Keep in mind that the members of the current council were elected in 2019 & 2021 so this council, as it is now formed, did not really start functioning until 2022.
Here is the info as I received it. I will have additional comments below the posting.
The figures above are interesting. The current council, as functioning as such has seen a net increase of 19 employees.
Now, let's look at another topic relative to this that the SM Post has been touting: the loss of senior staff, in particular former city manager Sunderman, former deputy city manager Gard and former city communications director Breithaupt.
Let's look at those three and the question(s) that IMHO the SM Post was remiss in not asking and/or pursuing.
Former city manager Sunderman: We've covered this one previously. They quoted him as saying his vision for the city was not the same as the council's. The council sets the vision. The city manager is an employee of the council and is responsible for carrying out their directions. Didn't the council direct him to do certain things that he did not do? Was his job on the line? Two questions that IMHO needed to be asked.
Former deputy city manager Gard: Were her feelings hurt that she did not get the job when Sunderman left? Check her credentials against the individual that the city did hire to fill that position.
Former communications director Breithaupt: She was promoted to that position from communications manager shortly before leaving. She was already putting in long hours by having to attend various evening meetings, special events and then with the promotion was taking on PIO duties for the PD & FD, putting her on call 24/7. IMHO the question that needed to be asked was, as an individual with young children how much did that play into her decision to leave for a 9-5 job? Was it her desire to spend more time with her family? Was that asked? I believe that the job she went to is a 9-5er for a commercial business.
When there is a major change in government leadership it is not unusual for there to be a change in senior staff.
There are four candidates running for office (3 for council, 1 for mayor) that are trying to use staff losses as a reason to elect them. IMHO, I think they need a lesson in government, even though one of them is a former council member, and was not an effective one at that. These 4 people are Sandifer, Burchfield, Whitted and Murphy.
Personally, I think the SM Post is a left leaning periodical and the four folks mentioned above are in lock step with that philosophy.
Sidebar: How come the SM Post has not reported that the current council is being very fiscally responsible, to the extent that projects are getting done (and when reviewed by this council at substantial savings) while the city reserves are sitting at 57% when the standard to achieve is 30%? And this with reducing the mill levy for the citizens.
