February 26, 2008

Chief operating officer still moving forward

I'm sitting at a stunningly dull Charter Revision Commission meeting where members are talking about the particularities of a possible chief operating officer who would oversee city department heads.
The panel chairman, Tim Furey, is pushing the idea hard. He said that adding the position would provide more oversight, more continuity and more efficiency.
Let me give you a flavor for this thing....
"Is this person going to have a term?" asked Ann Baldwin, an assistant city attorney. If not, she said, the term is automatically two years.
Furey said the contract could lay out the term and rights to any severance.
"It sounds like it's the better way to go," said Al Marko, a committee member.
Furey said that in business, the length of service effects their severance pay.
But that whole idea is now sort of dropped.
"We need to set up a special meeting to look at a fleshed out section for this," Furey said.
A public hearing will follow in March, officials said.
The panel's supposed to report to the council by April 4 so time is tight.
For a hearing, Baldwin said, the charter commission has to have a draft report finished so that people can read it before the final hearing.
Furey wants to know how simple the recommendations can be.
There doesn't need to be an explanation for the recommendations, Baldwin said, though perhaps a cover letter to the mayor and council will explain the rationales for changes sought by the panel.
Furey wants to know if the panel can refine its report after a hearing. The answer is yes.
Baldwin said that before the hearing, the panel needs to vote on what to include in a draft report.
After the hearing, the committee has to meet again so that it could make revisions in its suggestions, Baldwin said.
Furey suggests a meeting on Tuesday, March 11 and a hearing on March 18. The final charter meeting would be on March 25.
So by March 11, "by hook or by crook," Furey said he'll have something together for his colleagues to refine.
Now Baldwin is pointing out that March 11 is a council session.
Furey said he wants to finalize the COO position and prepare a report at the March 11 hearing.
The council would accept the report at its April 8 meeting and schedule its own public hearing on the suggestions.
Furey said the proposals will be fleshed out in time for the March 11 charter sessions.
I have no idea if the council supports the idea of a chief operating officer. It will be interesting to hear how that works out.
Anybody have any thuughts on this whole concept?


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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stunningly dull? Steve, isn't that kind of a contradiction in terms? You must be tired.

Steve Collins said...

Yeah, that's true.
But I remain awake and vaguely alert. The other two reporters who tried to cope with this session have already bailed. I don't blame them. And I can't say they've missed much.

Anonymous said...

Tim Furey must be stopped!!!

Anonymous said...

Furey is just another lawyer looking for more power. You're right he should be stopped. He wants to run the City HIS WAY !!!

Anonymous said...

Didn't Nicastro nominate Furey?

Anonymous said...

Bill Stortz created this committee and the members elected Furey as its chairman.

Anonymous said...

The mayor appoints the Committee.
Traditionally, and it was done this time also, each council member gets to submit a name.

Nicastro did submit the name of Atty. Furey

Anonymous said...

My goodness, is there anyone that anybody likes?

There seems to be a good deal of truly miserable people in Bristol living a miserable existence.

Lighten up, try smiling when you type. It may help lessen all the negativity.

Anonymous said...

Most towns go by the STATE mandate. By Bristol making more rules just add's to the problems....We have enough to worry about.

Anonymous said...

Who is TIM FUREY. Just what we need another wan a be.

Anonymous said...

Tim Furey is an arrogant, blow-hard lawyer out there for power and to make a name for himself. But give him credit, he's working very hard for it (at least in the public arena).

Anonymous said...

This would create another SNAFU.

Anonymous said...

...this is the most power hungry charter revision committee that I have ever witnessed let alone the least productive. the city should cast them all a life preserver with a short rope.

Anonymous said...

We will get to see the wisdom, intellect and courage of the Ward administration when they have to act on the report from the Charter revision commission.

Anonymous said...

...8:06am - way to go Homer - think that the only thing that you have going for you is that you can claim that your stupidity is inbred 'cause it is quite obvious you haven't been exposed to any form of development.

Anonymous said...

I think the 8:06 poster makes a good point. There's no need to speak of him/her in such a way.

The exception in my opinion is that I don't think anything this CRC is proposing is that great of an idea. With the exception of eliminating that the Dumb-o-crat Clown Committee* selects the treasurer every two years, the whole committee is a waste of time.

I think it's all just a bunch of grand-standing and time-wasting.

*disclaimer: It's be just as bad if the Bristol GOP clowns selected the treasurer.

Anonymous said...

8:15 sounds like a defensive Art Ward.

Anonymous said...

Add $200,000 to the budget.

MINIMUM!

Anonymous said...

$200,000 for starters!!

Anonymous said...

Two FULL TIME people to do the job that Nicastro and Stortz each did as one person????

One capable person can do the job: maybe all that is needed is another support person, which certainly would be a lot less expensive?

Anonymous said...

Of course Art Ward would like that arrangement.

He is in over his head, as was Couture, and does need help.