Criticism of city inappropriate

My name is Joyce Wilson and I am currently a member of the Nevada City Council. This opinion is mine and mine alone; I do not speak for any other council member only myself.

The editorial in the Nevada Daily Mail on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, is very misleading. Consider these facts:

The bid specs for the truck to be purchased for the Code Enforcement Department were "4 cylinder, 5 speed manual transmission, XL package, and air conditioning. Therefore, the truck purchased was within the specs. There are no luxury bells and whistles on this truck.

The funds, $12,000, were budgeted in the 2009 city budget just approved Dec. 31, 2008.

The date this truck was purchased for the exact budget amount was the last day the manufacturer's rebate was available. The dealership would have to raise the price. Making an urgent decision necessary.

All other bids were for $3,000 to $4,000 more than this truck. And some of them did not meet the specs as closely as this one.

And yes, all the city administration and employees were not in City Hall and could not be reached for comment on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. City Hall was closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day as many, many other city offices all over the United States of America were. The only difference was our city employees who were not on duty were mandated to attend an all-day work session at another location.

The current City Council is trying hard to make sure their decisions are in the best interest of most citizens and if possible, all the citizens of Nevada. As Council members we serve the community without a salary or any monetary reward. It is unfair for this paper to continually show disrespect for the council members and city administration since Craig Hubler left. I live here and shop here, but I also have children, grandchildren and other family and friends here. I certainly do not wish nor do I intend to put my or their reputation at risk for any reason.

Now, as for the negativity this editorial spews, it is not helping the image of our community. In my opinion, this editorial is putting the public trust at risk. Since Craig Hubler left, this paper has tried to distort the real truth when reporting any city business or actions, then when corrected it does not retract its errors or misleading reporting. One city manager has already been "run out of town," since I have been on the council. Is the move on to run another out? The reporting on the interim city manager, who has been in this position for only six weeks, leads me to wonder. Do we want another Craig Hubler or one of his close associates as city manager back in control of our city?

I personally do not have an education in journalism; however, I did have a couple years during my high school education. My teacher always taught to not write or publish information unless it can be backed up with facts. This editorial by the Nevada Daily Mail was premature and in my opinion, again only my opinion, this article could have waited 24 hours until the situation could be explained during the council meeting on Jan. 20.

If anyone is interested in the exact wording of the city code regarding purchasing and the authority to purchase you may check it out on the city website: www.nevadamo.org, then click on the "quick links" Code of Ordinances, Chapter 26, Purchasing. Section 26-2, 26-4, 26-5, and 26-9.

If you read this Chapter and these Sections, you will see the actions of our city manager were neither unlawful, nor him "trying to cover his tracks."

Now for the editorial "Tough decisions" dated Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009.

Mr. Harlan Moore, our interim city manager, had more than Mayor Mike Hutchens blessing, he had mine also, however I was not contacted for comment. As stated above, the urgency of saving over $3,000 and keeping within the budgeted amount was tantamount to the decision to purchase before a council meeting was held or could be scheduled. I don't like emergency decisions either but sometimes they are necessary, just as they are sometimes necessary in our personal lives. I too, wish we could have waited to process the purchase, but this situation was unusual.

I truly hope the Nevada Daily Mail will reconsider its position on trying to smear the city officials, administration and employees.

Joyce Wilson

Nevada City Council Member