When I spoke to Mary Jolley yesterday, she said she was going to be meeting with our new city manager, Greg Doyon, on Friday.
I suggested to her that in the course of that conversation she just might mention she does expect his staff to comply with her requests to obtain documents, etc. without stonewalling, hemming and hawing, eye-rolling and generally acting like a clown.
It seems that staff's attitude toward her is that most of what is going on is just too complicated for her to worry her pretty little head about and therefore, she need not question what they are doing. They write memos to the commissioners telling them what has been done and telling them there's no need to discuss it.
I suggested to her that in the course of that conversation she just might mention she does expect his staff to comply with her requests to obtain documents, etc. without stonewalling, hemming and hawing, eye-rolling and generally acting like a clown.
It seems that staff's attitude toward her is that most of what is going on is just too complicated for her to worry her pretty little head about and therefore, she need not question what they are doing. They write memos to the commissioners telling them what has been done and telling them there's no need to discuss it.
How many of you in the workforce talk and act like this to your boss or if you are the boss, how many of you tolerate this kind of crap? Nope. Didn't think so.
I think Mary's been handling it well though knowing that her "employees" are, for the most part, flipping her the bird.
This omnipotent attitude had to have come from Mr. Lawton. Subordinates take their cue from their supervisors. Unfortunately, even though Lawton is gone, the attitude remains.
Mr. Doyan, our city staff needs a wake up call. They need to be reminded they serve the citizens of Great Falls, not the other way around. And the sooner, the better.
13 comments:
What floors me, too, is the fact that the other Commissioners watch Staff treat Commissioner Jolley this way and either permit or participate in it. What do they know that Ms. Jolley and the rest of us don't?
"What do they know that Ms. Jolley and the rest of us don't?"
1. Lawton has the goods on them
2. They are dumb as fence posts
3. They are scared of looking stupid
4. They think they are smarter
5. They are pods from planet Dork
Just for the record...City staff ARE NOT her employees. The City Manager is. I'm not defending the fact that information is being withheld that should be available to not only the Commissioners, but citizens in general, but Commissioners can not 'boss' city staff. That is the job of the City manager. He is also responsible for any consequences if his requests to his staff are not followed up on.
Anonymous is right. You can't run any organization without a chain of command for the rank and file. The trick is keeping the city manager accountable to the commission.
That's a fair point. The Commissioners are not the direct supervisors of staff.
Nonetheless, the Commission is the supreme authority in the City and is entitled to a certain amount of deference from staff, especially if the Commission is exercising legal rights that even the general public has. Would Mayor Stebbins tolerate it if she asked a secretary to get her a file, and the secretary said "No, I don't work for you." Can you even imagine that happening?
Get Valois an eligible signatory for the recall effort. Call him at 965-3013.
The mayor wouldn't just walk into a City office and ask a secretary for a file. Being familiar with the chain of command, she would talk with the department head, and the department head would get the information right away.
There are over 400 city employees working in the city, and it's sad that comments are made that lump everyone who works for the City--your neighbors, friends, and the people that are willing to respond at 2:00 a.m. on Christmas morning for emergencies--are slammed on these blogs. Many of whom have never attended a commission meeting.
Yes, I believe there are issues that the public should speak up about and get more information, but not every employee of COGF is part of a conspiracy to hide information. They are just like every other citizen--trying to get the best service for the tax dollars they also pay.
"[I]t's sad that comments are made that lump everyone who works for the City--your neighbors, friends, and the people that are willing to respond at 2:00 a.m. on Christmas morning for emergencies--are slammed on these blogs."
It's just as sad that you are willing to slam "these blogs" as though Cataract City, or I, or any other blog I can think of locally, has ever hacked on a city secretary or clerk. Speaking for myself, my comments are usually quite specific and directed toward quite specific individuals. You're being a little defensive, needlessly I might add.
My sentiments exactly, GeeGuy.
Thanks.
That's what Wildebeast do when confronted, they circle around the weak.
The Commission is also the elected part of the City, and should be held accountable by the people. If I am unhappy with Balzarini it is hard for me to vote for someone else in the next election.
Any time you say 'staff' on a blog, you are slamming any one of the employees of the City. If you want to call out a Department Head--call out a Department Head.
I know, I'm gonna get slammed for that, but I think that Mary needs to continue to learn about all aspects of the City and see all the good instead of just focusing her efforts on one project that she wants to take down.
You'd be surprised how many City employees DON'T support Electric City Power, and are hopeful that Ms. Jolley is successful.
Yes indeed there are many city staff who work with honor and integrity every day and yearn for new leadership and ethics...'evil thrives when good people do nothing'...it's within protocol for commissioners to deal with city departments if that procedure is coordinated with the city manager, as he cannot hands on' manage every department and can allow latitude for his subordinates to respond directly to a commissioner...it's standard procedure in the military and government...
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