On this past Tuesday evening of September 24th, as the last city employee left the Municiple building you could hear them singing. It was an old Willie Nelson song. The title, ” The Party’s Over.” Which seemed to oddly fit the days business.
Lyrics
Turn out the lights
The party’s over
They say that all
Good things must end
Call it a night The party’s over
And tomorrow starts
The same old thing again
Good things, did end for three city department heads. Should it have stopped there? My answer would be No. However it’s a start. My guess would also be there’s more to follow.
To address the severance packages that each of the departed parted with goes back to the simple PPPM policies concerning SES, department directors. Hires before the PPPM changes were made are Grandfathered .They still receive what is referred to as Golden Parachutes.
Each salary has usually a 30% backend add on for a benefits package. So a $100,000 salary is more in the $130,000 reality. Procurement Director Gerri Sams received a 6 month severance. Yearly salary was near the $149,090 mark. Donna Williams yearly salary was near the $147,416 mark. So they will receive half of that.
Now Takiyah Douse received a years severance package. The salary she was receiving for interim Administrator was near the $201,500 mark. Just my opinion on why the year. She was set to go back to the position as Director of Central Services. Here is where a huge problem could possibly manifest itself. The interim Director would have to step back and loose his salary increase and the power he perceived he developed. Ms Douse could also have some feelings of discontent and then maybe having to deal with a possible disheartened employee would not have been good for anyone including the taxpayers. Therefore the package and well wishes to Ms Douse.
All 3 of the employees signed the terms of their resignations and accepted the terms and package. Therefore they should have no other compensation coming. In signing it’s noted that they relieved Augusta from any future liability.
Now let me say that I worked with all of the employees involved. I actually like each and everyone of them. Each one possesses a unique gift. However, personal is just that, personal, but business is business. It was hard but I learned how to separate the two decades ago. Sometimes you just have to make changes. People get stuck in their own perceived dynasty and their way is the only way they feel things should be done. That’s exactly what has happened with the Augusta government. Thus there’s more changes to come I would suspect.
The Gang of Five held a Wednesday morning press conference in front of the Municiple building. They informed all that was there and those that listen to them their version of what happened. They seemed to blame the Mayor for leading a coup with his ill gotten vote. Even though the voters of Augusta voted to give the Mayor a vote. The Mayor was being vindictive because of his using his personal credit card that would no longer be reimbursed. Even though there was and currently no policy against it. They would decide on the new policy. Meaning Geri Sams and Donna Williams involvement would be a part of that decision. The Mayor had publicly stated what he though he needed. A comparison was made with other cities to determine a limit. He had no issue with that. Tony Lewis told everyone of a Mayor’s hit list that was in The Augusta Press. That was a list that was written by Publisher Joe Edge. Mr Edge gave his list .For that matter I have mentioned Directors who I though should go. That’s an opinion. And when all logic and reasoning fails by all means use the racial factor just as Commissioner Jordon Johnson did.
The decisions to put forth these actions were the actions of a diverse group of elected officials. Both black and white shared the responsibility. The employees affected were also diverse. Both black and white. Just a fact. A black woman was chosen over another black woman for the permanent Administrator position.
The Gang of Five holds themselves free from any liability or shared responsibility for any of the forced resignations or changes. They have fought every agenda the Mayor or the other commissioners have wanted to do. It is no secret that they were for Steven Kendrick to become Mayor. When that didn’t happen they have fought against anything the other members have wanted. The Gang of Five had the power to stop anything that they didn’t want from passing. They in essence controlled the government. When Garnett Johnson received the vote that the citizens gave him, that all changed.
Seems that while the Gang of Five was playing checkers, the others were playing chess. Therefore, Checkmate.
Now let me finish this week’s column with this. I am sure that many employees of Augusta were shocked, angered and saddened by the forced resignations. That is an expected reaction. Yes it does affect moral for a while, that passes. A finance employee even went on the television news stating she was going to resign because of this, it is entirely her choice and right to do so. I even understand her reaction. She has worked with Ms Williams for a long time. The relationship was also one of friendship. I can only say that I wish her well in her new journey.
There was a special called meeting Wednesday for the commissioners to interview candidates for the position of Parks and Recreation Director. One candidate drove up from Charleston to be interviewed. Guess what? The interviews had to be canceled. Why? Commissioners Jordon Johnson, Tony Lewis and Bobby Williams didn’t come. However all three were able to be at the ribbon cutting of the new multi million dollar make over at Henry Brigham Community Center. Commissioner Bobby Williams pride and joy. All three of course were in attendance for the Commissioner Jordon Johnson media event. They just couldn’t be bother with turning around, going into the municipal building, go upstairs and do what they were elected to do. That would be help choose a new Director. And then they have the gall to blame everyone else for the problems in Augusta.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
