Meeting Minutes Should Help Jog Shimek's Memory

We called Terry Shimek--chairman of the school board Finance committee-- this week and asked him why the cost of borrowing money for the last installment of high school construction loan was being taken from "fund balance", rather than from the high school construction account.

They can't do that, people. That's a manipulation of money to make it appear that they didn't spend more money on the school construction than they actually did. EVERYTHING related to the high school project must be accounted for from the $100M the voters approved.

Shimek didn't answer. His response was cagey at best, indicating that (1) he couldn't argue the point, and (2) that he spoke out against it at the board meeting. He did give himself an "out" by saying that "the board relies on Phil [Frei] and bond counsel to tell us what we are able to do".

But when asked, "Terry...how did you VOTE on the issue?". His response: "I don't recall; I honestly don't recall". Sounded like one of those great political moments when the trapped politico says, " To the best of my recollection, I don't recall". And that's being kind. Realistically, do we WANT a school board member who can't remember how he voted? Of course the only other logical scenario is that Mr. Shimek was not being truthful when he answered.

Thank goodness for meeting minutes. If we look at the minutes of the meeting, we find out that Shimek actually had 3 significant moments. How could he possibly not recall that:

1. Shimek was the one who actually MADE the original motion to pay the loan fee out of fund balance instead of the construction fund.

2. Shimek voted AGAINST Al Slane's friendly amendment to take $50,000 out of fund balance to re-instate the 5% cut made to classrooms.

3. Back to Shimek's original motion. He VOTED FOR the use of fund balance to pay the loan fee.

School Board Minutes, September 14, 2009
6.03 Adoption of 2009-10 Proposed Budget
It was moved by Terry Shimek and seconded by Jill Camber
Davidson TO APPROVE ATTACHMENT 1, 65.90 BUDGET ADOPTION
REPORT, AND ATTACHMENT 2, 65.90 BUDGET PUBLICATION REPORT,
OF THE 2009-2010 PROPOSED BUDGET AND FORWARD TO THE
ANNUAL MEETING FOR A VOTE BY THE ELECTORS.

A motion was made by Al Slane and seconded by John Whalen
TO AMEND THE MOTION AND RESTORE $50,000 (5%) SCHOOL
CUTS AND TAKE THE MONEY FROM FUND BALANCE.
The result of the motion was: Failed
Yea: Jill Camber Davidson, Al Slane
Nay: Caren Diedrich, Terry Shimek, David Stackhouse,
John Whalen
Not present: Jim McCourt

Vote on the original motion:
The result of the vote was: Pass
Yea: Jill Camber Davidson, Caren Diedrich, Terry Shimek,
Al Slane, David Stackhouse, John Whalen
Not Present: Jim McCourt

Time for some Gingko biloba, Terry?

We would want to forget such a poor showing if we were in your shoes.