Update: Click here for my Channel 4 Action News story,
"Ravenstahl Wants Department Heads To Resign".
(I've also reposted this blog entry to repair some software-related missing text.)
"Ravenstahl Wants Department Heads To Resign".
(I've also reposted this blog entry to repair some software-related missing text.)
When he launched his first multi-player shakeup, I blogged that "the mayor hints he's not done, saying there could be 'perhaps a reshuffling of the entire fifth floor.' "
Looking back, we now see that late April was an especially eventful week for Mayor Ravenstahl. That Monday, he made his much-discussed trip to Oakmont to meet Tiger Woods. That Friday, he removed then-Press-Secretary Dick Skrinjar from his role as the mayor's top communications advisor .
At the start of May, I noted that it was unusual to vacate such a high-ranking post without having someone waiting in the wings. Days after the change, the Mayor said Skrinjar's permanent replacement would be in place within four weeks. So far, it's been more than six weeks and the mayor says he's more than a hundred resumes have crossed his desk. The city website now lists December 31st, 2007 as the last day to apply.
Councilman Jim Motznik tells me: "I've heard the rumor of the street that I wanted to be the public works director and the mayor has offered me the position, and that's not correct. I haven't been offered the public works director job, and I'm not interested in it."
Last night, after 7 pm, the mayor's office issued this news release:
Mayor to Conduct National Search for City Director Candidates
Ravenstahl Asks For Resignation of All Directors Not Appointed on His Watch
[PITTSBURGH] June 14, 2007 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl asked for resignation letters from current City of Pittsburgh departmental directors and board chairs of the Pennsylvania Water and Sewer Authority, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Pittsburgh Parking Authority today in an effort to take a new look at how our city departments and authorities can better serve Pittsburgh. All directors not appointed by Mayor Ravenstahl have been asked to serve the City in an acting capacity and are encouraged to reapply for the position in order to prove they are the best person for the job.
“All Directors are admirable colleagues of mine who have been working very hard,” said Mayor Ravenstahl. “However, I am not satisfied with the condition of City government. As Mayor, I owe it to the people of Pittsburgh to build our government with the best people who are capable of doing the best job. Leadership may need to change, but I am making a tough decision in order to ensure that this City is heading in the right direction.”
A national candidate search will take place effective today in order to put the best possible team in place to serve the city. The process will take a period of time. The market will dictate the level and scope of applicants and in turn create the timeline.
The following directors were already appointed by the mayor: City Planning Director Noor Ismail; Fire Chief and Public Safety Director Michael Huss; Police Chief Nathan Harper; Personnel Director Barbara Trant; Budget Director Scott Kunka."
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4 comments:
Does Barbara Trant have any experience in conducting national searches? Things like this happen often after general elections or at the start of an administration (using a transition team), but isn't this unusual (and disruptive) for nearly a year into a Mayor's term? Did the Mayor give specific or general metrics on how the city is doing that he is dissatisfied? How will we look for candidates for ten positions nationally? How will this be paid for? With the Mayor’s campaign money? How will this affect moral in city government, with a Mayor who can act this capriciously? Will Bill Peduto hold the Mayor to ninety days? How? Will we use a headhunter firm, since ninety days is a pretty short period for a change of this magnitude? Is the Mayor using the term “national search” because he thinks it sounds impressive? Isn’t this denying the Council candidates who beat incumbents any say in the choices for these positions, isn’t it allowing Council persons who were voted out the chance to take it out on their districts? Is this an example of transparency in government, dropping a bomb on a Thursday night? Some people say this was handled better than the Skrinjar firing, because the department heads are staying on as “acting”. I think this is just throwing fear, uncertainty and doubt into city government.
One more question: based on this quote from the Trib "The City Code sets the clock at 90 days for the acting directors Ravenstahl has named. After that, City Council must approve a permanent replacement." Does that mean the Council can make the pick, or can only approve from choices offered to them? If the Mayor drags his feet, could the choices be taken away from him?
Ed, let me take a shot at your questions.
1) Does Barbara Trant have any experience in conducting national searches?
I don't know. If not, she could have plenty soon.
2) Isn't this unusual for nearly a year into a Mayor's term?
Yes, but the circumstances of his taking office were unusual as well.
3)..and disruptive...?
To quote a TV news reporter cliche, "Only time will tell. Back to you, Ed."
4) Did the Mayor give specific or general metrics on how the city is doing that he is dissatisfied?
He did not provide specifics when asked.
5) How will we look for candidates for ten positions nationally?
The mayor mentioned the possibility of using a "headhunting" firm.
6) How will this be paid for? With the Mayor’s campaign money?
It would appear that the options are the budgets of mayor's office or the personnel department, or the general fund. There's been no indication this would involve campaign funds.
7) How will this affect morale in city government...?
See Item 3.
8) Will Bill Peduto hold the Mayor to ninety days?
One member of council alone would not have the power to hold the mayor to anything.
9) How?
Council has not attempted to enforce the 90 day limit for Acting City Solicitor Specter, who has served eleven months so far. It's not clear whether the positions could be vacated by council. Hypothetically, perhaps the mayor could then name a different cast of people as acting directors.
10) Will we use a headhunter firm, since ninety days is a pretty short period for a change of this magnitude?
See Item 5.
11) Is the Mayor using the term “national search” because he thinks it sounds impressive?
...a rhetorical question?
12) Isn’t this denying the Council candidates who beat incumbents any say in the choices for these positions?
Based on the calendar, yes... though if the positions had not been vacated, they would not have had a say on these posts either. Off the top of my head, I can't recall any Pittsburgh council ever rejecting a mayoral appointee.
13) Isn’t it allowing Council persons who were voted out the chance to take it out on their districts?
I've seen nothing to suggest they'd actually vote for unfit nominees in order to hurt constituents who had spurned them.
14) Is this an example of transparency in government, dropping a bomb on a Thursday night?
I'm not sure it would have been more transparent or less of a bomb to anyone by doing it on a Monday morning.
15) Does that mean the Council can make the pick, or can only approve from choices offered to them?
Council cannot nominate department heads. They can only vote the mayor's nominations up or down.
16) If the Mayor drags his feet, could the choices be taken away from him?
I don't believe there's any forfeit of the mayor's power to nominate directors.
Four more questions, then we're on to the Lightning Round.
Bob,
Peduto said in today's council meeting that Luke has no authority to fire any Authority director. (URA, Parking, PWSA, etc) According to Bill, those directors serve at the pleasure of their respective boards and it would be their boards that would have to can them if anyone did.
Isn't Luke privy to a current copy of the rules and regs of governing the city? If not, maybe you media guys should chip in and get him one.
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