Date: October 25, 2010
To: Common Council Members
From: Mayor Susan Feiszli
Re: Response to Brian Tobin’s Resolution for the position Director of Administration and Finance
Common Council:
This letter is in response to Brian Tobin’s email below regarding a Resolution agreed upon by the Common Council meeting of October 19, 2010 and my opinion on that resolution.
Based on the date of Bryan’s Gazda’s resume, he responded to a Cortland Standard ad on January 15th, 2009. This ad stated that the “City of Cortland seeks a visionary and collaborative individual with strong leadership skills, administrative practice/planning experience and knowledge for the position of Director of Administration and Finance……Extensive communication skills, collaboration, negotiation, problem solving and analytical skills a must……..”
On February 12, 2009, Nick Mazza wrote a letter to former Mayor Gallagher which described the functions and ultimate goals that he would provide as Interim Manager to the City. Mr. Mazza stated in this letter that the most important decision any Mayor and City Council will make is the selection of a Chief Administrator. Mr. Mazza stated: “Making a wrong choice or having unclear goals or objectives can be very costly”.
As Interim Director, Mr. Mazza suggested the following to the Mayor and Council:
Assess Your Situation and Needs
“First and foremost, it is essential that the Mayor and City Council meet to evaluate the state of the City and tenure of the previous Director of Administration and Finance. Take stock and discuss what worked-and what didn’t. Be honest with each other.
Next, determine what the Mayor and City Council wants from the new Director of Administration and Finance. Certainly, there should be a discussion about the experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, personal traits and level of education that are expected. More importantly, be clear about the needs of the organization and the key priorities you wish the new Director of Administration and Finance to address. Don’t take an“I’ll know it when I see it” stance at the start of the recruitment.”
As members of the selected search committee, did Aldermen Quail, Dye and Tobin take Mr. Mazza’s recommendations into consideration?
It is understood by all that the Charter is in need of an overhaul and that ALL department heads work over and beyond what is purely written in the Charter. Can you imagine what would happen if ALL department heads said “It’s not in the charter so its not my responsibility?”
This includes a Common Council which is underpaid for the work it does. But you[Common Council] too go over and beyond what is written in the Charter for your responsibilities.
I agree that options one and two (stated below in Alderman Tobin’s email) should and need to be addressed but the person who fills that role should still go over and beyond what is simply written in the Charter.
The third option is what your Constituents, Department Heads, Staff and Mayor are waiting to hear: your decision.
The Clerk's office has copies of Council meeting notes with Department Heads and Bryan Gazda from last February.
They also have 16 pages of minutes from the time when Alderman Craig, Ferguson and Tobin met with Department Heads at a Staff Meeting on February 24th2010.
Brian Tobin stated to the Department HeadsFebruary 24th, 2010that the Council reviewed a list of fifty-three concerns after having met with the Department Heads. The City also has minutes from when the Council met with Mr. Gazda and his responses to the Councils' questions. The minutes also reflect that the Council would review those concerns and identify areas of improvement for Mr. Gazda.
EIGHT months ago you stated on record that the Council would work with the Department Heads and Mr. Gazda to resolve these concerns that you acknowledged.
NOTHING has changed and no attempt to change has been made by the Council. If anything,
the situation has gotten worse.
In my opinion, Benefit Consulting Report portrayed a true depiction of Department Head concerns. Concerns that the entire Council were aware of EIGHT months ago and never followed through with what they promised. The only responses from Council that I have received by email regarding the report are: “This is embarrassing; I hope the public doesn’t get a hold of this, this doesn’t make us look good and I don’t like it.”
Benefit Consulting report states “If Mr. Gazda stays in this role things will only continue to deteriorate from the position you are currently in.
I urge the Council to do as elected officials what is in the best interest of the City.
Susan Feiszli
From: Brian Tobin
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2010 6:35 PM
To: Sherrie Massmann; Susan Feiszli; alderpersons
Subject: Resolution regarding BCG report
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2010 6:35 PM
To: Sherrie Massmann; Susan Feiszli; alderpersons
Subject: Resolution regarding BCG report
Following are my notes regarding the resolution we discussed about the BCG report. I am including the city clerk and the Mayor on this email; please reply to all with comments.
Sherrie had called and asked me Wednesday afternoon about the tail end of the meeting. She wanted to put the notes together for the meeting that was planned for Thursday. I was at work at the time, and unable to check my notes. I forgot to check them Wednesday evening, and since I was not able to get the information to Sherrie before the Thursday meeting, I put off looking at my notes until tonight (I was out of town for work all day Friday and Saturday).
Here is what I believe we agreed upon for a resolution.
Resolution:
The City Council will evaluate the Charter's job description that Mr. Gazda is following and gather additional data. Upon review, the City Council will recommend to either:
1. Research the possibility of restructuring city government to a city manager run organization, or
2. Change the charter to more accurately reflect the expectations of the Director of Administration/Finance position that are currently beyond the charter's description, or
3. Determine a third option for addressing the current issues regarding the current Director of Administration and Finance.
The council discussed setting October 31st as a due date for feedback from department heads to common council members. Then the council would compile the information (Brian Tobin volunteered to put together the list), and discuss the issue at a time to be determined (either at a regular council meeting or at a workshop or special session).
An email to city department heads is being drafted and should be ready to send shortly.
Sherrie had called and asked me Wednesday afternoon about the tail end of the meeting. She wanted to put the notes together for the meeting that was planned for Thursday. I was at work at the time, and unable to check my notes. I forgot to check them Wednesday evening, and since I was not able to get the information to Sherrie before the Thursday meeting, I put off looking at my notes until tonight (I was out of town for work all day Friday and Saturday).
Here is what I believe we agreed upon for a resolution.
Resolution:
The City Council will evaluate the Charter's job description that Mr. Gazda is following and gather additional data. Upon review, the City Council will recommend to either:
1. Research the possibility of restructuring city government to a city manager run organization, or
2. Change the charter to more accurately reflect the expectations of the Director of Administration/Finance position that are currently beyond the charter's description, or
3. Determine a third option for addressing the current issues regarding the current Director of Administration and Finance.
The council discussed setting October 31st as a due date for feedback from department heads to common council members. Then the council would compile the information (Brian Tobin volunteered to put together the list), and discuss the issue at a time to be determined (either at a regular council meeting or at a workshop or special session).
An email to city department heads is being drafted and should be ready to send shortly.
Brian Tobin
4th Ward Alderman
City of Cortland Common Council
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