The Richardson Coalition Masterpiece of Lies and Hitting A New Low

Chuck Eisemann and his Richardson coalition must be very proud of his group's latest efforts. The have hit a new low, even for themselves with the latest email sent out to those on their mailing list. It contains one lie after another. It is truly a sad how they have debased themselves over this issue. 

Following is a list of their lies on their website and that were sent out in their email.

 

 

The Richardson Coalition Lie - The Mayor won't be allowed to vote on the budget

(Section 11.05 - After public hearing, the council shall analyze the budget, making any additions or deletions which they feel appropriate, and shall, by ordinance, adopt the budget by a majority vote of all members of the council.)
 

The Truth - Section 3.02 of Proposed Charter Change – “The mayor shall vote on all matters coming before the council…”

The Richardson Coalition Lie - Unlike Councilmembers, the Mayor will not be prohibited from taking the job as City Manager for at least a year after his/her term

(Section 6.02 – “…No member of the council shall, during the time for which elected, and one (1) year thereafter, be chosen as city manager.)

The Truth - As a councilmember, the mayor is guided by all rules that apply to all council members. The definition of the Council member per the proposed charter amendment - Section 3.02 “… all powers conferred on the city shall be exercised by a city council to be composed of six (6) members and a mayor…”

There is more, click on the jump

The Richardson Coalition Lie- Unlike Councilmembers, the Mayor is not term limited, and at the end of 12 years, a Councilmember in Places 1 through 6 could be elected Mayor with no limit. This is the opposite of what we were promised, in that we were told that members couldn't switch seats to avoid the 6-term limit(

Section 3.01 - (b) No person elected or appointed to the city council at the May 2009 city officer election or thereafter, shall serve as a member of the city council in any place for more than six (6) consecutive terms until at least one full term shall have elapsed from the expiration of such person's last term of office.)

 

 

The Truth – Section 3.02 of the proposed Charter Amendment applies to all council members. No member of the council is exempt from any of the restriction placed on them by the city charter.

 

 

The Richardson Coalition Lie - When there is a vacancy on the Council, the Mayor cannot join the Councilmembers in voting for a replacement to fill the vacancy

Section 3.07 - Vacancies in the city council, where the same do not exceed two (2) at any one time, shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the council, and the persons selected to fill such vacancies shall serve only until the next general city council election...

 

The Truth – Section 3.02 of the proposed charter change requires the mayor to vote on all matters coming before the council.

The Richardson Coalition Lie - When there is a vacancy on the Council, the Mayor cannot join the Councilmembers in voting for a replacement to fill the vacancy

(Section 3.07 - A quorum shall consist of five (5) members, except where the number of councilmembers, due to vacancies, is reduced to less than five (5), in which event a quorum shall consist of all of the remaining councilmembers; but a less number than a quorum may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance).

The Truth - As a councilmember, the mayor is guided by all rules that apply to all council members. The definition of the Council member per the proposed charter amendment Section 3.02 “… all powers conferred on the city shall be exercised by a city council to be composed of six (6) members and a mayor…”


 

The Richardson Coalition Lie - Unlike Councilmembers, the Mayor is not required to vote on every matter brought up before the Council

(Section 3.12 - The yes and no votes shall be taken on the passage of all ordinances or resolutions and entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the council, and every ordinance or resolution shall require for final passage the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present. No member shall be excused from voting except on matters involving the consideration of the member's own official conduct, or where such member's financial interests are involved, unless otherwise required by law. The council shall determine its own rules of procedure, may punish its members for misconduct, and may compel the attendance of absent members.).

The Truth - Section 3.02 of Proposed Charter Change – “The mayor shall vote on all matters coming before the council…”

 

 

 

The Richardson Coalition Lie - Unlike Councilmembers, the Mayor cannot be compelled to attend meetings (Section 3.12 – see above for content of Section 3.12)

 

The Truth - As a councilmember, the mayor is guided by all rules that apply to all council members. The definition of the Council member per the proposed charter amendment – Section 3.02 “… all powers conferred on the city shall be exercised by a city council to be composed of six (6) members and a mayor…”
 

The Richardson Coalition Lie- Furthermore, the Mayor cannot receive the $50 per diem that Councilmembers receive

Section 3.04 - Each member of the city council shall receive as compensation the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) per diem for each regular city council meeting attended by such member, said compensation in no event to exceed the sum of two thousand six hundred dollars ($2,600.00) per annum. In addition to the above, all necessary expenses incurred by members of the city council in the performance of their official duties shall be paid by the city.)

The Truth - As a councilmember, the mayor is guided by all rules that apply to all council members. The definition of the Council member per the proposed charter amendment – Section 3.02 “… all powers conferred on the city shall be exercised by a city council to be composed of six (6) members and a mayor…”
 

The Richardson Coalition Lie - Unlike Councilmembers, the Mayor cannot be removed by the Council for acts of official misconduct!

(Sections 3.06 - Willful violation of any provision of this Charter by any member of the council shall constitute official misconduct, and shall authorize the council, by a vote of two-thirds of the total membership, to expel such offending member from the council, if found guilty after a public hearing, and thereby create a vacancy in the place held by such member.

and 3.12 - The yes and no votes shall be taken on the passage of all ordinances or resolutions and entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the council, and every ordinance or resolution shall require for final passage the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present. No member shall be excused from voting except on matters involving the consideration of the member's own official conduct, or where such member's financial interests are involved, unless otherwise required by law. The council shall determine its own rules of procedure, may punish its members for misconduct, and may compel the attendance of absent members.)

 

The Truth - As a councilmember, the mayor is guided by all rules that apply to all council members. The definition of the Council member per the proposed charter amendment – Section 3.02 “… all powers conferred on the city shall be exercised by a city council to be composed of six (6) members and a mayor…”




 

 Sooooo, after all the lies and scare tactics employeed by the coalitionist, their latest fabrications show they are and have been doing something like this for the past few months concerning the vote for charter change:

 

 

And if what they claim were true, then we need a new city attorney and city manager. I am sure if there were legal objections, as the coalition claims, the city officials would have had to work out the legal language with Alan North. Would not that have been the responsible thing to do?