While studying the city management salary increases over the past five years, we came across some interesting title changes. People were hop-scotching back and forth between the public works department and engineering. Not sure if this had to do with pay adjustments or what. It kind of looked like an accounting game.
Either way, there seems to be a discussion going on similar in the community development office. Will Darrin Smith have to be replaced or will restructuring of the department eliminate a Czar of community development?
With the new council rolling in, and the change of rules when appointing department heads (council must also approve the mayoral appointment of the director, no matter the size of the department). Could be interesting to see what kind of extra duties some of the other directors may have to take on to avoid a mayoral appointment.
Of course this wouldn’t be the first time the mayor would be playing hard and fast with the rules.
Maybe these directors should just get their jobs done. The public works director doesn’t know where his dept money goes (is it 50 % or 70% on streets?). The people at the landfill can’t keep track of accounts receivable- or is it finance that has trouble keeping track of a multi-year bill with $250,000 due on it? Try being a month late on a $50 water/sewer bill- they turn off your water.
Everything Darrin Smith did was disaster. Mistakes can’t be made if there’s nobody to make them. It’s been hard for the community to develop when this position is nothing but obstruction.
Can you imagine this guy ran for mayor.