In the crush of election news, I never quite got around to writing about Mayor William Stortz's edicts in recent weeks that city employees no longer have web access to everything from Expedia to, well, the Bristol Blog.
The sites are blocked now by city computer, per the mayor's orders.
Naturally, this has riled up the workforce, who believe that spending a few minutes here and there online is at least as useful as dozing at their desks or wandering down the hall to chitchat.
One could even argue, as many of them do, that it should part of their jobs to keep an eye on websites like this one so they know what some portion of the public is talking about, griping about and wondering about.
The mayor, obviously, does not agree.
So when Art Ward takes the helm next week, he'll quickly be faced with the decision of whether to rescind Stortz's orders blocking access to much of the internet from city computers.
It's one of those "damned if you, damned if you don't" situations for Ward.
If he reverses Stortz's edict, some will say, then he's caving in to lazy city workers who just want to cruise the web instead of doing an honest job for the taxpayers.
If he doesn't, others will say, he's taking a hard line approach to the very employees who helped boost him into office with their money, time and moral support.
It's not for me to say which side is right, except that I would argue vigorously that blocking websites devoted to Bristol, including this one, is ridiculous. The online community for Bristol is just as real as Forestville or Chippens Hill, and attention to it is necessary for any government that's looking forward.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
21 comments:
I don't want my taxes to pay for these prima donna, spoiled, bums to debate, irritate me and waste time looking at anything that doesn't have to do with their almost worthless jobs.
this is ridiculous and is vintage Stortz. If supervisors are doing their jobs, there is no ability for employees to abuse the internet. Also, with the threat of the computer department doing periodic audits, who would be reckless? If the city has an internet policy, then it should be followed. If they don't, they should adopt one and enforce it and make sure people who are abusing it are reprimanded and/or lose the privilege.
Steve, you might want to check into the fact that he also walked around with the website report and got in employees faces about the sites they went to. He is something else.
It's definitely true that the mayor has got lists of which websites employees have visited and has confronted some of them.
That would make sense, of course, if somebody was checking out Who's Hot or Not? or some such thing, but when they're looking up a flight number on an airline site or checking out the news? That's harder to justify.
Stortz with a list... naughty and nice. Santa he ain't. I'm glad he's not flipping the switch on the Christmas tree this year. Hit the road, Bill, and take your mearn-spirited, vindictive soul with you. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
I voted for Johnson, but I think Art Ward should overturn this edict from the worst Mayor in Bristol's history.
This just goes to show you where that idiot's priorities have been for two years, and that's to screw city employees.
Overturn it quick Art, and remember this too shall pass.
Please explain to me why city employees should be allowed to read the papers, other than those dealing with the job such as Wall Street Journal etc, on taxpayer time.
Why should they be allowed to access sexually explicit websites, Pay Pal, Restaurant sites, Travel sites, Food Markets, Photo Pic etc, on taxpayer time, with taxpqyer resources?
I found out quite a bit, quite a bit that disturbed me as to why this has been going on so long.
I did find out that the city does have an internet policy, but one cannot expect supervisors to be looking over everyones shoulder: besides some of them apparently were guilty too.
The blogs are not news sites, they are gossip sites.
Those sites that are legitimate will be/are available, but again, things like land in Montanna don't seem to be vital to running the city.
What else is going on that the taxpayer is paying for?
Apparently the compter department has not been doing audits.
Boo hoo, poor city employees. They will have plenty of time to check out the internet when they get their early retirement and are collecting generous paychecks at taxpayer expense.
City employees should not be using the web while at work for their pleasure. It’s a waste of tax payers money, JUST like most company’s, they block most non work related sites.
If they want to read the Blogs, then wait till you get home and do it on your OWN time. It's like oh my god!, get a life and get to work you city employees. THE net is not yours to play with, that's for YOUR own time at home. I wish you guys worked for real companies,you would get fire for spending time online. This has nothing to do with politics or Stortz, who I cant stand, its about doing your job!
A couple of weeks ago, I asked the candidates what they thought about blocking websites at City Hall. I never got around to writing that story.
I aksed them this: , but here are some of the answers I got: "Should city employees be able to view local websites such as the Bristol Press, bristolct.net, the Bristol Blog and others while they are at work? Why or why not?"
The answers I got included these:
From Craig Minor:
"Yes, if it is work related. Each department is different so I would leave it to the department head to establish ground rules for this."
From Joe Geladino:
"I don’t believe city employees should be able to view these web sites while they are at work unless it is an implicit part of their jobs. That would be conducting a personal pastime on 'company' time. Most private businesses do not allow their employees to surf the internet while they’re on company time, and neither should city employees. The city should be run like a business, and city employees who surf the web while at work are stealing from the taxpayers."
Ken Johnson:
"I’ve obtained a copy of the 'City of Bristol Information Systems Policy.'
The policy states that 'Internet access shall be strictly limited to official City business which has been approved by the employee’s supervisor. Time spent on the Internet will be limited to that which is necessary to conduct official City business.'
It goes on to state: 'Any employee found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.'
It is my understanding that city employees receive a copy of this policy and are required to sign indicating that they have read and understand the policy. This policy appears to be consistent with similar IT policies I have seen elsewhere. Northeast Utilities, my previous employer, had such a policy. It was strictly enforced and I recall employees being terminated under this policy. I expect that most people who have computer access as part of their job requirements, whether in government or private sector positions, are subject to this type of policy.
First, as Mayor, I will not be ‘above the law.’ I insist that I be subject to the same IT policy as every other employee.
Second, here’s some quick, rudimentary math: The City spends about $100 million annually in employee salaries, wages and benefits according to budget documents I’ve reviewed. Let’s say a typical employee were to spend just one hour per year doing non-business-related work on their computer. That would result in $50,000 of taxpayer money annually to pay employees to conduct personal business at taxpayer’s expense.
Lastly, I have questions: Apparently this policy has not been enforced; why not? This is a matter that falls under the personnel department and I assume, therefore, that this policy has been approved by the Salary Committee and City Council. Where’s the leadership? The Salary Committee, which oversees pay and personnel matters, is chaired by Art Ward. Where does the Salary Committee chair stand on enforcement of the current policy? Also, I understand that in Art Ward’s capacity as a Veteran Services Officer, he is a member of Local 269 of Council 4. Enforcement of this policy could result in action being taken against a union employee (as well as it could be a non-union employee). If Mr. Ward is a government union member, should the people of Bristol be concerned about a conflict of interest? Couldn’t he potentially be involved in decisions involving disciplinary action? Should he be in such a position of influence as this is the case?
And, finally, Ken Cockayne:
"I can only assume that there are policies in place already regarding the use of the internet at work as a Bristol employee. If I were elected to the council, I would entrust issues like this to be handled by personnel and supervisory staff of the various departments, doing anything else would be micromanagement."
The sites are blocked from MOST of the computers at city hall EXCEPT MAYOR STORTZ.
I guess I'm one of the few, but I am an honest, loyal, longterm, hardworking municiple employee, so I guess I'll chime in on this one. The problem with the internet blockade city wide is that in the process of preventing slackers from recreationally surfing the web, Mr. Stortz has created a blanket "no internet" policy which prevents many of us from doing our day to day job. For example, the purchasing dept can no longer do research on future vehicle purchases, department heads cannot research future equipment purchases, and other depts can no longer search necessary data bases vital to the health, safety and welfare of the city and it's residents. I think more thought should have went into this decision.
November 8, 2007 2:15 PM POSTER:
give me a break!
I guess the "miniciple" employee isn't a spelling expert.
How did the 2:15 municipal employee get on the blog at that time if he/she was blocked from it?
Three possibilities:
1. The worker was at home or at another business.
2. The worker has a phone or laptop that has internet access.
3. The worker called someone who posted for him.
And I'm sure there are other ways to do it, including, no doubt, skirting the blocks. Some people are pretty savvy that way.
The fact that a city employee was on this blog debating is reason enough to block them.
This is the first time I have agreed with Der Fuehrer Stortz in a while.
Again, I chime in to set the record straight.
Yes, the city does have an Inernet policy, and no, it hadn't been enforced. The logistics of enforcement are difficult: prevention is easier with the same or better result.
My computer is no different than any other, and I do not use it for personal use or "surfing the web".
There is a policy that all employees are required to sign.
After the barrage of accesses to the web blog during the primary, the policy was again forwarded to department heads for distribution.
Subsequent analysis indicated that blocking of inappropriate sites would be more effective,
A follow up memo was sent out, indicating that blocking would take place, BUT, if use of any site was justified, calling Personnel or IS would probably result in unblocking, if only for that computere or department.
So far the response has been good.
Additional review will take place and I hope that this approach continues in place.
Like me or not, this is just good business practise, and the taxpayers deserve no less.
William T. Stortz
It's unfortunate that the Mayor didn't focus this much energy and ambition on things that really matter like the centre mall, all the boarded up buildings in town, the industrial park, the Robert's property, etc and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, prioritizing items is not his A-game. Mayor Stortz has always disliked city employees and always will. I have to go now, have to be at city hall by 8:00 AM.
I understand that if Mayor Ward overturns this decision which he should, the worst Mayor in the City of Bristol's history, Bill Stortz is going to spend his retirement putting in FOI requests to find out what city employees are doing.
If Mocabee, Schaffrick and Johnson are responsible for Stortz retirement than thank God for them and all they have done for the City of Bristol.
The majority of City Hall employees are hard workers. The Mayor enjoyed painting them as slackers. Vindictive? You bet he was and still is. He couldn't wait to get this story out. He salivated over it for weeks. Goodbye Mr. Stortz...you are one sorry man.
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