The source of "special knowledge"
The MRJs Jesse Buchanan wrote a piece last week on Cheshire's use of a program named "Fish" to improve employee morale. The linked piece is abbreviated, but I read the full article at the library this week.
Highlighted in the article were comments from me, the TM and Chairman Slocum.
Town Councilor Tim White, a Republican, disagreed, calling the Town Hall a 'hostile work environment' where new ideas were not welcome by (the TM)....
(The TM) denied the existence of a hostile work environment...
Shocking! The TM denies it.
Chairman Slocum was then quoted:
"I think people are accustomed to whining and bellyaching," Slocum said. "I don't understand how Tim White has special knowledge of how it's a hostile work environment... I've never heard of anything pervasive.
Ok, I'll elaborate.
The source of my "special knowledge" is fairly simple. From the day I was elected in 2003, I refused to follow this school of thought in which a Council member defers exclusively to Management for insight on town government operations. I find that school of thought to be absurd. It'd be akin to only asking Liz Birnbaum if MMS has been doing a good job monitoring BP.
As a result, I consistently solicit / obtain feedback from residents, including all levels of staff.
It is town residents who have given me this "special knowledge."
Keep in mind that in August of 2009 - two months before the 'no-confidence' vote - when there was nary a public word from any of the 18 people running for Council, I voiced concerns:
So I'm confident that my "special knowledge" is a fair assessment of the current work environment.
Furthermore, I think it's human nature that some people control their anger well... while others do not.
Several times - in public meetings, though never televised - the TM has lost his temper with me... raising his voice and making it quite clear that my input was not relevant to him. Again, these have been public meetings.
So I wonder... if he loses his temper with me, then when he's behind closed doors and speaking with a subordinate... what are the chances he'll control his temper?
Coupling the numerous employees stories of a hostile work environment with my own personal experiences, I think it's a perfectly logical conclusion that a hostile work environment has proliferated under the current Administration.
And I don't think that the "Fish" program is going to "fix" the interpersonal relations that have already been damaged beyond repair with the incumbent.
Tim White
10 comments:
Tim, it appears you have nothing by hatred for Milone. He institutes a plan to increase moral and worker input and you dismiss it as a ploy.
Maybe you are the thick-headed virus that is hurting the town. Ever think that all your banter about changing employee benefits to reduce the towns liability can cause a worker to become disgruntled?
I have yet to hear of or see a plan on your part to improve moral. If Milone is willing to give something a shot, give it a fair shake before condeming it. He has done far more than you have.
Tim, it's time you do what is best for the town and not run for reelection. Your negativity is spreading and it is both annoying and unneeded. Do the employees a favor and stop interfearing.
(I got a chuckle during the parade when I saw all the polticians walking together - then comes Tim all by himself. Nobody wanted to be seen walking with you)
Are the town residents who have this special knowledge also employees of the the town? How else would they know that it is a hostile workplace. You need to find a way to make things better and not just keep attacking the town manager. He is the reason this town is in as good fiscal shape and has excellent credit ratings as possible in this environment. Most of the problems in this town can be directly traced to the town council and its decisions. Please, stop attacking and concentrate on trying to improve things.
"the town manager. He is the reason this town is in as good fiscal shape and has excellent credit ratings as possible in this environment...."
Are you kidding? The town is in good fiscal shape? Let's see, the teachers have stuck up the tax payers for incredible increases with no offsetting productivity boosts. The TM and his cronies have all but spent the anticipated tax revenues from the slightly delayed life style center which maybe in 10 or 15 years will maybe arrive. The brick sidewalks in the center of town look like they have seen no maintenance since about 1930.
The school maintenance staff can't maintain 50+ year old playing fields which were just fine for the first 30 or 40 years. And oh yah, the TM and crew seem incapable of being able to tell anyone officially how many people go to our year round swimming pool. They are quite certain however that this pool which they are responsible for is about to fall down so they are off trying to float a loan for many millions in order to rebuild it. They are quite certain that with maybe 5 times the original cash value of the existing pool in hand they'll of course this time have quite a wonderful facility. Personally I'm betting on the north end mall!
If property taxes don't increase at least a few per cent every year for ever this town will collapse financially in no time. Town government needs to be overhauled. We need to find ways to do more with less or even less with less. The current administration seems all too happy to ignore the warning signs.
"We need to find ways to do more with less or even less with less."
Are you serious? Our education system is hanging by a thread with latest cut to Dr. Florio's budget and17 teaching position eliminated for no apparent reason other than to appease misinformed toadies like yourself.
The reason you enjoy high quality of life in Cheshire is because of the education system. 75% of the overall town budget is allocated for education. Education is what sells Cheshire. But keep cutting it and this town will become just another back water town with nothing to offer but a deterioted bubble, no commercial business and a few "farms" that maybe grow some stuff locally.
And while you criticize the teachers for what you believe to be excessive salaries and producing no productivity boost you have to look no further than the graduation rate, exceptional test scores and success with the NCLB.
Next I suppose you'll criticize the turf field that's being funded by donations for the "few" people that play sports on it.
But if the pool, mall, teachers, education, enclosure, taxes, etc. bother you so much...please move. There are plently of towns that fit your mental capabilities. Cheshire is obviously not one of them.
What have YOU done for Cheshire lately besides cry for attention?
Tim Slocum is just about as useless on the TC as Adinolfi. Slocum was the best choice for chairman?!? If the majority can't get that right then it's no surprise that Milone is still TM.
Tim W: You are not alone on the issues you raised about the TM. Only time will tell the true story but I fear it will be many more town councils before any changes are made with the TM.
BTW, I stopped by boulder knoll farm this morning to catch a glimpse of the garden. Milone was there. It looked like Milone was yelling at someone. Not sure if it was a town employee but the guy didn't seem too happy about the conversation. I should've recorded it on my phone. It was around 10:30am.
Eric
You have to be kidding me,
17 teachers dropped for "NO APPARENT REASON"?
How about less students, less money, less need.
Cheshire's "elitist status" in terms of education is over. It started when too many parents lost interest in teaching their children morality and now CHS and Dodd have terrible drug problems.
I would not want my children in that situation.
In order for a town's education system to be top notch, you can't just depend on the teachers. Education begins at home, and if we continue to have parents who close their eyes to what their kids are doing, the school system will continue to falter.
Eric, since you feel Tim and many of us are "misinformed toadies"" when it comes to budget cuts, please enlighten us on why we must continue to conform to Florio's budget?
In the past 5 years, the student population has decreased by over 300 students, yet you feel we should continue to have the same amount of teachers? How do you justify that?
Tell us how you have all the answers.
And yes, I too am against the turf until they can tell me how they plan on paying for the replacement in 7 to 10 years. How do they plan on paying for the machines and chemicals they need to take care of this field?
Please supply all of us "misinformed toadies" with these answers.
"BTW, I stopped by boulder knoll farm this morning to catch a glimpse of the garden. Milone was there. It looked like Milone was yelling at someone. Not sure if it was a town employee but the guy didn't seem too happy about the conversation. I should've recorded it on my phone. It was around 10:30am.
June 07, 2010 5:24 PM"
I wish you did since I was in town hall from 10:00-11:30 and saw him numerous times in the building. We even chatted for about 20 minutes (around 10:30) about a certain council member and his negativity.
The artwork in the aitrium looks great!
I see from the comments here that Tim's attack on our TM is hard for anyone to support. Everyones attempt to attack Milone ends up attacking the council (Tim included), the BOE (for the teachers), the pool(another council screw up), or Public Works (a sidewalk just like what is going to be on West Main this summer). All of these are indirect to Milone.
Given that he has made an attempt to improve moral, can someone show me what Tim has done? Good luck.
"I wish you did since I was in town hall from 10:00-11:30 and saw him numerous times in the building. "
That's an outright lie on your part. Michael was at Boulder Knoll yesterday morning during that time. I don't think he was yelling at anyone but he did talk with a few of us volunteers working the field. He was in his usual good mood. He was also reviewing the barn structure. He was there between 10:30 and 11am.
1:44 AM
Your credibility is already gone. Milone was at Boulder Knoll at that time.
"Given that he has made an attempt to improve moral, can someone show me what Tim has done?"
Milone did a great job handling the CPD fiasco. He really knows how to improve moral.
Tim at least, tried to address that situation long before the TC wanted to do anything about it.
Perhaps Tim is trying to keep the same thing from happening at the Town Hall.
Liars like you we don't need.
Eric, the facts speak for themselves concerning the town's long term sustainability. Like most of this state we are a train wreck waiting to happen. Those speaking as you do about what is needed versus what is not needed are a really big part of the unfolding problem Eric.
No doubt you still believe in free lunches, the tooth fairy and Santa Claus Eric.
The stunning statement you made that "there are plently of towns that fit your mental capabilities" shows who you are Eric. Unfortunately there are plenty of us out here who have superior mental capabilities and a long track record showing we have used it quite often. We also believe and practice the concept of paying for our lunches and paying for our own material possessions.
No doubt Eric for you to be making the snide comments you have made about mental capability you certainly must be in possession of one of the highest IQs in town. I’m not certain though whether you are an American capitalist or maybe something more like one of those who believes more in redistribution of wealth?
Aside from that Eric, the only reason the town has a high quality of life has nothing at all to do with the town school system. It has everything to do with the wealth of the residents. Most of them don't receive any income from the school system Eric. In fact most of them work out of town. So, your comment about the schools can't be backed up with fact Eric ("The reason you enjoy high quality of life in Cheshire is because of the education system." )
This town as well as our state needs to stop spending money it does not have. If a 2 million dollar pool no longer pleases some residents the solution to that is not be replace it with a 10 million dollar pool before we have even paid off the first 2 million.
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