Nepotism

[iheartthed]

I'll bet there are at least 100 people with the same or better experience, right here in the Detroit area, that would qualify for that job. Why her? Because she is the council president's step mom.

I'm not a fan of nepotism, but if she's qualified for the job then why waste the money and time searching for someone else? So if this job was essential to the operations of the city [[which I doubt), it could be said that he actually saved the city money.

[Buy American]

Her job description says she is there to let the public know about the City Services and to help the public get them....isn't there a department that is already in place to do just that? Also, what City services are they talking about other than the basic services that the City is supposed to provide the Detroit taxpayers?

[Retroit]

...if she's qualified for the job then why waste the money and time searching for someone else? So if this job was essential to the operations of the city [[which I doubt), it could be said that he actually saved the city money.

What about the other business of the city? Why should the city solicit bids for work that needs to be done if a councilperson's relative or buddy is qualified to do the job?

[MichMatters]

Her job description says she is there to let the public know about the City Services and to help the public get them....isn't there a department that is already in place to do just that? Also, what City services are they talking about other than the basic services that the City is supposed to provide the Detroit taxpayers?

Every councillor is given a set budget for there office, and they are given the lattitude to use their office budget how they see fit. Some offices have more staff than others, while some use more of their budget for travel and constituent services.

I think it's fair to question the city council's budget, as a whole [[they get paid FAR too much in salary and benefits as compared to other cities, with individual budgets far too large), but I'm really not much interested in how they use their money, individually. If one councillor finds him or herself accomplishing what they set out to do and they do it by travel to conferences and such, so be it. If another finds having a lot of different minds [[staff) in the room accomplishes their goals, so be it. Still, if another finds they work best through using their funds to sponsor town halls and neighborhood meetings, more power to them.

[maxx]

How nice! Well I think the qualifications she met was the relationship with Pugh. I say she has no skills, etc., etc. I know its brazen and blunt to say that, but so what? This kind of upfront and in your face behavior doesn't warrant the benefit of the doubt as to if she is qualified. Its total the same old same old stuff. Wonderful....

Is this a new position or have there been other constituent relations specialists?

[mam2009]

Is this a new position or have there been other constituent relations specialists?

Its customary for Detroit council members to have at least one person serve in this capacity in their office. They are the folks who deal with citizen complaint follow up and follow through, attend various meetings in the community on behalf of the councilmember and sometimes help formulate policy due to having their "ear to the ground" so to speak.

I worked for the Council back in the nineties...BTW, Mel Ravitz was the best.

[MichMatters]

Its customary for Detroit council members to have at least one person serve in this capacity in their office. They are the folks who deal with citizen complaint follow up and follow through, attend various meetings in the community on behalf of the councilmember and sometimes help formulate policy due to having their "ear to the ground" so to speak.

I worked for the Council back in the nineties...BTW, Mel Ravitz was the best.

You know, I wonder if they'd have just referred to her as an "aide," if that'd have taken some of the edge of the response? Again, legislators be they in a city council, state legislature, or congress, can spend their office budget employing all kinds of analysts and aides on top of the regular civil service employees they can consult.

For instance, as well as whatever office staff you hire, a legislator in Michigan state government has access to economists and legislative analysts courtesy of the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency.

[BillyBBrew]

again....$32,000/yr. comes out to about 15.32/hr. for a 40 hour work week. is that so unreasonable for someone who has experience. can't we make our judgements AFTER she is there and we see what she does and how she does it. I'm not a Charles Pugh fan. I did not vote for him, but let's be fair. If she was making $60,000/yr and was a relative, I'd be a little more concerned, but I don't find $32,000 to be an unreasonable salary for what appears to be an upper management position in his office.

[mam2009]

While it is customary for councilmembers to have community relations personnel who handle citizen complaints, I think its worth pointing out that the City already has a charter-mandated entity that handles that function by way of the Ombudsman. It seems redundant and a waste of money to have 9 more citizen problem-solvers when citizens could just contact the Ombudsman's office.

[MichMatters]

While it is customary for councilmembers to have community relations personnel who handle citizen complaints, I think its worth pointing out that the City already has a charter-mandated entity that handles that function by way of the Ombudsman. It seems redundant and a waste of money to have 9 more citizen problem-solvers when citizens could just contact the Ombudsman's office.

That is a fair point. Does each councilperson have one of these [[community relations aide)?

Ironically, though, the switch to wards might actually make the office position of a constituent relations specialist more important than ever before. Whereas, everyone was once [[and is currently) elected at-large making a city-wide Ombudsman's office necessary, when it switches over the wards, you're going to want a constituent relations specialist for every ward counsillor instead of sending the concern to a city-wide/general office.

BTW, just did a little research to find out the name of the civil service body[[ies) that serve the city council on things like the budget by providing them with research and/or analysts, and they are the Fiscal Analysis Division and the Research & Analysis Division. This is really neither here nor there, but it was bugging me that I couldn't remember this extra-council body.

[MichMatters]

Oh, for anyone interested, each council person has an office directory [[or at least are supposed to have) on their webpage at the council website.

For example, here is the office directory for Ken Cockrel.

As you can see, he has a few administration assistants, a few legislative assistants, some attorneys, a policy analysts, and two attorneys for a total of ten workers. It is important to note that this was the size of his office while he was still council president and may be smaller, now. The pages need some updating.

[mam2009]

As you can see, he has a few administration assistants, a few legislative assistants, some attorneys, a policy analysts, and two attorneys for a total of ten workers. It is important to note that this was the size of his office while he was still council president and may be smaller, now. The pages need some updating.

Indeed, MichMatters, his staff is MUCH smaller now.

[MichMatters]

That said, at least of the pages still in existance for those council members still there, it appears that a council person can hire up to ten people to staff their office. Jones' and Watson's office directory show nine and ten staffers, respectively. Though, it's also worth noting the council cut their staff pay 10% back in September, and that it appears this current session of council is well on its way to keeping that cut.

BTW, would you happen to know when the council's compensation commission comes back up? Detroit councillors get paid entirely too much. Is this something that could be corrected by the charter commission, regardless of when it comes back around?

[Hermod]

I wonder how many people each of the Councilmen employed back when the city had 1.5 millopn residents to service?

[mam2009]

BTW, would you happen to know when the council's compensation commission comes back up? Detroit councillors get paid entirely too much. Is this something that could be corrected by the charter commission, regardless of when it comes back around?

They held a mtg in December and submitted a resolution to the City Council for the Council to authorize the 10% reduction in salary. It was approved unanimously.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100...358/1006/rss01

[MichMatters]

They held a mtg in December and submitted a resolution to the City Council for the Council to authorize the 10% reduction in salary. It was approved unanimously.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100...358/1006/rss01

That is good to hear! If I'm to be honest, though, given the state of the city, I'd really like to see them earn no more than $50,000 a year. I know it's an arbitrary number, and upon inspection of other council salaries around the country, Detroit's isn't ridiculously high, but I think it'd send the strongest message yet of shared sacrifice and display that they realize the shape the city is in.

[mam2009]

I just stumbled across this. What do you all think?

http://www.pughandyou.com/blog.aspx?id=0

[iheartthed]

What about the other business of the city? Why should the city solicit bids for work that needs to be done if a councilperson's relative or buddy is qualified to do the job?

That's different. Contracts in theory are awarded to who ever can do the best job for the smallest amount of money. This is a position that already has a set salary. They are just looking for the qualified person to fill it.

[Buy American]

" Likewise city departments should work to reduce their expenditures by 10% as we all must bring something to the table as Detroit rebounds. "

These are Pughs words from his blog...it certainly doesn't look like he's willing to reduce his expenditures does it?

[Detwa]

You can't ask contractors to give back part of their award! Contractors are private companies, aren't they? They will just have to look for lower bids from this point forward and make contracts according to their budget, but I've never heard of asking a business to give BACK money just because you're having a hard time.