Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Reader Asks: Is Enfield any better off since Shanley was replaced?


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Reader: No Answer From Public Works Department":

"The answers lie with the DPW and the town manager. They're askin us to trust them. I hope they did their homework and will lay it out at the public hearing."

Sorry, but have lil' confidence
in them or their plans. Thus far they haven't proven themselves in my eyes. Just look around town. Is Enfield any better off since Shanley was replaced?


Posted by Anonymous to The Cool Justice Report at 5:16 AM


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  • 18 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    That's an easy one to answer. Heck no, Enfield's in far worst straits since Shanley was asked to
    resign. And it certainly appears that Manchester is doing just fine
    with him @ helm.

    Anonymous said...

    Would appear that Enfield's loss, was Shanley's gain. Can thank the PatTat-lead Democrats for that boneheaded move (asking Shanley to resign).

    That's not to say that Shanley wouldn't have left Enfield at some point. All the good ones find a way to "escape".

    Anonymous said...

    Enfield is much better off and the new town manager is working great with our new majority team. We have a new DPW director for a department that was in a shambles. The old director, remember the scandals, was a Shanley hire. We have a new Finance Director and a CTO, both who aren't Shanley friends.

    The turnover is good for Enfield and our new majority. There are still a few left overs but this new team will make those changes too.

    Anonymous said...

    > The turnover is good for Enfield and our new majority.

    that remains to be seen since new majority has only been in place since Nov.

    Anonymous said...

    "Enfield is much better off and the new town manager is working great with our new majority team."

    oh yeah, in who's eyes is Enfield better off?

    the above posting sounds like its from a "lurking" Enfield Republican - perhaps a Council member???

    C'mon, fess up?

    Anonymous said...

    >>> The turnover is good for Enfield and our new majority.

    that's too bad that Enfield BOE doesn't feel the same about embrassing turnover and change!

    Anonymous said...

    >> We have a new DPW director for a department that was in a shambles.

    isn't that Dept still in shambles? if ya call them about tipper barrel program, they can't tell you anything. A new director isn't gonna be able to do much.

    Just like the new Town Manager isn't gonna be able to do too much. He was hand picked by previous Council majority, the Dems. But they're no longer running the show.

    Anonymous said...

    >>> The turnover is good for Enfield and our new majority.

    >>that's too bad that Enfield BOE doesn't feel the same about embrassing turnover and change!

    Did ya mean "embracing" turnover and change? Think ya need a spell checker. But agree 100% with your take on Enfield BOE being more open to "change".

    Anonymous said...

    >> The old director, remember the scandals, was a Shanley hire.

    Excuse me, but shouldn't the Enfield Town Council have done something about these so-call scandals, and sooner? As opposed to passing the buck along now, as it being a Town Manager problem?

    Talk about scapegoat-ing. Enfield Town Council has some responsibility here.

    Anonymous said...

    The BOE has to remember that its job is to set the strategy for the school system.

    You can't make everybody happy developing strategy.

    When you establish a strategy, especially a bold strategy, you get old-timers who don't like where you're steering the ship.

    You don't change course just because they're unhappy. That's not leadership.

    The course was set for a reason: to go from A to G.

    This direction was set by the community at the voting booths

    Here's the problem with the teachers. They clearly disagree with the BOE's new strategy and are rebelling against it.

    And so their mantra is "for the children", a tired refrain that they have used for years to bully the BOE.

    The problem is that their way (going from A to B) is not the only way to do things "for the children".

    They have forgotten that their along for the ride. The community elected the BOE to pilot the boat from A to G, not from A to B.

    Some people seem to think that teachers leaving is a bad thing.

    If they disagree with the strategy and don't want to carry it out, they should leave.

    Anonymous said...

    >Excuse me, but shouldn't the Enfield Town Council have done something about these so-call scandals, and sooner? As opposed to passing the buck along now, as it being a Town Manager problem?"

    No, not at all. The responsibility for town staff management by Charter lies with the town manager. Any councilman meddling in that business is subject to removal.

    Politics being what they are, I believe conversations do take place but they can't be in any official capacity nor can mandates be made to the manager. It would be an issue otherwise.

    Anonymous said...

    >>> This direction was set by the community at the voting booths

    RIGHT ON! The voters spoke. So
    its about time that Enfield officals and taxpayers take a hard stand, and stop wilting each time the teachers' union claims something won't be good for students.

    Let's be honest here, this is the teachers' union speaking out, not the students' union (perhaps the students need one to represent their needs!)

    If the Enfield public school teachers salaries took up just a lil'less of the education budget, they'd still be making more than the average Enfield resident, and there should be more $$$ in the budget for supplies, maint., etc.

    Does that seems that unreasonable?

    In the "real" working world, if a
    business is suffering loses, workers are terminated w/2 weeks notice. Enfield's public school teachers are more protected than many in the working world.

    So its kinda hard to feel too badly for them. Many residents can't sympathize, because teachers are averaging $60K in a town were many most make less than 1/2 of that.

    Anonymous said...

    "Some people seem to think that teachers leaving is a bad thing."

    Highly unlikely any Enfield teacher would leave. They're still paid more than most teachers in area towns. On the whole, CT teachers make more than anyone else in country. So where are they gonna leave for? "leaving" is an idle threat.

    If Enfield teachers don't get their way, they'll likely complain, but will stay put because they still make great money to teach in a great town, with great kids. That's the bottom line. Plus, there's plenty of new teachers that would love to teach in Enfield.

    Some in the union need to realize that the world doesn't revolve around them.

    Anonymous said...

    Superintendent John Gallagher is the silent ringleader of the rebellion.

    He's mad at the BOE for clipping his wings.

    This is the first time he's ever had a board that was calling the shots on him. Previous boards did whatever he told them to.

    He was furious that Andre Greco got all the headlines and press for the Enfield High flooding.

    But don't be confused. Do you think that the antics at the public comment were spontaneous?

    It was all staged: packing the room with union members, the teacher crying on cue, the last speaker polling the board.

    Don't you see what the democrats and union are doing? This is all part of a plot to divide and undermine the republicans.

    Why?

    If the audit committee uncovers waste and mismanagement, the democrats look bad, Gallagher looks bad, and the union looks bad.

    They don't need to look far, either.

    Anonymous said...

    Who say's the Enfield town council can't mandate the town manager!
    The Town Manager and Town attorney serves at the pleasure of the Town Council. they can fire them, mandate them, and tell them what to do anytime. they are their bosses,they should act like bosses not puppets.

    Anonymous said...

    "Who say's the Enfield town council can't mandate the town manager! The Town Manager and Town attorney serves at the pleasure of the Town Council. they can fire them, mandate them, and tell them what to do anytime. they are their bosses,they should act like bosses not puppets."

    Look it up:

    Enfield Town Charter
    "Chapter III: The Town Council
    SECTION 9. RELATION TO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE.
    Neither the council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to any office or employment, or direct or request the removal of any person from any office or employment which office or employment, by the provisions of this charter, the manager or any of his appointees are empowered to fill by appointment, provided the manager may seek advice from the council regarding appointments and provided further the council may prefer charges in writing against any officer or employee appointed by the manager in the manner hereinafter prescribed for the removal of officers and employees. The council and its members deal with the administrative service solely through the manager and neither the council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any of the subordinates of the manager either publicly or privately, provided a properly constituted meeting of the council, which the manager has been invited to attend, may call before it any employee or officer for the purpose of investigation. Any councilman violating the provisions of this section, shall upon a finding thereof by a court of competent jurisdiction shall cease to be a councilman."

    http://www.enfield-ct.gov/content/91/148/3938.aspx#_Toc476362537

    Anonymous said...

    but the council can't mandate staff hirings, firings, appointments, staff actions, etc. Of course they could make it miserable for any manager who chooses to buck them but a manager with savvy and some nutz has the upper hand, by the charter.

    Neither the council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to any office or employment, or direct or request the removal of any person from any office or employment which office or employment, by the provisions of this charter

    Anonymous said...

    "Enfield Town Charter
    "Chapter III: The Town Council
    SECTION 9. RELATION TO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE.
    Neither the council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to any office or employment, or direct or request the removal of any person from any office or employment which office or employment, by the provisions of this charter, the manager or any of his appointees are empowered to fill by appointment, provided the manager may seek advice from the council regarding appointments and provided further the council may prefer charges in writing against any officer or employee appointed by the manager in the manner hereinafter prescribed for the removal of officers and employees."

    am confused. "who" then asked former Manager Shanley to resign?
    thought it was majority of previous Town Council?