Why Would Anyone Consider Being Our DPW Commissioner?

A lovely tripping hazard on the sidewalk 
in front of the Youth Center on 3rd Street

There wasn't much excitement at the informal council meeting last night, not like there usually is.  For one, Robert Perry didn't offer a report, because, apparently, he is on vacation.  Also, public participation was non-existent, and it looks like the new crop of council members are ready to sleepwalk through the next two years as they had little to nothing to say or ask.  I think I heard crickets every time Tom asked the council if they had anything to ask of the department heads.  

The one thing that did catch my ear came from the mouth of, I believe, Margaret Morris, at the end of the meeting.  She asked Mayoral Aide Michael Hoffman if he had any update about the progress of appointing a new DPW Commissioner, a task that is handled by the Mayor's Office.  The position has been vacant for over 3 months now.

Hoffman replied that he had no update to offer.  He didn't even offer a clue as to whether he and the mayor are talking to any candidates, not even "We're working on it."  Kinda concerning, if you ask me.  

Morris then mentioned to no one in particular that the city's plans to replace sidewalks all over town hinges on having a DPW Commissioner to be part of the group (committee? board?) that will oversee the sidewalk improvement project.  That project, if it is ever to start, will take years to complete and would probably be the largest recent infrastructure project the city has undertaken that has nothing to do with water or sewer issues.  It is a daunting task, to say the least.  For now, though, forget about actually replacing any sidewalks -- even planning or preparing for the project can't begin until we have a DPW Commissioner involved.

Of course, the DPW Commissioner position is wholly on a volunteer basis, so I'm sure Kamal has a long list of candidates he must choose from (not!).   Why would anyone in their right mind sign up for thankless years of headaches and not get paid a dime while working for Kamal Johnson and alongside Robert Perry?

The City of Ithaca, whose successful sidewalk improvement program we are trying to emulate, has a position in the Engineering Division of their Department of Public Works known as the Sidewalk Program Manager.  I guarantee that the person filling that position is salaried, not a volunteer.

We cannot successfully fix our sidewalks, or even head in that direction, by relying on volunteers (the DPW Commissioner and resident volunteers), council members and the city attorney.  It will be an ugly failure and waste of time. 

In the recent Register-Star article focusing on our mayor's past accomplishments and plans for the future, I didn't read any quotes from Kamal mentioning his hopes to do something about our atrocious sidewalks.  Apparently, the issue is really low on his agenda, or not on it at all. 

SOMEONE PLEASE RID CITY HALL OF THE 4 COMMISSIONER POSITIONS.  IF THEY WERE ONCE USEFUL POSITIONS, THEY NO LONGER ARE!  NO MORE VOLUNTEERS IN CITY HALL!  HUDSON CITY HALL IS NOT A CHARITY ORGANIZATION AND SHOULD NOT/CANNOT OPERATE LIKE ONE.