Resident Chad Lockhart said that towns that have managers have found they haven’t been good for labor.
“I went out and voted to try to get the mayor,” he said, and bringing in a chief operating officer undermines the value of an election.
“Before you know, you have a city manager who can do what he wants,” Lockhart said.
As they hold the position, he said, a COO “will get to know everything’s that happening.”
“It’s not good to have one person in charge of everything,” Lockhart said.
He said a COO “could lead us down a horrible road we don’t want to be in.”
Lockhart said he’ll “become a constant.”
“Can this town sustain the impact of what this guy’s going to get paid?” Lockhart said. “I don’t think we need another high-paid official.”
Lockhart said that in Meriden, a manager laid off a number of firemen on Christmas Eve.
Following suit, he said, “I’m concerned the numbers are going to get crunched” and they’ll do things like privatize the cafeteria workers, he said.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
8 comments:
Surprise, surprise!
The union is speaking out against the COO believing he/she will push for privatization of services.
What if the private service hired only union workers, what would you support then?
Unions = a stagnant, unmotivated, unaccountable workforce.
If the COO is going to push for privatization, then I support it, regardless of the salary.
We need accountability in all areas of government, even if that means there may be a threat of privatization.
God forbid we have someone in city hall looking for efficiencies and guarding the rights of taxpayers.
What's wrong with someone who is beholden to the taxpayers instead of the unions?
Good grief, the union members wouldn't be so concerned if they were doing their jobs and delivering the kind of service taxpayers deserve. What are they so worried about? No more three hour breaks for on-the-clock snow plow operators, no more having three guys watch one worker use a shovel, no more having three cruisers for every speeding stop/
Give me a break. There is a reason that every relative and friend of every politician wants to be on the city’s clock.
Efficiency in government? The entire thought sends a shiver down my spine.
Thank You mr. Lockhart ...
Yet another arguement promoting the NEED for a City Manager
9:08 poster, I agree with you! These union hacks get in and sit back to wait for retirement! We need to streamline the process! But wait, they might file a grievance because they have to work!
If privatization saves tax dollars I'm in favor of it!
People: Bristol has a record of NOT supporting those that while in office try to make the city more business like.
Until that changes, the same old people will get reeelected, mainly because of those that actually work for them duringthe elections.
We need change now get rid of the union .Put jobs out to bid and we will get our city back. We need more guys like KEN COCKAYNE. Work for us ken.
Good for Chad Lockhart, who ever the heck he is.
He's right.
Hey Chad, don't you work nights? Did you get time off to go to this meeting?
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