Need performance review

While the April 1 editorial offered an important job review of the City Council in relation to a proposed annual salary raise to $45,100, equally important to any salary increase would be a performance review.

For example, how well has the council exercised legislative oversight for regular, ongoing street repairs (including preventative maintenance)? I am not talking about complete street renewals. I’m talking about chuckholes, bumps, raised manhole covers and spots where sheets of asphalt have disappeared.

In my opinion, the council has done a lousy job concerning the general quality of our streets, and this one low performance issue alone should prohibit any raise at this time.

If, at their present salary, council members cannot muster legislative control over this and other both small and large examples of the quality of everyday life in Spokane, do they, regardless of how many hours they put in, really deserve a raise?

Larry Vandervert

Spokane