It’s been an interesting week in our fine city. On Monday there was a special city meeting called, the mayor and city commission accepted the city manager’s resignation, named public works director Tom George as acting city manager and left many taxpayers scratching their heads wondering what just happened?
I say this because no one has let the citizens know why the city manager chose to resign so abruptly? Why George was named acting city manager rather than the Deputy City Manager Kristi Aday? Why the commission is so resistant to raising the mileage?
Rumors are flying about town and since this is the only information that is available, the rumors are what the public will choose to believe.
Sorry, mayor and city commissioners, perception is reality – and now is the time to dispel rumors and give us, the taxpayers, the truth on what is going on at city hall.
Personally, I feel that it was irresponsible of the city leadership to possibly create a scenario in which the city manager felt obligated to resign. This happened right before the budget for 2010 is to be finalized and there has not been transparency regarding the why and the how.
I attended the special meeting. I arrived six minutes late, and by the time I had arrived, Sherman Yehl’s resignation had been accepted and Commissioner Jack Bridges was making a nomination that George be named as acting city manage. I found it quite interesting that Commissioner Bridges showed up for the special meeting, especially since he has been ill and has been unable to attend the regular meetings recently.
I find it equally interesting that Commissioner Bridges made a motion that did not name the deputy city manager as the acting city manager. Commissioner Velma Williams instantly seconded the motion without hesitation.
Sorry, I’m calling it like I see it and something sure smells fishy. I don’t care how you slice it, but it sure has shades of behind-door negotiating going on.
As a citizen, I deserve an explanation of what happened to the city manager. There was no indication from the mayor or city commission that the city manager was not doing his job or that he might be on a performance plan. Out of nowhere, he is now gone and both sides have shut down communicating. I don’t care what the severance package states about both sides remaining silent on the issue because the community deserves an explanation!
I feel that we, the city, have just taken a huge step backwards and we’ll be paying for this frivolous action by our leadership for years to come.
We are in a budget crisis and it appears as if the money that we needed to support the federal grant for additional police officers (which the commission is struggling to find money for) just got blasted with the expense of firing and hiring a new a city manager. I don’t feel the action of the commission has been fiscally responsible to the citizens of the city.
It’s time for the commission to face the hard facts and raise the mileage rate. How can anyone expect to have continued levels of service without having a means to pay for them? Yes, it may not be the best move politically, but neither is firing (OK, accepting the resignation) by the city manager.
As a resident, my biggest concern is that the city departments continue to offer a level of service to maintain a quality of life – primarily stronger police presence and stronger code enforcement.
So, would someone please step up and let us know what is going on?
In reality, you, the elected officials, are supposed to be working for us – and this week you get an “F” based on the information that I have available to grade your performance
Maria Shreve, Sanford