July 29, 2009 Crumley Leaves with $145,000+; Mayor Barile Claims It's a "Railroad" Job But Doesn't Have the Guts to Vote "No"

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. Macbeth.

At yesterday's city council meeting, the removal/retirement of Jim Crumley was "done quickly" and with little of the bloodletting that marks Shakespeare's Macbeth. The vote was 6-1 to approve the agreed severance package that provides $145,000 to Crumley plus certain other benefits in return for his exit-stage left.

Voting in favor of the removal were Gene Brooks, Bob Garrett, Claude Jinks, Kay Senter, Doc Rooney, and Mayor Sami Barile.

Voting against removal was Frank McGuffin.

Prior to casting her vote to join with five others in removing Crumley, Mayor Barile had some choice words for those in favor of getting rid of the City Administrator. She said that this was a "railroad" job. Then she promptly voted for the railroad job to remove so the city can "move forward." If she thought this was a railroad job and if she really felt it would be best for Crumley to stay, she should have voted her convictions.

I have heard several well-founded rumors that Mayor Barile contacted other councilpersons prior to yesterday's meeting to try to convince them in one-on-one meetings to let her favorite City Administrator stay.

It didn't work. Crumley is packing and will be gone by Friday.

In line with the Macbeth theme of stabbing/backstabbing, Mayor Barile showed her anger toward and resentment of councilwoman Kay Senter later in the meeting. Shortly after Crumley was removed, Barile seized the opportunity to remove Senter as chairman of the Finance Committee and appointed Frank McGuffin (the lone vote in support of Crumley) in her stead. Barile also appointed Doc Rooney and Claude Jinks to the Finance Committee.

Kay graciously said she had enjoyed working with the Finance Committee under former Mayor Gary Johnson and current Mayor Barile.

It will be interesting to see to what extent Barile controls McGuffin going forward. The first indication of how open the Barile/McGuffin duo will be will be found in the scheduling of future Finance Committee meetings.

If meetings are scheduled when the public can attend, that will show a degree of openness and a willingness to encourage and permit public participation. If meeting times are 10:00 am or 12:00 pm or 2:00 pm, that will be a sign that discussion of public business is essentially closed to the working public/taxpayer.

[This blog post was delayed by a 1-2 hour power outage that was followed by an 8+ hour internet outage]