Dogtown Wire News - NLR City Council Travel Review

NLR City Council Travel Review

Written by Administrator

Monday, 11 August 2008

Thanks to data provided to us we have North Little Rock City funded travel data on five of the eight alderpeople going back several years We have compared the travel data from January 1st 2007 up until May 22, 2008. This period was chosen for a fair comparison between alderpeople, since two of them (Debi Ross & Cary Gaines) did not assume office until January 1st 2007. Alderpeople who have been in office longer have higher travel expenses, however those were not included in this comparision. The majority of these trips were taken in connection with National League of Cities (NLC) events.

The National League of Cities is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. These trips can be a valuable education tool for alderpeople and your individual alderperson should be able to provide details on what they got of value from these trips.

More on the jump

    John Parker
    3 trips to NLC events & 1 registration for an upcoming NLC event
      price: $8988.23

Debi Ross
    1 trip to an NLC event in New Orleans
    price: $1442.48

Linda Robinson
    1 registration for an upcoming event
    price: $300

Charlie Hight
    1 trip to an NLC event in New Orleans & 1 registration for an upcoming NLC event
    price: $2875.85

Murry Witcher
    3 trips to NLC events as well as a trip to Norfolk with NLR Business Leaders
    price: $7538.17

Total: $21,144.48

This list should not be used to imply the three aldperpersons (Thomas, Bryant & Gaines) had no City travel expenses during the period analyzed (January 1, 2007 to May 22, 2008). We were not supplied any data for that period for these alderpersons. Either they had no travel or the data was not requested. Gaines stated in a recent meeting that he had chosen not to go on any of these trips.

These expenses should also be kept in perspective, as all this travel was made after this Administration and Council severely cut the City budget and raised electric rates by 38%, along with raising other fees and cutting City services. In additon, three alderpersons have already registered for a NLC trip a week after the Fall elections. Two of those alderpersons (Hight and Parker) are up for election this Fall.

We are stil working an an analysis of the Mayor's travel and that information will be published later.

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6 Comments



Spiderman August 11, 2008	Have you heard the recent promotional advertising: "What happens in Vegas - stays in Vegas!" I'm afraid this "license to have 'fun' without anyone knowing back home" has tempted some of our alderpeople in the past to step outside of the official purpose for finding themselves to be out of town in the first place. We the citizens of NLR, having paid their travel expenses through our taxes, expect a return on investment (ROI) for the purpose of gaining as you so well put it, "a valuable education tool" for the benefit of our city! For instance, where is our ROI when a traveling alderperson doesn't even pick up their pre-meeting information packet at their hotel where the conference is being conducted, and hence not showing up for the scheduled meeting? Where is our ROI when an alderperson publicly tells other city officials attending a conference with them that he/she is going to a cooking school while in town? There is a common saying in my work experience: "Don't tell me what you are going to pay me (currently over $10,600 a year for a NLR Alderperson), just tell me what you are going to give me!" Yes, as you suggest we do need accountability directly from each of our alderpersons attending a conference out of State! Yes, as you suggest we need them to provide details on what they got of value from each of these trips! In order to be able to demand public responsibility for these expenses we need to have them publically notify us when they schedule themselves for travel. Begining immediately let's demand a ROI accounting report for all travel expenses for our alderpersons. And what's good for the goose is good for the gander! This ROI travel expense demand should be applied to our Mayor as well! I can't wait to see your final analysis of Mayor Hays' travel expenses to be published later, and hopeflly not too late! Yes, indeed! "Don't tell me what you are going to pay me, just tell me what you are going to give me." Be aware!


Levy Lover August 11, 2008	Clay why are you promoting what they are doing as ok. At least it sounds like you are endorsing or excusing it. It still seems exorbitant to me. Especially since John Parker said he really brought back nothing from the meetings other than there are temporary speed humps. Come on, be objective. Leave the opining to the opinions page.


Big Dog Daddy August 12, 2008	That $21,000 would have bought quite a few computers for the Library. Or lots of School supplies for children.


Levy Goddess August 12, 2008	I would like to know which Alderman went to cooking school, also was it during time they were to be at the conference or in the evening? It does make a difference. How many sidewalks and curbs and draining could have been accomplished by this travel? I agree we all need outside (inside the UNITED STATES) training from time to time but this is excessive. There should also be some kind of report that comes out of this training, such as a report to the council upon their return.


Big Dog Daddy August 12, 2008	John Parker tells people he stays extra days and has himself his own personal little vacation. On the city dime. Ask him about Reno.


TheLevyExpress August 13, 2008	Is there anyone who authorizes a travel voucher? Is this something that is voted upon by the City Council?