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Negative spirit prevails on city council
Contributed by: Tim Long on 3/3/2008

What's the motivation behind the mean spirit? That's what has me curious. It was evident again Thursday, February 21st at a City Council Study Session.

The topic was Northglenn's 17-year old financial software system - it's a non-system to hear the Staff describe its dysfunction. The vendor is out of existence and there's only one person the City can rely on for program support to troubleshoot problems, make repairs. City Department heads estimate 1,740 hours annually in lost time. Clearly a major system conversion is in order. The budget approval is $500,000. The Staff solution is $395,000.

After exhaustive, painstaking, 3-year evaluation efforts by the Northglenn City Staff to find the best replacement for the City's outdated computer system, the staff developed a solid recommendation.

Beginning in January 2005, involving a well-respected Colorado consultant, the Staff's textbook approach involved surveying, studying and evaluating all systems and vendors. City Staff involved itself in a professionally-objective screening process of 14 companies which culminated in a final selection/recommendation of a company based in Portland, Oregon. Springbrook Software has over 350 customers in various government installations across the United States in 30 states - 6 in Colorado.

So, what's the beef? Ask GW! Regrettably, the software analysis to improve business practices at City Hall which led to the selection of a quality, state-of-the-art vendor, was not good enough for City Councilman [Ward IV] Gene Wieneke. No, indeed, "GW" set about attacking the staff's professional integrity.

With earlier prepping of the "GW Dance Team" [Councilmen Baker, Miller and Mayor Pro-tem Paiz] with questions to ask, they systematically brought out all the ghosts in the attic they could possibly conjure up! Many of which had already been addressed by City Staff. It was shameful exhibitionism.

GW's intention meant to humiliate the City's staff. Even though they made a most professional Power Point presentation, GW made it look as though they committed egregious effrontery to the City Council members present. My goodness, the City Staff thought to conduct research to replace a computer system that is outmoded, can't track wire transfers, does not adequately bill for utilities, etc - in a word, beyond usefulness and utility. How dare they try to fix things without GW first coming up with the idea?

City Council has a raging infection of invective, passive-aggressive and obsessive-compulsive personalities waging war with the staff and its progressive element. They fight all constructive changes meant to improve the City's tax basis, improve efficiencies in government to deliver services better, more safely and at lower cost. It would be great comedic theater, if it wasn't so painful.

GW is an infectious bug, systematically tearing down, certainly not building up. He has no new ideas. His constant demeanor and that of his two-step partner, Councilman Irv Baker, signal each other with a salute across the room before every meeting, flaunting their bond of negativity and open hostility. They despise everyone and anyone who uses civility and rational arguments in the face of their egotism.

Northglenn City Council currently grapples with the plight of how to move anything forward. Stymied by GW and his cohort, the citizenry in the City of Northglenn has a choice, but it's not widespread yet. It's called recall. People will soon become more knowledgeable. For entertainment value, I highly recommend sitting in on a City Council meeting to watch shameful antics of the 'Crypt-Kicker Five.' Meantime, Northglenn City Staff members need our support. They need a new computer system. Amen. Then too, see if you can figure out GW's motivation. The intention is to disrupt, but why?


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Submitted By: Nancy Pfaff
posted on 4/24/2008 @ 7:21:50 AM
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Mr. Long, Do NOT let any council member or their bullies think they can take away your freedom of speech! I see that council member Wieneke has been posting in the "Thornton" YourHub! Mr. Long take a look here on more information to your post. http://denver.yourhub.com/Northglenn/Stories/Sound-Off/General-Sound-Off/Story~459238.aspx
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Submitted By: Sue Brown
posted on 3/10/2008 @ 4:56:15 PM
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I'd be interested in knowing why Mr. Long feels he should post in the THORNTON section of this and not in Northglenn. I happen to think that some of the questions that Council had should have been asked and answered in at an earlier stage in the process. The Northglenn Council is certainly a divided one that needs to learn to work together and hopefully will when they have their retreat in April. For Mr. Long, who is a Council appointed member to a Northglenn group, to post such negative and accusatory writings is beyond belief.
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Submitted By: Janet Briggs
posted on 3/5/2008 @ 7:44:41 PM
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Mr. Long, I feel our council has the right & should question staff regarding any and all ordinance/resolutions. That is their job!!! I for one applaud Gene Wieneke, Erv Baker, Jim Miller, Sheri Piaz, Susan Clyne and any other council people who are looking out for my tax Dollars. Our City is in deplorable shape. Previous council either have not been kept informed by staff, or have blatantly ignored the upkeep of our city which is deteriorating before our eyes. Now finally we have elected some people who are willing to study the ordinance/resolutions & question some of the decisions being made by staff. So I say hooray for Gene Wieneke, Erv Baker, Sheri Piaz, Jim Miller, Susan Clyne and anyone else doing the job we elected hem to do. Janet Briggs, ward I
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Submitted By: James Miller
posted on 3/4/2008 @ 7:14:24 PM
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Mr. Long, you appear to want a Council that just rubber stamps everything that staff sends to us. Maybe bobble-heads would be a better term. It is our job to ask questions and sometimes they are hard. I for one know and stated that the current system is out of date and needs replacement. So let me get this straight. One of my questions was regarding that we have a copy of the software/source code at the city. We have had issues in the past if a vender went under. So this an “attack” or “mean spirit” on staff? Questions and answers are a necessary part of the process. To suggest otherwise means that you feel we should not have a Council, not even members who you support.
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Submitted By: Thomas Pond
posted on 3/4/2008 @ 12:52:42 PM
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Blindly following staff recommendations without questioning is what got the City into the quagmire we know as the 120th and Grant development. Had the staff done their job they would have done a feasibility study which would have disclosed it would take in excess of ten years to recover the investment made in the project. Being on the NURA board you of all people should know this. Had the council know that fact I seriously doubt they would have invested the ten million dollars they have poured into the project. I am not hearing that the software doesn’t need to be replaced. What I am hearing is that staff needs to demonstrate they are recommending a purchase that is in the long term best interests of the City. If the staff can’t demonstrate that to the council then the purchase needs more work. Blindly accepting staff recommendations leads to major problems like the 120th and Grant development. I think our council is doing its job by questioning the staff.
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Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

John Eisel

Denver , COLORADO

John Eisel has posted 2865 stories and 12 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. John Eisel's average story rating is 4.39.
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