Job Opportunities - Many of you have heard recently that I had been included in a group of three finalists competing for a County Administrator's position in Eagle, Colorado. Early this morning I notified the people in Eagle that I was no longer a candidate for that position.
On one hand, it was very difficult to say "no" to the friendly, professional and open people in Eagle County, both at the staff level and on the County Commission. Any manager would be lucky to work with such high-quality people. Clearly they have a first class organization, with a jurisdiction as spectacularly beautiful as any I can imagine.
On the other hand, as the interview process ended and I returned to Sarasota, I couldn't escape the feeling that I had yet to live up to the commitment I made to this organization when I was hired four years ago. The team and organization we are building here is still a work in progress, and a lot of the work that has yet to be done is mine. In his recent book Leadership, Former New York City Mayor Rudy Guliani points out that one of the most critical components of leadership is loyalty. In the final analysis, I didn't see how I could be much of a leader if I ignored that principle.
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been in a position to have even been considered for the job in Eagle County, and know that it is the accomplishments and hard work of the employees of the City of Sarasota, and those of Collier County, Florida where I formerly worked which made that possible. But I am also fortunate, and honored, to have the great job that I have, to be the City Manager of the City of Sarasota.
To everyone who passed a good word my way as this process progressed, a sincere thanks, with a special thanks to those residents of the city I hadn't previously met, but who stopped me in the supermarket or the gym or on the sidewalk to wish me well and say they appreciate the way things are going in the city. I'll do my best to see that your support is well-founded!
On one hand, it was very difficult to say "no" to the friendly, professional and open people in Eagle County, both at the staff level and on the County Commission. Any manager would be lucky to work with such high-quality people. Clearly they have a first class organization, with a jurisdiction as spectacularly beautiful as any I can imagine.
On the other hand, as the interview process ended and I returned to Sarasota, I couldn't escape the feeling that I had yet to live up to the commitment I made to this organization when I was hired four years ago. The team and organization we are building here is still a work in progress, and a lot of the work that has yet to be done is mine. In his recent book Leadership, Former New York City Mayor Rudy Guliani points out that one of the most critical components of leadership is loyalty. In the final analysis, I didn't see how I could be much of a leader if I ignored that principle.
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been in a position to have even been considered for the job in Eagle County, and know that it is the accomplishments and hard work of the employees of the City of Sarasota, and those of Collier County, Florida where I formerly worked which made that possible. But I am also fortunate, and honored, to have the great job that I have, to be the City Manager of the City of Sarasota.
To everyone who passed a good word my way as this process progressed, a sincere thanks, with a special thanks to those residents of the city I hadn't previously met, but who stopped me in the supermarket or the gym or on the sidewalk to wish me well and say they appreciate the way things are going in the city. I'll do my best to see that your support is well-founded!
posted by Michael McNees at 3:33 PM
10 Comments:
This was archived (see below) without you answering it. Do you, as the City Manager, support this program, which allows some of the General Employees to work $20 an hour part time jobs (that are assigned to them by PAID City General Employees staff)? This particular post was in response to several posts from police officers who were defending their right to work these jobs. Why they were defending it, who knows? That was never the issue. Here it is AGAIN, please respond.
Helllllooooo nobody has been talking about the police officers working details. The question is does the City Manager think that it is fair that general employees (CSA's) work details when the rest of the City general employees are denied this perk. The CSA's are general employees who pay into the general employee pension fund. They are not police officers. Who cares if the City made a deal with them over a decade ago. I want to know if the City Manager feels this is fair. The CSA's are general employees who have been promised a paid lunch hour and the right to make thousands of dollars a year. Then to make it worse, the CSA's perform the same job functions as the rest of the general employees, some of them DO LESS than the rest of the general employees. How can anyone look at this with an unbiased eye and say that this is fair. Most of us work second jobs and we make half of what the CSA's do and work ALOT HARDER. Some are single mothers that have to work a second job to survive. Name ONE CSA who works these jobs because they HAVE TO to support their family, just ONE.
26/9/05 10:35 PM
For those of you who are interested in the Red Tide issue, this will be of interest.
Red Tide and the Growing Dead Zone:
Will they ever go away?
The Sarasota Green Party is pleased to welcome marine biologist and water quality expert Dr. Larry Brand, along with local charter boat captain Wayne Genthner, to our October public forum.
Tuesday, October 25
7:30 pm
Fruitville Public Library
(just east of I-75 at the Fruitville exit)
Dr. Brand holds a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution jointly with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is currently professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami. He?ll be discussing his findings with regard to a number of research projects, including Piney Point water quality (where the State of Florida released millions of gallons of treated phosphate waste), and the results of his analysis of water samples collected over the last 50 years.
Captain Wayne has been fishing Sarasota and Manatee waters for 25 years, and his first-hand observations and tireless advocacy have been instrumental in raising awareness about the recent and dramatic deterioration of water quality in the Gulf.
There will be a Q&A session after their presentations.
Everyone is welcome to attend and there's no cost for the event.
It is important in this time of growth with complex issues the city is facing you maintain the job you set out to do and are certainly qualified to accomplish. Thank you for staying and being committed to the employees that believe in the direction you are leading. You have been a great inspiration to a lot of people. Your focus and ability to stay clear on tasks and not let all the "gossip" or "hype" derail the truth about issues has been wonderful to watch. This blog has been a really great way for us to read your view on issues we face. THANK YOU.
To 26/9/05 10:35 PM - Respectfully, I believe I did answer your question before - the assignment of this duty is governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the PBA, which represents the CSA's as well as the sworn officers. I'm not going to make an independent judgement call about fairness, because this is something that is already agreed upon.
What I will do is promise to put the issue of opening this duty to a wider pool when we next bargain the contract. That doesn't mean I am promising to deliver what you're asking for, but I am willing to have the conversation.
Everyone wants Affordable Housing and the City Commissioners are allowing tens of millions GO to the county to preserve land from the city tax payers? What are the Commissioners doing? With all that money we could have some affordable housing and preserve land in the city. Like finish our parks! Why are they not protecting us from these stupid mistakes?
To SRQ941girl - I grant some of your points, and mentioned that we're working on a plan for Payne Park in an earlier post. But I also have to add that tickets to spring training and the Sarasota Reds at Ed Smith Stadium are only a few dollars, and that there are many performances at the Van Wezel that can be seen for $10. So those venues aren't just for the wealthy.
And to Dan - thank you!
I really appreciate hearing from you what is going on. I actually look forward to your posts to read about the latest things and your humor is great. Job well done.
Do not let anyone tell you that you are not doing a great job and always have. It appears that the bosses do not know how much is being done that is positive and moving this city forward. You have always been on top of things, very organized and a great boss. I am convinced that you are the best thing that has happened to this administration in a long time and you bring on board great people as well. Thank you.
I was wondering why some people who work in City Hall can come to work everyday looking like a homeless person. I think a "good haircut" would help & be more appropriate when representing City Hall.
Anonymous...They are homeless people. We're located next to the bus station.
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