The One-Size-Fits-All Columbia Candidate Survey, Part 3

Welcome to the third annual One-Size-Fits-All Columbia Candidate Survey, where city council and school board candidates answer questions about issues that affect not just one, but BOTH organizations. In this part, we ask candidates to discuss the respective roles in local government of:

The Unpaid Volunteer and the Paid Staffer

Volunteers, volunteers. Columbia has about as many volunteers as it has college students, which is a mixed blessing in government. Though county commissioners receive a healthy salary, school board members and city council persons get no compensation. Many believe -- including several of our volunteer legislators -- that they serve at an intrinsic disadvantage to the paid staffers they are charged with overseeing.

In January, the Columbia Tribune reported that CPS School board members Michelle Gadbois and Ines Segert publicly expressed frustration after they had unknowingly approved a list of administrative stipends at the December board meeting. Assistant Superintendent Mary Laffey had supplied the list in the consent agenda the night of the meeting, and it was printed on the back of an unrelated document. Segert said she felt it was a "sneaky" way to get board approval.

More consent agenda confusion occurred in December, when Columbia city manager Bill Watkins ordered his staff to place an ordinance on the council's consent agenda designed to take, by eminent domain, privately-owned downtown property for a state historical society museum. The city council neither approved the move nor even saw it coming. The item was later withdrawn following a widespread outcry.

CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

Q1. Is either the school board or city council scenario appropriate behavior on the part of paid staffers? If so, why? If not, why not?

SAM PHILLIPS, SCHOOL BOARD

My campaign is focused on my commitment to use my professional legal, administrative, and financial experience to improve the process by which the District makes decisions. We must make sure the new superintendent knows the board expects to have financial materials and policy proposals in time to review them. Together, the board and the new superintendent should create a decision-making culture that assumes that the board and the public want to fully participate.

CHRISTINE KING, SCHOOL BOARD

I try to take the position, especially since I am not on the Board currently, that there is more to the story or more information in which I may not be aware of or understand. So, I will not comment on the scenarios for that reason as I don't want to judge when there may be information which may help clarify or answer the questions.

JASON THORNHILL, 2ND WARD CITY COUNCIL

This is effectively our local version of pork. I have never been a fan of sneaking a pet project in the back door of any legislation, no matter the level of government. Any and all pertinent (and I hesitate to distinguish what is and is not) issues should be in plain sight. Given the relative difficulty in reversing or halting a decision mid-stream, it becomes even more important that we know what we are agreeing to.

ALLAN SHARROCK, 2ND WARD CITY COUNCIL

I have spoken out against the the use of eminent domain for the Historical Society. I do not think the city has the legal authority to even use eminent domain because the properties in question are not "blighted."

NO OTHER school board or city council candidates responded to the survey.


Q2. If you vote to implement a policy but staff, for whatever reason, doesn't implement it, what are you going to do?

ALLAN SHARROCK

While the council members cannot "direct" staff, they should uphold the policies set forth by the council. It is the city manager's responsibility to ensure that all policies are being upheld.

JASON THORNHILL

Not like it, but acknowledge that I am participating in a democracy and can only do so much. As 1/6 of the ownership group of Weichert, Realtors - First Tier, I often wind up voting with or against a co-owner. I have to recognize that when a majority rules, there will always be someone who is not happy. That person could very well be me.

I would like to think that if an idea is presented to or by council and navigates its way through the process to be successfully voted upon, that the idea would be accepted and implemented. It is the basis upon which our charter is founded. Council is representative of the citizens and decisions that arise out of the communication and approval process should be taken seriously.

SAM PHILLIPS

The board can help provide stable leadership to the district by helping the new superintendent succeed. Neither micromanaging nor rubberstamping will accomplish that. The board can help most by assuring the new superintendent knows: that we are actively involved in analyzing policy and fiscal proposals; that we can and will help him avoid mistakes; that we will serve as eyes and ears for the community; and, that we expect the staff to offer proposals only after careful analysis of issues based on open-minded research and with invited input from teachers and the community.

CHRISTINE KING

If the Board votes and decides to implement policy, then yes it needs to be carried out according to the directives and information in the policy.

Additionally, information from the Board meeting, regardless if it is policy or not, needs to be effectively communicated to the administration from Dr. Belcher. If a policy was not implemented, then the Board needs to discuss and find out why this occurred. After a proper, thorough, fair and open "investigation" to find out the answers, then the Board needs to decide what action is appropriate and follow up accordingly with Dr. Belcher.


Q3. Would you support paying city council members or, at some point in the future, school board members, if for no other reason than to equalize their relationship with paid staff?

JASON THORNHILL

I believe a reasonable amount of compensation could make the system better on the whole, subscribing to the theory if you will "that a happy employee is a productive employee." I think it's dangerous to say that their relationship would be entirely equalized, but it could certainly become more equitable.

There is some argument that paying folks in these positions would entice those who don't subscribe to the true spirit of volunteerism. I'm not sure I agree with that, if for no other reason than the budget would likely never allow an amount significant enough to do so.

I do believe that, assuming they wanted to learn, the general public would gain a new appreciation for the true commitment it takes to be a member of these entities. Now, about that budget....

ALLAN SHARROCK

I will not propose paying council members in the future. This is not why I am running for office.

SAM PHILLIPS

I have not been persuaded that compensation for school board members would guarantee better oversight. More important than compensation is having a board that is informed and involved. Informed board members can provide critical support and oversight.

CHRISTINE KING

Regarding paying city council or school board members, this is a complicated issue and one that should not be rushed in or be made in a linear fashion. Paying both groups may have its positives, but there are also a host of issues that need to be looked into which have long term effects, and may lead to different issues we don't currently have. So, when evaluating whether these groups should be paid, we need to analyze and anticipate what both groups will look like in a paid status and what concerns, challenges, issues will develop because of the payment.

My belief is paying these two groups will not, in and of itself, put the groups equal to paid staff. Additionally, I believe that paying these two groups will not necessarily encourage or allow people to serve. For example, some people who have a well paying job may not be granted a leave of absence to serve but can't serve and work at the same time due to job commitments.

So we all must be careful to think by paying alone, this will bring out individuals who can't serve since the positions are unpaid. From my experiences in Columbia, we have a large number of individuals who are capable of serving and have the heart and time in which to serve our community. Finally, we must think long term, if the decision is made to pay these positions, what effect that will have on other unpaid and volunteer positions.