HomeMy WebLinkAbout02102016 City Council Special Meeting Laydowns February 10, 2016 Executive Meeting: City Manager Evaluation
Carol Griswold, City of Seward, a very concerned resident
I have three main comments:
1. Impropriety
As a Planning and Zoning Commissioner, we were trained to avoid
improprieties, and the appearance of improprieties. That definition includes
the failure to observe standards or show due honesty, and improper
language, behavior, or character.
This is exceptionally important for the leader of our city, the City Manager.
I hope you will address the research Johanna emailed from me to each of
you re: his self-declared 50% ownership of a business. This is a violation of
the #1 condition of the City Manager's employment contract. The many
discrepancies in his business paperwork and APOC reports are also
troubling.
I am also concerned about the unprofessional manner in which the City
Manager has addressed members of the public and city council members at
City Council meetings. It is not appropriate to yell at anyone, especially a
concerned citizen at a public meeting. The confrontation at the May 26,
2015 Council meeting is one instance.
2. Another concern is the loss of so many valuable city employees who did
not or have not received fair treatment. The City Manager's lack of
leadership on this critical issue is inexcusable.
Workplace Bullying by definition includes repeated incidents or a pattern of
behavior that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a
particular person or group of people.
Many hard-working, experienced, conscientious employees have quit,
transferred to other jobs, or continue to endure work in forced positions of
lesser responsibility until they can find another job or retire.
I urge Council to initiate a confidential internal investigation of the city
including hiring issues, preferential treatment, and adherence to policies and
procedures. Our city employees deserve fair treatment, in a work
environment free from bullying.
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3. The City Manager does not participate in standard employee merit step
increases or cost of living increases as per Seward City Code, and so the
City Council reviews his salary annually.
I participated in all of the 2016-2017 budget work sessions. With the crash
in oil prices and state and federal funding sources in decline, the situation is
grim. The Council cut $1.3 million from the budget by raising user fees and
freezing every city employee's salary. Merit increases, progressive and step
increases, and cost of living increases were eliminated. Zero.
If the city manager is requesting any increases at this annual evaluation, I
ask why. Why should the city manager receive a raise when the budget is so
tight and the future so uncertain? How can he or the council justify a raise
for him when all increases are frozen for all other city employees?
In 2013, Council raised his severance pay from 3 months to 9 months. At his
current salary of$115, 731, that is a whopping $87,789, plus his annual
leave balance. Every annual increase increases the severance pay. We can't
afford this now or in the future.
Conclusion
Bottom line: now is not the time to give the City Manager a raise. But it is a
way past time to address these other concerns.
Thank you for your consideration.
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