Esslinger on Developer/Inspector Flap

[note: Recently, certain Oshkosh area developers have complained of a "bad attitude" on the part of city inspectors. At the March 11 meeting of the Oshkosh Common Council, councilor Paul Esslinger called for a citywide forum to ease the tensions. His call was rebuffed by Mayor Steve Hintz, who said that the "timing" of such a meeting was not right and that the council would "take (the idea) under consideration." Below, Paul Esslinger responds to some questions seeking more information about the flap--Tony Palmeri]

Commentary Question #1: The local media have reported that tension exists between Oshkosh area developers and the city's building inspectors. What is your understanding of the nature of this tension?

Esslinger Response: The message that I'm getting from the developers in the community is that the inspections department in the City of Oshkosh has an "attitude problem." I've been told this by several developers, so there may be a problem in that regard. I say may be a problem because I haven't seen, or heard it for myself, however, I have been told by several developers so it is quite possible.

After speaking with both the City of Oshkosh and state inspection departments, I think it's their opinion that the developers are upset because the inspectors in the City of Oshkosh are enforcing the codes that must be adhered to, something that I've been told in the past was lacking. So it seems to me that the City inspectors are doing the job they are supposed to be doing, which in turn costs the developers more money than it did in the past.

Commentary Question #2: In a February meeting called by the Oshkosh Area Chamber of Commerce, some developers took city inspectors to task for being rude and having a "bad attitude." Can you please explain what you know about that February meeting and what feelings you have about it?

Esslinger Response: Unfortunately, I can't tell you a lot about the meeting because I wasn't invited, and I had to hear it second hand from "someone on the street." What I do know is that John Casper (Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce President) asked for a meeting with the City staff to discuss how the Chamber and the City can work together to promote growth in the City of Oshkosh, and apparently a discussion about the inspections department popped up (go figure.) I was told that the Chamber staff and developers basically had a bitch session in regards to the inspectors, and that Chamber members said that the inspectors attitude had to change.

I certainly can understand Council members meeting with special interest groups in the community, but I think it would be nice for the Mayor (who attended the meeting) to let the other Council Members know that the meeting took place and the results of the meeting. This certainly would have helped me when I received calls form developers regarding the issue. Had I know that meetings were taking place, I would have directed any phone calls I received regarding this issue to the Mayor, seeing that he's handling the situation.

I was recently told by "someone on the street" that the City contracted to have a study done of the inspections department, which is being conducted by a group at the University of Wisconsin of Oshkosh. I believe this study will cost the taxpayers $10,000.

I wish we could try my approach with the open meeting first, which would cost nothing, and then if that didn't work, have the State do an audit of the City inspections department for approximately $3,000.

Commentary Question #3: At the March 11 meeting of the Common Council, you urged councilors to hold a meeting at which builders, contractors and inspectors would be able to air grievances and hash out their differences. Neither the Mayor nor any other member of the Council supported your initiative. In the newspaper you said you were "absolutely steamed." Why?

Esslinger Response: The reason I was upset was because the Mayor showed a lack of respect for me, and the process the Council takes in regards to workshop meetings. I explained to Mr. Kraft (the City Attorney) during Council Member statements that I would like to have this meeting, and what procedure I needed to take to have the workshop. He explained that I needed three other Council Members to agree to it. I then asked the Mayor to take a straw vote of the Council to see if there was any interest, and he said something like "We'll consider it."

The question I have is who's WE? Was the Mayor speaking on behalf of the Council? If so, that's not his place. He also didn't explain to myself, and the public why he wouldn't even ask the Council if they had any interest.

A few Council meetings back, Council Member Castle asked the Mayor if the Council would like to have a workshop with the Humane Society. The Mayor then took a straw vote of the Council, and we agreed to the meeting. Does the Mayor feel that other Council Members have the right to ask for workshop meetings and not me? Did he feel that the Humane Society was more important than the inspections issue? I wish the Mayor would explain himself.

I was also troubled that no other Council Member spoke up either in favor of, or opposed to my request, or had any trouble that the Mayor was speaking on their behalf when he said "We'll consider it."

I'm wondering if the Mayor and other members of the Council just don't want the public informed of this issue? Is it because they are friends with developers?

Another thing that is troubling is that to the best of my knowledge few, if any Council Members even talked with the inspections department to get their side of the story. Wouldn't it be fair to have an open meeting so the inspections department can at least defend themselves, and the public can make a determination of who's right, or wrong?

Commentary Question #4: Please give us your thoughts on how you see developer/inspector issue playing out in the next few weeks. What should concerned citizens be doing?

Esslinger Response: I'm not sure you want to ask me this question seeing as how I don't seem to be very informed on the status of meetings and studies that are being conducted. I would suggest you contact Mayor Hintz, he seems to be handling the situation for the Council.

In regards to what a concerned citizen should do; I don't believe there is much they can do other than speak out against closed meetings, and keeping others on the Council, and the public in the dark.

I guess another thing they can do is listen VERY carefully when people are running for elected positions, and ask as many questions as they can so they can make an informed decision on what candidate(s) they vote for. One other thing people can do is run for these positions. We desperately need more people to run for the various elected positions. And in regards to this election, I feel that Steve Bender deserves your vote for Common Council!!

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