Warning: This post might not be “nice”, but after thinking about it for a few days, I believe it is right. Unfortunately, doing what is right isn’t always “nice”.
Late Monday afternoon on my way to a meeting, I ran into a City Staff person who asked me if I had seen the announcement about the new staff person in the Mayor’s office and the new Facilities and Sustainability Manager. I said yes. Then, this staff person, proceeded to get so upset they were red in the face. What upset this City staff person? The fact that this person felt that people who were much more qualified for the Facilities and Sustainability Manager job – engineers and architects – were turned down, and instead a person who was clearly not qualified for the job, a former Mayoral staff person, got the job. They felt that it was nothing but political favoritism. So I decided to look into it.
In the job description it listed
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledges, Skills and Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of facility planning and construction principles, techniques, practices, and materials. Thorough knowledge of construction plan review, cost estimating, governmental bidding and contract processes, overall building construction contract administration, and space needs analysis principles and practices. Thorough knowledge of environmental engineering principles and practices incorporating energy conservation, energy utilization analysis and building maintenance. Working knowledge of computer aided design systems relevant to building design and construction. Working knowledge of construction inspection techniques. Ability to plan, assign, and carry out a comprehensive municipal facility development and maintenance program. Ability to manage building maintenance and cleaning. Ability to prepare and evaluate working construction plans and specifications, determine appropriate change orders, and authorize payments. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and recommendations. Ability to maintain adequate attendance.
Training and Experience:
Three years of directly related managerial and professional work in directing a facility design and management/maintenance program, emphasizing cost-effective energy management considerations. Such experience would normally be gained after graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, or architecture. Other combinations of training and/or experience which can be demonstrated to result in the possession of the knowledges, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position will also be considered.
So, I asked for the application for the person who got the job. It’s fair to say that they listed none of the experience, knowledge or skills bolded above. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.
Here’s the experience listed:
Mayoral Aide, City of Madison April 2003 – Present: I am responsible for working with city agencies regarding issues such as, planning and development, environmental, transportation, and public works. I also am involved in developing annual Executive Capital and Operating Budgets, coordinating the Federal Appropriation requests, and tracking Federal policies. I have worked extensively with policy makers and community stakeholders through the City’s legislative process. Finally, I coordinated major policy initiatives of the mayor. Highlights of these initiatives include, adoption Inclusionary Zoning, an affordable housing program, implementing a new recycling and refuse program and negotiating the acquisition of 230 acres of open space in the Cherokee Marsh.
Deputy Campaign Manager July 2002 – April 2003: Developed a fundraising plan and raised approximately $200,000 for primary and general election through a combination of events, direct mail and phone solicitation.
Executive Director, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin July 1996 – July 2002: Supervised approximately five full time employees. Under my direction the members grew from 150 to 1000 members and the annual budget went from $21,000 to $150,000 through increased grants, advertising, donations and membership revenues. The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin developed bicycle education programs, produced state bike maps, published a bicycling event booklet and opened a Milwaukee office.
Administrative Assistant, Citizens Community Fund 1994 – 1996: Administrative: Payroll, Accounts Payable, etc. Human Resources: Health Insurance, Retirement Plans
Project Assistant, UW, Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources 1993 – 1994: Project Assistant: Assisted in organizing a conference regarding ethanol production in Wisconsin. The conference theme was the effectiveness of taking various biomass and agricultural waste streams and converting them to ethanol.
B.S. in Business Administration – Marketing UW-Stout 1993
It wouldn’t be so bad, but the position is Comp Group 18, Range 16. Which means the salary is $68,068.52 – $85,124.52. This is the same amount of money paid to a Senior Administrative Analyst, City Architect, Principal Engineer – Water, Personnel Services Manager, Principal Engineer IV, Transportation Planning Manager.
Bottom Line: This is not good government. That employee was right to be upset. I’m sure its not considered “nice” that I pointed this out, but taxpayers deserve to know.
