With several budget related and other issues behind them, City Council should be able to begin a discussion on the recently completed audit of the Recreation Department and the management of the business end of the facilities at the Fairgrounds on Coffeen Street.
Identifying and correcting past issues is part of the equation but from a policy perspective the Council needs to make some decisions.
One major decision is to determine what the facilities are to be used for. Back in the the day the Fairgrounds hosted the Fair, and some youth and family sports events. Now there is a trend towards major commercial, even nightclub style activities going on in various facilities.
In areas as basic as rest rooms , there continue to be disturbing public health issues which don't need description here. Let's just say 'when nature calls...."
There are legal issues about the sale of alcoholic beverages in a venue that is not licensed for the sale of such items. Its a complicated area of law that the City has not been dealing well with.
Previous studies have detailed the actual cost to taxpayers of staging major events, yet little of this is covered by facility rental fees.
Councils have been reluctant to impose fees that allow for the kind of facility improvements to handle the kind of events going on there. The rationale is always that its done for a "not for profit." Yet these are really commercial events in which the budgets are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars yet the venue is rented for $500.
Lawmakers are not there to "micro manage", but we are there to set the goals and objectives for the facility. My expectation is that it be run in a businesslike manner, consistent with state law and with revenues able to offset at least part of the capital improvements needed to make the facilities a suitable spot for those agencies, businesses and individuals that choose to use it.
Those who follow City Council know my public pronouncements have not revolved around individual recriminations, and the pending nature of certain seasonal events have prevented doing much this year to change things.
However, changes are needed and that may include having a facility & business manager. It should include total transparency so in the area of accounts receivable and account aging, the public knows who owes the City money and for how long. Finally, the Council needs to reach a consensus on a fee structure that is fair....that reflects the true costs to those renting it...and one that is collected and not undermined by a reluctance to not charge certain groups or individuals.
It will be difficult politics, but the conversation must be had to end the revelations that have overshadowed the many otherwise fine activities that go on at the Arena.
Watertown Daily Times Internal city audit going back to 2005
7 comments:
Yes, we need to get rid of violent events like roller derby, a bunch of women skating around trying to knock each others head off!! Good wholesome family fun.
On June 4th 2011 I wrote:
Tipping Point for the Ethics of Mayor Graham and the City of Watertown, New York:
They could have handled the problem of Parks & Recreation in a totally different way, the way that most Politicians find difficult, and that’s the way of full disclosure and complete transparency. Instead they’ve decided to baton down the hatches and only discuss what they must discuss about the worst accounting practices inside the State of New York. If any other City in the State of New York had checks from vendors lying around in a draw for three years, ((90,000) dollars worth of checks, then Mayor Graham and his cronies would be calling for their heads. It works differently for Mayor Graham and his political machine who decide what questions can be asked and who can ask them.
It’s a media controlled town and their used to getting their own way up here. Is it ethical to try to convince people that it was just a case of an understaffed and under supervised Parks and Recreation Department that led to a small town snafu? Or is it time to own up and say there was some real big City Graff going on in Parks and Recreation. You know they only looked back 3 years on the Audit. They know there are even more checks that were never cashed or cashed and then were never reported. It’s time for the Governor Cuomo’s Administration to take a look at what is going on in Watertown, New York.
We’ve reached the tipping point here and it’s time for Councilman Jeff Smith, whose running for Mayor, to show we know ethical behavior; and can handle this problem in an open and honest way before we’re publicly embarrassed even further by Mayor Graham and City Manager Mary M. Corriveau. The Mayor and Mrs. Corriveau have spoken about new accounting processes, as they try to deflect the public from the ‘Why’ of it all; and sadly that’s usually all about where the money went and to whom it went and that’s a job for the State Attorney General at this point.
Mike Flynn ‘Middle-Class Mike’Black River, NY
Smith is on the council now.. Doesn't he have some responsibility. Why is no one saying that Mary Corriveau screwed up. With that kind of money management should have known something was wrong.
I find it odd the number of City Employees who work the events, If DPAO is having an event shouldnt they supply the people needed? If not charge them the actual amount for the employees, Or Do like DPAO did charge a premium price for a ticket and then let general admission be allowed to be there also, then blame it on the band, Oh did they find the Parks and Rec truck stolen the night of the Hip concert?
This is going to get to the point where no one is going to want to bring in shows. If the city wants to turn this into a business, they should get the bands, hire security, etc. What a joke!! Hotels, restaurants, etc.. I am sure the city is getting some extra from all of these concerts, regardless of who runs them. There has not been any lawsuits yet. The only problems seem to be on the city end. Maybe the Mayor's bar could sponsor these events!! Maybe every city funded position should be expected to turn a profit. Come on... let DPAO, Amp Entertainment, Wizards, Red and Black, etc.. run their shows. Government seems to always get in the way. Now that they are collecting on all of this, things should be better... right?
Good post 5:18 he never mentioned all the other outside people that made money the bars the grocery stores where the beer for after was bought the state camp grounds in the surronding areas that where sold out.Big Concerts bring big revenue thats what a city council should look at if the people are profiting & having some fun thats what the city should be targeting.Not some over taxed over regulated place.No one died very little arrest "success" if you ask me leave your hands out of the cookie jar Mr.Graham open up the lost city......
"Why is no one saying that Mary Corriveau screwed up. With that kind of money management should have known something was wrong."
Ummm...because she has a halo over her head. And rarely, if ever, does anyone question a saint.
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