2006-04-06 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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until the end of ten months for clarification. The Chair said if something is found it can be agendized. Ms. Nicholson said a specific question could be added to the draft letter to be sent to departments. Ms. Cushme said they will not know the questions to ask. Ms. Garson said it would be easier, if you know the question, to put it in the letter. For example, in the letter to go to the Water Supply Department, they could ask what impediments or problems there would be if the water and sewer bills were combined. Or, during the course of discussions, the COGC may want to send a letter, get a response, and then decide if they want to call a department in or not. Or, they could agendize discussion of all the responses and decide then what they want to do. Ms. Cushnie said a combination would be good. Mr. Joseph asked, as a point of order since he is learning, whether it is appropriate for the Chair to make a motion. Ms. Garson said the Chair could, although generally a motion would not be by the Chair. The Chair would have to give up the Chair to snake a motion, and then another person sit as Chair. The Chair said that because they were only making recommendations and not decisions of law, he did not think they needed to be as formal, and Ms. Garson agreed. Mr. Joseph, however, said that would set a precedent. The Chair asked if they could be this informal, since they are only putting forth recommendations, and Ms. Garson said yes, and at other times it could be turned over to the Vice Chair, who could call the vote and then switch it back to the Chair. The chairmanship was turned over to Mr. Joseph. Vote: Mr. Joseph said that if there were no further discussion, he was calling for a vote. All members voted aye, including the Mr. Joseph. He turned the chairmanship back to Mr. Miyasato. Ms. Nicholson said that she had questions about two things that were recommended, which would not necessarily apply to the DEM. One was regarding training on legal issues for all departments' management, and the other issue was about creating an incentive program for employees. Those two things would apply to all departments. Should they be listed as a recommendation for every department, or should they keep a running tab of ideas that come up? She said they will see other issues come up that will affect all departments. The Chair said that if all departments would be affected, that could be directed to the Mayor, even if they do not give a presentation to the COGC. Ms. Nicholson said that they should, then, keep a running tab of these general recommendations. Ms. Garson said they could and when they write the report, they could specify some generic recommendations. They could make broad recommendations on a recurrent them, such as that more training is needed for upper management. 15