After Auld Lang Syne

Too often in 2006, mayoral appointments were offered “In the Midnight Hour.”

Late submissions made former City Council President Ray Blanco apoplectic and at the last meeting before his death, Blanco summarily dismissed a bunch of them. Little did he know that before he came in late that night from a gala event in New York, yet another “walk-on” appointment had been offered by the mayor.

The council is promised a number of appointments to vote on at the Jan. 8 reorganization. Let’s hope they are all in order and that boards and commissions will start the New Year in good shape, with enough members to get down to business.

The city also has a number of auxiliary police officers who are supposed to reappointed annually, something that didn’t happen in 2006. Perhaps the administration can “Do the Tighten Up” and take a proactive stance toward appointments. At least at cabinet level, the year will start with a new city administrator and all three department heads in place.

The council plans to alter its schedule for greater efficiency in 2007. If the administration can match the effort with timely submissions to the governing body, only then will “Everybody Have A Good Time.”

(If you want to sing along, do a Google search on The Drells.)