RETENTION OF PUBLIC WORKS BOARD SUPPORTED.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer Los Angeles' appointed Charter Reform Commission voted Wednesday to endorse retention of the city's full-time Public Works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. Board, whose five members are each paid $81,000 annually, despite charges it is wasteful and not providing the best management for the agency. A proposal to strip the Public Works Board of its authority to manage the massive Public Works Department Many governments worldwide have had departments or ministries referred to as the Public Works Department either formally or informally. In Australia: - New South Wales -
Commissioner Linda Griego said Public Works is a ``front line department'' that handles most citizen requests for day-to-day service and nothing was said to convince her that its management should be changed. ``This (board) is one commission that is different than the rest of them,'' agreed charter reform panelist pan·el·ist n. A member of a panel. Noun 1. panelist - a member of a panel panellist panel - a group of people gathered for a special purpose as to plan or discuss an issue or judge a contest etc Marguerite Marguerite, for French women thus named, use Margaret Marguerite. For French women thus named, use Margaret. marguerite, in botany marguerite: see daisy. Archie-Hudson, speaking in favor of retaining the full-time citizen board. However, Commissioner Charles Z. Wilson said a professional administrator, not a citizen board, is needed to head a department with a $1 billion budget that includes sewer SEWER. Properly a trench artificially made for the purpose of carrying water into the sea, river, or some other place of reception. Public sewers are, in general, made at the public expense. Crabb, R. P. Sec. 113. treatment, trash collection, city building construction, storm-water drains, street lights, tree trimming and street paving. ``This happens to be one area of government that is complex and needs a sophisticated manager,'' Wilson said. The board, which is appointed by the mayor and receives city cars among other perks perk 1 v. perked, perk·ing, perks v.intr. 1. To stick up or jut out: dogs' ears that perk. 2. To carry oneself in a lively and jaunty manner. , serves collectively as the general manager of the department. The charter commission rejected the recommendation of its executive director, Raphael Sonenshein Raphael J. Sonenshein (born 1949) is a professor of political science at California State University, Fullerton. Teaching at the college since 1982, Sonenshein holds a bachelor's in public policy from Princeton University and a doctorate in political science from Yale University. , who said numerous city studies over the years have suggested the department would benefit from a professional general manager with experience in public works administration Public Works Administration (PWA), in U.S. history, New Deal government agency established (1933) by the Congress as the Federal Administration of Public Works, pursuant to the National Industrial Recovery Act. who can provide day-to-day attention. ``This would not only save the city money, it would straighten lines of accountability and allow a general manager to run the department, reporting directly to the mayor,'' Sonenshein said. A citizens board ``lacks the expertise to critically analyze bureau head proposals,'' he told the commission. Having a five-member board that must conduct its decision making in thrice-weekly public meetings hurts the efficiency of an agency that sometimes must react quickly to problems, Sonenshein suggested. Under his proposal, the board would have retained the power to approve public works contracts and to serve in a quasi-judicial role, hearing appeals on sewer rates and other issues. Public Works Board members Maribel Marin and Valerie Shaw argued against the change, saying the current setup allows the department to be managed by a group with diverse backgrounds and experience. In addition, the board provides direct access to the public, Shaw said. ``As a board we actualize the public's influence,'' she said. Added Board Secretary Jim Gibson: ``A citizen board brings to decision making a perspective that a career bureaucrat doesn't have.'' The Charter Reform Commission is appointed by the City Council, which for five years has blocked efforts by Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. to eliminate the Public Works Board. |
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