Before considering the final plat, health and safety commissioner Donna Scholtes had asked for time to read the development agreement she would be approving. Although the agreement was in the planning and zoning office a few days prior to the regular meeting, Scholtes was unaware of it.
The commissioner brought up a timing issue with regard to the development agreements, which are not available to the Village Board until the time of final plat approval.
"When it gets to us, that's late in the game," Scholtes said. "We should not be seeing it at the end of negotiations."
Scholtes requested greater involvement in the development agreement process.
Sound reasonable? Not to mayor Ramme.
Diamond's system was explained by the Courant as this:
"Diamond's Mayor, Mike Ramme, determines when economic incentive is appropriate and negotiates terms with the developer along with lawyers from both parties.
The agreement is not available to the Zoning Board before it makes its recommendation; it is not available to the Village Board until it considers final plat; it is not available to the public until after it has been approved by the Village Board.
No public discussion is held regarding economic incentives."
Council members are not supposed to ask any questions, or excercise any independent judgment? Apparently, the mayor feels that council members should just vote in favor of whatever proposal is set in front of them, without reading it.
