Cleaning up the Copeland Council's mess (2nd update)

Tad Vezner And Elizabeth Mohr have produced a precise recap of the Copeland years in the March 26, 2008 Pioneer Press Maplewood sorting out City Hall financial mess. Please read the entire article. Here's a sample of the "blame-throwing" tone of the Copeland Council***:

Longrie defended Copeland, touting his accomplishment of writing a 2008 budget with no tax levy increase. She said much fault in the finance department lies with Bauman. The mayor accuses Bauman of "leaving land mines" and not passing on knowledge before she left.

[Update 3/26 1:00 PM]

Since a council process for hiring a new city manager is on the current agenda, relevant councilperson observations from the article should be part of our record.

First, on the importance of the decision to hire a specific city manager:

Seven months later, at a 2 a.m. meeting ostensibly called to establish the search process for a permanent city administrator, Hjelle introduced a motion to make Copeland the manager permanently. Longrie and Cave voted with Hjelle in approving the motion.

"I took a huge leap of faith. I thought, you know, what the hell harm can he do?

[emphasis added]

Commentary: Perhaps Mr. Hjelle should be reminded that the city manager of Maplewood controls a $39,700,000 annual budget, $171,000,000 in assets*, a large work force including 50 or so armed police officers, and not so indirectly the value of your property and mine.


Secondly, on the process for hiring a city manager:

"He (Copeland) was hired to do their bidding," said Nephew, whose November 2007 election ousted Cave from the five-member council and created the new majority that forced out Copeland.

Longrie dismisses such charges. She says she "cold-called" Copeland — described as a sporadic acquaintance she first ran into in 2001 — because of his background**. And because he had no connection to Maplewood.

But he did have a connection to the mayor.

[emphasis added]

Commentary: In contrast to 'cold-calling', here from the current packet is Ms. Longrie's view of how to hire Mr. Copeland's replacement.

Stephan
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* year end 2006. One consequence of the situation described in the article is that we, at least we citizens, do not know what this number is as of year end 2007.

** see the balance of the article for a review of the background Ms. Longrie found so attractive.

*** updated 3/27 9:30am. My original sentence 'Here is a sample of the tone' could have been interpreted as reinforcing the content of the quote from Ms. Longrie, rather than my actual intent which was to illustrate her attempt to defend Copeland (and by inference herself) by blaming departed staff members. Stephan