City employees can meet after work and have any type of party that they like. I do not support using taxpayer money for a party, especially one that is held during the work day.

As another consideration...times are tight. Private companies are canceling their holiday parties. Is it prudent for government to do otherwise?

As an additional issue, I have never worked for any business that held its holiday party during working hours. Why should a government entity hold a party during working hours?

I now work for government. I have been told that the office cannot purchase flowers for an employee who recently had a baby. We can, however, send her flowers with our own money. I accept that as the right approach.

If one government office can't spend $50 on a bouquet, I don't think that the City of Evanston should be paying for a "during work hours" holiday party or holiday lunch.

As mentioned in my previous post, an after-work party planned and funded by the employees can be a lot of fun.

Ann - How much is the Holiday party going to cost the taxpayers? As you know I am concerned about costs. But I am not completely against a party of limited costs. Please advise. As to the type of party - to me this is part of the issue. Candance point is correct - it makes a difference on how it is done. ( remember the recent AIG conference out west )

The budget is over 200 million, a few thousand dollars to help with party -expenses is OK spending $40,000 ( $50 per employee ) would not be Ok.

On the issue of the 9th ward - the individual who is running for alderperson I believe is employed by NU. As I stated at the council - legal staff should take a look at this - I do not care if this person becomes a council member ( they are allowed to run for council )-the city may have to face many issues - given all the private meeting on legal issues - what happens when NU and the city have legal issues. will this individual not be allowed to get any information? Ann what are youre thoughts on this?

I think we need to remember that, while we are taxpayers, we are also employers - is this something you would/wouldn't do as an employer? I think we should tread lightly - we do value the City's employees and if a holiday party is important to morale, within reason, I see no reason not to have one. At this point, nobody has felt the budget crunch more than City employees - most are being asked to do more work than in the past without an increase in pay (as a result of allowing jobs to go unfilled, which I think was a good call) Sometimes small gestures (small being the key word) are important when money is tight.

OTOH, is the holiday party one of those awful office obligations? Certainly we should not spend tax dollars on something people would prefer not to do - as is often the case with office Christmas parties. I'd like to hear where employees stand on this issue - they are as aware of the budget issue as we are.

Ann,

I suspect the per resident cost for a holiday 'party' for City employees will be on the order of a very few cents per resident. Really why be such a grinch about it? These folks work hard for us and I've had the pleasure of working and dealing with more than a few of them over the years. Given the level of whining that goes on about costs here I am not surprised at the negative comments. It is disappointing to see that a sense of charity is driven out when the term 'city', 'cost', and 'employee' are thrown together.

The City of Evanston is a government entity. It is not a question of charity. I have had many positive interactions with city employees and negative interactions with others. My opinion is not based on the quality of service or the lack of it.

I am not a Grinch or a cheap skate. But as a government employee, I recognize that this is public money that we are talking about.

Ann, I suggest that you ask other government entities if they host a party at government expense during working hours. Ask the City of Chicago which will be cutting about 1,000 employees and other municipalities, as well as state and federal offices.

The government office where I work does not host a holiday party during business hours on the government tab. We work during business hours. Everyone there recognizes that that is the way that it should be.

I try to communicate different issues to my constituents - that they might no get from the newspaper. I asked a simple question.

Simple response: no

I'd like to see a drastic scale down on the upcoming inaugural events and parties. That would send a timely message. I know, any response to this notion belongs on bughouse square!

Ann - I went to one of the retirements of a city employee at the Civic Center the staff appeared to provide most of the food? ( Or did the city provide some funding? ) I would think providing food and non-alcholic drinks for employees during a few hours over lunch is reasonable. Or the city providing the main dish.

By the way Monday is the budget hearing - while the staff is claiming status quo for next year -that is no layoffs - just raise taxes - the effects of a small holiday party on the budget is not a problem - we all know if taxes are not to be raised in the range of 10% which it appears to me there is going to have to be some real change.

I admit my bias as the spouse of a City employee, but I don't think it is unreasonable to have a holiday party for City staff. How much can it possibly cost? Don't we want to keep up their morale so that they can cheerfully provide service to the citizens of Evanston? Let's face it, these folks are NOT particularly well-paid, the least we can do is let them have one celebration a year. If you are asking whether I'd rather have an extra $2.50 a month in my husband's paycheck or let him have a $30 meal once a year, I say let him have a treat for the holidays.

Believe me, if I thought the cost of the holiday party was the difference between an employee keeping a job or losing one, I would object. But that is hardly the case here.

BTW - Do our tax dollars support the holiday decorations in Fountain Square and elsewhere around town? Perhaps we should forgo these instead. Save energy. Save employee time putting them up and taking them down. Seems like a better cost saving measure than stiffing some poor employee out of one little chance to party.

Results from Friday's courtroom dramas?

Court is over and out. She came into full compliance; the judge vacated all previous fines; city moved to dismiss which was accepted.Done.

Really?! Gotta love it! Thanks.

Neighbors should be aware that their vigilance is needed; she was ordered not to allow anyone who is not a relative to live in the basement. If you see evidence that suggests people are moving in, call the police or property standards.

There are sooo many people in and out of that house it is hard to tell the regulars/residents! I am sure everyone that stays there is somebody's cousin, brother, aunt. . .

Are we supposed to ask them as we see them coming in and out? Maybe some random inspections would be more effective. What if they are not actually moving in but "staying" with a friend?

I'd be on the lookout for things like beds and mattresses going in and out - but nobody is supposed to "stay" there unless they are family. Whether they are paying rent or not is irrelevant. I am assuming Property Standards is keeping their eye on the situation, but I know that they have to give notice, and are unable to do random inspections.

If the holiday party or holiday lunch is a tradition, what was the cost last year? And is City Hall closed and for how long?

For government entities that are audited, every expenditure (no matter the size) must have a business purpose.