This law suit thing is really going to interrupt Dougie and Les's bid for city manger because now they have to hurry back to their offices and shred some more papers.LOL

over the hill wrote: Well here we go again Dougie has his but in trouble again because of what he has done to the landlords in Middletown. I wonder if council has had a chance to read this article? Do you think it will influence their decision on Dougie for city manager because now the city has to defend him AGAIN in a law suit? Well Dougie you might want to reign in some of that arrogance. IMO

NOPE. THE CITY PEOPLE WON'T ADMIT TO ANY WRONGDOING ON THE PART OF ADKINS, EVEN IF PROVEN IN COURT. HE IS ONE OF THEM, AND AS SUCH, IS ACCORDED THE TREATMENT EXPECTED FROM THE "IN-CROWD" AT DONHAM PLAZA. THERE CAN BE NO FOREGIVENESS NOR DISCIPLINE ADMINISTERED IN THE RANKS OF THE CITY POWER STRUCTURE IF THERE IS NEVER AN ADMISSION OR RECOGNITION OF GUILT FROM THOSE IN HIGHER POSITIONS. MOST IN THE CITY BUILDING IN HIGHER POSITIONS CAN DO NO WRONG. IT'S THE LOWER LEVEL WORKER WHO GETS STOMPED ON IF AN EXAMPLE IS TO BE MADE. PEOPLE LIKE DOUGGIE, LES AND MARTY ARE IN THE "NO-TOUCH ZONE".

OH, AND ON THE TOPIC OF ARROGANCE.....PROBABLY A REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE UPPER RANKS AT CITY HALL. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE EMPLOYED IN THE LOWER POSITIONS THERE. MUST BE A NIGHTMARE GOING IN TO WORK EACH DAY UNDER GILLELAND AND HER HENCHMEN. JUDGING BY PAST STORIES, PROBABLY A FEAR AND INTIMIDATION TYPE OF MANAGEMENT STYLE USED.

I think when push came to shove, Ms. Andrew would "fall in line" with the rest of them. She certainly is to be commended for her participation in the school debate topics here, but seems to take the "city voice" side of things during the debate. She has to show support as the School Board President whether she truely believes in the program or not. No independents, disagreeable/out of the box, or individual thinking allowed on the school board or council. Otherwise, you are labeled as (here's my favoite word).....DISGRUNTLED.

So much for independent thinking......or a new direction for that matter.

Marcia Andrew would be fantastic. She comes from a family with a financial and investment background, and she doesn't back down from a challenge. She knows Midedletown, its strengths and weaknesses.

Acclaro,
Assuming that you could find a private sector individual who would be willing to take it on I doubt if he would be hired. There appears to be a bias against private sector people.

A buddy of mine was between jobs and thought it may be a way to give back if he took on the Economic Development job. He doesn't need the money. The guy is a Harvard graduate, was the Executive VP of Sales for a Fortune 250 company, had developed multi million dollar deals. Had been VP Operations for a Fortune 250 company. Knew about everyone (at high levels) in heavy manufacturing, Middletown's forte, and was willing to commit for a reasonable duration. He didn't get a second interview and they hired Robinette.

I have about zero confidence that they would consider a person from private industry.

Hopefully one of the 5 is what we need. I haven't been following it very closely and don't know any of the people so I can't judge. I am convinced that it needs to be someone from outside the current administration though.

I thought that she sounded good also

acclaro wrote: Yes....private sector. For Middletown, not a requirement for existing 'stable' municipalities swOH75 Restructuring/ reengineering/ outsourcing experience a +.

I don't disagree.  In fact, Middletown should look to hire a retired CEO with turnaround experience, even if his or her length of tenure with the city is short.

Not sure the city needs another administrator who's going to stay 10 plus years, but someone who makes fast changes and lays the strategy for going forward. 

By the way, Mayor Mulligan AGREES with me!!!

Yes....private sector. For Middletown, not a requirement for existing 'stable' municipalities swOH75

Restructuring/ reengineering/ outsourcing experience a +.

Yes, yes, Vivian! I concur,,,

Completely agree processor.

swOH75, yes, more on semantics, a hybrid type responsibility. Middletown doesn't need a ceremonial mayor, which is a glorified city council member, but a full-time mayor type, or mayor in title, that accepts more economic development responsibility, image building, along the lines of the role the city manager of Hamilton has. This may be the type of hybrid Ken Cohen was referring, what I call an X Boxer, thinker out of the box. Heavy economic background combined with leadership, and financial acumen. I see outsourcing, smart-sourcing playing a critical role going forward. That may have been Mr. Adkins reference to "re-imagining" future roles, contract employees, outsourcing functionality.

You bring up a good point; perhaps the city should be redefining its job description before evaluating and making a hire for a run of the mill city manager based upon the past, not future.

acclaro wrote: Not always on elected....in larger cities, or mid size, around 50,000, a Mayor is full-time, and is very aggressive in partnership building, bringing in new business, and brand/ image creation.

Then the title is just semantics.  The really nuts and bolts comes down to the job description and evaluation criteria.

Cities like Dayton, Detroit and Cincinnati have full-time paid, elected mayors and full-time paid city managers.