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Show MARCH 1996 building on Main Street. EDITORIAL Tesch disagreed openly after Hoffman convinced the city council to pass an ordinance against sexually-oriented businesses without even a pub- Mean Politics in Nice, Little Park City Christopher Smart Park City has always been a_ nice, little town It’s been a friendly and neighborly place where smiles and friendly greetings are the rule of the day But wha t has been happening at City Hall lately is anything but nice More and more, Park City government is being dominated by attitudes that reflect a willingness to win at any cost. It's the type of mean-spiritedness one might expect in Chicago or New York City — not our nice, littke community Take for example, the recent sacking of Joe Tesch as a volunteer member of the Park City Planning Commission Acting on the advice of Mayor Brad Olch, City Manager Toby Ross and City Attorney Jodi Hoffman, the Park City Council huddled in a closed-door meeting and made sure Tesch would not be re-appointed to the advisory board, after having served the community in that position for four years In this secretive and mean-spirited act, the mayor, city manager and city attorney orchestrated a drama _ that apparently frightened the council members into turning away from their responsibility to keep government open and fair. In essence, Mayor Olch and Ms Hoffman put Joe Tesch on trial for high crimes and misdemeanors. The council then found him guilty and passed sentence on him in his absence — not able to defend himself or even be confronted by his accusers. That the city tolerated council this little drama doesn’t speak well of their understanding of governing or their constituents expectations. Many hoped the newly-elected city council would restore faith in government, rather than substantiate our fears. But while the council announces its desire for community involvment, its actions show an intolerance for other views. Recently, City Councilwoman Shauna Kerr refused to talk about Tesch’s dismissal when asked on KPCW radio — as though it was none of the public’s business. Later in the Park City weekly newspaper, The Park Record, Kerr was quoted as saying the incident couldn’t be revisited publicly because it would make the council look bad She’s right about one thing, the city council really does look bad. But let’s back up and look at what could be at the bottom of this: Joe Tesch has been critical, from time-totime, of some of the more questionable decisions made at City Hall. Among other things, he disagreed openly when City Attorney Hoffman arbitrarily, and without city council approval, forgave the mayor’s brother of some required parking for his new questionable decisions from their place of power at City Hall. His punishment is an attack on his good name that continues as a whisper campaign. Who in Park City would wish this lic hearing on the matter. Tesch hold- kind of secretive and mean attack on ing that democracies make their decisions in public — as is the law — and that the ordinance, as worded, could impede First Amendment protections of all businesses. anyone? Who in Park City will now dare to voice an opinion contrary to those of Brad Olch, Toby Ross and Jodi Hoffman, when they know they can expect similar treatment? And Tesch objected openly when the mayor called an illegal city council meeting, with Hoffman’s blessing, in an attempt to oust and publicly flog the recently-elected Paul Sincock, after news reports that the councilman filed tax returns claiming he didn’t have any taxable income. Joe Tesch’s real crime, apparently, been to object when the mayor, manager and city attorney make has city The city council is elected to make sure the government process is fair, not retaliatory. Until individual council members take responsibility to keep government open and even-handed, they will appear as petty as those who run City Hall from behind the council’s thin shadow. And it’s too bad, because they are allowing Park City to become a mean, little place rather than the nice town it has always been. @ this is the place by John Helton mf > pbb a tt a That a - Py!) ste oe le a fe _ Goal FohnOae MAIL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION REQUEST TO P.O. BOX 1433 ¢ PARK CITY, G E 84060 OR FAX 801-649-8046 Tf Wit IT Published Monthly at 7,000 in Park City, Uta Become One With “The High Altitude Alternative” Subscribe and Get your issues delivered $12.00 - 12 issues 12 ISSUES 0 OF THE “TIMES” ADDRESS. APT./ CITY/STATE ZIP THIS GIFT IS FROM PHONE 504s; APT/SUITE NO CITY/STATE CHECKQ PHONE VISAQ PAGE No 4 Exp SIGNATURE SUITE NO. NO. NO. Feet |
