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October 8, 2009 Opinions |
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—Letters To The Editor—
City Manager Never Had Work Plan
To The Record-Courier:
Mrs. Timm has discussed a “work plan” at a recent Council meeting; she is
quoted in a recent front page story (BCH 9/23/09), “The Council developed a work plan. The Council was not satisfied with [Mr. Brocato’s] improvement.”
Further, “Brocato,” in her opinion, “received a fair opportunity to follow a
work plan and make improvement…” Mrs. Timm obviously has been mislead by someone. The Council never developed a work plan for the City Manager during my tenure. No work plan was mentioned in writing nor verbally during, before, or after either of the two reviews. The “work plan” was never referenced in any of the scoring nor was such in any of the individually written comments. The verbal reviews given at the Council meeting during the City Manager review were mostly positive and favorable. I have never had a conversation with any Councilor
or Councilors since my employment that even resembled a “work plan.” If
there was such a work plan, it truly was “secret” as even I was unaware of
it.
In fact, it was privately suggested that the work plan may have been secret.
Legally there can be no secret documents in Oregon city government. If the
work plan was secret, then there are issues with the Council or some
Councilors as they cannot be legally party to a secret document. Some
personnel documents are private (no work plan exists in my personnel file), but certainly any document produced by the Council would be public and officially recorded accordingly. This is the case even if the “work plan”
was created in an email or in any meeting. The City Recorder, the Deputy
City Recorder, nor the Personnel office never saw or heard of this work
plan. (I have submitted a Public Records Request to the City to determine
if anyone in the city has ever seen one.) Maybe the Mayor can shed some
light on this plan that certainly he and other senior Councilors would
remember? Of course, the City Charter does not refer to a work plan; it
clearly states that the Council is responsible for policy making, not
management (a work plan would be management, not policy). I suggest that Mrs. Timm challenge whomever has convinced her of a work plan to produce supporting documentation. I would like to see it.
Thank you.
Steve Brocato
Baker City
Council Had Made List Of Areas Needing Improvement On City Manager, i.e. Work Plan
To The Record-Courier:
Late Monday afternoon, I received a memo from Jennifer Watkins, Asst. City Manager stating that a Public Records Request had been made seeking a copy of a "work plan that was ostensibly provided to former City Manager Steve Brocato." According to Ms. Watkins, "our [city] records indicate that a work plan was not adopted by the City Council" and she asked if Council
members had any documents or records otherwise to respond to the citizen who had made the request.
After shaking my head in complete amazement, I wrote a memo in response and attached a copy of the minutes of the Baker City Council Executive Session from May 1, 2008, which recorded the performance evaluation of Steve Brocato.
The minutes were taken by Jennifer Watkins. The minutes were "adopted" or approved by the council during the May 13 Council meeting and were signed by both then-Mayor Petry and the City Recorder, Jennifer Watkins.
These minutes included four specific recommendations for areas of
improvement which the council agreed by consensus to re-evaluate in October 2008. While it was not called a "work plan" per se, it most certainly was a list of areas needing improvement noted by the City Council and with a specific time frame for re-evaluation.
Councilor Duman reminded the City Council it was time to schedule the
follow-up evaluation during the Sept. 9, 2008 regular meeting. Councilor
Andrew Bryan responded that although it was "his idea at the time" he no
longer felt it was necessary. Councilor Duman made a motion to review the
specific 'work plan' items, then-Mayor Petry stated that he was "against it
then and remains against" following up on the issues raised during the May
evaluation. I seconded the motion stating that it was the Council's
responsibility to properly manage the City Manager and that the goals set by the council needed to be evaluated. Both Councilors Bass and Schumacher said they felt annual evaluations were sufficient. The motion failed and the Council refused, by a majority vote, to accept its responsibility to the citizens to effectively manage and evaluate the City Manager even after agreeing that there were issues that needed correction.
The current City Council was aware of the issues identified previously.
Many current evaluation comments were based on the same problematic issues.
The work plan illustrates the history of communication problems. The simple fact is that the City Council is charged with managing the City Manager and a majority of the council has clearly stated why they felt the change was necessary.
Beverly Calder, City Councilor
Baker City
Fall Ahead Or Fall Behind
To The Record-Courier:
Yes, it seems that it is that time of the season where a snow flake or two
comes around in the midst of our preparing for the winter days ahead of us, not to mention dealing with the winter blahs, etc. It is also the time for
some if not all of us that we become what we call hermits for the winter on
the account of that icky driving winter weather. And also making mention of our getting an extra hour of sleep - whatever that means.
Yes, I managed to finish up on the painting with very few, if none at all,
volunteers to come around. I will eventually have the carpenter touch
things up for me come spring. Funny thing, when I told the editor of this
paper that making mention of the ladder issues, all was quiet. I now do want to also make mention I have my windows for my gardening for next year as well and they are all in place and still have a few pepper plants growing so am testing to see how they weather the weather. So far so good even with the makeshift covering and all.
Have been very pleased this year with my seedlings and all producing in the way they produced and the flavor etc...and even for some that got to share in on the bounty. Am going to have twice as much inside for next year’s doing and it will be more than a jungle at that.
Not much seems to be on the contrary these days with our wonderful world of politics etc...except with the issues of rockets flying in the air for
practicing, you might say, and it makes me wonder if one of those being
fired might not back-fire somehow. We shall see. I guess it’s interesting
how this can look like a game called war games at that. Sometimes issues
like these can back-fire on us given whatever the situation might be at
that. So much for politics.
I know this is a short article and all and really appreciate The
Record-Courier staff being very good in printing my longer letters etc. and
all so this may give them a break and to include a few others that have a
little here say on other matters given the agenda of things.
This may not be as often now unless something just tickles my funny bone and can't wait to get it to press and hopefully not getting me up late at night to write the thing... awk. My pressing and typing services are bound to pick up some on that note.
Coffee, anyone?
Brenda Dickison
Baker City
Recall Expensive, Unethical And Mean-Spirited
To The Record-Courier:
Regarding the upcoming vote to recall Bev Calder and Mayor Dorrah, I feel
compelled to speak out. The fact of not liking the way someone votes should not bring on a recall. In fact, if the councilors who were against the
firing of the City Manager had not zealously and (to my mind) unethically
sought signatures on the petition, we would have been saved the cost of this special election. It was plainly mean-spirited against these two public
servants.
The other two who voted for the firing have not been subjected to such a
petition. In the case of Calder, it is reputed that she does not work well
with the rest of the Council. Because she gives serious thought to and
consideration of all the sides of each issue, some see this as not getting
along. She is not a "rubber stamp." If you are considering voting to
recall Calder, please take the time to talk with her and get her opinion on
the issues facing our community. If people like this can be recalled, who
will be willing to serve us in the future?
Barbara B. Johnson
Baker City
More Tax Deductions Past ‘Cash For Clunkers’
To The Record-Courier:
The "Cash for Clunkers" program for new cars may have ended, but the IRS
wants to remind taxpayers that many people might overlook another special break available. If you buy a new vehicle this year, there's a special
federal tax deduction available that can help you save money. This tax break will allow Oregonians who buy a new vehicle in 2009 to deduct the document fee they pay when they file their tax return next year. The tax deduction is available on the 2009 federal tax return even for those who claim the standard deduction.
The deduction is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and applies to the document fee paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price for qualified new cars, light trucks, motorcycles or motor homes. Generally, vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or less qualify. This means that most new cars and many new trucks will qualify. New motor homes qualify regardless of weight.
Buyers are entitled to a partial deduction if they earn between $125,000 and $135,000 ($250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers). The deduction is
eliminated for those who earn over these amounts. To qualify the vehicle must be new and purchased in 2009 after Feb. 16 and no later than Dec. 31. There is still time left but the clock is ticking. More information is available at IRS.gov/recovery.
Terry L. Lemons
Director of Communications
Internal Revenue Service
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