88 replies to this topic

[MikeinFolsom]

Phew!!! For once it isn't the Fire or Police Departments that are catching all of the blame...how refreshing.

[old soldier]

whats this about former city employees getting consulting $300 a day deals...who and how many and don't they have to post these tings...the foxes have taken over the henhouse...soon there will be no more chickens the way it seems to be going..

[Spincity]

Lofgren was booted because because her staff didn't like her and couldn't work with her. I make about 15 Department Heads leaving since she took over. A lot of good talent gone and not replaced at as high a level. This should have happend sooner. Council is not great to work for either, they need someone to lead in a professional manner and the council needs to leave them alone and do thier job. Not a clean cut issue as it appears on the outside.

[Ahnold]

Lofgren was booted because because her staff didn't like her and couldn't work with her. I make about 15 Department Heads leaving since she took over. A lot of good talent gone and not replaced at as high a level. This should have happend sooner. Council is not great to work for either, they need someone to lead in a professional manner and the council needs to leave them alone and do thier job. Not a clean cut issue as it appears on the outside.

15 Department Heads? Wow, how many departments do they have over there anyway?!? People mentioned the city attorney, the planning director, and Will Kempton (although he went to a more prestigious position) - who else left?

[Spincity]

15 Department Heads? Wow, how many departments do they have over there anyway?!? People mentioned the city attorney, the planning director, and Will Kempton (although he went to a more prestigious position) - who else left?

[Kerri Howell]

Martha Lofgren was not "booted". She resigned. She chose to go back into the private sector - she was not forced to resign, she is not at odds with the City Council and she is not leaving because of any issues with the Council - though I must agree that the Council can be difficult to deal with (quite a variety of personalities and opinions - though if we all thought the same, then we would not need 5 of us). She is also not leaving because she has a difficult staff - nor have 15 Department Heads left. Over the course of the last 6 years, there have been department heads who have left, resigned, retired, and died. They include the former finance director, Dave Sanders, former assistant City Manager Udell (who resigned before Martha became City Manager), former ACM Kempton is now the director of Caltrans (very prestigious, way more responsibility), Mr. Estep recently went to work for the City of Elk Grove, 2 Planning Directors (one who went into private industry and one went to work for Placer County), a former Parks and Rec Director (I don't know where he is now), a personnel manager, who went to work for Sacramento County and a City Attorney who went into private practice. I would personnally welcome some of these folks back to employment with the City, and some I don't really care to ever see them professionally again.

Has it occurred to anyone that some of these people left to purse other interests? Have any of you ever left a job on good terms, because you wanted to do something else, work for a bigger or smaller company, with increased or decreased work loads and responsibility? I know I have. I have worked for 6 Companies since graduating from college. I left every job on very good terms, and in most cases have been asked to come back to wherever I left. Why do some of those posting here assume that everyone is unhappy or left their job because they don't get along with their boss? That is simply not true. On the other hand, I am pretty sure that there are lots of people in the world who do not love their job as much as I do - in my real life as an engineer, I get to work on very interesting projects, I work with people I really like and respect, I get to travel to interesting places, and what I do helps society in general and the environment, by making pipelines and bridges safer. The bottom line is that we call it "work" for a reason, and that is why you have to pay people to do it.

As residents of Folsom, we owe Martha Lofgren for all of her hard work, diligence and all of the things she and her staff (both past and present) have accomplished over the past 6 years. Though I expect that she and I will remain friends for the rest of our lives, and I will continue to seek her guidance, opinions and advice on City matters, I will miss her greatly as perhaps the best City Manager Folsom has ever had.

[ducky]

Just to add to Kerri's list. There was also Mr. Storer, whose exact title I can't remember right now - something to do with planning. I am not entirely sure, but I think he left to work for the City of Elk Grove.

[Steve Heard]

Martha Lofgren was not "booted". She resigned. She chose to go back into the private sector - she was not forced to resign, she is not at odds with the City Council and she is not leaving because of any issues with the Council - though I must agree that the Council can be difficult to deal with (quite a variety of personalities and opinions - though if we all thought the same, then we would not need 5 of us). She is also not leaving because she has a difficult staff - nor have 15 Department Heads left. Over the course of the last 6 years, there have been department heads who have left, resigned, retired, and died. They include the former finance director, Dave Sanders, former assistant City Manager Udell (who resigned before Martha became City Manager), former ACM Kempton is now the director of Caltrans (very prestigious, way more responsibility), Mr. Estep recently went to work for the City of Elk Grove, 2 Planning Directors (one who went into private industry and one went to work for Placer County), a former Parks and Rec Director (I don't know where he is now), a personnel manager, who went to work for Sacramento County and a City Attorney who went into private practice. I would personnally welcome some of these folks back to employment with the City, and some I don't really care to ever see them professionally again.

Has it occurred to anyone that some of these people left to purse other interests? Have any of you ever left a job on good terms, because you wanted to do something else, work for a bigger or smaller company, with increased or decreased work loads and responsibility? I know I have. I have worked for 6 Companies since graduating from college. I left every job on very good terms, and in most cases have been asked to come back to wherever I left. Why do some of those posting here assume that everyone is unhappy or left their job because they don't get along with their boss? That is simply not true. On the other hand, I am pretty sure that there are lots of people in the world who do not love their job as much as I do - in my real life as an engineer, I get to work on very interesting projects, I work with people I really like and respect, I get to travel to interesting places, and what I do helps society in general and the environment, by making pipelines and bridges safer. The bottom line is that we call it "work" for a reason, and that is why you have to pay people to do it.

As residents of Folsom, we owe Martha Lofgren for all of her hard work, diligence and all of the things she and her staff (both past and present) have accomplished over the past 6 years. Though I expect that she and I will remain friends for the rest of our lives, and I will continue to seek her guidance, opinions and advice on City matters, I will miss her greatly as perhaps the best City Manager Folsom has ever had.

Kerri, That one has to be questioned and accused of all sorts of things is reason enough for me to stay in the private sector! I don't know how you folks do it. I don't think anyone is less appreciated for their work than public employees and elected officials.

[mylo]

Kerri, That one has to be questioned and accused of all sorts of things is reason enough for me to stay in the private sector! I don't know how you folks do it. I don't think anyone is less appreciated for their work than public employees and elected officials.

I dunno.. Given the choice between the SEC and Grumpy residents, I'd have to take the residents. Although, I'd probably tell them all to shut up and never get re-elected

Edited by mylo, 03 March 2006 - 01:21 PM.

[Robert Giacometti]

Kerri, That one has to be questioned and accused of all sorts of things is reason enough for me to stay in the private sector! I don't know how you folks do it. I don't think anyone is less appreciated for their work than public employees and elected officials.

Steve,

Do you fell the same way towards President Bush, VP Cheney and former FEMA Director Brown?

I would be the first to acknowledge we have some wonderful, talented and dedicated staff people working for the City of Folsom. Then again we have some who got their positions for reasons other than ability. This creates a terrible environment to work in and many times good people with integrity leave. Its not always the case where the Pasture is greener on the other side of the fence, its they just get tired of dealing with the BS in theirs. This can be a characteristic of organizations who have high turnover rates.

We also have some dedicated council members who are altrustic, who are trying to do what they believe is best for the City. Even when we disagree, I appreciate their efforts. Unfortunately, we have some council members who have an agenda that IMHO is NOT always altrustic. This is the cancer that needs to be eradicated, so staff can do their jobs!

I'd much rather have council members who I may not agree with but respect, than council members who I do agree with but DON'T respect.

Its easy to get caught up in the Political crossfires that go on back and forth. It is a complicated process for people to truly understand who is doing what....very few people can invest the amount of time needed to understand the complicated issues the City of Folsom faces.

Its even more difficult when those who could mentor to citizens, use their knowledge to mislead, perhaps to disguise their agenda.

[Steve Heard]

Steve,

Do you fell the same way towards President Bush, VP Cheney and former FEMA Director Brown?

I would be the first to acknowledge we have some wonderful, talented and dedicated staff people working for the City of Folsom. Then again we have some who got their positions for reasons other than ability. This creates a terrible environment to work in and many times good people with integrity leave. Its not always the case where the Pasture is greener on the other side of the fence, its they just get tired of dealing with the BS in theirs. This can be a characteristic of organizations who have high turnover rates.

We also have some dedicated council members who are altrustic, who are trying to do what they believe is best for the City. Even when we disagree, I appreciate their efforts. Unfortunately, we have some council members who have an agenda that IMHO is NOT always altrustic. This is the cancer that needs to be eradicated, so staff can do their jobs!

I'd much rather have council members who I may not agree with but respect, than council members who I do agree with but DON'T respect.

Its easy to get caught up in the Political crossfires that go on back and forth. It is a complicated process for people to truly understand who is doing what....very few people can invest the amount of time needed to understand the complicated issues the City of Folsom faces.

Its even more difficult when those who could mentor to citizens, use their knowledge to mislead, perhaps to disguise their agenda.

Robert

There is incompetence and cronyism in government as well as the private sector. My point is that anyone on the public payroll seems to be an automatic target for ridicule, rumors, and accusations.

Look at this thread. Some say Martha was driven out by evil City Council folks, others believe she quit in shame or scandal. Another thought it was because some dirt was about to be dug up. Others claim it shows a patern. Why can't she just want something different?

[camay2327]

Martha wanted out, let her go. She did a lot of good for the city of Folsom. Give her a break folks.

[DrKoz23]

There is incompetence and cronyism in government as well as the private sector. My point is that anyone on the public payroll seems to be an automatic target for ridicule, rumors, and accusations.

Great point. The incompetence in the private sector is probably just as bad as government. It is scrutinized more on the government level because the taxpayers are paying the salaries. Look at businesses that declare bankruptcy or close up shop. There probably is some sort of incompetency as to why the business failed.

Not to shock anyone... but there are plenty of hardworking government employees that take pride in their accomplishments and work hard to better their department or agency!

Look at this thread. Some say Martha was driven out by evil City Council folks, others believe she quit in shame or scandal. Another thought it was because some dirt was about to be dug up. Others claim it shows a patern. Why can't she just want something different?

Some people can't accept the reason why Martha left at face value. They always think there is a deeper story that isn't being told... even if there isn't anything there. They'll even go as far as starting rumors to stir the pot! Like you said... just look at this thread as to the many reasons why Martha left.

Maybe these people are why the tabloids are so popular.

I would be the first to acknowledge we have some wonderful, talented and dedicated staff people working for the City of Folsom. Then again we have some who got their positions for reasons other than ability. This creates a terrible environment to work in and many times good people with integrity leave. Its not always the case where the Pasture is greener on the other side of the fence, its they just get tired of dealing with the BS in theirs. This can be a characteristic of organizations who have high turnover rates.

If you don't think this occurs in the private sector as well... you really need to wake up to reality!

I do have one question for you Robert... is there anything you like about this city?

Edited by DrKoz23, 03 March 2006 - 07:16 PM.

[Robert Giacometti]

[quote name='DrKoz23' date='Mar 3 2006, 07:15 PM' post='101902']

Not to shock anyone... but there are plenty of hardworking government employees that take pride in their accomplishments and work hard to better their department or agency!

I believe I said the same thing in the quote you copied. This isn't the first time I have said this.

If you don't think this occurs in the private sector as well... you really need to wake up to reality!

When or where did I ever say this? There is a difference between the two...in the private sector we have a choice in where we choose to spend our money. If you are not happy with the service you are getting you can choose to go somewhere else to spend your money. There aren't a lot of choices in the public sector... so I choose to try and get involved to make things better. If you have better ideas on how to make things better let me know...I'm pretty open minded

I do have one question for you Robert... is there anything you like about this city?

If you knew me, you would know that I have consistently said that Folsom is the best place I have ever lived. Its the people, our friends and neighbors that make Folsom what it is! These people ( citizens) are continuing a strong tradition of giving back to the community through volunteer efforts that make Folsom such a desirable place to live. It frustrates me when we squander our tax dollars.....for example by buying out Mike Frost and Doug Udell for $250,000 ( maybe it was $350,000, I did have the budget numbers at one time) to bring in new city manager with no experience. It also frustrates me when the outgoing City Manager attempts to restructure the former Assistant City Manager's responsibilities causing them to be terminated and paying them in excess of $100,000, to leave when they already had another job lined up.

It is confusing to me that some of you can criticsize spending money on different programs that actually offer value to the citizens, yet call this waste of money....doing a Good Job! Maybe that is why serving on the council is such a thankless and impossible job?

DrKoz23, if you ever have a need or have a worthy project in town and need some help...give me a call....I'm in the book and you know my name.

[bobb]

Who was the best City Manager we ever had? Why?

They come, they go...but the City (Citizens) stay forever. We need people to step up and lead at the same time we need citizens who keep them accountable. Leaders can forget that they don't own there positions we have given them the privalege to serve us. If they don't we need to stand up and not be afraid to point out wrong doing.