Muskego Resident Refutes Mayor's Statements

To the editor:

Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti is jumping through hoops trying to find “legal” ways to ignore the “Direct Legislation Petition”.  Clearly, she does not comprehend THIS IS NOT HER JOB. Even if she could find a loop-hole, she has an ETHICAL OBLIGATION to listen to us.  She took an oath of office to that effect.  

Chiaverotti stated “there will be no referendum”.  Again, according to Wisconsin Statutes, THIS IS NOT UP TO HER.  Any decisions regarding the direct legislation petition belong with the Common Council, not the Mayor.

Chiaverotti dances around like Mohammed Ali, dismisses concerns over the location, size, viewscapes, plans for surrounding properties or the fiscal implications of this deal. Instead, she keeps chanting “Muskego has lots of available funds" (mostly borrowed in 2012) and “we can afford” this purchase.  Even if we can afford it, do the taxpayers think proposal is worth the price?  Chiaverotti will not ask us.  Look at the petitions. 

Chiaverotti quotes the “2020 Plan” saying we should have a downtown park, but the PLAN DOES NOT SPECIFY THIS OVER-PRICED LOCATION. 

Chiaverotti promised us presentations and Public Hearings.  She is well aware a large segment of Muskego opposes this particular proposal, in spite of the fact that she has limited our voices to pitiful 120-seconds per person of “citizen input” she allows per Council Meeting.  Regardless of the smoke she blows, she DOES know the difference.   She just hopes we don’t.

CHIAVEROTTI  GAVE THE PUBLIC 8 DAYS NOTICE BEFORE THE COUNCIL VOTE.

Chiaverotti has drawn parallels between government and business.  As a business owner, I’ve worked with employees who “can’t seem to understand their job” or misrepresented information when applying for a job.  After discussing issues with the employee, either performance improves or the employee gets fired.

Clearly a large group of Muskego residents (over 3,400 signatures in less than 8.5 days in bitter cold) don’t agree this particular plan is in the best interests of taxpayers.  Since it looks more and more as if Chiaverotti is already working for the developer, maybe she should stop double-dipping a salary from Muskego taxpayers as well. 

Now, Chiaverotti states to the media she considers discussion of a possible recall “a threat to democratic government”.  Interesting, since she was so heavily involved in the only other recall in the history of the City of Muskego.

Recalls are an undesirable last resort.  Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.   

Suzi Link