At last week's council meeting, Oro Valley Interim Town Manager Jerene Watson received special recognition by receiving "Credentialed Manager" designation from the International City/County Manager Association, a local government leadership and management organization.
Here is The Explorer article
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2010/07/14/news/doc4c3cf011343fd204010617.txt
We should note that the Council may see fit to approve Ms. Watson as the "permanent" Town Manager at a near future meeting.
Although she may be the best candidate, there does not seem to be a plan in place to consider any other worthy candidates.
You may recall that this Council saw fit to "vet" 19 candidates, prior to appointing Steve Solomon to the vacant seat.
Isn't the Town Manager position worthy of doing no less?
8 comments:
Originally $30,000 was 'earmarked' for a candidate 'search' by utilizing a consultant entity; was this 'concept' necessary? It is a fact that a governmental employment search can be easily achieved via pointed internet sites at virtually no expense; so, why a consultant? Personally I am tired of the 'let's get a consultant mentality' for all of the 'needs' of town; Oro Valley should have enough brains to do the jobs ourselves!
Now, as to Ms. Watson:
Yes, I know that there are some who are opposed to her being 'promoted' to this permanent position. My experiences retain my firm belief that promoting from within, especially when a candidate has the experience, the recognition, and the personality, leads to a smoother transition as well as a better working relationship relative to those with whom he or she has had interaction. In addition, in this instance, by having already worked within the Town, Ms. Watson has an in-depth knowledge of 'how it works'. A 'newbie'? In many cases their 'staying power' is weak. They use the job as a stepping stone to go elsewhere at the first possible chance. Ms. Watson has lived and worked in the Phoenix, Goodyear, and Oro Valley areas for many, many years and has been WIDELY RECOGNIZED for her achievements!
How can you do better than that!?
In response to Zev's question, "How can you do better than that?"---I would say this:
The council received resumes from 19 individuals requesting they be considered to fill the vacant two year term.
The majority chose Mr. Solomon.
Was he the best choice? The majority thought so, although there are others among us that felt there were much better candidates to fill the vacancy.
Is Jerene Watson the best choice for our Town Manager?
The answer is, "maybe," but compared to who?
We obviously won't know that if there are no other qualified candidates that will be considered.
Isn't it a little ludicrous to "vet" 19 candidates for the two year council seat, and not even consider anyone else for a $170,000 or whatever the salary will be, for a full time Town Manager?
For me, a least, the answer is "yes"---it is ludicrous!
Art - no comparison! One is an appointment to Council for a two-year term, filling a vacated ELECTED seat, and, basically requiring little or no past experience other than hopefully common sense and a sense of common interest. The management position, however, is a paid hire, hopefully educated and experienced in Town management, related preparation, education, and, too, an ability to interact personally with each 'sub-sector' individual in order to facilitate the necessary and overall responsibilities
that a Town requires in order that it operate on a day to day basis.
I see nothing wrong in promoting an individual who has the necessary experience and I see nothing wrong in electing a person who does not.
Zev--- Perhaps I didn't clarify my point.
All I'm suggesting is what you rightly note: "The management position, however, is a paid hire, hopefully educated and experienced in Town management, related preparation, education, and, too, an ability to interact personally with each 'sub-sector' individual in order to facilitate the necessary and overall responsibilities that a Town requires in order that it operate on a day to day basis."
How does one know that they are getting the best individual when you have nothing to compare that individual to.
You'll usually do a lot better if you do a little "comparison shopping" before you make a commitment to buy---whether it be a TV, a car or a Town Manager---which is a lot more costly than a TV or, for that matter, a car.
Evaluate and then choose. Don't choose, and "hope for the best."
I think I agree with Zev on this one, Art, although I think 6 figures, even in the low 6 figures, is hyper-inflated for a town the size of Oro Valley, salary-wise. I mean come on, minus the police department, how many employees does the town manager have to manage? Minus the police department budget, what budget is overseen? What do all of the department managers do? Oro Valley is a sleepy little town, but some in town management and government have delusions of grandeur, and we the citizens are having to pay for the Cadillac of all Cadillacs here! Why does Oro Valley need to pay $70,000 a year for a Communications Director? Can't the very, very well compensated management staff communicate for themselves? Enough is enough with milking the residents of Oro Valley for all they are worth! The recent report released by Tucson indicates that they have 464 marked sedans, which equates to roughly 4.24 officers per car ( ((1.9 officers * (1,034,700 (population)/1000))/464; remarkably difficult to get a simple piece of data like total number of police officers by doing a web search. Similarly difficult to get the total number of marked cars in Oro Valley.) If Oro Valley doesn't have a ratio of more like 1.5 officers per car, I would be greatly surprised. I don't even want to think about the number of trucks, etc., other than to observe that the parking lot is ALWAYS full! ENOUGH!
Fed up Fox!
Art, as you should know and should be able to assess it's potential, an awful lot of information can be obtained through the internet; and, also, as I stated in my first post here, there are sites which cater to offering and receiving applications for government positions. As some of you should know (from my postings over the years), my wife worked for the Wake County Government in North Carolina for 16 years. When and if a major job opening became available, they did not opt to let
consultants do their search, they put the openings out there on the net. Now, in North Carolina (or at least in Wake County), it is my understanding that if a major opening was in order to be filled, they HAD to POST the position as 'being available'. Did this always result in an 'outsider' getting the position? NO. Did it always result in an 'insider' getting the job? NO. However, they didn't submit through 'smooth' operative consultants, they could 'read' canned resumes, and they didn't waste a lot of time on endless debate.
Art, what is the 'correct' way for the handling of this matter? I don't really know the accepted and/or required procedures here, but there is one thing for certain that I will submit to you: I don't think you can compare a Town Manager Position with a Town Council Position either in scope or in 'getting one'. And that, Art, is a weak point in your argument.
I believe that you, Art, simply are not in favor of Ms. Watson for whatever PERSONAL or even real reasons you might have. I, quite some time ago and long before any candidate announced for Council, did some research on her as a fact finding curiousity. What I found in her background was stellar! In addition, throughout her career within Oro Valley itself, I observe her to be an excellent
representation of the ideals of our Community.
Allowing that Ms. Watson may be allowed to stay on officially as our Town Manager will not only be
in the interest of expediency but I believe it will be in the overall interest of the Community.
Art, I know how the situation with our prior Manager affected you and most of us can agree that the 'process' was a disgraceful blot on the reputation of our Town. But, please, let it go, and don't let it continue to cloud your vision. And yes, I can understand that there are those who might not
accept Ms. Watson's management style, but, please, we do not need more divisiveness churned up by any more antagonism.
Zev is making all kinds of assumptions about my position on Ms. Watson and her predecessor.
Maybe this will clarify my position:
Although I questioned a few of Ms. Watson's decisions as interim Town Manager, I have "no axe to grind" with her.
Certainly, her predecessor is in no way pertinent to the issue.
Whether or not the Oro Valley Council hires a consulting firm, puts an ad in Business Week, or the Wall Street Journal is not the issue.
Once again,the issue to me is this:
Don't hire someone for Town Manager that has only been in the position for so short a time WITHOUT at least seeing if there are any other qualified candidates that may be available.
Lastly,I really don't need anyone telling me what I am saying when I believe I am quite capable of enunciating my own point of view.
What one person sees as "antagonism," another may see as concern.
Well, Art, I guess my attempt at keeping this a civil dialogue has escaped your senses. I was not in any way trying to be disagreeable with you. What did I get in return - a pouty retort.
Have it your way, Art, I don't need to exchange conversation with you as you seem unwilling to amiably converse. Such is life!
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