Over the last few years PTA parents have contributed over $1 million to our schools to make up for cutbacks in state funding.

Now we learn that our city council and city manager have thrown all that sacrifice away: Lindell settlement $1 million, plus and executive search firm fees; $90,0560 for years of discovery abuse; a 2002 sexual harassment settlement  of $90,000; and Bob Sterbank a $137,000 settlement. Plus hundreds of thousands of additional dollars for the city’s attorneys fees and litigation costs. And when the council tells you it is all paid for by insurance, don’t believe it. Deductibles, attorneys fees, litigation costs and future insurance premiums (if any company will insure this dysfunctional council) will equal any insurance proceeds. Our current annual premium is $688,324. There is no free insurance lunch.

I remember I thought our city council must be filled with amateurs or conflict of interest when I saw our downtown development. I was angry when one city council member on a bike, went berserk at West Mercer Elementary and I had to explain the ‘F’ word to my 8 and 10-year olds. I thought it was strange when one council member voted on zoning for Starbucks when he had a known direct financial conflict but was not surprised when he was later accused of insurance fraud. I was simply depressed watching the silly catty council fights over dogs and bike paths so some council member could commute on bike from the south end.

But when the council throws away three years of school contributions, I know it is time every council member must go. Where once our council was merely an embarrassment, it is now a legal and financial time bomb.

Daniel P. Thompson