What is that old saying about how a giraffe is a cow designed by a committee? Or maybe it was an elephant?

And when the city screws up next time, council can blame the committee!

Didn't the O report that there were already paid consultants that advise them on this sort of thing? Did they not also report that at least one of those paid consultants tried to dissuade them from purchasing the new 9-1-1 system from the company that they awarded the no bid contract to? Aren't there also ad hoc committees of experts assembled for individual projects?

I guess they're just not getting the answers they're looking for from the folks they have now so they need to get some people who'll tell them what they want to hear. More often than not it seems like the sole purpose of the many many "advisory committees" that the CoP forms is to provide political cover to city hall.

... and I´ve seen it before
... and I´l see it again
... yes I´ve seen it before
... just little bits of history repeating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15QngStkp-E

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Ridicule Committee's Entertainment Research Subcommittee.

"council can blame the committee"

You mean:
council WILL blame the committee

This is just a liability shield.

Re: "Amanda Fritz will appoint somebody who will tell her what she wants to hear"

"I have an immediate opportunity to nominate a volunteer to serve on the City's new Technology Oversight Committee. This group is being established to oversee large or complex technology purchases and upgrades. Details here (pdf)

Please email me if you are interested, using Technology Committee Volunteer as the subject of your message, and stating within the email your experience and expertise with technology systems. Applications will be processed as received, so please contact me soon."
http://www.portlandonline.com/fritz/index.cfm?a=355245&c=49233

More disturbing is this addendum:

"I also expect to nominate two replacement members for the 2011 Charter Commission, due to resignations of previous members who I nominated. The City Attorney has advised the Council to prepare an ordinance to specify when vacancies exist and how vacancies will be filled, since the Charter is silent on those questions. I would like to hear from anyone interested in serving on this Charter Commission, while the ordinance is being prepared under the leadership of Mayor Adams."

The Charter is silent on how vacancies on the Charter Commission are to be filled? And a city attorney reviewed the original Charter that provides for succeeding Charter Commissions but did not notice this omission so that the current City Attorney must strongly suggest that an ordinance is required? And this is called governance?

These people couldn't lead the way out of a room with one door.

Citizens need to organize and convene their own committees and issue reports.

Snards, "These people couldn't lead the way out of a room with one door".

Uh, they'd form a committee to consider whether it's the correct door.

Require performance bond.

Mojo:Citizens need to organize and convene their own committees and issue reports.

This is what needs to happen, more productive to be on our own track and out from under their control. We can conduct our own meetings and will not have to hire any mediators as the city does in case the people need to be "settled down" when they oppose or are upset.

We should stay away from their deceptive paths, just a way to keep us busy and on their track, so they can control and use the "committees" to blame or as Steve mentioned as a liability shield.

The real question is whose cronies are going to be appointed to this and how much pork will be dished out.