There is an employment posting on the city's website for a new position titled Economic Development Coordinator. It is at the same pay grade as an Urban Planner in the Planning Department. It seems Economic Czar Smith continues to build an economic development empire at City Hall at the expense of the Planning Department. The new economic development director already took two planners from the planning department when he was appointed to replace ousted Community Development director Randy Bartunek.
I read the job description and it is an entry management support staff position. Really, why not just add an Urban Planner to the department instead of creating another job description that is similar in education, experience and training requirements. But that is not the real issue.
When Bartunek was fired from his appointive position, he exercised his civil service rights by bumping back into civil service. He didn't bump anyone out of their position. His bumping back created a surplus position in the CD department. When he resigned a month or so ago that surplus position should have just gone away. This is really a new position when he is not adding new staff. I thought the mayor implemented a hiring freeze of city employees. If the mayor is so committed to keeping costs down, he should have let Bartunek's surplus position go away when he resigned..
The Economic Czar must need this position to help him create the huge economic development that is going to appear out at that fabulous Event Center/Arena/Convention Center site. What is really sad about all this is the neutering of the Planning Department. If a new business comes to town, where does that CEO go to talk about the potential entry into the business community. I would bet there isn't a consensus answer between the city and the business community.
The Planning Department used to be a major department in driving planning and economic development in this city. Now, we have a department lead by someone with no experience whatsoever in economic development and planning leading the charge at city hall. Community Development as it relates to housing and revitalization of neighborhoods has basically disappeared and Planning officials have all but disappeared from public view. It makes you wonder where the Development Foundation fits within this new "economic" vision of the mayor and his pretend "chief of staff."
How nice for Darrin Smith to be the new favorite son in his friend's (the mayor) favorite newly redesigned department.
What is really wrong with using the Community Development Department to do economic development other than some people do not like the Mayor or his Director. Did anyone really ever think this was a Department when Bartunik led it? Was his salary justified? Did you ever complain about it then? This posting and the one on Ice Road Truckers is really bad. Please no more.
ReplyDeleteIts so obvious when Smith Huether & Co comment on your blog. Funny.
ReplyDeleteI thought Ice Road Trucker was kind of funny. No sense of humor if you work for this administration I guess.
ReplyDeleteThe first neutarization was from Public Works which happened under your watch Jennifer. Where were you then to support the Planning Office....
ReplyDeleteHey @1:24pm, if you think the postings are so bad, why do you bother to read the blog. Geez.
ReplyDeleteI am a city hall insider and knowledgeable of HR issues internally. I won't comment on your personal opinions of the Mayor or Smith, you've made your feelings known on those 2 numerous times on this blog and it's obviously not favorable. I also won't comment on your opinion regarding the Planning department, again, your opinion.
ReplyDeleteI will say, however, that you have several factually inaccurate statements in your post regarding the positions and you are in the dark about recent changes in roles that would help you better understand all of this. You are very knowledgeable on some things city related and provide a valuable service to readers in some cases, but you also provide a tremendous disservice to your readers when you make statements like you know the facts when you can't possibly if you aren't currently employed in city hall, which you are not. Sorry, but readers really need to take your postings with a large grain of salt, even if you are a retired city employee.
It is obvious that many of the previous comments have been made by current city employees...I'm guessing on the taxpayer's dime given that the times of the posts are between 1:24 and 5:15!
ReplyDeleteI am just an ordinary citizen who closely follows local politics. Every time I see or hear of Darin Smith, the only thing that I can think of is that this is the guy who QUIT in the middle of his City Council term. I think that many citizens remember this and as a result he will always lack credibility!!
You know when a blog hits a nerve because certain city officials start discrediting the writer. Maybe they should just ignore the blog and do their job. Because, when they post these kind of comments it tells the public that the blog is right on. If they were actually secure in their jobs they wouldn't comment on a blog and instead would just do their job. City Hall you just fuel the fire and are showing your political naiveté.
ReplyDelete@5:15 This kind of sounds like Darrin Smith so I am going to assume that it is. Knowledgeable about HR issues? Kidding, really, aren't you?How many jobs have you had now? The job posting was on the city website for all to see. I would trust Jennifer's HR experience over yours and it's no contest even though she is now retired. Big deal. Our only hope is that when this mayor loses the next election, the new mayor will boot you out quicker than snot and you can go looking for another job again and get off the taxpayers dime.
ReplyDelete@5:15PM -- Funny how you'll lay out a blanket statement like "you have several factually inaccurate statements" but won't back that up with any sort of detail.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the deal with all the hostility on this blog? Sounds like the place to come if you are a has been, wannabe, or loser. The place to tear down those who are doing what you never did and never will. Get a life.
ReplyDeleteThis mayor and his team are changing your beloved bureacracy, Jennifer, and you can't stand it. Face it, they are getting things done like tearing down the river ramp, building an events center, and reforming the pension system in less than 18 months time - all things your beloved bureacracy didn't do in decades.
ReplyDeleteChange in government is sweeping the nation, and for the better.
@6:52 am... And what did you just do? Follow your own advice.
ReplyDeleteTo 4:48 P.M., I read it because some of them are very good. But, some are very bad. To others, I don't work at City Hall, not an insider with the Mayor. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteLet's see, the river ramp is still standing, the events center has not even been approved by the public yet much less built and what's this about reforming the city pension fund? Haven't seen anything about that.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the majority of Americans will support you on change is happening for the better. Tell that to the millions out of work, the unions that have been decimated, the lack of support and funding for education and on and on and on. And then on a local basis they want to stick the EC in an area of town where no economic growth has happened. Yea, that's change I can support.