Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Special Assessment Hearing Tomorrow Evening
The Council is holding a meeting at St. Genevieve's Community Parish beginning at 6:30 pm. You may make your objection writing or take the opportunity to speak directly to Council at this time.
What a Mess
CIRCLE PINES — Centennial Lakes police officers hoping for quick action after a no-confidence vote against their chief might be in for a long wait.
Last October, the patrol and sergeants’ unions gave Police Chief Bob Makela a unanimous vote of “no confidence” on his “ability to lead the department.” In a letter sent to then-Joint Governing Board Chair Dave Kelso last December, two members of the police force listed several complaints against their boss, and demanded action from the board. Another letter was sent to the board in October, but the union members have not requested that Makela be removed as police chief.
A unanimous vote of “no confidence” and a list of complaints isn’t enough for the board to take dramatic action to address the complaints, according to newly appointed board chair Mary Capra, who is the mayor of Centerville. She says the complaints the board received are too “generalized.”
“We received a written statement Oct. 17 and it didn’t relate to a specific instance or instances, charge, accusation, or complaint against the chief,” Capra said. “Even the one received Dec. 29, that statement from the union stewards, there is no specific accusation.”
Some of the complaints in the Dec. 29 letter were as follows:
• “Is unwilling to make important decisions within his authority.”
• “Does not listen.”
• “Takes matters personally and retaliates.”
• “Degrades employees by screaming at them and has created a hostile work environment.”
In response to the vote and letters to the board, Makela wrote in a prepared statement that some officers are resistant to new changes to the police department that he has been tasked with enforcing by the Joint Governing Board.
“During our recent implementation to problem-oriented policing (POP) there has been resistance by some employees to embrace this change,” he wrote. “Efforts to change for the betterment of the community are difficult when employees perceive that some of their duties and responsibilities will increase or change due to our changing community needs.”
Capra also said police officers wanting the board to take action have bypassed the Labor Management Committee and haven’t submitted a grievance to their unions.
The union stewards wrote in their Dec. 29 letter that the board has refused requested meetings and completely disregarded their vote of “no confidence.”
“We are surprised that the unanimous level of dissatisfaction of your workforce resulting in the vote of no confidence appears to be of so little importance to you,” the letter said.
Quad Press 1/20/2009
Link Here
Last October, the patrol and sergeants’ unions gave Police Chief Bob Makela a unanimous vote of “no confidence” on his “ability to lead the department.” In a letter sent to then-Joint Governing Board Chair Dave Kelso last December, two members of the police force listed several complaints against their boss, and demanded action from the board. Another letter was sent to the board in October, but the union members have not requested that Makela be removed as police chief.
A unanimous vote of “no confidence” and a list of complaints isn’t enough for the board to take dramatic action to address the complaints, according to newly appointed board chair Mary Capra, who is the mayor of Centerville. She says the complaints the board received are too “generalized.”
“We received a written statement Oct. 17 and it didn’t relate to a specific instance or instances, charge, accusation, or complaint against the chief,” Capra said. “Even the one received Dec. 29, that statement from the union stewards, there is no specific accusation.”
Some of the complaints in the Dec. 29 letter were as follows:
• “Is unwilling to make important decisions within his authority.”
• “Does not listen.”
• “Takes matters personally and retaliates.”
• “Degrades employees by screaming at them and has created a hostile work environment.”
In response to the vote and letters to the board, Makela wrote in a prepared statement that some officers are resistant to new changes to the police department that he has been tasked with enforcing by the Joint Governing Board.
“During our recent implementation to problem-oriented policing (POP) there has been resistance by some employees to embrace this change,” he wrote. “Efforts to change for the betterment of the community are difficult when employees perceive that some of their duties and responsibilities will increase or change due to our changing community needs.”
Capra also said police officers wanting the board to take action have bypassed the Labor Management Committee and haven’t submitted a grievance to their unions.
The union stewards wrote in their Dec. 29 letter that the board has refused requested meetings and completely disregarded their vote of “no confidence.”
“We are surprised that the unanimous level of dissatisfaction of your workforce resulting in the vote of no confidence appears to be of so little importance to you,” the letter said.
Quad Press 1/20/2009
Link Here
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