Letter to the Editor: Pending Assumption of Ronald Wastewater District by City of Shoreline
Friday, September 20, 2013
To the Editor:
Although I am a retired maintenance operations manager for Ronald Wastewater, I still maintain a vested interest in the citizens of Shoreline, so I feel compelled to point out a few things related to the upcoming assumption of Ronald Wastewater by the City of Shoreline.
The Board of Commissioners of Ronald Wastewater District continues to squander away ratepayer’s funds for frivolous studies. The most recent is a study, which is being funded jointly by Ronald Wastewater and Shoreline Water District, surrounding a mega utility District. The cost of this study thus far, has exceeded $80,000. This frivolous spending is simply another attempt to avoid the upcoming assumption of the District by the City.
The Board of Commissioners continues to snub their noses at the ratepayers. The District continues to consider a proposal by the District General Manager which would cash out of unlimited accumulated sick leave for employees. This would result in a cost exceeding $200,000 for the ratepayers. The next meeting of the Ronald Wastewater Commissioners is scheduled for Monday September 23rd, 5:00 pm, at the Shoreline Water District offices. At this point, the Board of Commissioners and District management are not serving the best interests of their constituents. They are more interested in preserving their self-interests. District ratepayers need to become more involved and remind the commissioners whom they were elected to serve and the purpose for which they were elected. Concerning the pending assumption of the District by the City of Shoreline, if the District Commissioners want a public vote, then maybe it’s time to put the issue on the ballot. Once the voters become informed of the continued tactics being pulled off by the commissioners, they will approve the assumption hands down!!!
Steve Paulis
Seattle
Posts
6 comments:
Mr. Paulis doesn't even live in Shoreline and therefore is not a ratepayer. Does he have a personal grudge that he has not told us about?
As for the study is upset about, the City of Shoreline spent over $200,000 on consultants for the SPU study, an amount that is still climbing.
I would like the author to tell us, as well as Sis Polin, to let the readership know how much sick and annual leave they cashed out from Ronald Wastewater when they retired in the interest of full disclosure.
As a matter of fact, I do live in Seattle outside the District, but that will not stop me from commenting about what the commissioners are doing and bringing it to the attention of the citizens of Shoreline. As far as a personal grudge, no I don't have any person grudges. It's called being concerned about an above board and clean government, not pulling off the shenanigans and efforts to avoid assumption like the comissioners have been doing. Nothing and I mean nothing will stop me from doing that!!! As far as my cashout when I retired, I was cashed out on my accumulated vacation and a limited amount of sick leave, which is the policy as it now exists. It was not unlimited sick leave!!! As far as your comments about the City of Shoreline spending money concerning the purchase that poriton of SPU within the City, check the records. It was overwhelmingly approved by the voters to proceed.
Steve, your infatuation with the alleged color of one kettle, while ignoring this town's 3 mile line of pots is telling. If you are indeed a champion of "on board and clean government," feel free to weigh in on the City's dirty laundry anytime.
Ronald's Board of Commissioners is charged with looking out for one interest, and one interest only: wastewater management. The efficacy of the City's assumption of the District is not the Board's legitimate concern (which is not to say they shouldn't abide by any and all valid contracts they enter into).
Yet one current Commissioner campaigned explicitly on the merits of the City's assumption of the District, an issue of rightful concern only to the City Council and the voters. In addition, two candidates for Commissioner this year also favor assumption by the City. While their allegiance to the City's vision is arguably admirable, it is out of order as an argument for their election to the Ronald Board.
Whether Ronald is or is not in violation of its 2002 Interlocal Operating Agreement with the City of Shoreline is a legal matter. It has no bearing on the question of whether the City should assume the District. The City is evading the public by not acknowledging the voter's right to decide this important question, and by focusing instead on trying to trash Ronald's long-standing, well-deserved reputation in this community, in an effort to further their political agenda.
Sure took you a long, long time to find your voice to concern yourself about clean government after your retirement Mr. Paulis, your followup doesn't explain your long silence. And for 15 employees, $200,000 doesn't seem like all that much money.
A limited amount of sick leave you were cashed out at, without stating your hourly rate of pay as operations manager and how much leave you used (especially as you neared retirement) are just weasel words.
If you are so interested in clean government, why don't you look into how much now retired city manager Bob Olander cost the City of Shoreline when he asked the City Council to help him pay back his PERS retirement account? And why don't you look at how much he drew down his leave account in the last few years of his employment? It cost the city almost 6 figures. Clean government indeed...
Go worry about Seattle, I hear they are electing a new Mayor.
I have nothing to hide, but apparently anonymous does.
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