Questions for mayor

To the editor:
The fall election is fast approaching when we must decide who will be our mayor. Are we well informed? I do not believe so, because there are things that concern all of us that have not been made known to us by Mayor Hosier. I missed the meet your candidate night, so I am using this way to ask Mayor Hosier several questions that have gone unanswered for a few years now.
1. Why did you demote Bob Brelsford, the superintendent of the wastewater plant, back in 2009? I do not expect the mayor to answer this question, because he will say there is still legal action on this and he is not allowed to comment. I can tell you that Bob did not do anything different than other city employees.
2. Why does Mayor Hosier drive an unmarked silver police cruiser for his personal car? This came about sometime during his second term, and I am not aware of any other mayor being furnished a personal car at taxpayer expense.
3. Why was the public not informed when IDEM showed up at the wastewater plant earlier this year/late last year for more than one day and that there were violation? After all, this is paid for with residential user fees.
4. Why is it suddenly not important for employees of the wastewater plant to be certified by the state in the proper procedures of doing their jobs, and especially why is it not important for the superintendent of the plant to be certified? I would like to point out that there are only two employees, Dave McGraw and Bob Brelsford, who are certified.
5. Why has it become necessary for the mayor’s expense account, which has been $4,000 for several years, to increase, to my understanding, to more than $9,000?
6. Why is there no reserve of $1 million in the city wastewater plant maintenance fund anymore?
7. Why is it necessary to have an engineering firm on permanent retainer when state law requires all projects over a certain amount to be bid? (Editor’s note: State law does not require bidding for services such as those provided by engineering firms).
8. Why were engineering fees paid for twice for the same project (which I believe was the Steen Addition project) when it was originally figured in with the Wayne Street/Boundary Pike project, and why were there more than $800,000 in cover overruns on the Wayne Street/Boundary Pike project?
I have not been given any private information. This is all a matter of public record if you just want to dig for it. I am pretty sure, Bruce, that if you do answer any of these questions, you will probably say that I have hard feelings over the way some things were handled that affected my family personally.
You know that is not the case. I just think that all city taxpayers need to know what is going on. Bruce, I did believe in you and I was happy when you became mayor for your first term; you did a good job. But I cannot say that for these last four years, and I personally believe that the city of Portland cannot afford another four years under your administration.
I know this is a lengthy letter, but I would hope that everyone who reads this letter stops and thinks and then forms his or her own opinion.
Sincerely,
Eunice White
Portland[[In-content Ad]]