Really?

Last night, there was a special Commission meeting.  There was only one agenda item, which was consideration of five adjustments to the budget.  Yes, the budget.  This is the thing, apart from FPL, that has gotten so much attention, especially from two Commissioners and a few allegedly interested parties, for its extreme importance to the Village, and its susceptibility to nefarious manipulation.  Threats of rolling heads, including of the Manager and finance staff, have been made over this budget.  Two residents are running for Commission in part based on complaints of secrecy, "fuzzy math," and mischief made over this budget.  Did I give the impression this matter is considered by some to be earth-shaking?  Good.

Let's say it how it was: this was a shockingly poorly attended meeting.  Fewer non-Commissioner residents were there than are usually at Commission meetings.  Meetings where the agendas are not as important to the functioning of the Village are better attended than this one was.  One of the two primary plaintiff Commissioners was not there.  He said in advance he wasn't coming to any more Commission meetings.  The other four Commissioners were there.  Most of the Village meeting regulars weren't there.  Of the three residents running for Commission as non-incumbents, only one was there.  The two who have been campaigning on platforms against secrecy, against "fuzzy math," and in support of the Commission's hearing and endorsing the voice of the residents, weren't there.  That's a level of interest in the Village?  And we're talking about people who are running for Commission.

No non-Commission resident had any advance comments about the budget.  The other main plaintiff Commissioner about alleged legislative and managerial mischief had several questions.  Every one was answered directly, completely, and in detail.  Nobody else had much.  There was no i left undotted or t left uncrossed by the Manager, the Finance Director, the Police Chief, and the Finance clerk regarding this budget.

A vote was taken.  The budget, with amendments, passed 3-1.  The Commissioner who demanded answers, and got them, voted against the budget anyway.  Not that his vote mattered.  Not that it ever matters.  He is an inveterate nay-sayer.  He's a misanthrope.  He's a hopeless and lost curmudgeon.  And he brings nothing to the table.  He has completely marginalized himself, and made himself meaningless and irrelevant.  Last night was no exception.  There is no pleasing him, any more than his absent lame duck partner can be pleased, because neither of them wants anything.  "The answer is no: what's the question?"  This is pure and self-contained obstructiveness and negativity.  We saw exactly the same thing at the last Commission meeting about the budget (See my "Bada-Bing.")

Well, we're down one saboteur.  We can only hope that if one or both of his preferred replacements wins election, they don't pick up in the same miserable, blind, negativistic place where he left off.

What a sad, sad career.