Excuse me?
But shouldn't there be a City Manager position listed here? (P.S. Ms. Overfield, there might be a job for you here...)
Seriously, why the hell can they not give first crack at local citizens? Is there no one in Great Falls qualified to run this town? (What does that say about the Commission?)
I, for one, am tired of spending thousands of dollars on out of state "experts" and "consultants" to do exactly what we are paying City employees to do already. Shoot, give me the HR job. I'll find someone:
City Manager: City Manager needed. Six figures, when benefits are included. Run a medium (ok, small) sized town. Try not to screw things up, at least avoid snafus greater than $1,000,000.00 in a given year. Bask in "best managed city" limelight. Harebrained business ideas preferred. Must have detailed knowledge of "fund accounting." Three card monte background most helpful.
19 comments:
Gee Guy-
I read, and until very recently, have not participated in your blog. A time or two you've written something that I have found personally offensive. In fact, some of your views have actually even down right hurt my feelings from time to time.
We are very divided on county politics. Still, objectively, I cannot deny that I am a fan. Regardless of whether or not I agree or disagree with some of your views, you are clearly an incredibly intelligent man who is a great thinker (which is actually an understatement). You have a passion for this community.
You've been pondering the popularity of this blog. Well, I believe it is because you have a talent in engaging people on the issues that should matter to a commmunity.
You're right, this position should be local, and at least in my mind, the perfect fit would be.. you.
I know it would be a personal sacrifice on your part, but it would truly be a public service if you put YOUR name in the hat for the post of Great Falls City Manager. I know that many would agree.
Give it some thought?
I agree! Course, I know that Gee Guy and I don't agree on many things. But I think that he is first and foremost eminently fair, and dedicated to open government and free speech. If not Gee Guy, why NOT some OTHER local who is qualified? Look, we get our county commissioners locally, and they do a great job for the most part. Why CAN'T the city STOP bringing in outsiders and select someon who has a vested interest in this community?! It's time. I want someone in there that loves this town as much as the locals do. Sure, we all want prosperity, but at what cost? Planned, controlled, regulated growth is the best kind. Just look at the problems that other Montana cities are currently undergoing. Soon, Great Falls will follow because we've been discovered. Hence, we need someone in the city manager position with the wisdom and foresight of Paris Gibson. In other words, someone who really wants to make GF a liveable community. Let'em build the coal plant in Billings. They don't give a damn about their environment there anyway. I contend that we do. I LIKE looking up and seeing that beautiful blue sky.
LK
Let's not give the current crew the chance to spoil the process. The new city manager must be the first order of business of the new mayor/commission.
LT
If you bring in UNELECTED outsiders whose political leanings are to make city government the fundamental unit of society it tends to shatter my peace of mind.
PLEASE NOTE I am not saying outsiders are bad. Outsiders bring life and ideas to GF and several actually understand how our rights are being violated.
So I repeat: If you bring in UNELECTED outsiders whose political leanings are to make city government the fundamental unit of society it tends to shatter my peace of mind.
Anon -
If somebody would read the book
'Good to Great' by Jim Collins, it addresses what makes any business AND local governments more effective...like hiring down to Earth folks, even locally, and NO way in Hades should current commission select a new manager - No Way, No How....and City Charter
also needs serious scrutiny...
'Quick is the word, and sharp is the action'....British naval maxim
Thanks Geeguy!
While hiring someone local is a noble idea, it isnt going to happen. Who in the private sector would give up their livelihood and probably considerable income to run the City? Its equivalent to getting people to run for Governor. You get candidates like Pat Davison instead of Gary Buchanan.
JWC
Re: Who in the private sector would give up their livelihood
Does anyone know how many private sector employees vs. city, county, and state employees?
By private sector I mean how many are not sustained/dependent upon city,county, state or federal money?
JWC, are you refering to Gary Buchanan of Billings? If you are, Gary is a man of enormous courage who led the fight for I-122 at great personal risk to himself. He is a man of unimpeachable integrity. I think that we could attract such people if the pay was equivalent to that of the current city manager.
LK
First anonymous, I appreciate your compliments, but I am not qualified to be City Manager. I'm just a lawyer.
JWC, you wrote: "While hiring someone local is a noble idea, it isnt going to happen. Who in the private sector would give up their livelihood and probably considerable income to run the City?"
So, are you so sure no good person around here would do it, that you're saying that we shouldn't even advertise locally? In other words, don't even try to hire someone. What if we took the thousands of dollars we are no doubt going to pay an executive search firm and offered it as a hiring bonus?
Do some research and see how many jobs have been filled out-of-state. They pass over the Montana residents and even the in-house applicants who already know the job! You can imagine what this does for morale! The City's hiring practices are bullshit!
City Worker
"So, are you so sure no good person around here would do it, that you're saying that we shouldn't even advertise locally?"
No.
Do you have some applicants in mind?
JWC
No, I don't. But why not put the position on the website and see who applies?
I agree.
Is the City already advertising nationally?
Yes, it would be exciting to hire a local, creative, visionary but in reality they will hire an outsider.
JWC
I would addt this language:
Experience as a "pied piper" preferred. Downtown development (Rice Building); special events (Lewis and Clark debocle); and Waste Management (SME investment) experience viewed favorably.
RE: I would add this language:
Imagine a CEO of a Fortune 500 company running a business that way.
Kicked to the curb he/she would be.
What does Waste Management have to do with SME?
come on, it isn't that far of a stretch to see how SME is Waste...We definitely need someone who can manage the SME waste since it's stinkin' up the commissions ability to think.
It's hard to get new members for the Cult of the GF (Commission and City)if you recruit from in-town/state.
Much easier to bring into the fold the innocent outsider.
City Worker:
Just where could we find that information? Is it available to the public?
Not that I'd bother to spend time and money like GeeGuy has to find information that is allegedly publicly confidential....
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