There were several meetings last Wednesday evening that Burlingame residents and leaders could have attended. Mayor Galligan chose to attend a meeting in Millbrae concerning our city sharing services with Millbrae. Our vice mayor Cathy Baylock along with former Mayor O'Mahony attended a meeting in San Carlos regarding the closure of the Broadway train station. Councilwoman Nagel attended the PG&E meeting regarding the Jefferson-Martin transmission line. What meeting was Councilman Coffey?
- Written by Russ Cohen
Wasn't able to phone in!
This councilmember seems so uninterested in what is going on in Burlingame and he doesn't seem to have many items on his committee reports. In comparison Mrs. O'Mahony and Mrs. Nagel must be taking up the slack. Coffey will leave when his two cohorts don't retain their seats.
Posted by: Jim | March 25, 2005 at 06:01 PM
About the hardest thing Mike Coff Coff has done in the past two years is running for re-election so that his health bennies kick in. He shirks anything that would involve volunterring by going to regular meetings and people really notice. He is, however, busy leasing the Galligan In and Out burger site in Millbrae. Check out those Coffey and Partner signs. Who is his partner?
Why doesn't he do us a favor and take early retirement to his place in Florida so that we can have someone up there who is not afraid of heavy lifting.
Posted by: Brian | March 25, 2005 at 06:41 PM
Isn't it time the health benefits bestowed on council members be changed?
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The city claims to be in poor financial condition and yet we offer an amazing little 'perk' which perhaps we cannot afford.
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Posted by: gerald | March 25, 2005 at 08:04 PM
Don't link the benefits with your current feelings about members of the Council. The health benefits and minor stipend do not begin to compensate these individuals for their time and efforts. I would agree to take away benefits from council members who are not performing their jobs. If Mr. Coffey can't do the job, then he should not get the benefits.
Posted by: KRN | March 25, 2005 at 08:10 PM
I wasn't suggesting revoking these benefits to be vindictive. I am merely pointing out this is probably an expense which might be reviewed in light of current budgetary problems.
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KRN, please don't suggest my suggestion is "linked" to my view of various council members.
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Posted by: gerald | March 26, 2005 at 02:27 AM
There're 26 cities in County of San Mateo, and I think the future council members should start thinking about sharing some of the services such as police, fire public work...etc. to maximize the benefit/service, at the same time CUT cost!
Posted by: Bruce | March 26, 2005 at 04:13 PM
Well Bruce, while I agree with you, there are actually 20 cities in San Mateo county, for a population of about 720,000. You should get involved with the discussion about the Parks Rec department at http://www.burlingamevoice.com/blog/index.php?p=632c=1#comments
Posted by: Stephen | March 26, 2005 at 04:28 PM
Whether there are 26 or 20 cities in the county, Coffey isn't to be found in any of them very often. Since the council meeting about planning commissioners wasn't the right time to discuss Coffey's residency--when is the right time?
Posted by: Ted | March 26, 2005 at 09:54 PM
A great community event Saturday. The Lions Club annual Easter Egg Hunt. Mayor Galligan was there. Vice Mayor Cathy Baylock was there. Councilwoman OMahony was there. Where's Mike?
Posted by: darin | March 27, 2005 at 05:15 PM
Congratulations to the Lions Club - there is a great photo in the Sunday Daily News of some of the kids and parents who enjoyed the egg hunt in Washington Park.
And Preston's eggs to boot!
Posted by: Fiona | March 27, 2005 at 09:23 PM
Do some towns pay their councilmembers for the meetings they attend rather than a flat fee? Coffee is on committees that meet once or twice a year whereas other councilmembers reel off their meetings as if they spend their whole life at committee meetings on behalf of Burlingame.
Perhaps this could be a way of ALL Burlingame councilmembers sharing the load whether they live in Burlingame or not.
Posted by: Jim | March 28, 2005 at 03:25 PM
At last night's city council meeting all council members reported on their activities during the last 2 weeks. They reported on attendance at everything form the Easter egg hunt to Mckinley and Washington school events to their assigned committees. Where was Mike? He said he attended no meetings. Perhaps,like his car liscence plate says: "2citrus" --off 2 Florida!
Posted by: darin | April 05, 2005 at 11:44 PM
At least to me, he seemed abit ashamed this time that he had nothing to report.
Posted by: Rosaline | April 05, 2005 at 11:50 PM
Love the Mike Coffey link under "Useful links". It is alot more informative than his Ooops website!
Posted by: Pauline | April 06, 2005 at 12:10 AM
There was a meeting down at JPB headquarters in San Carlos on Thursday morning. Many spoke about the dire need to keep the Broadway station open. Councilmembers Baylock, OMahony, Nagel and Galligan were there to speak on the stations behalf. Absent was Councilman Coffey. The broken record says: Where was Mike?
Posted by: darin | April 10, 2005 at 12:19 AM
Is the answer maybe Florida?
Posted by: Angela | April 10, 2005 at 05:09 AM
Seems that the other councilmembers are representing Burlingame at these meetings. It is time for Coffey to help out or ship out.
Posted by: Brad | April 11, 2005 at 12:04 AM
The medical bennies are pretty good - five years on council and bennies for the rest of your life. Pretty good for five years of work!
Posted by: Fiona | April 11, 2005 at 12:06 AM
The magic word here is work. Figure the time he put in for the free benefits.
Just does not add up.
Posted by: Angela | April 11, 2005 at 02:54 AM
Coffey was at the council meeting but had no committee meetings to report. Mrs. Nagel had 7, Galligan 5, Mahoney 3, Baylock 5 and Coffey zip.
Shouldn't he be helping his councilmembers by taking up some of the load and attending these meetings?
Posted by: Brad | May 03, 2005 at 07:38 PM
There have been several meetings regarding the closure of the Broadway train station. Alsmost every councilmember has made at least one of the meetings and some have made all three. Coffey has not attended any. Shameful that he is sitting up there pretending he cares. Put your benefits where your mouth is Mr. Councilman and go out and represent your consituency here in Burlingame NOT in Florida or Lake Tahoe!!
Posted by: Darrin | May 03, 2005 at 09:13 PM
Another night of "None of my committees met" from Coffey. What does this guy really do around here? Who were the people who voted for this buffoon?
Posted by: al | June 07, 2005 at 05:17 AM
I am dissapointed, to say the least, that Mr. Coffey has not stepped up to the plate to help his fellow councilmembers. He had no meetings scheduled, yet others had a full load. In fact, during council reports, some of the meetings attended by other councilmembers were not official meetings but functions they attended on their own volition yet representing the city. The least councilmember Coffey could do is attend some of the functions around town. The Renasaince Fair at Washington School, The Joint Services Club meeting, The Burlingame Historical Society meeting ( both Councilmembers Baylock and O'Mahony attended but didn't report it during comittee reports) and so on. Doesn't seem like he is playing for the same team to me. In fact, if I were the coach of the team, I'd trade him.
Posted by: Russ | June 07, 2005 at 04:33 PM
Perhaps it is because he is not running so does not have to bat really hard! Some of the incumbents might want to get more involved otherwise we will wonder if all they do is read out sport proclamations and twitter rumors about town.
Posted by: | June 07, 2005 at 04:42 PM
Hey guys, give him a break. He's working hard on that Florida tan.
Posted by: PeeWee | June 07, 2005 at 05:43 PM