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<br />Following the example of Dr. Carr, Mr. Olander stated since he has two advanced degrees, he
<br />introduced himself as Doctor Doctor Olander. Mr. Olander stated that he is excited by University
<br />City’s amazing vitality and growth. Therefore it strikes him as odd that so many people are finding
<br />fault with a City that has hundreds of new apartments, a new Walgreen’s, a new child care center, a
<br />new fire house, a new wellness and rehab facility, hundreds of new businesses, a new Chamber of
<br />Commerce, a revived Fair University City, a stunning Washington University development in the Loop,
<br />movies in the park, the University City Jazz Festival, the beautiful and revived Heman Park pool,
<br />upgraded City parks, weekly reports to citizens, citizen participation on many projects and a healthy
<br />physical status. He then thanked Mayor Welsch, Mr. Kraft, Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Glickert, for their
<br />tremendous accomplishments and for attending to the City’s business. Dr. Olander also
<br />acknowledged City Manager Walker for his excellent management required to accomplish these
<br />achievements. He stated that how these individuals have achieved all of this, despite the
<br />obstructionism that has been seen here today and routinely, is by planning and working, not by
<br />carping, whining and nitpicking. Dr. Olander stated that it is a sad day if any of these
<br />Councilmembers, who invest their time and energy for the benefit of citizens, were to start engaging in
<br />bloviating, rancorous, repetitive, petulant and vindictive rants. He stated that his message of thanks
<br />reflects the request from many of his neighbors. Therefore he wished to end with a plea for
<br />cooperation by all so that in the future he can enthusiastically extend congratulations to the entire
<br />Council.
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<br />Jan Adams, 7150 Cambridge Avenue, University City, MO
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<br />Ms. Adams stated that during the Civil Service Board meeting of May 29 there was a consensus
<br />among the three lawyers on the Board and the City Attorney, that the statute at issue in the
<br />firefighter’s dispute is flawed in a number of ways. First, it creates two classes of employees; one that
<br />can campaign and another that cannot. She stated that there is a longstanding public policy interest in
<br />protecting public employees from coercive requests to campaign. If the law allows you to campaign in
<br />City elections you can be coerced into campaigning in order to keep your job, obtain a job, or being
<br />fired and replaced by supports of newly elected Councilmembers. She stated that the good news is
<br />that University City is a Charter City, and as such, it has certain protections under the Missouri
<br />Constitution that prohibits the State legislature from enacting laws regarding the City’s rules that
<br />govern their employees. So although State law trumps City law, the Missouri Constitution trumps
<br />State law. However there must be a constitutional challenge to the present law. She stated that this
<br />is an expensive prospect, although she suspects that there are other municipalities that would like to
<br />join such a challenge. Consequently, Ms. Adams requested that Councilmember Arthur Sharpe,
<br />liaison to the Missouri Municipal League contact the league and request a meeting to discuss whether
<br />the league is willing to challenge the statute. She advised Mr. Sharpe that if he was interested in
<br />pursing this idea she would be willing to meet with him and assist him in drafting the request. Ms.
<br />Adams stated that the record of the Civil Service Board meeting will also reflect that there was a
<br />consensus among all of the lawyers present that in order to comply with the new statute the City
<br />Charter must be changed. So why did Crow immediately jump on the blame wagon and point to the
<br />City Manager for not changing Rule 4, when he is deemed to know that only this Council can start the
<br />process to change the Charter.
<br /> Ms. Adams asked that this Council adopt a rule that prohibits any member of Council from
<br />harassment and attempted intimidation of its citizens through the surreptitious recording of private
<br />conversations. She stated that the proposed new rule should include prohibiting any Councilmember
<br />from directing a surrogate to record a private conversation as well. Ms. Adams stated that she was
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<br />offended by such an action at the May 29 Civil Service Board meeting. This Council should make it
<br />clear through an enactment of a specific rule that this conduct is not acceptable. She stated that such
<br />an outrageous invasion of privacy and attempted intimidation of citizens attending City public meetings
<br />should be punished by immediate removal from office with no advance warnings, reprimands or
<br />censures to the offending Councilmember. Ms. Adams respectfully requested that this issue be put on
<br />the agenda for the next Council meeting.
<br /> Ms. Adams stated that the signs being displayed around town that read “Shame on Welsch,” is the
<br />height of hypocrisy. She stated that everyone has heard lecture after lecture from the dais that the
<br />Mayor is just one vote in seven and has no more authority than any other member of this Council. Ms.
<br />Adams stated that the sign suggests that the Mayor has the power to force the City Manager to take,
<br />refrain or rescinda certain actions, but if she could have done what citizens are asking, then so could
<br />each and every member of Council. She then asked citizens to show some intellectual honesty.
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