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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Council Committee Approves BRT Reform Bill, With Reservations

City Council today passed out of committee legislation to abolish the Board of Revision of Taxes, although last minute concerns over BRT patronage employees threatened to derail the bill.

Councilwoman Janie Blackwell said she wouldn’t support the bill until she received assurances that the 80 patronage hires, who are on the School District payroll, would be protected.

“I can’t support any BRT legislation if we don’t protect employees,” Blackwell said. “If you don’t commit to that then I can’t commit to you.” Several other Council members echoed her concerns.

If approved by voters in May, the legislation would take effect in October 2010. The bill would abolish the troubled Board of Revision of Taxes, which now handles assessments and appeals, and replace it with two new city agencies. At that time, any BRT employees or those assigned to work there, would be transferred.

But between now and October, the city finance department will handle assessments, under an agreement reached with the BRT. City Finance Director Rob Dubow said that they will be reviewing staffing levels, and wouldn’t commit to keeping all the current employees.

“We do plan to do a thorough analysis of staffing at the BRT and see if the staffing level is appropriate,” Dubow said. “So I can’t sit here today and say that at the end of the process there will be the same number of employees.”

In the end, the measure passed out of committee with only Blackwell in opposition. It could receive final passage on Dec. 17.
Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 12:58 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:48 PM, 12/09/2009
    Here's a suggestion on what to do with the patronage workers - FIRE THEM. Unless they are actually qualified for their positions, and can pass a civil service exam to prove so, they have no business being there in the first place! People get fired in private industry all the time through reorganizations; since when did City jobs become guaranteed income for life? Oh, and boo-hoo, the AVI will go into effect just before Council elections. GREAT - that way two good things come of it: proper taxation for correct valuation in the City, and all the Council bums get tossed out as well! Can't imagine anything better!
    — citylumberjack
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:14 PM, 12/09/2009
    The FBI needs to investigate Jannie Blackwell. How can you defend putting patronage hires in the Philly School District to protect those employees from Civil Service requirements? If she's defending this, she needs to be held accountable for it, and a simple complaint to the FBI Municipal Corruption Unit should be enough to get the ball rolling. Grand jury, the works.
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:18 PM, 12/09/2009
    City government is not a jobs mill for unemployables who work for Democrats. Time to get real. Blackwell is terrified there will be no one honest to vote for her if her payolas are out.
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:21 PM, 12/09/2009
    UPenn and Drexel need to have their government departments run someone for City Council to replace Blackwell, because she's a backwards disgrace.
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:54 PM, 12/09/2009
    Dear CleanupPhilly (David): What is your motive for your silly attack on Councilwoman Blackwell. I took an oath in the military (24 years) to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution - including free speech. Should the FBI investigate you, because you speak your mind. And Cleanup knows law(?). Cleanup knows that conversion of School workers to the City will cost the administration double the meager amount that is presently accocated??????????????????
    — joseph shay stivala


5 comments
About The Philly Clout Team
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics ­– which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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Catherine Lucey
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Chris Brennan
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