From the amount of feedback I’ve received indicating that I’m “greedy,” I believe some readers of the July 7 Sun Journal article, “Auburn manager receives pay raise, contract extended,” misinterpreted my statement, “I love the city of Auburn, but I think I deserve a little better than this.”
The Sun Journal editor highlighted the quote in a pullout box, but when read along with the headline, it’s no wonder people concluded or thought I was being greedy. The headline and the quote were two different thoughts but when combined or read as one, it led the reader to the wrong conclusion.
The comment had nothing to do with wages. It had everything to do with the fact the City Council would not enter into a legal executive session to complete my evaluation. My raise was for last year and consistent with what other eligible employees received. Since I was hired at the end of a fiscal year, I was one of the last to be reviewed.
An efficiently managed city starts with a strong supportive relationship between the City Council and city manager. The evaluation process fosters that relationship as it gives both parties an opportunity to discuss performance, expectations, goals and more; all within a private setting, which is permissible by law.
My quote, “I love the city of Auburn, but I think I deserve a little better than this,” was in response to the City Council not completing my evaluation. I really could not fathom why they wouldn’t complete it.
As an employee of the city, I deserve to have an evaluation, in private, just as other employees do in the city, and everywhere else for that matter. I was disappointed that my evaluation was not complete, but very pleased with having the honor of continuing my service, and also for being recognized for the work this position requires.
People interested in becoming a city manager, or interested in the work involved with being Auburn’s city manager should contact me; the work is certainly not what most people think.
I am very appreciative to the city for giving me the greatest employment opportunity I’ve had thus far. As the city manager, I work to ensure operations are held accountable and managed efficiently, which saves taxpayers' money.
Our efforts this past year would have resulted in a 30-cent decrease in the tax rate, had state revenues been received as projected. The city and its employees work very hard and all within a very demanding and accountable work environment established from the top down.
We are not perfect, but we are more aggressive about improving than any other local government I know.
Many governmental units have the perception their employees are unmotivated. That’s not the case in Auburn. We continue to review operations, improve them and instill greater levels of accountability; all so that we have a better government that is accountable to the citizens.
Glenn Aho, Auburn city manager
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Aho
I agree with Mom , apay raise when already making 100+K is greedy!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.conserva-mom
I'm glad you clarified the Christmas light thing. I thought you were talking about the city putting up Christmas lights.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.cranky yankee
You are soooo wrong. Thanks for judging me though. I appreciate seeing your judgmental biased views. If you knew any conservatives, maybe you'd sing a different tune. BTW, while you were judging me from your tower, I was raising a new generation. Before I had my kids, I was a teacher. We learned about and celebrated ALL major holidays, regardless of origin. I think it's fascinating to learn about different cultures. Ignorance breeds hatred, and I'm no fan of either. Next time, please just don't talk about me. You know nothing.
The Christmas lights to which I referr are on private property. It's a huge light show at someone's house and AHO doesn't want it to happen because it "increases traffic." Pathetic.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Mr Aho
You state in your letter that your pay increase was in line with other city employees. Just how many city employees get paid $105,900? I doubt that very few make even half of that. So how can you it was "in line" when you are already making double what everybody else gets?
I doubt the Police and Fire Chiefs dont make that much, and their jobs are way more important that yours.
I think it's a crying shame that the people of Auburn are struggling with hard economic times, and yet you have the nerve to tax them, and then pay yourself DOUBLE the average household income for Auburn.
I have an idea....since you are the "Donald Trump" of Auburn, why dont you pay for the Dempsey Challenge personally. After all, what is $6000 when you make $105,900/year?
You are the King, and we are your paupers.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.A-ho
le. Let's see...some of your councilors would love to see the Dempsey Challenge happen elsewhere, and I think you are taking a stand against Christmas lights? You deserve a raise? You don't even deserve your job.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Lesse here,
You say that city manager is against Christmas lights? Okay, how about a quote or a link to where he actually said that. If the city does do Christmas lights (though I'm not sure what part they actually play in one's belief system), are you willing to allow seasonal decorations for other religions? Somehow I doubt it. In the past, as a music director, I have had to deal with parents threatening to remove their kids from a performance because, along with the sacred and secualr Christmas music we were performing, and because it related to the season, I had included Chanukah and Kwanzaa music. That's where the problem comes in. Many conservative Christians, not unlike yourself, insist on the exclusion of all other religious and/or secular matter while at the same time insisting that your beliefs be promoted. So the fair solution, is to exclude all. Do I like it? No. I would prefer to INCLUDE all. Would you be okay with a menorah in close proximity to a creche; a dreidel next to a Santa Claus? Somehow I just don't think you'd go for it.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.lights
its private property....They can celebrate however they choose and those who wish to join they're celebration are welcome to come and observe they're display.. If the jewish neighbors want to have they're own light show then more power to them. But they dont have the right to tell them that they cannot do this on they're property.... The difference is its not in a school system or funded with tax dollars and noone is forced to send they're children there to be subjected to participation in a presentation of religious beliefs that they dont practice.... I agree with your desire to include all and commend your open minded approach and attempt to teach tolerance and diversity and understanding of other beliefs in your students. We truly need more of that in society... Unfortunately some closed minded parents dont agree with that. As for him being against the lights... Its not the lights he's against, its the traffic they create... But there is no ordinance stating they cannot do this... They have made a real effort to limit the times they display to make it easier on the neighborhood. This is a case of one or two people having a problem and flooding the city with calls to create this "concern". This is like saying that christians cannot put up christmas lights on they're houses and/or decorate a tree in the front yard because of the possability of creating a traffic problem due to people driving all over the city to see the lights.. How about no more christmas carroling through the neighborhood since the jewish neighbors are forced to hear it since sound travels and human ears are not made to filter the sounds we dont believe in.....Dont forget the pedestrian problem created by carroling and what if an emergency vehicle needed to get through all those pedestrians, what would they do?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Dempsey Challenge debate misunderstood
Conserva-mom you are completely wrong in your statement. The councilors involved both went out of their way to state emphatically that they like the Dempsey Challenge and the Dempsey Center. Both councilors commented on the fine work the center does and were appreciative of it's contributions to the area. What they opposed was paying for the Challenge out of taxpayer funds.
As stated by others, the councilors objected to paying taxpayer money to support a fundraiser that will net about $2,000,000. The total the challenge was asking for, including police, public works, and parks and rec help, along with trash clean up and disposal, waiving of all permitting and licensing fees totalled about $6,000 or so. This isn't much, but it is still taxpayer money that is not being used to directly benefit the taxpayer. It is benefitting business in the area so perhaps the area Chamber of Commerce could help with expenses. Of perhaps the sponsoring businesses could pick up the costs.
Further, why should the taxpayers of the area subsidize this cause? And where do we draw the line? Should we be asked to shoulder the costs of all fundraisers that seek it?
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