By DAVID LOPEZ
Special to the News
On Tuesday February 19, as the San Benito Chamber of Commerce prepared to ask the City to approve their membership dues of $10,000 during the regular city meeting, Mayor Ben Gomez first addressed the Chamber with a series of grievances.
Gomez began by stating issues that he said he has received from businesses and citizens. Among the grievances listed were: not all businesses are offered grand openings, only paid members are; not all businesses are able to pay the membership dues when they start off; and Chamber members are hard to reach, among others.
“We get constant questions on who the director is, what they get paid, what is their availability, what do finances look like, what events benefit the community; our only response is that we don’t know. So we basically hand over $28,000 and have no knowledge?” said the Mayor to Executive Director Anna Putegnat and Chair Toni Crane.
According to Gomez, the city pays the Chamber $10,000 in dues plus $500 a month in printing services and an extra $1,000 a month for the hotel occupancy tax.
“If we move forward with this large sponsorship, we would use this year as a probationary period to see just how much the Chamber is helping our community and working with all. How does the chamber benefit the city taxpayers? What services do they provide? Can you answer me all those questions?” continued the Mayor.
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2 comments
They have ALWAYS been RUDE at the city hall (water payment office).. where ever they got their degree at didn’t teach those employees courtesy and kindness skills.. THEY work for the citizens who pay their high water bills.. if it wasn’t for that they wouldn’t have jobs . Just like principals, teachers ,campus employees, district staff ..wouldn’t have jobs if it wasn’t for students… .. back to rude ppl.. that’s why I rather pay extra few dollars at HEB where I pay my utilities.. they are courteous and friendly.
About time Ben thank you for addressing those concerns! Chamber of commerce office has the doors locked and I’ve been out there while a lady is sitting on her chair at desk and doesn’t get up to unlock the door or even acknowledged me while I’m looking inside at her so I left thinking the worst of our repersentives because the only reason that lady acts like that is because the heads of this town allows it so now that I’ve read this I’m very happy and of course my thoughts of you and heads are different yet take action! Water bill manager lady is a rude one too! Please look into people do complain about them