City Manager!

Last post 06-11-2008 8:34 PM by Buzz. 6 replies.

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06-10-2008 5:54 PM

Buzz
Joined on 06-10-2008
Posts 3

City Manager!

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City Manager, Pat Wise

Mr. Neil Granath, is this why you have had so many uncandid actions over the last few years. Is this the way you want "your" city to be run? Can you answer the call for this one? Is it Neil Granath that has caused the upheveal in the Lovington, NM Commissioners Court? Is it Neil Granath that has lied to the citizens of Lovington?

With information being uncovered daily and leads being investigated, I would think it would be time for you to clean up your own back yard instead of trying to pluck a plank out of someone else's eye. Your eyes have been fiilled with logs for many years now. I hope you are proud and feel you have won your battle with the citizens of Lovington, but the battle has just begun. Your nakedness will be shown.

Citizens back Wise but resignation OK’d

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HOBBS NEWS-SUN

A standing-room-only crowd, including his mother and wife, attended Monday’s commission meeting to support him, but Pat Wise was nowhere to be found.
City commissioners unanimously accepted Wise’s resignation from the city manager position and named Assistant City Manager Charles Kelley to fill the spot until a replacement is hired.
Despite the unanimous vote, commissioners expressed reluctance to allow Wise, who held the position for six years, to resign.
“There’s nothing we can do except accept his resignation,” Mayor Dixie Drummond said. “I will not dishonor his wishes.”
Drummond apologized to the audience several times and said she did not like the situation.
“Nobody is happy with this,” she said.
Wise gave Drummond a letter of resignation last week. In it, he voiced a dissatisfaction with the city commission and an increasing hostility between him and the group of five.
In recent weeks Wise and the commission could not reach an agreement on his employment contract.
His last day will be June 17.
During Monday’s meeting, residents were quick to voice their disappointment with Wise’s decision as well as a dissatisfaction with commissioners’ performance.
“I think this is the worst thing that’s happened to Lovington,” Marsha Groves said. “You and all of us have allowed a Lovington icon to leave their office.”
Groves caused a stir by refusing to leave the room when commissioners voted to hold a closed session to determine who the interim city manager will be.
Police Chief Chan Kim and Drummond both spoke with Groves as audience members left the room. She agreed to leave without a police escort after Drummond and Kim explained state law about closed sessions to her.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Lovington Economic Development Corporation president Connie Sevier was not shy in her criticism of the commission.
“I don’t think we can send out a request for resumes … until we clean up our own house,” she said. “I think the commission needs to look at themselves before we start looking at a new manager.”
Sevier alluded to a recall election last fall, when residents circulated a petition forcing a special election to retain Commissioner Neil Granath.
A few weeks after Granath was retained, a second recall election was held to retain Drummond and then-Commissioner Troy Harris. Drummond and Harris were successfully retained as well.
Other residents urged the commission to work together to hire a new city manager and have a cooperative attitude with city business.
Former resident Dorothy Runnels spoke passionately to the commission and was applauded as she implored them to work together for the good of the community.
“What has happened the last two-three years has put Lovington on the map and it’s not a good thing,” she said. “There’s five of you. You’re all bright people and you’re all good people … make sure you work together.”
Monday’s meeting was attended by more than 60 people, with about half of the group sitting in the City Hall lobby watching the commission on a big screen television. Sound to the television, however, did not work.

06-10-2008 7:51 PM In reply to

ngranath
Joined on 06-23-2007
Lovington, New Mexico
Posts 5

Re: City Manager!

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Prior to 1955, Lovington had a mayor/council city government. In 1955, the citizens voted to switch to a commission/manager form of government. Probably since that time, and certainly in the past 30 years there has never been a formal search for a qualified City Manager.

New Mexico state statutes and Lovington's own ordinance clearly spell out the requirements for a city manager candidate:

"The manager shall possess extensive training and experience in municipal management under the NM municipal code for at least two years. ... The manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of administrative qualification... ."

Clearly, Lovington's most recent manager(s) did not meet the administrative qualifications quoted above.

This is an exciting time for Lovington! For the first time in a long time (maybe ever) the commission will conduct a formal search for a qualified candidate. This process will be above scrutiny and will bring an end to an era of small town, back room politics.

Those of you who throw stones at legitimizing Lovington politics might want to check your motives. How are you profiting from "back room politics" and why are you so against this move to legitimacy?

If you would like to debate the claims you posted above, could you please abstain from the argument ad hominem and bring this debate up to argumentum ad verecundiam. Then I would be happy to address any issues you have.

Sincerely,

Neil Granath, Commissioner, District 3

06-10-2008 8:31 PM In reply to

Buzz
Joined on 06-10-2008
Posts 3

Re: City Manager!

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I can state, formally and informally the PRESENT City Manager is more than qualified for the position. Have you taken a look at his qualifications and recommendations? If so, you will note, your personal qualifications don't stand a chance of even sitting in a commissioners seat other than one obtained from your "back room politics."

Must I quote, YOU are a representative for the people and doing what is right by law. Not supporting those with unlawful acts and taking away from the community in which we live.

Lawful means:

1.	allowed or permitted by law; not contrary to law: a lawful enterprise.

2.	recognized or sanctioned by law; legitimate: a lawful marriage; a lawful heir.

3.	appointed or recognized by law; legally qualified: a lawful king.

4.	acting or living according to the law; law-abiding: a lawful man; a lawful community.

Your actions and words have proven you are not the law abiding commissioner nor representative so promised in your campain.

When throwing your own personal agenda into the arena, the "back room politics" become more evident and profound.

It became evident during the County Commissioner Meeting, you are the one that has caused all the fall of Lovington's City Government and cannot admit to your short comings and failures.

As for your ad hominem and ad verecundiam argument, you are not the sole authority nor the only person having knowledge of this topic.

06-10-2008 8:54 PM In reply to

ngranath
Joined on 06-23-2007
Lovington, New Mexico
Posts 5

Re: City Manager!

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["Buzz" posted: "I can state, formally and informally the PRESENT City Manager is more than qualified for the position. Have you taken a look at his qualifications and recommendations?"]

You are correct. The present city manager is now more than qualified. At the time he was hired, however, he wasn't.

["Buzz" posted: "...your personal qualifications don't stand a chance of even sitting in a commissioners seat other than one obtained from your "back room politics."]

What back room politics are you referring to? I was elected by a majority of the voters in my district.

["Buzz" posted: "Must I quote, YOU are a representative for the people and doing what is right by law. Not supporting those with unlawful acts and taking away from the community in which we live."]

Enough of this babble about lawful or unlawful. I stand on my record and have never broken the law. What are you accusing me of, specifically?

Since you refuse to abandon this argument ad hominem, at least have the guts to identify yourself. What are you afraid of?

Sincerely,

Neil Granath, Commissioner, District 3

06-11-2008 5:07 PM In reply to

Ron & Marla Price
Joined on 07-11-2007
Lovington, NM 88260
Posts 81

Re: City Manager!

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Hello

Ron & Marla Price here........or as some of you affectionately call us “The Trouble Makers”. We have attended all of the city commission meetings for more than 2 years. And in all of that time we have NEVER heard ANY of the commissioners ask the current city manager for his resignation. They did how ever discuss an evaluation on him for the purpose of giving raises and direction “which is the commission's job”. As far as we can recall he refused the evaluation unless he had a contract. The commissioners have worked on this contract for over a year and a half and spent many taxpayers dollars in legal fees to perfect this contract that HE WANTED. He has REFUSSED to sign two different drafts. This contract was approved by the majority of the commission “not by any one commissioner”. So on this subject lets talk about an “at will” employee., everybody is an “at will” employee.....if your boss doesn't like your job performance then your out of there. But most of those “at will” employees are not lucky enough to have a contract that gives them a FULL YEAR salary and benefits if they are fired.

Enough on that...lets talk about grants. We all need to take our hats off to the assistant city manager. If not all the grants at least 95% of the grants have been brought in by him. This is part of the money that pays for your streets, sewer, parks, fire equipment...etc. Now lets get into the new equipment and the up grades on buildings and etc., each department head is pulled in for a budget hearing. This is where the department head brings his list of needs for the up coming year to the city manager. If the city manager agrees to what their needs are it is put into the city's budget. That city budget is then taken before the city commission for their approval. Once the budget is approved it still does not mean that everything on that budget will be purchased. We believe anything above $5,000.00 still has to go before the commission to be approved before purchased. So with that being said the commissioner's have every right to ask questions and request information so that they can make the right choices. If not for the commissioner's the employees would not have what they have today!!!

Some of you folks seem to have the need to jump on Mr. Granath for asking questions. What kind of a commissioner would he be if he did not ask questions. We guess he could just be a head bobber and then none of us would know where or for what our tax dollars are being spent on. Maybe that is good enough for some of you, but we are sure that is not good enough for the majority. It appears to be a group of folks that like to pick on different commissioners for one reason or another.

We are very proud of all of the commissioners for their efforts and hard work while they are learning and growing together.

No body asked the current city manager to resign, he did that on his own. If he is using the excuse that he doesn't like to be asked questions....it is like grandpa always said “if you can't stand a little heat then get out of the kitchen”

We fell that it is time for certain citizens to learn the rules and regulations of our form of government (commission/manager) if they want to comment or HUSH!

And May God Bless our city,

Ron & Marla Price

06-11-2008 7:49 PM In reply to

Farina
Joined on 09-26-2007
Posts 5

Re: City Manager!

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Dear Mr. Buzz,

You display the classic symptoms of a medical condition known as "a-ginge". You can read more about it here.

http://snipurl.com/a-ginge

First thing in the morning, you need to make an appointment with Dr. Mingle and have him take a look at that. I'm sure he can prescribe something for it. You'll feel much better; I know you will.

I know I shouldn't but I worry so... Promise me you'll get that looked at.

fo' Shizzle.

06-11-2008 8:34 PM In reply to

Buzz
Joined on 06-10-2008
Posts 3

Re: City Manager!

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To set the record straight, no one has said any derogatory comment about Mr. Granath asking questions. Correct??? Has anyone heard about the "Open Records Act" where a citizen has the right to all open records? Meaning, a citizen can walk-in to the court house and request an open record they wish to review. Stressing that this can be done by oneself, not disrupting a clerk from assisting another law abiding, tax paying citizen. In many counties, a strong city is built with a fundamental foundation consisting of resources, public school systems, and then work force. City Commissioners are strong supporters of the educational system and work hand in hand with educational leaders to build a strong force in the children that will be the leaders of tomorrow. Are ALL the Commissioners working toward the same goal, and supporting the fundamentally strong school district? The community knows the answer to this question. No, not all commissioners are supporters of the excellent educational arena here in our community. Why is that, one may ask?Is this a Public forum or is it run by an individual(s) that cannot understand NOT EVERYONE sees eye to eye with them and their personal agenda? "For those of you who may reply to this letter...if you are not willing to let it be known who you are then don't expect your comment to stay on this page!"

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