New City Manager Selection

I may be misinterpreting Vet's statement, but I don't believe the intent was to blame Ken Cohen or many others.

If I may, and I completely agree with Mike Presta's commentary on downtown, MMF is not a power broker, nor was it set up in such a manner. Its first mission is fund raising, and it is stacked with those who are beholden enough to the city to hand out cash to chosen candidates. That is goal one and requirement for membership.

Goal 2, is to have cash handed off from the city, as a means of taking directions from the city to have first take, or "first right of refusal" for property the city wants to buy. That is solely the rationale for the $75 K the city moved over a few years ago, to my knowledge, has not been spent. If the city wants a property bought to protect the fortress, aka, fka, Main Street, MMF jumps to the city's direction and buys. So, they aren't power brokers, they are errand lads and lassies, shills for the city, and most doing so as a personal favor to those working at the city frankly....they consider their friend(s). Hence, processor is correct....Ken Cohen or most others, don't serve for power, but rather, their city friends have a need.

No one thinking reasonably can possibly think the  initial thread and discussion about JG's achievement award had merit. Nothing even remotely beneficial has occurred....0, natta, nothing, but cash out, with no cash in. That sinks a business and community, not elevates it.

As for the silver spoons, Middletown has many. However, I will give exceptions. Many earned top degrees at Miami, Indiana, Duke B schools, or economics. Many started pushing brooms, learned every aspect of the business, and some were vetted by outside retained search firms (Magnode). I wouldn't put any in a Mark Cuban or Ross Perot category, but they are competent and generally darn good business leaders and comport with great integrity (Dickerson, Bidwell(s), Akers, and others.        

And while politically incorrect, and terminally viewed as being "negative", I pretty much agree with Mike P's opinion ob the former downtown area.

So--we have to fix it from here, but probably won't happen until we significantly change faces and direction. Hopefully we can make it a positive and active warm weather run--there are some great people doing nice things in the area

Vet,
Though I agree with most of what you said, I disagree with your synopsis of Ken Cohen. Ken moved out of town years ago, yet has stayed involved, sacrificing his personal time, to try and better Middletown. You may disagree with what he has been advocating and supporting, but I don't think for a second that he did any of this for personal gain or to support any political agenda. Regarding the "sliver spoon" certainly his dad's work gave him a great head start, but Cohen has grown considerably since he took over the business. I haven't met anyone who works harder and supports his employees more than Ken.

He deserves our respect and thanks for all of his work, unlike many Middletown "silver spooners" who do NOT get involved and primarily live out of state.

Then again, there sure are nice smooth streets leading to the mayor's house and the city manager's house.

The rest of our streets...not so nice.

Vet, you eloquently captured the absolute, bottom line truth of Middletown. Most cities do operate in such manner, but Middletown does.

MMF is also a puppet organization, doing the bidding for others. In Larry Mulligan's defense, partially anyway, coming from an academic family, he did see some value in Cincinnati State, but more so as an alternative to cheap pawn shops, gold traders, and phone retail stores downtown. The whole setup and reduction of 7 to 5 council people was setup and planned, and the movement around of buildings....all that has been discussed thoroughly on this forum.

The article by Larry and the recognition of her (JG) was just teeing up her 2x/ 3x dip on the next stepping stone. But, Mr. Mulligan also owes the city; his father worked there after a stint at Armco, so he's a little beholden to the state system, and it shows.

I cannot disagree with any of your opinion, in particular on one's own internal perception of themselves. Most of us in private sector carry a much larger measuring stick with us than those in public sector. When the Titantic goes down, its every man, woman, and child for himself. That is what you are witnessing since 2000. Honor, integrity, and moral compass is an afterthought. As you stated.....deeply saddened by this fact, and the effects it has caused those with such a mess behind.      

Vet, let me respectively, recalibrate your thinking on JG, DA, others.

Firstly, Judy Gilleland was hired, as I have stated for years, to follow the wishes of MMF, which is the Mulligans, others that now sit on council, with the exception of ASJ and DB.

So, she has done her job, to the letter.

Her job was to do what MMF wanted, led by the Mulligans.

It was not her idea on C State, or any project, it was the Mayor and MMF team members.

They gave direction, she followed.

The directives came from the young time residents named above, not JG. She took orders. They gave them.

Its the manner Middletown has been run for about 40 years.

They are the conductors; she just played the trumpet.

This article reminded me of a discussion I had a few years ago with a Butler Cty assistant prosecutor, whom is still a assistant prosecutor in Butler Cty about a white crime incident involving forgery with a fairly seasoned and well known bank executive in the county.

Upon meeting the assistant prosecutor, he examined the evidence and clearly could take note, indeed, the document had been tampered and was a clear forgery, as the banker had simply scanned a document, created a new contract with a new year, and copied the previous signature years old into the new agreement. It was crystal clear.

During our meeting the assistant prosecutor relayed a story about how the system works in cases like this. He told me about previous prosecutor Holcomb, and how the county really only gets interested in crime matters on the physical basis. That is, in his words, "blood gets re-election wins and votes," not so much these white crimes. I clearly got his message.

This article is exactly the same. There of course were no achievements under Ms. Gilleand. If you could breath, you could win this award. In my opinion, I'd be embarrassed to win it.

A quick review"

1) Cincinnati State- gave away buildings to bring in a school losing money and offering 2 year degrees. Wow.

2) Greentree partnerships- Atrium partners with local institutions that may hire LPN's, RN's, etc from that school. Surreal, innovative, out of box thinking. Right.

3) PAC- City wasted cash to repalce presence of lost at sea Manchester. At taxpayers expense. Astonishing achievement.  I mean, she did get a new dance hall for 50 people to have their gala's right?

4) First regional school in Butler Cty? MUM has been offering as well as MUH for 30-40 years, two year degrees. Hello....is anyone home, is the elevator going to the top?

5) Movement from MCSD central admin bld to Donham- gosh, they left the bld so they could strategize on how to pass senseless levies (be prepared in May- vote no), and it was not a cost benefit at all....but to eliminate sunshine on them both.

Now back to my Holcomb analogy. Its all about dummy down politics. These awards are for dummies to think public servants are actually doing something of benefit. How many jobs were created? How much was tax lowered? Were roads repaired? Was crime reduced?    

These story and the award is really, Politics for Dummies. Isn't it time to measure achievement, and not ignorance?

Today's Journal....

Retiring city manager wins career achievement award

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown’s city manager was honored Thursday night at the Ohio City/County Management Association (OCMA) annual awards.
Judy Gilleland, who is retiring in June after six years with the city and 32 years in city administration, was recognized for her career achievement.
Gilleland called the award “a real honor” because she was recognized by her peers for work in the city management field.
“This award will be cherished,” said Gilleland who thanked Mayor Lawrence P. Mulligan Jr. for nominating her for this “prestigious award.”
Gilleland’s public service career spans three decades and includes service as assistant to the city manager and assistant city manager of Centerville and city manager of Pickerington and Middletown. According to the judges, some of her notable accomplishments in Middletown included establishing an arts, entertainment and educational district to revitalize the downtown and through a collaborative effort of the city, downtown stakeholders and the Verdin Company, a vacant building was renovated and became The Pendleton Art Center.
Building on this effort, Cincinnati State opened its first community college in Butler County in 2012, and now utilizes space in formerly vacant buildings. Gilleland’s efforts also spurred the development of the Greentree Health Science Academy on the campus of Atrium Medical Center and serves as an educational center for medical careers. This partnership of eight entities now serves as a state and national model for community partnerships and received the 2013 OCMA award for Intergovernmental Cooperation and the 2013 ICMA Community Partnership Award.
Another unique partnership encouraged the Middletown City Schools to move its administration offices into the Middletown City Building in 2013, resulting in new revenue for the city and cost savings for the school district, the judges said.
Gilleland, 52, also has received the 2013 Cincinnati ASPA Public Administrator of the Year award and the Award of Excellence 3CMA 2012.
Middletown recently hired a search firm to select Gilleland’s replacement. Mulligan said it will be a national search, with community interviews and council’s input on the management skills needed to “continue our forward momentum.”
During her tenure Gilleland, who earned $127,654 this year, brought “energy and excitement to creative projects that will have a lasting impact” on the city, Mulligan said.

THE ARTICLE LISTED THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GILLELAND BUT THEY FORGOT TO ACCURATELY MENTION THE IMPACT OF THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE END RESULTS OF GILLELAND'S EFFORTS HAVE NOT GROWN INTO THE GOLD MINE THEY ANTICIPATED. CINCI STATE, THE PENDLETON, THE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PURCHASE BUILDINGS WITH NO PURPOSE AND THE GENERAL THEME OF THE ARTS HAS NOT BROUGHT ANY IMPACT TO THEIR PRECIOUS DOWNTOWN AREA THAT THEY HAD PROMISED. INDEED, IF GILLELAND WON BASED ON HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS , THE REST OF THE FIELD MUST HAVE BEEN FAIRLY WEAK. THE BAR HAS BEEN LOWERED IN THIS CONTEST. THE WOMAN WAS NOT WORTH THE $127 THOU THE CITY PAID HER. WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM THE CENTERVILLE AND PICKERINGTON PEOPLE AS TO THE JOB SHE DID FOR THEM. THINK THEY WERE HAPPY WITH HER PERFORMANCE?

HUD has done NOTHING in  6 months.

Doug Adkins confident and is submitting applications for city manager positions outside Middletown, and for Middletown.

JG retiring.

Its over, determined their hands "clean."

 

Both state and municipal officials including council, have immunity from any action, legal or otherwise, unless criminal.

Obviously HUD determined there to be no criminal action or action would have been taken some time ago.

Its been nearly 6 to 7 months....no action taken. A slap at best, don't do that again.

Yawn.

To the victors go the spoils of war. Congratulations to Doug A and JG. Promotions are in order.

They took on HUD and won.

I agree Neil. Doug Adkins and Judy Gilleand took on HUD and won!

Doug should be named Middletown city manager; JG gets cm position in Cincinnati. Have to admire their fortitude to bring HUD to their knees. Promotions are in order and deserved.