UPDATED - Elk Grove Mayor To Make Appointment For Admin. Assistant

May 14, 2015 | At their regular meeting last night, the Elk Grove City Council decided by a 4-1 vote to budget a full-time administr...

May 14, 2015 |

At their regular meeting last night, the Elk Grove City Council decided by a 4-1 vote to budget a full-time administrative assistant for Mayor Gary Davis. What was not discussed last night was the manner in which the assistant will be hired.

Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis
will be able to appoint his 
administrative assistant. 
In response to an email inquiry sent earlier today, the City of Elk Grove Human Resources Manager Jacqui Langenberg said Davis will be able to appoint his assistant is he so chooses. 

"This will be treated the same as our current practice with Council Assistants. They will be appointed by the Mayor,"  said. "If the Mayor would like our assistance in recruiting we will of course go through our typical recruiting practice."

Langenberg said the salary range for the position is $39,771 - $53,297. Additionally, the city council approved an increase in the weekly hours for their assistants from 12 to 19-hours per week. Vice Mayor Pat Hume and Council Member Steve Detrick do not have assistants and indicated they have no plans on hiring one.   

Davis did not respond to an email inquiry if he will directly make an appointment or open the position to applicants seeking the appointment.    

May 15, 4:00 p.m. The following information was provided by Langenberg: 

A new employee is typically brought in at step 1 of the range. A new employee bringing additional experience to the position may warrant placement above step 1.  Human Resources typically determines the step in which the employee qualifies to be placed in.   

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33 comments

Anonymous said...

oh, I'm sure his current "chief of staff" will be promoted...my question, will she need to give up her privately run business she has "on the side?" or will she be able to keep it and work in the extra hours for Davis. I see a slippy slope here. Just a Davis runs his coffee business from city hall, so his assistant will be allowed to run her "event's planning" business from her desk as well? Terrible mistake. Where is the accountability for the "chief"?

Anonymous said...

This is silly on so many levels. The council already has a full city staff at their beck and call, and there is no such thing as "we are too busy to do that right now". When one of them has an issue, it is forwarded to the appropriate department. The expert in that department drops whatever they are currently doing to address the issue because a council request is first priority. That will not change. The only difference is that a new "assistant" will contact that same expert who will drop whatever they are currently doing to respond. And because the new "assistant" works directly for the mayor/council, there will be a whole new level of attitude and pain-in-the-you-know-what to deal with. What an improvement!

Anonymous said...

I look at this as more of a Secretary to the Mayor position. That would mean it would require frequent use of discretion, initiative and independent judgement, as their actions can have a significant effect
upon City operations or public relations activities.

Would this include regular
contact with government officials, the City Council
and representatives of business to community organizations, the public and various City
staff? I wonder...just how limited is this position? That was never addressed during discussions by the City Council.

Anonymous said...


.


The Assistant can help market the city.


"It's High Time to visit Elk Grove.

Our city's motto is "It's Grow Time".

How about bringing light industrial and office jobs to Elk Grove instead of more houses, low income housing projects and strip centers?

Might not have as many of these knuckleheads growing weed if there were jobs with a true living wage.

Until then, it will be the Elk Grove same old, same old.

Miles and miles of houses thrown up during the start of a historically severe drought.

Thousands of low income housing projects to serve residents who have low pay retail and food service jobs.

Garish billboard signs to further glamorize this steaming dumpster fire of a city.

Elk Grove Thriving!



.

Doc Bricker said...

Putting more deckhands on the Titanic does not make the Captain and his boat more seaworthy!

Connie said...

I will share here what I emailed directly to Gary. It has been all over the news about Kevin Johnson’s antics in trying to hire executive positions through the back door. KJ might think he can get away with it because he is a celebrity mayor. But in Elk Grove people do pay attention.

By this article – and good reporting Dan because it was not mentioned at the Council meeting -- Gary has the right to appoint.

So if he wants to appoint, he needs to appoint but the process needs to be transparent.
Gary needs to announce the appointee, the starting salary and the job description needs to be made available.

Gary assured me it will be done “by the book.”

Govern Transparently said...

Awarding the position to Davis' current "Chief of Staff" can be a slippery slope indeed. Teresa already runs a lot of 'side business' during her regular office hours at FTB. How much time would she spend working and reporting time as Davis' assistant while also on the clock with her state job? Some potential major double dipping of tax payer dollars are in the works.

Speculation is never pretty, but not awarding her the job means taking her off of the payroll. My bet is on her getting the job, and while she will be great at it, doesn't mean it's right.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what his current "Chief of Staff' currently works at, but if it is the FTB that would mean she would have to terminate that job to take another full time position with the City as Assistant to the Mayor. Probably will not happen. Will that mean she still keeps her current "Chief of Staff" part-time job for Mayor Davis? Double-dipping of taxpayer dollars? Surely our Mayor would not allow that to be the case.....

Anonymous said...

Mayor Davis is going to appoint someone who is going to help him customize his policies daily by hand delivering his instructions to city employees. We are dreaming if we are going to see any transparency and accountability in Davis' administration. Moreover, it is obvious to everyone that Davis has been:
building long term relationship with Builders and Developers
building networks with people who are helping him committing crimes and not getting caught
He is doing all of these at the expenses of the citizens he is suppose to serve. DAVIS IS PRACTICALLY SLEEPING WITH OUR ENEMIES.

W. Edwards Deming said...

So let me get this right.....Elk Grove taxpayers are spending up to $53,000 so Mayor Davis can have someone who will research talking points and make cold calls for the economic development department?

Why then did the city hire the high-priced economic development director? It sounds like this city is getting top heavy with unnecessary managers.

Anonymous said...

Never forget that three of our other council members gave this a high-five.

Just wait until his Assistant delivers his Daily Alerts to them each morning....we may hear the implosion at City Hall all the way to I-5.

Doc Bricker said...

To Connie: He may go by "the book", but the book is rigged!

2 embarassed to leave my name said...

As a longtime supporter of Gary Davis (I have voted for him in every local election in which he has ran, I have walked precincts for him and had his campaign signs in my yard and on my vehicles), I must say that I am so very disappointed in his actions/non-actions over the past couple of years. Perhaps the power of being mayor has gone to his head, maybe I drastically misjudged him, either way, he has become a liability to our city.He can no longer be trusted.

Under his direction absolutely nothing has been done to enhance the quality of life that I had hoped would be forthcoming with his election. No capital improvements have been made, only pipe dreams and project plans that the citizens really could care less about. He wants to make EG a "destination city" when all of us know that people outside the area will never come to EG to spend their hard-earned vacation time here.

Our leaders need to be working on making EG better for those of us who actually live here.

Now our hard earned tax dollars are going to be spent on a new level of beauracracy and a new level of buffer between the mayor and his constituants.

It seems the mayor's coffee business is making it difficult for him to carry out his duties as our mayor. He needs to resign as mayor if this is the case. It has become obvious that he has put his own needs ahead of those of us who put him in office and those he swore to represent.

Perhaps term limits should be considered on our next local ballot. I for one would vote for an eight year limit on local public service on the council and as mayor. Otherwise, power and ego seem to take over.

Gary Davis you have let me down and you've let down so many others. Time for you to ride into the sunset.

Lynn said...

To above; Do you really believe the Mayor cares???? or the others????
With little discussion region builders get all they want...with lots of discussion residents get nothing...oops yep we do get something; to buy land and pay for the destination city....sad but this is all brought to us by APATHY.
Remember region builders and developers are the primary stakeholders in our city...and we buy them lunch

Anonymous said...

hold on....the update indicates now the mayor is trying to start this new employee at a step higher than step 1 due to "experience.". this is CRAP...the council clearly agreed to a step 1 cost. GARY DAVIS HAS GOT TO GO...HE IS DISHONEST AND A CROOK.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with Anon.17:18. A motion was made and accepted by a 4-1 vote of the city council. There was never any mention made in the motion of changes being made by Human Resources at a later date. IMO if any changes are to be made this must come back before the City Council. Otherwise all and every decision made at Council will be nothing but a mockery of the system...dishonest, crooked plus some other words that are best unsaid!!

Anonymous said...

In reading the UPDATE above and as a taxpayer of this city I feel I have been betrayed by our City Manager and our City Attorney. I would also think the four council members would also feel the same,plus manipulated by Mayor Davis.


Anonymous said...

Is this a civil service position? Is there a qualified listing you need to be on to be considered for the position. Is there an educational minimum necessary? What are the job specs? We need more information on the job itself. This seems to be falling apart due to the lack of communication, intent and transparency on the part of the city. Please don't play hide the ball on us..we're too smart for it. Yes, I know, you are good at playing hide the ball, but most of us figure it out eventually. Dig deep and find you integrity gentlemen. If this position is truly needed and justified, you should be able to clearly, efficiently and without games, answer the above questions to everyone's satisfaction.

EGVoter said...

I am a daily reader of EGN and frequent attendee of Council mtgs. At what point are we going to DO SOMETHING about the actions being taken by our elected members? Is there a group willing to formally organize so we may properly take action?!? Yes, starting a recall may be a step, but what about finding and encouraging others to run in future elections -- others who are electable? Why not form a PAC? Would love to see someone with some experience in this area offer their services and FINALLY put in place people who respect our town and it's citizens.

EGVoter said...

I am a daily reader of EGN and frequent attendee of Council mtgs. At what point are we going to DO SOMETHING about the actions being taken by our elected members? Is there a group willing to formally organize so we may properly take action?!? Yes, starting a recall may be a step, but what about finding and encouraging others to run in future elections -- others who are electable? Why not form a PAC? Would love to see someone with some experience in this area offer their services and FINALLY put in place people who respect our town and it's citizens.

Anonymous said...

Generally speaking, both Davis and Lehner are in charge of public safety for EG. For the sake of our safety, we should ask ourselves the following questions:

Are they any taller than THE SHORTEST MAN on the planet?
Are we expecting too much from these lip to tail feeders?
Why a crime victim who has so much truths to share is being isolated from the community by EGDP?

Efforts were made to expose enough truths and they are visible to all, if they look like crimes, smell like crimes, then they are crimes. Proactively making choices to safeguard our mental health, physical health and our dignities would be wise.

Lynn said...

To above, The next group of new elected councilmembers(if it ever happens) will be hearing from residents because all the promises and dreams of this council are empty....and empty promises and a pile of debt, traffic, traffic more traffic, more crime....failing infrastructure....when residents finally feel the pain directly....this will bring them out...when it is bad enough....so I ask: Who wants to clean up this councils mess and listen to more than one resident complain???

W. Edwards Deming said...

To EG Voter, I agree that thoughtful opponents need to be recruited for the next election. The 2016 election will see the Mayor, and councilmen Detrick and Suen will be on the ballot. I would hope they don't run unopposed.

Perhaps the best way to organize a group of people to organize to recruit candidates can be done here on EGO or Elk Grove-Laguna. Furthermore, a PAC could be formed and it would only require a few thousand dollars to bring it together. Maybe 20 or 30 people who are willing to pitch in $100 each. Sure, it may not have as much influence as the developers, but this PAC could be formed to point out to the electorate just how city government really works. Councilmen and their large contributors are publicity shy when it comes to pointing out their cozy relationship. Until enough of the local electorate understand this relationship, the status quo will endure.

So what will it be - a.) recruit candidates, or b.) form a PAC?

I'm in.

Anonymous said...

There's a lot of outrage online but I watched the meeting and there was only one person to speak during public comment...ONE. These guys are running unopposed and with little outrage from our citizens during council meetings so of course they think the public is backing them. Why wouldn't they?

Anonymous said...

Stockton was named as one city who had an Executive Assistant to the Mayor. Very interesting how you make contact with the Mayor...will that be our route to our Mayor in the future??

http://mayorsilva.com/contact/

Another article about the Assistant to the Mayor + the Mayor...

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20130719/A_NEWS/307190317

Anonymous said...

These LIP TO TAIL FEEDERS have brought nothing but shames to our city and therefore, our nation. For our NATIONAL PRIDE and our safety, I am in, whether we are forming a PAC or RECRUITING qualified candidates. I will donate $100, perhaps EGN can help us help ourselves by giving us an article with directions. Making choices is our guarantee right!

Anonymous said...

I'm in for a $100.00. BTW.. I call some of them "Bottom Feeders."

Off topic, but did anyone notice when the SEPA item came up on the Agenda that Pat Hume already had the major problems figured out. Our big high dollar people hadn't even realized there was a problem and that included our know-it-all Mayor.

Anonymous said...

.


Why are all those new houses and high density low income housing projects being built during the fourth year of a severe drought?


Now we can only water our lawn once a week and use our drip system three days per week.

http://www.waterresources.saccounty.net/scwa/Pages/default.aspx


We suffer just so those developers can build more homes and high density low income housing projects that use more of our precious water.

Real forward thinking there Elk Grove.

This place is going to look like a browned out desert wasteland with those water restrictions.


Elk Grove, land of the brown lawn and dead trees.

Elk Grove Thirsty, NOT Elk Grove Thriving!


.

Anonymous said...

Proud Heritage, Bright Future?

Elk Grove Thriving?

A City by the developers, of the developers and FOR the developers!

Increase in armed robberies, assaults, criminals carrying loaded assault rifles and handguns and various street crimes.

Home of the mailbox breakin.

More sprawl, horrendous congestion and smog.

$100 million soccer stadium

Paid $6 MILLION for a piece of land that sold for $700,000 three years prior.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/09/25/elk-grove-may-be-paying-more-than-double-value-of-land-for-proposed-soccer-stadium/

Garish 70 - 100 foot tall lighted freeway monument signs

Sister city to the Kingdom of Zamunda

Octopus Civic Center

Amusement park right across from single family homes in Madeira "the Jewel of Elk Grove".

Visions of the Olympic Trials.

3,600 units of high density very low and low income housing on the way to "Meridian" (the Southeast Plan Area) - Hood of the future to be known as Mack Road South.

Trash blowing in the wind,flat, bland, hot, windy sprawling, fast food joints, nail salons, gun stores, smoke shops, vape palaces, strip malls, cheap looking high density low income apartment projects, lack of symphony light opera and ballet, very few upscale restaurants, dollar stores, cookie cutter houses.

Texas?

No, Elk Grove brought to you by the rubber stampers.

Stockton and Modesto have performing arts centers, orchestras and other cultural amenities.

Stockton and Modesto have high quality local restaurants.

Elk Grove has fast food joints, chain restaurants and convenience store cuisine.

Bring on more garish 100 foot tall freeway signs, low income housing projects, liquor stores, fast food joints, shooting ranges, gun stores, smoke shops and nail salons.

Elk Grove Thriving!

Proud Heritage, Bright Future?

Yeah right, ROFL!

Anonymous said...

Actually, I find this laughable & a poor choice in spending the taxpayers monies. Other cities much larger than ours seem to manage with sources already within the cities walls. I also find it interesting that living in Mr. Ly's District I have never heard anything about these coffee's or conferences he mentioned having and needing help in scheduling. A bunch of BS IMO....

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with term limits!

Anonymous said...

Yeah Elk Grove Thriving!

Look at what happened to the owners of Vallarta Restaurant.

Da Mayor is mentioned on page 8, Paragraph 30 of the legal document.

http://media.bizj.us/view/img/5911231/ethanconradpropertiessuit.pdf

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/05/20/real-estate-investor-ethan-conrad-sued-by-former.html

Steve L said...

Since the mayor makes $800 a month and his new assistant earns at a minimum $3,333 a month, I say we let the assistant be the mayor.

It seems we get what we pay for with the mayor. Maybe the assistant will work for us not against us.

I need a second on my motion. Anyone?

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