Republican city Councilor Ken Cockayne said he voted against the reappointment of Jonathan Rosenthal, the city's economic development director, because "it was really time for a change."
Cockayne, who serves on the Bristol Development Authority and will need to work with Rosenthal closely, said that he doesn't think the vote will have an impact on their relationship.
"He was always a pleasure to work with," Cockayne said, and he's confident that they'll continue to get along.
But it didn't take long after the vote for a public flareup to indicate that might be optimistic.
During discussion about a BDA contract change, the freshman councilor griped that the council wasn't given enough information by Rosenthal.
When Rosenthal said that Cockayne had heard all about it at the BDA, the coucilor snapped, "We're at the council, we're not at the BDA."
After Rosenthal restated much the same thing he'd just said, Cockayne stared at him.
"We can dance all night if you want," Cockayne told the development director.
Later, Cockayne explained that he wasn't going to back down.
"He came back at me," Cockayne said, but he needed to answer the question.
Cockayne added that Rosenthal "has a tendency to pass the buck. Any issues were never his fault. It was always somebody else."
Cockayne said that when someone errs, they ought to say so, not make excuses.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
12 comments:
I'm high on Cockayne now!
Maybe Cockayne ought to talk to and listen to others that might point in in the right direction. Stortz wasn't the only one aware of Rosenthals shortcomings and faux pas.
Rosenthal has to remeber he works for the City Council and needs to answer questions. If cockayne is the council liasion and is privy to some information that the city council needs to hear than he has a right to ask him to repeat it for the council.
The City of Bristol does not work for Jonathan Rosenthal. He works for the City of bristol and he better lean it.
As for Stortz..who cares give Ward credit for getting this behind the city even though it was the wrong decision.
Word is that Rosenthal upset a major taxpayer with his response to their request for help.
Anything to that?
Re: 3:14 Blog
You are correct. It was ESPN and I am sure Steve Collins has the details.
I have no idea what, if anything, transpired between Rosenthal and ESPN that would have caused any friction. If somebody wants to fill me in, I'd sure love to hear about it.
Steve, I assume you are at the paper. If you care to give me a number whereby I can contact you, I will be happy to fill you in on the details.
Ask Rosenthal.
Ask Leone.
Ask Ward.
That is how investigative repotying works.
Any body find out anything?
ESPN wanted to put a daycare in the Bristol Industrial Park on Middle Street. The rules don't allow daycare and that's what Rosenthal told them. Then he gets reamed for speaking truth to power instead of kissing up to them and offering to bend the rules for them.
Maybe it was how he told them.
And, did he keep his superiors informed?
And, it seems like regulations can be changed over time.
And since when is Rosenthal concerned about regulations: ie bidding procedures?
Would be nice to have a complete objective report and explanation.
Ken is a sucessful businessman ,no non-sense,he will make a good Mayor one day keep up the good work Ken.
Post a Comment