City management companies were researched in NY state a few years ago. First let me say it is a good idea if it can work, that said
1. City management companies tend to thrive in states with little snowfall, That may sound weird, but the cost of maintaining roads in the north east in particular is prohibitive to private companies.
2 The Study also found that the private resources to conduct city and county management in NY State is lacking, believe it or not, City Management requires a specific expertise that is not YET available in NY State
3. Regulations on the STATE level in New York, make private city and town management cost prohibitive
4. What many of the cities that boast of cost savings for private city management, what isn't often stated is the cost of County Government expands almost equal to the savings that a city might enjoy.
The only area where private management is truly cost effective at this time in New York State is in Parks & Recreation and EMS [Ambulance] Service simply because there are several Private resources fhat support that function in this state.
I will dig up the study link and add it to this post when I get home, the study was specific to New York State.
Please note. I am not saying we shouldn't strive for this, on the contrary I support the Idea, but you have to recognize that it is not as simple as one might think to implement in this state.
Just because total municipal privatization is a bit out of reach at this time, that does not mean that many municipal functions can not be privatized or work in a municipal- private, municipal sharing etc
Weston Florida is among the most successful that I have heard of, in fact Bob Brown referenced it in the past, but there are many caveats there such as a county wide population of 1.5 Million and Police, Fire and EMS services all managed through the county.
http://www.westonfl.org/ the city website list several of the management firms that are involved, and note there are more than one
I think the surveillance cameras are an issue on side streets but I don't see it being a bad idea on main st or ellicott. I think there would be a big issue of privacy and misuse any where else
Are the two predominant Government Management services in Florida
They both play a role in Weston's government. It should be noted that these companies as well as others in the south are primarily regional and well in synch with the state laws and regulations in which they operate. We simply do not have companies like that in the North East.
And you are absolutely dead spot on, even in municipalities with private management firms involved, there are still elected officials and permanent city employes
They're kidding, right?
Last year according to SeeThruNY, Mr. Molino earned $92,601 and Ms. Kuzon earned $93,034. that's $186,205 to manage a city of ~ 16K residents. I think that's quite enough to spend on management thank you.
And this deal with Kuzon's title suddenly being different is just a game they're playing. She absolutely was the assistant city manager and despite her current title I'm sure she functions as same.
All that, plus we don't have a certified engineer on city staff because city management decided to play the "title game" and forced out a sitting engineer. What does that mean? It means when the city needs an engineer's opinion, they have to PAY for it.
Here's an idea, get rid of Ms. Kuzon and hire some bright young engineer out of school to be the Asst. city manager/Head of DPW. You could probably hire one for $60 - $70K and the city would be MUCH better off than it is in the current state.
Ms. Kuzon is head of DPW? Have you driven down the south end of Summit St, or the north end of Trumbull? Seriously? What are you waiting for Ms. Kuzon?? Those streets are an embarrassment.
We're already spending TOO MUCH to manage this city. We don't need to spend another $70,000 to add another manager for Batavia.
This issue kind of reminds me of my working days at Kodak. When ever an individual receive a managerial promotion, his first move was to hire an assistant to do the job he was promoted to. This left him time to politic for his next step up the ladder.
Mark i'm with you on the Mayor idea.We elect a city council but we only hear from an unelected official on what is good for the city of Batavia. All these new programs should be ideas coming from the people we elect .Who on council came up with free wifi for downtown or free electric for charging cars?..Why do we bother electing a city council when its Molino who comes up with all these ideas of adding jobs to the payroll or giving away something that should be done by the private sector?.He is the one who also is trying to redo the two year deal that was in place with Julie Pacatte. We were told that this position would be reevaluated after two years..If no progress was seen to show that her 65,000 salary was worth it .The position would be terminated.Instead he is adding 10,000 dollars in this budget to help pay this salary. This is up to city council not Molino. Sounds like another behind the scene's deal just like the asst manager job.
Lets no repeat the mistakes of the trash deal by working behind closed doors..
City management companies
City management companies successfully run hundreds of prosperous cities around the country.
Batavia should hire one.
Tim, Can you give us the name
Tim,
Can you give us the name of a few companies and cities to make our search easier?
I just got caught not paying
I just got caught not paying attention.
When was Sally Kuzon stripped of the Assistant City Manager title?
City management companies
City management companies were researched in NY state a few years ago. First let me say it is a good idea if it can work, that said
1. City management companies tend to thrive in states with little snowfall, That may sound weird, but the cost of maintaining roads in the north east in particular is prohibitive to private companies.
2 The Study also found that the private resources to conduct city and county management in NY State is lacking, believe it or not, City Management requires a specific expertise that is not YET available in NY State
3. Regulations on the STATE level in New York, make private city and town management cost prohibitive
4. What many of the cities that boast of cost savings for private city management, what isn't often stated is the cost of County Government expands almost equal to the savings that a city might enjoy.
The only area where private management is truly cost effective at this time in New York State is in Parks & Recreation and EMS [Ambulance] Service simply because there are several Private resources fhat support that function in this state.
I will dig up the study link and add it to this post when I get home, the study was specific to New York State.
Please note. I am not saying we shouldn't strive for this, on the contrary I support the Idea, but you have to recognize that it is not as simple as one might think to implement in this state.
As a side note to my previous
As a side note to my previous post
Just because total municipal privatization is a bit out of reach at this time, that does not mean that many municipal functions can not be privatized or work in a municipal- private, municipal sharing etc
http://cms.mildredwarner.org/local_restructuring_cases
Mark, Same question as I had
Mark,
Same question as I had for Tim. Can you give the name of a City that is run by a management company and the company name.
Some municipalities (most down South) have almost everything contracted out, but are still run by elected representatives.
John, Cornell University has
John, Cornell University has been doing on going studies on this for decades
http://www.mildredwarner.org/gov-restructuring/privatization
Weston Florida is among the most successful that I have heard of, in fact Bob Brown referenced it in the past, but there are many caveats there such as a county wide population of 1.5 Million and Police, Fire and EMS services all managed through the county.
http://www.westonfl.org/ the city website list several of the management firms that are involved, and note there are more than one
Those of us who do not have
Those of us who do not have web cams in City Hall aren't really qualified to comment on whether an assistant city manager is needed.
Great idea Gerry! Maybe
Great idea Gerry! Maybe that's where we can put the first surveillance camera!
If today's poll is really
If today's poll is really what most in the city of Batavia want our elected officials should be voting this one down..
I think the surveillance
I think the surveillance cameras are an issue on side streets but I don't see it being a bad idea on main st or ellicott. I think there would be a big issue of privacy and misuse any where else
John. CAP Government Services
John.
CAP Government Services INC
http://www.capfla.com/index.php
And Calvin-Giordano & Associates
http://www.calvin-giordano.com/
Are the two predominant Government Management services in Florida
They both play a role in Weston's government. It should be noted that these companies as well as others in the south are primarily regional and well in synch with the state laws and regulations in which they operate. We simply do not have companies like that in the North East.
And you are absolutely dead spot on, even in municipalities with private management firms involved, there are still elected officials and permanent city employes
They're kidding, right? Last
They're kidding, right?
Last year according to SeeThruNY, Mr. Molino earned $92,601 and Ms. Kuzon earned $93,034. that's $186,205 to manage a city of ~ 16K residents. I think that's quite enough to spend on management thank you.
And this deal with Kuzon's title suddenly being different is just a game they're playing. She absolutely was the assistant city manager and despite her current title I'm sure she functions as same.
All that, plus we don't have a certified engineer on city staff because city management decided to play the "title game" and forced out a sitting engineer. What does that mean? It means when the city needs an engineer's opinion, they have to PAY for it.
Here's an idea, get rid of Ms. Kuzon and hire some bright young engineer out of school to be the Asst. city manager/Head of DPW. You could probably hire one for $60 - $70K and the city would be MUCH better off than it is in the current state.
Ms. Kuzon is head of DPW? Have you driven down the south end of Summit St, or the north end of Trumbull? Seriously? What are you waiting for Ms. Kuzon?? Those streets are an embarrassment.
We're already spending TOO MUCH to manage this city. We don't need to spend another $70,000 to add another manager for Batavia.
Council needs to vote this down unanimously.
Precisely why we should have
Precisely why we should have a Mayor, Someone who is responsible to the electorate.
This issue kind of reminds me
This issue kind of reminds me of my working days at Kodak. When ever an individual receive a managerial promotion, his first move was to hire an assistant to do the job he was promoted to. This left him time to politic for his next step up the ladder.
Mark i'm with you on the
Mark i'm with you on the Mayor idea.We elect a city council but we only hear from an unelected official on what is good for the city of Batavia. All these new programs should be ideas coming from the people we elect .Who on council came up with free wifi for downtown or free electric for charging cars?..Why do we bother electing a city council when its Molino who comes up with all these ideas of adding jobs to the payroll or giving away something that should be done by the private sector?.He is the one who also is trying to redo the two year deal that was in place with Julie Pacatte. We were told that this position would be reevaluated after two years..If no progress was seen to show that her 65,000 salary was worth it .The position would be terminated.Instead he is adding 10,000 dollars in this budget to help pay this salary. This is up to city council not Molino. Sounds like another behind the scene's deal just like the asst manager job.
Lets no repeat the mistakes of the trash deal by working behind closed doors..