News roundup: "Secret" meetings at City Hall?

Posted by Philip Anselmo on May 21, 2008 - 8:02am
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Check out WBTA for these and other stories:

• Dan Fischer writes:

"Personnel problems continue to plague Batavia City Hall. The city council held a hasty secret meeting this morning to deal with, "a personnel matter," City Manager Jason Molino said today. He declined further comment.

The executive session was called for last night and took place at 7 this morning. Just barely within the required time frame. The meeting lasted a little less than an hour.

In the last six months, three key city hall department heads have either quit or retired."

• School budgets in every Genesee County district were approved yesterday. Elba had the closest vote (144 to 109).

• Investigation into the Byron blaze that claimed the lives of four family members continues. The apartment building where the fire broke out has been demolished, and a "makeshift memorial" has been erected by the roadside.

Posted by Charlie Mallow on May 21, 2008 - 9:04am
I really dislike that headline and the implications behind the story. Council can’t discuss people’s personal job performance or job matters in public, that’s a fact. We did what we could to inform the public that a discussion would be taking place but, there was an issue that needed to be discussed before city staff came to work this morning. The use of the word “secret” is insulting. The meeting wasn’t secret, the fact that the meeting is being reported in the media makes that term improper.
Posted by Charlie Mallow on May 21, 2008 - 9:08am
I also understand that headline isn't comming from The Batavian.
Posted by Howard Owens on May 21, 2008 - 10:07am
Well, we'll owe up to the headline, though also note the question mark and that WBTA used the word in their coverage.

That said, there is something pretty sensational -- when you consider the recent history involved -- of such a quickly called personnel meeting.

It's safe to assume, I imagine, that the City Council isn't meeting in an emergency session just because a maintenance worker quit.

How soon will you be able to tell us what's going on?

Given that this was an issue that had to be resolved prior to staff coming in, it sounds important, with public implications, and that it is likely resolved by now, so will an announcement becoming soon?

The perception left by circumstances is this is a rather significant issue. So, yes, we're very curious as to what is going on.
Posted by Charlie Mallow on May 21, 2008 - 12:25pm
All issues that revolve around personnel are important issues for the city. Just like any other work place, things need to be handled in a proper way. This type of quick reaction happens in the private sector every day. Supervisors or in this case council needed to be brought up to speed about a personal issue. It wouldn’t be fair to our employees to discuss a private matter in a public form. Such discussion held in public could result in a liability issue for the city as well. It’s also just not fair to people who earn their living working for the city, to expect them to work in conditions were their employment issues would be shared in a public forum. Even in an “Open Government” people’s privacy needs to be respected, that is also stipulated in the state laws revolving around this issue.