Interesting that you babble about this, while working for a law firm that specializes in Municipal work. Looking to get a bid in for your firm Mr. Trinza?

EDITOR’S NOTE: No more interesting than the fact that this blog has always advocated for competitive bidding and RFPs, irrespective of who the prospective bidders might be.

But if you’re against RFPs and competitive bidding – and in favor of sweetheart deals without RFPs or bidding, as has so often been the case with the City – just say so.

I do not recall the city going out to bid or for an RFP for legal services, either for its general work (that Klein Thorpe & Jenkins does) or the work done by Judge James & Kujawa. Was that work ever bid out and, if so, when? I agree with you that the idea or policy for bidding out this work every so often should not have to come from the elected officials.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We don’t recall exactly how many years ago the last RFP or bidding process occurred, nor do we know if there EVER was any bidding or RFP for the attorneys who have represented the City in the police and firefighters union negotiations. We think those services should be bid out/RFPed no less than every 3-4 years, even if ongoing lawsuits might need to remain with the attorneys who started working on them in order to avoid wasted fees on a new firm ramping up.

Holy cow. No pun intended. And I thought throwing in the towel on Chicago, with its politics, shenanigans and mind-boggling bureaucracies, for a smaller town might mean more efficiency and accountability when it comes to government. I feel pretty naive. Sheesh.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hey, at least our local government mismanagement appears to be of the ham-and-egg variety, not the boxcar-number variety of Chicago’s culture of corruption.

On the other hand, a town of 37,000 fairly homogenous, upper middle-class people within 8 square miles should be a lot easier to govern well than a place like Chicago. But when our City can’t even run an RFP process correctly (or, as to legal services, at all) and can’t manage the outsourcing of services to private corporations effectively, it’s pretty discouraging.

So Bernick showed up? I’m sure his contribution was noteworthy.

EDITOR’S NOTE: After a few week absence, he returned in fine snit.

After missing, what, four meeting in a row Bernick surely did show up in a snit. What a narcissistic boob. Rumor had it he was going to “step down” for some reason or another. Guess not, huh? Too bad.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Rumors like that tend to be wrong.

Anon 4:06

So says you. I love Bernick.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Different strokes for different folks. But out of a sense of prurient curiosity, we have to ask: Why?

Anon@1223 must be Mrs. Bernick. I’m waiting for Bernick to try to amend the taxi ordinance because he doesn’t like pink.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Let’s not assume facts not in evidence.

Editor:

Because he, unlike some (Schmidt, Knight), is not walking lock step with sour pusses like you.

BTW 1:27, I’ve seen Mrs. Bernick. She is hot. I can honestly say that I am no Mrs. Bernick.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Forget walking in lockstep with Schmidt, Knight or this blog – Bernick can’t walk in lockstep with himself! When you figure out what principles and policies (if any) he actually stands for – and consistently votes for – please let us know. And then, by all means, tell him.

Bernick is gutless. What a baby. Go around telling everyone you are quitting. Go AWOL for a few weeks and then show up again as some savior who decided to stay.

Can’t cry wolf again Tommy.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Once again, this “telling everyone you are quitting” sounds like more “facts” not in evidence. Perhaps he was just taking some “away” time to forge his own coherent philosophy of government. Or not.

Speaking of absenses. Why didn’t Mayor Schmidt wait until after the Budget process to have his hip replaced?

Oh I know, I know, pick me; That way he can abdicate the work to the Council again and then veto the final product.

EDITOR’S NOTE: According to last week’s TribLocal story: “Schmidt said he hopes to return to the council’s chamber at City Hall…for the Feb. 20 meeting, but will definitely be back by March 5, when he plans to give his ‘State of the City’ speech.” That’s two months before the budget deadline. Plus, the TribLocal story also reported that while recuperating he will be participating in meetings by telephone, presumably while watching on WOW.

So, Mr/Ms. Anon, you get an F for knowledge of City government. From now on, don’t raise your hand unless you actually know the answer.

There are a variety of things that I have had questions about related to the Mayor. Having said that, throwing out conspiracy theories related to when he decides to have hip replacement surgery is…well….STUPID!!!!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hey, just because he can barely walk doesn’t mean he couldn’t have waited another few months until after the budget was finished…it’s not like it’s an aortic aneurysm or a quadruple bypass.

Why was Alderman Bernick saying he would resign? Mayor Schmidt is going to be on powerful drugs after his surgery. I hope he stays away for months. We don’t need a drugged out Mayor taking part is public business.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We have no knowledge that Ald. Bernick said that, so why does it matter.

Given how the City Council governs, the mayor’s being on “powerful drugs” might actually be a great equalizer.

The bloggers here are saying they heard rumors Alderman Bernick could resign. Are you saying you know those rumors are untrue? There is no reason for anyone to think he would think of resigning? Mayor Schmidt couldn’t be a worse Mayor while he is drugged up. The drugs could help him be a better person. He needs something.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We don’t know if they are true or not, and we don’t care – if only because there’s so little practical difference between Bernick’s absence and his presence.

Given the way the City Council operates, the “something” Schmidt probably needs most is a higher tolerance for the absurd.

I still don’t know how to feel about the police station.

While some concerns are understandable, i don’t get the fuss about the jail space.

Also while I get seperating arrestees from witnesses or others who vist the station for whatever reasons, I still can’t get why it’s an issue now.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We don’t get it either, Mike, and the PowerPoint presentation Monday night was such a farce that we will be doing a post on it within the next week.

Mayor Schmidt would appoint someone to replace Alderman Bernick if he resigned. Mayor Schmidt appointed Alderman Sweeny after he won for Mayor. It sounds as if you need to have explanations and you get an F for knowledge of City government. From now on, don’t raise your hand unless you actually know the answer. The absurd thing about what is said on this blog is that all the older Aldermen were always wrong when Schmidt disagreed with them. All the new Aldermen are always wrong when Mayor Schmidt disagrees with them. Mayor Schmidt is only wrong when he disagrees with the bloggers here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hey, we can’t help it if the City Councils and mayors for at least the 10 years prior to the Schmidt Adminstration veritably sucked – as evidenced by things like their neglect of the City’s infrastructure, their posting of 8 years of General Fund deficits totaling $12 million-plus and only one year of surplus despite raising taxes an average of 3%+ annually, their creation of the cash-sucking Uptown TIF, their $650,000 non-refundable “investment” in the Peotone airport, etc.

As for Frimark’s departed alderdwarfs Allegretti, Bach, Carey and Ryan, on their good days they were lucky if they could find Col. Mustard in the Conservatory with the candlestick. On their many bad days, they were playing Monopoly on a Stratego board.

Just wondering if anyone knows if this Albert Galus is related to the new principal of St. Raymond grade school in Mount Prospect, Andrew Galus.

EDITOR’S NOTE: And that’s relevant to this post or Park Ridge government generally how?

Hey did does anyone know why Schmidt needs his hip replaced? Did he fall off his bike riding home for Holihans?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Gin doesn’t agree with you, does it, Zippy?

I love Stratego.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A highly under-rated game.

Allow me. My hip started to hurt 3-4 years ago. Like many guys, I ignored the prpoblem until about a year ago when the pain started to affect my ability to get around So I got it checked out.

I was told then that I would need a hip replacement. I continued to put that off until last fall when the problem intensified. At that time, the doctor said I could not wait any longer or else I risked severe back problems which would be permanent. January 30 was the first available date.

For those concerned about my coherence and cognitive abilities due to medication, the next budget meeting is not until February 8, and I should be off the “hard stuff” by then. If not, the budget process is in the best of hands with Alderman Knight and Finance Director Stutts at the helm. I will be back to full strength long before any final vote is taken.