•Discussion-Invitation to Reception for New City Manager

Link to UCityCitizen.org >HOME<

Invitation to reception for new City Manager, Lehman Walker - Discussion

…"Please seek information on city business directly from the website or city clerk from here on out."

•From: Lynn Ricci

Subject: 8-24-10 Reception for New City Manager Lehman Walker

Date: August 18, 2010 10:59:56 PM CD

To: Lynn Ricci

BCC: private/personal list

University City is hosting a reception for new City Manager, Mr.

Walker, next Tuesday, August 24th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the

Century Room at Centennial Commons.

We are planning a short program at 715 pm including introductions.

Mr. Walker will speak as well.

Invitations include Congressional delegation, and state legislators,

including Barbara Fraser and Maria Chappelle-Nadal, Susan Carlson and

Rory Ellinger who won their respective races for the state senate and

house, all former Councilmembers and City Managers who are in town,

neighboring Mayors and County office holders (including Mr. Dooley)

I understand that food and other costs are covered by donations and

all donors to this event will be noted in the program.

Also, volunteers to help are sought.

If you are interested in volunteering and/or donating, or have

questions regarding attendance, please feel free to contact me, or the

Mayor, or even City Clerk Joyce Pumm.

I look forward to see you there.

Lynn

--

Lynn Ricci

Councilmember, Ward 2

City of University City

Gannon Avenue

63130

•From: Paulette Carr

Subject: Re: 8-24-10 Reception for New City Manager Lehman Walker

Date: August 19, 2010 9:22:37 PM CDT

To: Lynn Ricci, Mayor Shelley Welsch

CC: City Clerk Joyce Pumm and others

Dear Ms. Ricci and Mayor Welsch,

Unless I am mistaken, this is August, not November, and none of the candidates listed below by Ms. Ricci have yet to win their legislative contests. To date, they are not state legislators, but rather the Democratic nominees for their respective races. If you are inviting the Democratic nominees for the respective legislative positions, you really should invite all the other candidates. It would be the right thing to do.

Because Ms. Ricci sent out an email endorsing state senate candidates prior to the primary election on August 3rd, I am aware that she are a supporter of Barbara Fraser. There is, however, another viable candidate for State Senate District 24 - John Lamping, who is both a personal friend and the candidate whom I am supporting. Since either candidate could win, it would be best to invite both.

In addition, if you are inviting the congressional delegates for US House Districts 1 and 3, then you might want to consider inviting the opposing candidates, too. I am sure that there is no need to remind you that University City politics is non-partisan by Charter and Council Rules, and that Mr. Walker, as our new city manager, should be introduced to all candidates.

Sincerely,

Paulette Carr

Paulette Carr

Gannon Ave.

University City, MO 63130

•From: Lynn Ricci

Subject: Re: 8-24-10 Reception for New City Manager Lehman Walker

Date: August 19, 2010 11:30:18 PM CDT

To: Paulette Carr

Cc: Mayor Shelley Welsch, City Clerk Joyce Pumm and others

Thank you for writing.

Apologies for any confusion. My only goal was to get the word out

about the event.

I noted in the communication that state legislators were invited

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"including,,,," Then I listed those that

quickly came to mind at 11:15 pm. The state legislative invitees were

not the focus of my message and my recitation was not intended to be

all inclusive. Apologies for leading you to think that.

Not to fear though. I believe all were invited.

And I hope you all can come!

Lynn Ricci

Lynn Ricci

Councilmember, Ward 2

City of University City

Gannon Avenue

63130

•From: Lynn Ricci

Subject: More Info. - Re: 8-24-10 Reception for New City Manager Lehman Walker

Date: August 21, 2010 1:05:33 AM CDT

To: Paulette Carr

Cc: Mayor Shelley Welsch, City Clerk Joyce Pumm and others

I asked for clarifications on invites and learned that, except for the

below listed**, the invitees are not candidtates but rather our

current representatives. Ie Barbara Fraser is our St. Louis County

Council Rep. Maria Chapelle Nadal is our Dist. 72 State Rep., etc.

This event is not intended to be partisan / political. The purpose

was to welcome our new City Manager and to make introductions with

decision makers ... ie citizens and elected officials. Also the city

would like to introduce the greater community at large to Mr. Walker.

To that end of course any person you would to attend is welcome.

===

**I believe Ms. Susan Carlson and Mr. Rory Ellinger are the only

candidates invited that do not currently represent our city. Both are

expected to be elected to the seats as our next State Reps.in November

as neither has an opponent.

Thank you!

Lynn Ricci

Councilmember, Ward 2

City of University City

Gannon Avenue

63130

•From: Tamara Donohoe

Subject: Fwd: More Info. - Re: 8-24-10 Reception for New City Manager Lehman Walker

Date: August 21, 2010 4:02:28 PM CDT

To: Lynn Ricci, Mayor Shelley Welsch, Micharel Glickert, City Clerk Joyce Pumm

Cc: Paulette Carr and others

Dear All,

This event is not intended to be partisan / political. The purpose

was to welcome our new City Manager and to make introductions with

decision makers ... ie citizens and elected officials. [Lynn Ricci]

Whatever the original intention was, when politicians (especially those currently in an election cycle, which doesn't end until November, even if they currently hold a different political position) were invited to a public event promoted by the City, the function automatically became political. The way it turned out only one Party was invited. In light of U. City's non-partisan Charter, that's not O.K.

We can't tell from the below emails, if Lacy Clay was invited/will attend as part of the "Congressional Delegation". As U. City Citizens, we disagree with that because he is in a contested race with Robyn Hamlin, a Republican, and several other Party candidates. By a cursory look at the emails below, we see that Robyn Hamlin and Bill Corrigan were left out as invitees.

The most significant point here is that the City Manager does not work in the political realm. He is a manager, not an elected official. He has no authority to operate in the political realm and we do not want him to. There is no reason to introduce him to politicians/elected officials, outside of our U.City elected officials who are his boss and the sole politicians he is to operate with.

Politicians, beyond our City government officials, should not be invitees to this event. The way it is now, this "Reception" is just a political show, under the guise of "Reception for the City Manager". If any of the invited politicians are allowed to speak, it is without a doubt a partisan political affair. Getting donations to pay for this event makes it "slightly" less connected to the City. However, if any City funds/resources/personnel are used for this political function and/or the Mayor or any Council Member speak in their official capacity along side these partisan candidates, it would be inappropriate. I don't know if the Centennial Commons room is being paid for with donations. I don't know if City employees, beyond Ms. Pumm, are being used to organize and set up this event. I don't know if City materials are being used. Right now, I know that the City is promoting this "Reception" through all of it's City communication resources. It is a City function. The question is: Will it go forward as planned and become a partisan political event?

Hopefully something can be done to correct this situation and prevent this function from becoming a partisan political event.

We would be interested in knowing if any of the Council members support the invitee candidates in their bids for office. As residents of University City, we would like to point out that it is inappropriate for OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS to use their position, City forums, and city resources to show support for ANY partisan candidates. This is not what you were elected to accomplish.

Please let us know your thoughts on this email.

Sincerely,

Tamara & Mark Donohoe

Dorset Ave

University City, MO

•From: Lynn Ricci

Subject: Re: More Info. - Re: 8-24-10 Reception for New City Manager Lehman Walker

Date: August 21, 2010 10:39:54 PM CDT

To: Tamara Donohoe

Cc: MayorShelley Welsch, Michael Glickert, City Clerk Joyce Pumm, Paulette Carr and others

Thanks for writing. At this point I am over the top baffled.

I, Lynn Ricci, acting alone wanted to get the word out about coming to

meet the new city manager. To that end I drafted and sent an email.

I am not part of the planning of this event, so I have little

information, but shared in my email what information I had. That

included telling you the few names given to me of some of the current

representatives invited to meet the city manager.

I have no invitation list. I know not who is on it. And I inquired

not, as it was not pertinent to my purpose of getting the word out

that an event was scheduled.

It spiraled from there .. "candidates, no candidates, Democrat,

Republican, politicians, citizens, intent, biases, underhandedness,

spins, political, partisan, controversy, umask, alienate, unfortunate,

inappropriate, abuse of position."

Rather than accomplishing my goal to share, I inadvertently fomented

agitation. It is time I absent myself from this group. Obvisously my

communication skills are wanting. Please seek information on city

business directly from the website or city clerk from here on out.

Best success to you all.

Lynn Ricci

•From: Tamara Donohoe

Subject: Re: More Info. - Re: 8-24-10 Reception for New City Manager Lehman Walker

Date: August 22, 2010 1:56:21 AM CDT

To: Lynn Ricci

Cc: Mayor Shelley Welsch, Michael Glickert, City Clerk Joyce Pumm, Paulette Carr, and others

Lynn,

You're our Council Member. We look to you to keep us informed and represent us and our viewpoints in City matters. We don't see any reason for you to have taken this personally, especially since you have related that you did not have any hand in the planning. As our Council member, it's good that you let us know of these details ahead of time. It would have been a major upset for us to have shown up at the event expecting to see fellow residents at a local function, only to find ourselves at a "Democrat campaign" event.

The City Manager is just for our City. Why make a major political PR event over hiring him? It's a great idea for residents to meet the new City Manager. It just doesn't need to be a "Congressional Delegation" level political event. Realistically, in an election season, why would someone on a political level higher than our own City, attend such an event, other than, to speak (campaign) to the Citizens in attendance? It's inappropriate and would most likely obscure the focal point of the affair, letting the residents get to know Mr. Walker.

Rather than accomplishing my goal to share, I inadvertently fomented

agitation. It is time I absent myself from this group. Obvisously my

communication skills are wanting. Please seek information on city

business directly from the website or city clerk from here on out. [-Lynn Ricci]

Who is telling you that you "fomented agitation"? You communicated with your Constituent. That's your responsibility to your Ward members. Your communication was informative. There was nothing wanting about your communication skills.

Your Constituent shared the information with us. We saw an issue that needed to be address with you as our Council Member and did so. We don't see why you would now choose to cut off all future communication with us as a result of this dialogue. We don't even know if you agree or disagree with our point about the "Reception". We would still like to know where you, Mr. Glickert and the Mayor stand on this. Please respond.

In the future, we hope that we may still freely communicate with one another as you are our Council Member.

Sincerely,

Tamara & Mark Donohoe

Dorset Ave

University City, MO 63130

Link to UCityCitizen.org >HOME<

Copyright 2010 UCityCitizen.org. All rights reserved.

• UCityCitizen.org • Paulette Carr, Ward 2 Councilmember, City of University City • University City, Missouri 63130 •