Maybe you don't want to know the
real story.
Date: Monday
January 31, 2005
Time: 07:59 AM
Dear Editor:
Mac, too bad you
didn't see the forest though the tress and see the pure
politics at play. How come the reorganization hinged on
getting rid of one employee and when that failed, the plan
was dropped. How come you did not ask me my opinion?
Maybe you did
not want to know the real story or maybe you did. I never
turn down a chance to discuss "good government."
Jim Connors,
DeKalb
Jim Connors
is the former City Manager in DeKalb. His letter was written
in response to a Rant & Rave published in May, 2004. A
condensed version is provided below. For the full version,
click here.
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But the worst
was saved for last. New city manager, Mark Biernacki,
made a bold proposal to reorganize city staff and privatize
some of the city engineering services. His proposal
would have saved taxpayers more than $200,000 per year in
wages and who knows how many new truck purchases over the
years.
The City Council
commended Biernacki for making such a bold proposal and then
proceeded to rip the guts out of it on a motion made by
alderman James Barr.
Sitting directly
in front of me at the council meeting was former city
manager, Jim Connors. Directly to my right was former
mayor Bessie Chronopolous.
Every time Mark
Biernacki spoke, or an alderman spoke favorably to Biernacki,
Connors would grumble his displeasure. Every time
current mayor, Greg Sparrow, spoke or received support,
Chronopolous would grumble.
The city has
enough problems without former employees and former elected
officials working to undercut the current administration.
And it was embarrassing for me to sit there and witness
their lack of professionalism.
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Editor's Response:
Mr. Connors, thank you for visiting DeKalb County Online and
for your letter. I am also grateful for your service while
serving as City Manager.
I thought I was witnessing pure politics at play. And I was
disappointed by what I observed. I did not feel I needed to
ask you for your opinion when it was offered for everyone
within hearing distance from you during the City Council
meeting.
I was not aware that the proposal to privatize some or all
of the engineering review services offered by the City of
DeKalb was aimed at one single employee. Discussions I was
involved in with current city staff members indicated that
the proposal was more in depth than that and less sinister
in its intent. The stated intent was to shift the costs for
engineering reviews more to the developers versus the city
budget. If you have evidence to the contrary I encourage you
to make it public.
I submit that I am interested and made an attempt to learn
the real story. I attended meetings with city staff
regarding the subject and was in attendance at the city
council meeting when the item was discussed.
Mac McIntyre,
DeKalb County Online
