March 13, 2010

City workers need evaluations, councilors say

Thirty years ago, the city decided to create a merit pay system that would allow high-performing department heads to earn up to $1,000 extra every year for doing a stellar job.
What happened instead, perhaps predictably, is that everybody who could earn the extra cash got it after performance reviews showed they were uniformly terrific at their jobs.
When somebody got shortchanged one year, a political firestorm erupted, and officials agreed in the late 1980s to resolve it by dropping the evaluations completely while continuing to hand out the bonuses. 

Read the whole story here.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did Leone stop it by himself, or was it negotiated?

Anonymous said...

So pay for not doing a job? Gee where do I sign up for this incentive? No accountablity for dept heads? Its a free for all at city hall!

Anonymous said...

I think that some Councilors need evaluations!

And they, including the mayor, want four year terms?

Anonymous said...

Everyone should be evaluated,including supervisors.
We should also revise the charter to include a yearly option for the citizens of Bristol to vote no confidence for elected officials.
Why should Bristol residents have to tolerate ineffective leadership beyond 1 year? The city councilors are right about evaluting all city workers but they left themselves out of the equation.

blind said...

if the city council were to be evaluated today, they would all be in trouble.

Anonymous said...

And we need to evaluate Ward!

Anonymous said...

last year, when all the unions gave up raises, clothing allowances and benefits, did these department heads still get their "bonuses"??

Anonymous said...

All talk no action group. Start the layoffs.

Anonymous said...

Next election vote for none of the above. Need all new faces. HOPE to GET SOME EDUCATED ONES.Not bristol educated then will end up in the whole forever.

Anonymous said...

And how do you think that Ward would evaluate Rosenthal?

Anonymous said...

Ward will give Rosenthal high marks, after all who is going to run around for Wards campagin during worktime? Yeah Rosenthal did that and Ward knew it and looked the other way.
Artie needs to be aware that his skeletons can come tumbling down at anytime.

Anonymous said...

8:57

I agree, but that is what makes the employee evaluation system so laughable.

Lets just hope that the people are paying attention.

Anonymous said...

"Not bristol educated then will end up in the whole forever."

Huh??? Please tell us that YOU aren't "Bristol educated." (Talk about a real "whole") LMAO!

Anonymous said...

9:25: Don't worry. The people are paying attention. We know who's really screwing up, and it isn't Ward or Rosenthal.

Anonymous said...

9:14

Pray tell, who do YOU think is sscrewing up??

Anonymous said...

All the city hallers should have evaluations and start with ferguson.

Anonymous said...

4:18

You're kidding, right? Didn't you see the council meeting?

Anonymous said...

FERGIE plays the part very well. Ask any of the key guys she gives them support.

Anonymous said...

They protect them selves against checks. They got the union to save them . Time for the unions to go. Start putting salary caps in.

Anonymous said...

Hello theres only 8hrs in the work day.overtime for evals.

Anonymous said...

By law, City employees DO NOT work for the Council