Comments on Elk Grove News.net: Letter To The Editor RE: Elk Grove City Manager, A...

http://www.elkgrovecity.org/human-resources/printa...

2009-07-15T10:06:55.442-07:00

http://www.elkgrovecity.org/human-resources/printables/benefits-for-staff.pdf

Overpaid city employees with over the top benefits package.

This isn't the first time I've heard about...

2009-07-14T16:06:07.909-07:00

This isn't the first time I've heard about complaints from city employees about Ms. Gill's treatment of subordinate staff; that her vocabulary is littered with four letter words, few of which are complimentary, and her reputation suggests an individual with a tendency to rule by fear rather than by positive leadership example. If any of this is true, it would be a classic recipe for a hostile work environment, and potentially open the city to fiscal vulnerability. It would seem extremely prudent at this juncture for the City Council to look into this matter and have someone privately interview the city employees to get to the bottom of what has been characterized as a less than benevolent dictatorship. If there is any truth to the allegations, the council owes it to the employees to take steps to correct the situation immediately. If there is no merit to these allegations, then Ms. Gill needs to be exonerated. That way you cover both ends of the issue and don't simply focus upon the negative. Doing nothing in the light of this subject matter is unconscionable. These comments in the editorial section have brought the matter to the light of day...which means that the Coucil cannot claim that they knew nothing about such allegations. Their obligation is now to look into the issues and confirm or refute them one way or another. Did anyone bother to check with her last place of employement to see what legacy she left there?

Furthermore, if there is merit to the allegations, I wouldn't want even one Laura Gill there regardless of if she was better or worse than her predecessor.

Connie, thanks for looking out for the city employ...

2009-07-13T20:17:34.852-07:00

Connie, thanks for looking out for the city employees, but I have to correct you about one thing. Employees could not go to the so called trusted HR manager that left. Don't be fooled. She wasn't trustworthy at all!!!!She was definitely not innocent in this. Whatever happened between her and the city manager, she completely brought it on herself. She was rude, arrogant and never looked out for the employees. She stabbed the police department in the back many times and wanted to take away what little we have. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the disgruntled employee that wrote the anonymous letter. She always talked bad about the city council and city manager and tried to turn employees against the city manager. I would rather have 20 Laura Gills.

Good points, Connie. This forum is not the first p...

2009-07-13T19:06:41.756-07:00

Good points, Connie. This forum is not the first place I've heard bad stories about Gill's management style, so it's unlikely there's nothing to the complaints.

I second your call for an independent city council investigation though it may never materialize. In any case, knowing our council's proclivity to "give away the store" in employee contracts (to obtain the best employees??), I bet Ms. Gill has a lucrative severance package assured.

Nonetheless, should a council investigation uncover merit to employee allegations about Gill, surely some smart person somewhere can negate contract specs through proof of poor performance or judgment, being unfit or unstable for duty etc..

All you've said regarding hostile work environments is true. I can remember saying about one of my past jobs: "I don't know what I'm going to do in the future, but I know what I'm NOT going to do anymore."

Nice work, Connie . . . and no, I'll definitely not support Pat Hume in 2010. I look forward to his departure--a full year before he's eligible for lifetime health benefits!