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.
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.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
City Manager
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4 comments:
Mitch Johnson should get the same "fair" severance package he gave David Wray-- a boot.
Bill, I agree 100% that we need a new city manager and someone new to run the legal department. The replacements need to be selected only by the city council.
We watched the emergency city council meeting on Thursday while we had out of state visitors because we were anxious to see what transpired. They were shocked to see how much input and influence our city manager and legal department had in the city council meeting.
How do we get enough city council members to agree with us? I believe there are four members who would agree but beyond that, it is questionable. In fact, I will go further and say that I believe the majority of the city council members would like to keep things the way they are now.
Bill, the City has taken a beating under Mitch Johnson and the current legal staff and there is no sign it is going to end soon.
Even if Mitch Johnson did nothing wrong all, there is no turning back. Perception is everything in politics, and the growing perception of Johnson and the leadership in the legal department is garbage right now.
What Sam Spagnola said. And Billy Jones also.
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