Last Tuesday, August 21, the Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-1 to deny a motion to establish a new set of fines for sign code violation. David Williams, head of Oro Valley planning, did not support the idea of a change nor did town resident, Bill Adler.
This is not a big deal. There really is no enforcement to "minor" violations of the town's sign codes. The town doesn't have an enforcement mechanism. So violations happen with frequency and with, really, no punishment.
It is such "not a big deal" that we were not going to even report it.
However...
Planning and Zoning Commission Vice Chairman Cox used the hearing to publicly rebuke the two "council people" who had who asked the Oro Valley Development and Infrastructure Department to consider revised schedules. The two "people" to whom Cox refers are Council Members Zinkin and Garner.
Here are Commissioner Cox' words:
"I find it offensive...that we have two council people who have gone, have done what they have done to get to, coerce, and I will use the word coerced, but it probably wasn't coercion, but I empathize with staff when two council people come before them and say 'We want you to do something. We want you to do it right away, just stop what you're doing, stop everything else, etc, to fulfill a campaign promise. I find that very offensive."In this case, Commissioner Cox has the "story" wrong. But that, friends, is worthy of a different discussion.
(Source: Meeting Recorded Time: 42:56)
We believe that it is wrong for any Oro Valley official, elected or appointed, to use their position to state their personal belief in relation to any Council Member during a public forum using town assets.
Certainly, there must be some written "code of ethics" that Oro Valley has. Certainly, if there is, Commission Cox' remark violated it.
We believe that Commissioner Cox should be reprimanded by the Town Council at its next meeting. We believe that his rebuke of two council members was entirely inappropriate and that his use of town assets and a town sponsored meeting to do so constitutes a theft of town assets for his personal use.
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7 comments:
This posting is nearly as laughable as the actions of the two council members mentioned.
The only difference is that these posts don't cost the Oro Valley taxpayer money. Calling a special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission does.
There were a minimum of six town staff present for this meeting. not to mention that time used to prepare the presentation.
That my friends was a true "theft of town assets".
This was the second worse case of abuse of power I have seen in this community since 1996.
Cox's Version of Events:
Zinkin and Garner "coerced" town staff into having a "special meeting" and ordered them to "stop everything you're doing and do THIS NOW so we can fulfill a campaign promise."
What actually happened:
Zinkin and Garner did not ask for a "special meeting." Town staff approached THEM to discuss sign code violations.
Now here's what's especially funny about Cox's comments...
He accuses them of doing this to "fulfill a campaign promise." Now if they didn't fulfill their campaign promises, he would chastise them for NOT fulfilling their promises. In this case, he chastises them for believing that they are only doing this to fulfill a campaign promise.
It looks like the town of Marana got it right in how commission members should conduct themselves. Maybe Oro Valley could learn from its neighbor.
TOWN OF MARANA
CODE OF PRINCIPLE‐ AND ETHICS‐CENTERED GOVERNANCE
•
Personal conduct – Council and advisory board, commission and committee members are the public face of the Town of Marana, representing citizens and employees. Members should refrain from public conduct that results in personal charges or verbal attacks on the character or motives of other members of the council, boards, commission, committees, the staff or the public.
John Musolf
One of the reasons I do not respond to some people who repeatedly post on this blog is because of the old expression about arguing with idiots. I quote:
"Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."
In the quote, "He/his" is gender general.
You would think that the least someone could do is accurately cut and paste something accurately if she was going to put it in quotes.
John,
Does Oro Valley have a Code of Conduct for commission members? If not, please suggest the Marana code to them, if you haven't done so already. Thank you.
Richard,
If OV does have a Code of Conduct for commission members, could you publish it on the blog?
I am personally appalled by elected & volunteer Town officials who publicly berate & criticize each other and citizens who have a differing opinion. During this past year, this has happened at Town Council meetings, Candidate debates & Neighborhood meetings. Elected officials should represent & respect constituents. We "hired" them. You They should hold Volunteers & Staff accountable to the same standard. This is simply NOT acceptable behavior & I support an OV Code of Conduct. I believe Mayor Hiremath promoted civility in a springtime Council meeting. Perhaps he will support development of such a Code.
Notice that OVOT does not defend himself with regards to my comment, he just attempts to distract you with arguments about quotations and then resorts to the old standby of name-calling...always the last resort of the person who is losing an argument.
But I must thank him for acknowledging that this "idiot" always beats him "with experience."
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