The mail's been piling up, and we thought we'd attend to a couple of the more interesting notes.
This first one comes in response to our post about the 2009 City Council campaign season, which is just getting under way. You might recall that as background for the piece we included a video clip of former City Manager Glenn Southard's January, 2005, tirade against then-Councilmember Jackie McHenry. The whole thing was a power play staged by Southard, who was really more concerned about the potential for a city council that would actually tell Southard what to do without allowing itself to be manipulated by the Glenn-meister, or Slick, as he was affectionately know to a number of folks in the community.
In any case, here's our reader's reaction:
DATE: Monday, January 5, 2009 11:51:21 PM
SUBJECT: "glenn southard goes berserk"
TO:Claremont Buzz
Petulant unprofessional pathetic ranting child, pure toddler ego in desperate need of a superego to provide some slight hint of balance. (Did the man have parents?) I'd forgotten the visceral loathing the guy made me feel, and it all just came rushing back. Along with the blood pressure headache. What a pleasure to see him go; what a shame he didn't do it much sooner. What a major shame Claremont didn't have five people -- or even just three people -- on the City Council with the strength to stand up to their sad city manager and his infantile rage.
This video should be front and center every day that Bridget "I Talk to My BFF Glenn Every Single Day" Healy is up for a seat on the council. If you miss the Southard touch and want it back in your community -- Vote Healy! (Sound of vomiting.)
The other note of interest commented on the state of the city's finances and how that has apparently resulted in the city reneging on a negotiated contract raise and benefits to the Claremont Police Department.
The CPD and city employees may just be quaking in their boots with the prospect of former Assistant City Manager Healy's election to the City Council in March. Healy, whose job under Southard had been to keep the thumbscrews applied to the city's employee associations, won't have much sympathy for the CPD or any other city employees when it comes to talking contracts and benefits, even though she herself benefited mightily from the City's generosity those 18 years she worked here before following her master Southard's lead by abandoning Claremont for Indio in 2005.
Here's the CPD news our reader offered up:
DATE: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 10:05:26 AM
SUBJECT: Claremont PD info
TO:Claremont Buzz
Apparently the city of Claremont is having hard financial times. The city talked to the Claremont Police Officer's Association and told them that their negotiated contract raise (4%), their education pay, and their physical fitness reimbursement would not be honored this year due to their money problems. Feel free to contact any member of the Claremont POA or someone at City Hall to confirm.
I learned this information directly from a Claremont PD officer. Thanks.
At least this news means we can probably expect Claremont City Manager Jeff Parker's pay raise to be fairly small - 3% or less would seem fair and reasonable in this economy. Parker's raise, which the city council discussed in closed session last month, should be announced soon.
Parker's generally been a straight-shooter, and you'd think he wouldn't want to undermine his staff's morale by getting greedy and asking for the moon with his performance evaluation, especially at a time when the staff is being asked to make great sacrifices. Of course, even if by some chance Parker did asked for a high raise, the love the council might want to show Parker would be tempered by all the revenue losses and potential budget cuts they face. So we shouldn't expect to see too much movement with Parker's salary.
Posts
