward made the mistake of letting the understandable thought slip out of his mouth during this week's City Council meeting. Here's the story, in case you missed it.
Plus, there's the must-see video:
Now newspaper people are famously crass -- the word f*** rolls off some editors' tongues as often as twice per sentence -- so the mayor's words barely registered with me. Until I got a copy of the tape, I really wasn't sure what Ward had said.
But we all recognize the mayor shouldn't curse in a televised, public meeting. That he's never done it before is all the proof anyone needs that he knows better -- and is better, since he's been there a long, long time as a councilor and the city's top elected official.
The Urban Dictionary helps clarify the "shut the f*** up" comment.
It says that people use the phrase "when someone is talking, there is too much noise or when someone is talking shit. It is the upgrade of 'shut up' and is used mainly when you are angry and annoyed to the extent the you could lose it at any moment."
I don't really think Ward was about to lose it -- why would he? he had as much support in that union-filled chamber as he's ever had in his life -- but he was probably pretty angry that Cockayne was leaping in to try to tell him how to do his job.
At its root, what's happening between the GOP-dominated council and Ward is a power struggle.
The mayor runs the city, by charter and tradition, but this council is determined to try to force him to follow its dictates, something he's unwilling to do except grudgingly and slow.
What that moment of frustration when the mayor cursed at Cockayne really shows is how deep the divide between them has become in the last few months.
In a war, after all, you don't usually sweet talk the enemy.
November 15, 2011
Photos from Bristol's Inauguration
November 9, 2011
Election Night photos in Bristol
 |
| Checking the count at the American Legion polling place, just after the polls closed Tuesday. |
 |
| Mayor Art Ward waiting for results, at a time when it appeared he might lose. |
 |
| Mayor Art Ward watching results come in at the Polish Club. |
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| Republican Mary Alford gives Mayor Art Ward a congratulatory hug. |
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| Mayor Art Ward and Republican challenger Mary Alford, who nearly beat him and led the GOP to its most successful municipal election win in years. |
November 5, 2011
Ward kept mum about costly education measure
An email exchange obtained by The Bristol Press shows that Mayor Art Ward knew the city
budget adopted in June might shortchange education by $2.6 million yet he said
nothing about it to city councilors, the Board of Finance or the public.
Ward
received an email from school Superintendent Philip Streifer a day before the
city’s adopted its spending plan on June 2 that warned him about proposed
legislation in Hartford that would reverse Bristol’s plan to slice education
spending from $102.6 million to $100 million.
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
 |
| Art Ward |
Had the city
included the extra money in the budget, property taxes would have gone up by
half a mill instead of remaining frozen at last year’s level.
Ward said
Wednesday that he never meant to keep anything secret.
“Everything
happened last minute,” the mayor said, and “I didn’t realize the impact of
this.”
He said that
he didn’t tell anyone about it – not even state lawmakers who later approved
the measure – because events were moving so fast that he simply never thought
of it.
“It’s slam,
slam, slam,” Ward said, and things sometimes fall through the cracks.
Ward said
the proposal that would have forced Bristol to maintain education spending
levels hadn’t yet passed and he wasn’t sure it ever would. He said the city had
to pass a budget on June 2 with no way to tell if it would be forced to pay
more.
But
Republican Mary Alford, who is seeking to unseat Ward in a three-way race next
Tuesday, said Ward’s failure to share the information he knew was both “irresponsible”
and demonstrated “a completely lack of leadership.”
“All he had
to say was the truth,” she said, but he didn’t do it. Click here for rest of story.
October 9, 2011
Alford to council: Ditch mayor's raise
Alford: Last Ditch Effort!
(Bristol Bristol
Last Wednesday, Alford sent out a “robo-call” to registered
voters in Bristol
“The rallying cry for the national and state Democratic
parties is “shared sacrifice”, “Alford continued, “The only place “shared
sacrifice” isn’t happening is right here in the City of Bristol. Many of our
residents are unemployed and trying to make ends meet and our local elected
leaders are approving executive pay raises.”
Alford is concerned about the message this raise sends to
the people of Bristol
“How can you justify giving the Mayor of Bristol a raise
when the citizens he represents are going without?” Alford asked.
Another concern for Ms. Alford is the misinformation being
circulated regarding this raise.
According to the agenda for the City Council meeting on Tuesday under
item 16 there is a notation regard clarifying the raise. “What people may not
realize is that this is a 1.8% raise in November 2011 and another 1.8% raise in
November 2012. That’s a 3.6 percent raise over the next two years,” Alford
said.
“I think it is time that the voters of Bristol elect a Mayor
that not only knows how to sharpen a pencil when it comes to budgetary matters,
but one who also knows how to use an eraser,” Alford concluded, “The old adage
every penny counts surely applies here and as your next Mayor I intend to count
every penny.
October 6, 2011
Is the mayor going to give up his raise?
August 30, 2011
City to hold 9-11 tribute
Statement from Mayor Art Ward's office:
On Sunday,
September 11th at 7 PM, the
City of Bristol will conduct a 10th Anniversary Memorial Tribute in
honor of the 9/11 tragedy.
The event
will be hosted in one of Bristol St.
Joseph Church
Mayor Ward
stated, “This will truly be an awe inspiring and memorable gathering, offering
each one of us an opportunity to reflect on the effect this tragedy has had on
family, friends and country. Plan to attend and become part of yet another page
added to our City’s impressive memorial history. “
May 25, 2011
Councilors debate whether to bolster school funding
From city Councilor Kevin Fuller to City Council and others:
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 11:20 AM
subject Budget Alternative
11:20 AM
As we move forward to adopt a budget I am troubled with one item I want to address to see if we can come to a resolve. The tension between the finance board and the Board of Ed is having a huge impact not only with its employee's but also with the students that we are educating to become successful adults. The rift is only going to hurt those students who's programs will be cut, it will not address any of the problems you may have with the Board of Ed. We need to look at the children and put our differences aside and not let them fall through the cracks of the economy. I suggest that we take 2.5 million from the rainy day fund to save Westwood academy and the other programs being cut because that money is their just for this type of situation, by doing this we can still keep a ZERO increase in the mill rate and it will be a win all around. But most of all it will be a win for the children that we are all responsible to give the best education possible and I for one do not want to let the children down. Thank you,
Kevin Fuller
From city Councilor Ken Cockayne
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 11:44 AM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
11:44 AM
Kevin,
I’m completely against this! If we deplete our "rainy day" fund to much it will have a direct impact on our city rating as well as future bonding we go out for. It is also Fund Balance policy not to be used for operating expense but for emergency or a one time use. Using this money will be go directly against that policy and will be used for operating expense.
In the past the BOE has received the following increases. 2007 - 5.06%, 2008 - 3.40%, 2009 - 6.09%, 2010 - 1.40%, 2011 - .29%. For 2012, the BOE has approx 2.5 million from Fed money that will also be used.
Also, as you know the City, nor the Council have any say as to what the BOE money is spent on or what they do with it. It is the BOE decision to cut the programs not the City of Bristol. At some point, the city leaders must say enough is enough!!!
Respectfully,
Ken Cockayne
From Fuller
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 12:01 PM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
12:01 PM (2 hours ago)
Ken, I do respect you position on this issue and agree we must be very tight with the budget, I also feel it is my responsibility to try to close this gap. I understand we cannot dictate how the money is spent but I feel the Boe Administration feels the same about their students. I am not sure that this would affect our rating and I feel this is a one time use and a emergency situation. I feel I need to stand up for our students and try to fund these programs. Thanks for you response Kevin
From city Councilor Cliff Block
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 12:46 PM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
12:46 PM
Ken,
When the City side of the budget takes a hit some roads don't get paved or maybe the streets are not plowed in a timely matter or we don't fill positons that open, but when you cut the BOE budget 2.5 million from the base of last year you hurt our childrens education which can not be made up at a later date, it's lost!!
So as a city leader Ken I would hope you would reconsider your stand on this issue and realize the cost to our childrens education and future.
Thanks,
Cliff Block
From city Comptroller Glenn Klocko
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 12:51 PM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
12:51 PM
Councilmen/Commissioners: I feel I must respond. It may be a long response, but necessary. The city has a formally adopted fund balance policy. It is in our budget document under "policy initiatives".
Now then, allow me to get to the point(s):
First and foremost, this suggestion by Mr. Fuller would be a use of fund balance for operational expenses at the BOE. Our various city opinion's that it is an appropriate use or it is not does not matter. What matters is the opinion of the three rating agencies, and they would say it is a use of fund balance for operational purposes...a no no. They would also say we are going against our own policy and nationally recommended practice, resulting in not so favorable comments to the market in two weeks. That has the likely affect to cost the city a lot of $$$ in terms of interest over the life of the 19 year $40 million bond issue coming up. Perhaps several hundred thousand dollars. This is our largest issuance ever, and not a time to change policy. The two new schools are in the issuance.
Here are several direct quotes from our 3 previous rating reports in 2009 (last time we went to market) and given to the market place about Bristol and its reserves:
Standard & Poor's: "S & P consider Bristol's financial management practices as "strong". The city's financial practices are strong, well embedded, and likely sustainable. Highlights include: Formal reserve policy that sets a floor for reserve balances and how fund balance can be used in budgeting" "In our opinion, Bristol's financial position is stable due, in part, to its demonstrated fiscal management. We believe the city's conservative budgeting, expenditure controls, and adherence to debt and fund balance policies have allowed management to maintain a stable financial position and strong reserves".
Standard and Poor's upgraded us in 2009.
Moody's Investors Services: "sound financial operations"..."conservative budgeting practices and adherence to prudent financial policies". Citing the following: "city's formal fund balance policy which calls for the maintenance of the Undesignated general fund balance at no less than 10% of budget." "Future rating reviews will incorporate the city's ability to maintain financial flexibility with reserves growing consistently with budgetary expansion through structurally-balanced operations."
Fitch Ratings: "Rating rationale - a history of healthy reserve levels and strong management practices underpin the city of Bristol's sound financial flexibility." "Best Financial Management practices - Maintaining a Rainy Day Fund is perhaps the most effective practice an issuer can use to enhance its credit rating"
Mr. Fuller, you were probably not aware of the above considering you're new(er) to the council. I would be happy to review the rating reports and recommended financial practices we have in place that maintains our strong credit rating at AA+. Triple A is the highest. The mayor, myself, my staff, and Jonathan, will be giving 3 credit rating presentations June 8th. Reserves will be a discussion by the agencies. Please understand we can not and should not ruin our solid financial reputation and rating with the analysts by giving the BOE our fund balance to satisfy their operational needs. That would not be defendable. 10 years ago we were using $3.6 million dollars to balance our budget. Today, the number is $750,000 with a goal of Zero. We told the rating agencies of our goal and they liked it very much. Going into a credit rating is like a gun fight...You got to consistently shoot straight to hit the target with them. Please continue to give me the ammunition to do so and not reverse 10 years of prior city accomplishments. Glenn
Kind regards, Glenn Klocko, Comptroller
From Fuller
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 1:16 PM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
1:16 PM
Glenn, Thank you for the information and the last thing I would want to happen is our credit rating to be blemished, With that said we need to put our heads together to solve this problem of not funding the Board of Ed, I was at westwoods acadamey and the students at that school have grown by leaps and bounds. If it is closed those students will not rejoin the high school they will drop out and I hope at least get a GED. Look at the graduation rate at that school and how many went on to college, It is our duty to not let these students down. When these students look back I don't want them to remember us as the Council that let them down. So I urge all members to look at all options to find a way to fund the Boe.
Once again Glenn that's for you information on the fund balance. Kevin
From Mayor Art Ward
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 1:22 PM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
1:22 PM
I will reiterate, at the initial presentation of the BOE budget request, it was stated by Dr. Streifer and Mr. O'Brien that the BOE could withstand one year of 0% increase but could not take 2 years of 0% - this is the year that the Board of Finance decided that the option would be exercised.
While I understand the significance of education, are you ready to incur the potential ravages of the impact of the lay-off of some of the parents of these same children?
The city has eliminated 40 positions through attrition and cannot absorb any more without the burden being sharedd, at least somewhat, by the BOE.
The options which they are employing are very disrespectful when they are suggesting to the parents that the city is to blame - the city/Board of Finance is being responsible with regard to the allocation of funds for ALL city services and the BOE needs to accept some of that responsibility.
Additionally, it would have been a lot easier to have addressed these issues during the budget process rather than after the Comptroller's office, all of the city departments and the Finance Board have rolled up their sleeves and sweated through hours and hours of meetings, only to be confronted with second-guessing of the outcome.
The Finance Board meetings were void of city council presence except on very rare and personal agenda motivated occasions.
Mayor Ward
From Klocko
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 1:27 PM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
1:27 PM
You are most welcome. I'm sure you didn't have my information available on fund balance useage to you in your decision process. I'm sure we can work together to resolve the Westwoods situation. However, in my professional opinion (again), the BOE has to assist us in creating savings and saving programs. The BOF chairman and others have recently identified many area's in the BOE budget that give the impression of 'desired but not needed'...for instance...they budget over $200k for conferences, I believe there is a line item for BOE members to attend a national conference out of state and possibly on the west coast. The BOF chairman's observations have a possibility of saving or transferring the savings to the tune of $1.2 million dollars. Of course, the lowest levels of employee are being threatened but not some of the higher levels...they remain in tact. Just some observations..hope it helps. GK
From Cockayne
Wed, May 25, 2011 at 1:34 PM
subject Re: Budget Alternative
1:34 PM
Cliff,
The BOE needs to be fiscally responsible. This year they passed a new contract for supervisors and administrators giving a 3yr contract, 1.9, 2.5 and 2.5. In this tough times, it does not sound to me as that is being fiscally responsible. A couple years ago the teachers understood the times and voted on what I believed to be an appropriate contract, so yes, they did what was best for the children.
Again, it is not the City who cuts programs, its the BOE! The City does not have an open checkbook that can be balanced on the taxpayers. It's the BOE who will cut the programs as some continue to take raises. I also understand the new contract has a provision for revoking the raises if necessary.....seems to me this is the time to do that. Was it done? If not, then why not?
Ken
April 26, 2011
Who might replace Matthews?
It only took a few minutes Monday for politicians to start wondering who should take the City Council seat that Kate Matthews had to give up.
The early betting was that Mayor Art Ward would probably pick Terry Parker, the Democratic candidate in 2009 who fell short on Election Day in the 3rd District.
Parker is a longtime party activist, a moderator at Greene-Hills School elections for years and a genial, decent fellow.
He also doesn't seem to be tied in to any particular faction within the party, which is sort of a rarity these days.
But there are some who want Ward to ask state Rep. Frank Nicastro to fill in the rest of Matthews' term, since he's steeped in the issues and won't have a learning curve.
On the other hand, Ward doesn't like him.
Among the other possibilities are John Lodovico, a downtown commissioner, and Craig Minor, a former councilor. Ward, however, was never too keen on Minor when they served together.
There is also some pressure, of course, to pick another woman since the alternative is to have an all-male council, which is hardly an advertisement for the new with-it Bristol that Renaissance and others are trying to promote.
In any case, Ward has to act soon. The charter only gives him two weeks to pick someone.
The council gets to vote, too.
The only legal requirement is that Ward has to pick a Democrat who lives in the district.
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The early betting was that Mayor Art Ward would probably pick Terry Parker, the Democratic candidate in 2009 who fell short on Election Day in the 3rd District.
Parker is a longtime party activist, a moderator at Greene-Hills School elections for years and a genial, decent fellow.
He also doesn't seem to be tied in to any particular faction within the party, which is sort of a rarity these days.
But there are some who want Ward to ask state Rep. Frank Nicastro to fill in the rest of Matthews' term, since he's steeped in the issues and won't have a learning curve.
On the other hand, Ward doesn't like him.
Among the other possibilities are John Lodovico, a downtown commissioner, and Craig Minor, a former councilor. Ward, however, was never too keen on Minor when they served together.
There is also some pressure, of course, to pick another woman since the alternative is to have an all-male council, which is hardly an advertisement for the new with-it Bristol that Renaissance and others are trying to promote.
In any case, Ward has to act soon. The charter only gives him two weeks to pick someone.
The council gets to vote, too.
The only legal requirement is that Ward has to pick a Democrat who lives in the district.
April 14, 2011
Ward KO's claims committee
After another tangle among councilors dealing with a damage claim by a city employee, Mayor Art Ward recently abolished the longstanding claims committee.
Ward said the panel isn’t needed because the city’s insurance carrier can sort out which claims should be paid.
City Councilor Kate Matthews, who has clashed with other members of the panel, praised the mayor’s decision to rely on insurance experts instead of having claims first go through a municipal committee.
Ward said the change won’t cost the city more money and will allow experts to deal with payment claims filed against the city.
Spurring the move was a controversy surrounding the payment of $627 to Noelle Bates, a legal secretary at City Hall whose car was damaged last fall in the parking garage.
Matthews said there were novel legal issues she wanted advice on before deciding the case that she could not get answers about because city attorneys, who work with Bates, stepped aside because of a potential conflict of interest. Click here for the full story.
Here's the full statement that Matthews sent me yesterday:
The point I tried to make at last night's meeting (without bringing the claimant into it) is that she presented a novel theory of law in addition to the standard claim brought pursuant to the highway defect statute; as well, there is a legitimate legal question as to whether the highway defect statute would even apply in this situation, giving that the incident occurred in a parking garage, and not on what would traditionally be considered a "highway" under the statute. These were legal questions that go to the heart of the City's potential lability for this claim. They were never addressed, because the City attorneys all recused themselves from this matter, and because the Chair of the Committee, Ken Cockayne, was not interested in obtaining legal advice.
Notably, we did obtain other expert advice regarding the alleged "defect" - from our City Engineer and Building Official - and it is my understanding that both opined that the parking garage was not "defective" or in violation of applicable code. No defect means no liability for the City.
Further, we also sought the advice of our City's insurance broker as to how we should proceed. We were notified by them, in writing, that this claim and all others should be turned over to our insurance carrier.
Despite the advice of our City Engineer and Building Official that there was no defect, and despite our insurance broker's advice that this claim be turned over to our carrier for their consideration, my fellow colleagues on the Council Matters Committee nevertheless voted to recommend payment of the claim.
I abstained from this vote because I know that we were not in a position to make an informed decision. I suggested that it be turned over to the carrier as recommended, but was overruled. My colleagues' decision to recommend payment of the claim was arbitrary.
Frankly, I am glad that the Council Matters Committe has been disbanded by the Mayor, and that future claims will go directly to our insurance carrier. This will provide consistency in our claims resolution process, and will better protect the City from liability.
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ward said the panel isn’t needed because the city’s insurance carrier can sort out which claims should be paid.
City Councilor Kate Matthews, who has clashed with other members of the panel, praised the mayor’s decision to rely on insurance experts instead of having claims first go through a municipal committee.
Ward said the change won’t cost the city more money and will allow experts to deal with payment claims filed against the city.
Spurring the move was a controversy surrounding the payment of $627 to Noelle Bates, a legal secretary at City Hall whose car was damaged last fall in the parking garage.
Matthews said there were novel legal issues she wanted advice on before deciding the case that she could not get answers about because city attorneys, who work with Bates, stepped aside because of a potential conflict of interest. Click here for the full story.
Here's the full statement that Matthews sent me yesterday:
The point I tried to make at last night's meeting (without bringing the claimant into it) is that she presented a novel theory of law in addition to the standard claim brought pursuant to the highway defect statute; as well, there is a legitimate legal question as to whether the highway defect statute would even apply in this situation, giving that the incident occurred in a parking garage, and not on what would traditionally be considered a "highway" under the statute. These were legal questions that go to the heart of the City's potential lability for this claim. They were never addressed, because the City attorneys all recused themselves from this matter, and because the Chair of the Committee, Ken Cockayne, was not interested in obtaining legal advice.
Notably, we did obtain other expert advice regarding the alleged "defect" - from our City Engineer and Building Official - and it is my understanding that both opined that the parking garage was not "defective" or in violation of applicable code. No defect means no liability for the City.
Further, we also sought the advice of our City's insurance broker as to how we should proceed. We were notified by them, in writing, that this claim and all others should be turned over to our insurance carrier.
Despite the advice of our City Engineer and Building Official that there was no defect, and despite our insurance broker's advice that this claim be turned over to our carrier for their consideration, my fellow colleagues on the Council Matters Committee nevertheless voted to recommend payment of the claim.
I abstained from this vote because I know that we were not in a position to make an informed decision. I suggested that it be turned over to the carrier as recommended, but was overruled. My colleagues' decision to recommend payment of the claim was arbitrary.
Frankly, I am glad that the Council Matters Committe has been disbanded by the Mayor, and that future claims will go directly to our insurance carrier. This will provide consistency in our claims resolution process, and will better protect the City from liability.
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