Veteran Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski said Tuesday he won’t support the proposal to create a chief operating officer at City Hall.
Rimcoski said he didn’t like the idea of a city manager and by opting instead for a junior version of the job “they haven’t done anything to change my mind.”
After weighing arguments made by businessman Craig Yarde in favor of a charter change to allow the new full-time position, Rimcoski said he’s simply not convinced.
He said he respects Yarde as a businessman, but can’t forget that Yarde moved his metal distribution company to Southington.
“The guy moved out of town,” said Rimcoski, one of two GOP council members.
Rimcoski said he was particularly unconvinced with Yarde’s defense of Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director, whom Yarde has praised often.
Yarde “moved out of Bristol because of a failure” of the Bristol Development Authority, Rimcoski said. He called Rosenthal’s handling of the effort to build a new industrial park “a fiasco.”
The industrial park beside the former Superior Electric on Middle Street was originally envisioned, in part, as a possible location for Yarde Metals to expand.
But when an eminent domain legal case involving the Bugryn family got tied up in court for years, Yarde moved out of town rather than wait.
Rimcoski said that when the case dragged out, “we never had a plan B” to keep Yarde Metals.
“Only later did I realize we never had a plan A either,” Rimcoski said.
But the industrial park that’s under construction now is essentially the same one that former Mayor Frank Nicastro declared essential more than a decade ago. Officials said the city needed prime industrial lots in order to lure new factories to town.
Yarde said recently that a good argument for creating a chief operating officer is to make sure department heads such as Rosenthal are closely supervised.
Yarde said that Rosenthal did well working with him and he’s been impressed with the development director’s efforts over the years.
“If Mr. Yarde is so enthralled with Mr. Rosenthal, I think he should try to hire him,” Rimcoski said.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
21 comments:
Rimcoski voting no on an issue -- what a surprise. Don't they call him Dr. No?
Voting no because Yarde failed to convince him otherwise and he doesn't like the fact that Yarde backed Rosenthal -- strange logic.
Also since Nicastro was the one to start this SE industrial process and the eminent domain legal case involving the Bugryn family got tied up in court for years delaying the park how is this the fault of the BDA?
Rimcoski seems like an interesting individual always has an opinion but is never part of the solution.
Right on Mr. Rimcoski!!
You have my vote and my gratitude.
Rimcoski is a good-man. but he lacks the same skills all 4 Mayors in the last 16 years have had....Economic planning! Not one of them has a degree for this sort of thing. Look around Mike! This city is a dump! Big whoppie the mall is down - things are looking better...When? For how long? Whats the citys 25 year vision? Wait - theres a question, what is the citys vision for the next 25 years or even 5 years? You cant have one because we elect a mayor every 2 years!!! Hello! The taxpayer deserve more then your freindly faces you see in town that help with resolving your pot-hole issues. We need a person that thinks out of the box and will generate and use city tax dollars wisely! So come on Mike lets think about your desecion one more time, is the city really moving forward with the process we have in place right now?
"He said he respects Yarde as a businessman, but can’t forget that Yarde moved his metal distribution company to Southington.
“The guy moved out of town,” said Rimcoski, one of two GOP council members."
What bizarre reasoning. Rimcoski doesn't approve of Craig Yarde's business dealings, ergo, anything Craig Yarde supports is bad, ergo, the Town Manager idea is bad. This is actually a typical example of what passes for "thought process" with Councilman Rimcoski.
Thank God for Mike Rimcoski
MR RIMCOSKI like to here himself talk. he thinks people listen to him. he is another union supporter.
I think that part of the logic that Mr. Rimcoski used that once the land was acquired, Mr. Rosenthal has not made the most of the opportunity, from missing meetings, over runs and the like.
But basically, I gather that he does not think it a good idea even without the side discussion.
One thing about Mike, he doesn't hesitate to speak up. The rest of the council are pipsqueaks when you compare them with Mike. They chirp while he bellows.
Well, I don't respect Blowhard Yarde. He has sat on the sidelines all this time, the extent of his participation is donating money, and now he thinks he is an expert in city government.
So that's your standard for leadership: spouting ignorant opinions loudly. That's what gets people like him elected, and that's why we get the government we deserve.
Although in his recent release to this blog, Craig Yarge convinced me that we may need a professional city manager in one form or another, I do respect the idea of voting "no" on this.
I don't however respect the reasoning that one can't agree with Yarde because of a business decision he made in the past. It's hard not to think that someone is telling Rimcoski what to do in this case. My guess is that it's Bill Stortz who I believe has made critical posts here on this blog against Yarde's proposal. I also believe Rimcoski may have felt political pressure from Ward on this.
The reasons that were sited in this article I suspect are not all of Mike's reasons for not supporting a COO. He hasn't been a cheerleader for this since day one.
I agree with him that it isn't a wise move at this point. Too much too fast that could blow up in our faces if it doesn't turn out right. I think they should start on a smaller scale - maybe an Aide to the Mayor to begin with and then determine from there what is necessary in terms of a COO and the responsibilities of the position.
You have to remember that a COO could manage the department heads, but overall the final say everything rests in the Mayor's hands. So if a Dept Head isn't happy with something the COO says or does, they can go over that persons head right to the Mayor.
Most of the department heads are competent enough that they don't need a babysitter. Never mind a babysitter that will get paid 6 figures.
Rimcoski makes no sense on his reasoning. Yarde was somewhat critical at how Rosenthal's situation has been handled. He qualifies these remarks by first stating that his dealings with him directly were positive, but that from what he has heard there have been other problems, like the ones that Rimcoaki made reference to. Rimcoski's concerns with Rosenthal are a prime example of why a COO would be beneficial. They could have been managing someone like Rosenthal and keeping a close eye on what was happening. Perhaps there could have been a record of his misdoings. But as it stands now, we simply have councilmen like Mike and Cockayne frustrated with his performance, but without any recourse to do anything about it.
Thanks Mike for your convoluted reasoning. You should have just said I am voting no b/c I don't like Yarde and he supports it, just like you voted no to the Scalia site b/c you don't like them. We shouldn't expect anything more from an old man like you who simply differs to the mayor and does whatever possible to not ruffle feathers. Take the easy way out, don't take any risks, and just maintain your position. You are not part of the original old guard West End Boys, but you might as well be.
So much for moving Bristol Forward. That statement actually implies being forward thinking and progressive. What a joke!
You say the department heads don't need a babysitter...so by that reasoning, major corporations don't really need a CEO since each vice president certainly know how to do his job. People say they want government to be run like a business. Well, here's your chance Bristol.
Mike never does make any sense on his reasoning, so why should this be any different? Here's what he does: (1) puts his finger in the air to see what 51% of the voters want to hear; (2) thinks up some folksy quip to show everyone what an aw shucks kinda guy he is; (3) votes as dictated by step one.
There is a big public hearing to discuss this matter on May, 5. I believe everyone should attend and hear what the public wants. After all, the council and mayor work for the taxpayers. I would suggest everyone on the council and mayor to wait for the hearing before deciding. Ultimately, the public will have the final say at a referendum next November. Mr Rimcoski, Yarde Metals did not move
out of Bristol. We still have our facility on Enterprise Drive. We never moved out of town rather all our growth went to Southington because mayor Nicastro and the BDA could not keep their promise to build the new industrial park on a timely manner. Ten years would have put us out of business. But I agree with you to never trust anyone who leaves this town. Craig Yarde
I don't think that most department heads need a babysitter. They function fine with the guidance of the Mayor. Having a COO that is solely responsible for babysitting the department heads at a cost of 6 digits a year is rediculous.
Have the Mayor hire someone to handle his daily office tasks so he has more time to work with the deparment heads.
"Ultimately, the public will have the final say at a referendum next November."
But isn't the first step to get the council to agree to move this issue to referendum?
In other words if the council vote this down doesn't it mean that it does not get to the voters?
That is correct. If the council votes it down,it won't be on the ballot.
Anonymous said...
Well, I don't respect Blowhard Yarde. He has sat on the sidelines all this time, the extent of his participation is donating money, and now he thinks he is an expert in city government.
April 22, 2008 6:31 PM
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HEY !!!! If it wasn't for Craig , the police wouldn't have their tank now .
And ... believe me that tank will come in very handy for the blight nazis' in their campaign for the ethnic cleansing of Bristol .
There is a big difference between a COO and a Town Manager.
I hope that that is made very clear to everyon.
Craig, how many Bosses did your company have? Did you split all the responsibility?
Russia tried a troika, but tha didn't work.
There can be only ONE person in charge.
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