Tony Scallon Longfellow wrote "I was surprised by the discussions of the Superintendent of the Park Board. I noticed the letter from Lisa McDonald read by Commissioner Vivian Mason. The central point of the letter attempts to exclude from consideration the present Acting Superintendent. Several speakers agreed with the letter.
Interesting, Nine months ago the selection process was criticized for hiring Mr. Gurban when he did not apply during the process. Now an attempt is being made to force him not to apply. Nine months ago the hiring of Gurban was criticized that the process was violated. Yet, what kind of process for hiring a Superintendent begins by excluding and threatening potential candidates for the office!" An informed process having had time to watch the current interim superintendent in action!! Mr Gurban has made his opposition to the use of Park Property by the people it belongs to more than evident. He obstructed the installation of the Theodore Wirth Statue garden at the chalet as long as he could and then attempted to disrupt the permitting for the Wirth-While Weekend celebrations in June honoring Theodore Wirth and his family. More recently, he has attempted to create policy instead of follow it by trying to takeover the Longfellow House AND the Wirth House for Go-Teams BEFORE the board has had a chance to formulate a plan of action for the use of those facilities. I should say in the face of existing policy about Longfellow House and before the board has had a chance to decide anything now that the MRPA has given their 90 day notice---which it seems Mr. Gurban held as long as he could before bringing it to the board's attention. There is also his history of dealing with the public--or lack of it. When MRPA was negotiating to lease the Wirth House from the Park Board he made promises to neighborhood groups that he would open part of the house for an interpretive and historical center. Something he totally refused to follow through with when he got the lease. And then there is the little moral question involving the MRPA losing its Charitable gambling pull tab license under Gurban's leadership--while Gurban himself has been banned for life from any charitable gambling. And there is the question of his education and background which was provided when he was initially appointed. It was a VERY sparse piece of information and nothing more has been added to those highlights that I know of--but then you can contact the board and ask for a copy of his education and experience for yourself. These are a FEW of the reasons that some of us asked he not even be considered beyond the end of his current contract. "There is a special meeting of the Commissioners this Wednesday forced by three commissioners. Is the intent of the meeting to continue the Personal attacks on Mr. Gurban in order to force him not to apply?" The intent is that the board follow its own meeting schedule which President Olson sought to change on his own by cancelling the meeting. Ask him why he thought it should be cancelled instead of the responsible owns why the have to reinstate it. Steve Nelson Willard Hay REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
