Knight Thinks Somethings Not Right
Posted by ryan on January 1, 2008
Bill Knight, a previous candidate for Greensboro City Council At-Large is reporting that “An acquaintance who was a long time influential employee of our city government told me recently that he did not believe Greensboro would move forward as it must until a new city manager is in place. This individual who told this to me has always been a Greensboro booster, and I take his words seriously.”
He continues,
“In addition, a number of retired city department heads and other employees contacted me during the recent City Council election campaign to express concerns about the city manager. As far as I know, these are sincere people who have spent lifetimes living in and working for Greensboro. All said they were saddened by the direction our city seems to have taken, and without exception they all pointed to the need for new leadership in the form of a new city manager. I share these concerns and believe it is time for a new manager to be selected.
A new city attorney must be hired; I do not believe our current city manager is the appropriate person to make that decision. The new attorney selection should be made at the direction and discretion of the City Council.
I urge the current City Council to inform Mitchell Johnson that his contract as city manager will not be renewed and to take steps to provide a severance package that is fair and appropriate in the circumstances.”
What do you feel is more important, a new City Manager or a new Chief of Police?
January 1, 2008 at
First a new city manager must be found One who doesn’t tolerate dirty cops.
Then the power to hire and fire department heads must be put in the hands of the city council.
January 1, 2008 at
“Knight Thinks Somethings Not Right”
Inaccurate headline. More properly, it should read.
Knight KNOWS Somethings Not Right.
He’s not alone.
January 1, 2008 at
Billy,
First, I hope you are having a Happy New Year. I am currently reading Rudy Giulianis book titled Leadership. I am not reading the book because of political affiliation… but because of the topic he is covering. The first two chapters provide great insight on the vast differences of how our city government is set up and how a city like NY is set up. It has been a good read up to this point and I would suggest you pick up a copy if you have not already read it.
I am not sure it would be appropriate to allow part-time council members to have the power of hiring and firing department heads. They currently have one person to manage and many individuals in the community have stated that the council can’t even manage that one person correctly. If you follow that belief do you think it would be appropriate to give them additional power to reign over department heads? (Simply a question, not saying you are right or wrong.)
Ryan
January 1, 2008 at
Good questions Ryan. I answered them on my blog yesterday and the day before. BB
January 1, 2008 at
Brenda,
So you think the council should be available to provide advice to department heads when a dispute between the dept head and the city manager occur (item 4 on your 12-31-07 post)?
I just don’t see this working at all. You have part-time council members essentially having CEO like powers. In addition these individuals are not elected to be an expert on all the various deprtments so how could they possibly have the ability to make correct decisions?
I simply look at this like a business. If a Board of Directors (City Council) is not happy with the CEO’s (City Manager) performance then the BOD has the ability to fire the CEO and hire a new one.
And Brenda, please remember this is simply a discussion and by no means am I coming down on your thoughts.
Ryan
January 1, 2008 at
Ryan,
I agree with you. Not even the Mayor is a full-time employee and I don’t believe the City Council should be hiring, firing, or micromanaging the day-to-day operations. That’s what they hire the manager to do.