**This post has been updated to reflect additional reporting and council committee statistics.**
Inaugurating a new city council in Springfield is more than just one day. It is a process that in its way takes several days from the fanfare of the inauguration itself to the first formal meeting where several pieces are discussed. Somewhere in the middle the committee assignments are doled out by the City Council President, who in 2012 is at-large councilor James Ferrera. A former Associated Press reporter based in Boston once described former Massachuetts Senate President William Bulger's philosophy as this: government is to be used to help your friends and screw your enemies. Despite Ferrera's claims to the contrary, it appears he did just that in assignment committees.
 |
| The Title is a quote from Princess Leia Played by Carrie Fisher (Wookiepedia) |
A reshuffling of committees and their chairs is not unusual. As decentralized as the council presidency is compared to, say the Massachusetts Senate presidency, it does retain one prominent feature. The council president selects the committee chairs and the councilors who serve on those committees. Often committee chairmanships are doled out to those who support the president's nomination. It is not uncommon for committee heads to have their chairs pulled out from under them either because somebody else has found favor with the president or because it is simply time to share. However, in recent years a council president-elect has not gone this far.
While on a state level this practice is not uncommon as several supporters of House Speaker Robert DeLeo opponents from the 2009 speakers race can attest. However, blatant snubbing of this kind among councilors is not a characteristic of Springfield’s otherwise often merciless political milieu.
While on a state level this practice is not uncommon as several supporters of House Speaker Robert DeLeo opponents from the 2009 speakers race can attest. However, blatant snubbing of this kind among councilors is not a characteristic of Springfield’s otherwise often merciless political milieu.
 |
| Councilor Ferrera (Urban Compass) |
An analysis of committee chairmanship assignments by Ferrera, however, appears that the council president plunged the knife a bit deeper into some of his colleagues. Although Ferrera denied any vindictiveness in his assignments in a recent Republican article, it seems that several conventions and standing principles fell by the wayside.
First of all Ferrera appears to have broken with a precedent going back to at least 2006 in which the council president does not serve on a committee. Although both of his own assignments were on special, rather than standing committees, over the past six years the president officially served on no committees. This custom may be due to the fact that the council's own rules define the president as an ex-officio member of every committee. It is also possible that Ferrera kept both assignments for himself as the Green and Responsible Employer Ordinance committees have, to some extent, been pet causes of his. Still, records show recent Council presidents Bill Foley, Jose Tosado, Kateri Walsh and Bud Williams did not serve on any committees.
First of all Ferrera appears to have broken with a precedent going back to at least 2006 in which the council president does not serve on a committee. Although both of his own assignments were on special, rather than standing committees, over the past six years the president officially served on no committees. This custom may be due to the fact that the council's own rules define the president as an ex-officio member of every committee. It is also possible that Ferrera kept both assignments for himself as the Green and Responsible Employer Ordinance committees have, to some extent, been pet causes of his. Still, records show recent Council presidents Bill Foley, Jose Tosado, Kateri Walsh and Bud Williams did not serve on any committees.
There is no way to over state the fact that Ferrera’s decision to reshuffle committees is not at issue. The problem is the distribution of the committee assignments. Ward 2 Councilor Mike Fenton and Ward 7 Councilor Tim Allen were given only one assignment while Ward 4 Councilor E. Henry Twiggs and at-large Councilor Kateri Walsh received only two. None of that four were among Ferrera’s early declared supporters announced after the election. Indeed, Allen had pursued the council presidency himself last year, but ended his efforts when it became clear that Ferrera had enough support.
"I Never put anybody in an awkward position,” Allen said and “stopped pursuing” the presidency when it was clear Ferrera had the votes.
At-large Councilor Tim Rooke, when asked about supporting Ferrera despite a connection to the probation scandal, told WMassP&I that an informal agreement made before the introduction of ward representation dictated his support. At the time Rooke’s response, though apparently sincere, seemed partly a reaction to the questions raised about Ferrera’s employment. However, other councilors say Rooke told them a similar story.
"I Never put anybody in an awkward position,” Allen said and “stopped pursuing” the presidency when it was clear Ferrera had the votes.
At-large Councilor Tim Rooke, when asked about supporting Ferrera despite a connection to the probation scandal, told WMassP&I that an informal agreement made before the introduction of ward representation dictated his support. At the time Rooke’s response, though apparently sincere, seemed partly a reaction to the questions raised about Ferrera’s employment. However, other councilors say Rooke told them a similar story.
Posts
