The discord among city council members is having a negative effect on those who work at city hall, according to a recent survey conducted by Carl Slaugh, city administrator.
Department heads and Council members were asked to fill out a survey last week in preparation for a strategic planning session that Slaugh led Monday night at a Council meeting.
Survey responses were anonymous and frank.
Some, blisteringly so:
“The goal should be to discuss problems with Council without the name calling or the character slandering of those with differing opinions,” said one response.
“The City Council (should) work together as a group to make decisions instead of one or two members going out and meeting with individuals on the pretense that they are representing the entire City Council,” said another.
“Council members (should) make efforts to learn what their constituents want instead of the few that are always vocal or the coffee shop complainers,” read one.
CITY STAFF would also like to remind Council members that “they are elected to work together as a group and not elected to try and micro-manage the day-to-day operations of the city.
“That is why he (Slaugh) was hired and that is why the department supervisors answer directly to him when it comes to the chain of command,” wrote a respondent.
Another comment said, “With the current change from a three-member commission to a nine-member Council I feel we are being micro-managed. Internally, I feel we are very well managed, however, if staff doesn’t have the support of the council, it is all for naught.”
“The city is well-managed; it is the Council that is out of line and poorly directed,” said another.
When asked if city employees are pleased with their work environment, many replied in the negative.
“They were until the new Council took over.” “Depends on Council meetings.” “Happy with administrator, not Council.” “Not happy because of the Council.” “Morale very low.”
“Morale is low and employees are on edge especially after the Council can fire a 30-plus year employee (former City Administrator Judy Brigham) that is two weeks from retirement without giving an explanation.”
