I am amazed that the Auburn City Council took nearly a month off between meetings – even workshops – except (an almost afterthought) one on Sept. 11 to legalize the naming of a de facto emperor while his eminence, the mayor, is readying his new Florida digs. I’m also amazed that this was also while the tax bills were mailed.

The manager/mayor-led council should have been studying the findings of the mayor’s commission’s cost-saving recommendations, or doing the city manager’s first performance evaluation in four years, not sleeping at the wheel.

Yes, there will be a couple more ribbons cut, but we could have and should have done better for the taxpayers.

Councilor Bob Mennealy,

Auburn