Goodbye, McCourt

Mayor Steve Brockett announces the resignation of City Manager Pat McCourt during the commission's special session Monday at City Hall.

[Dave Delerenzo]

Why do the tax payers have to pay to get rid of someone that failed to do his job. Sounds like he was in there just for the money. He should have been given his walking papers and a gift certificate to McDonalds for $5.00 He resigned he should get nothing.

[Any Who]

Dave Delerenzo wrote:

Why do the tax payers have to pay to get rid of someone that failed to do his job. Sounds like he was in there just for the money. He should have been given his walking papers and a gift certificate to McDonalds for $5.00 He resigned he should get nothing.

I agree thats more then I make in a year wish I could quit and make that for not doing my job

[M Catts]

Dave Delerenzo wrote:

Why do the tax payers have to pay to get rid of someone that failed to do his job. Sounds like he was in there just for the money. He should have been given his walking papers and a gift certificate to McDonalds for $5.00 He resigned he should get nothing.

It's called a contract. Read the article again please!

[alamogordo is in trouble]

The good citizens of Alamogordo really need to step up and start paying attention to what is happening. The firing of Pat McCourt is tragic for the city. This so called new admin is something to keep an eye on. Brewer arrested and doesnt even have a drivers liscense,and Lujan not really sure if he even has a high school diploma, is that the best we could do. The good old system sure seems to be in full force now, and the shifty 50 is some thing else that should be dissolved.Citizens of Alamogordo lets band together and start attending the comm meetings and voiceing our concerns or these people who are elected by us will run this city into the ground.

[Concern Citizen of Tulie]

You mentioned shiffty 50 what about the builders association is also behind this. Becareful when business run Alamogordo commissioners what will happen next???

[macy]

His salary is insane for a city this size....no wonder we don't have money to get our streets and other areas of the city taken care of...remember people "we" hired the commissioners by voting them in, we got what we voted for!

[downinthelowland s]

Heck, there are federal employees in charge of 100s of people, working on the base or the Forest Service and they aren't any where near the amount of money paid to Pat McCourt!$99,404 a year!!!!!

And, for what...no vision????

We see clearly, Mr. McCourt...too bad, it took this long but then, out with the old city commissioner(s) and Mayor and in with the younger, new --- let's hope they have a "vision"!

Now, since you commissioners have seen what was left behind...fix the rest or start improving the chaos and get what needs to be done in Alamogordo --- improvements --- chop, chop!

[Concerned American]

The events that have occurred should cause some eyes to open to the corruption that has been going on, particularly in the rampant housing construction in this town. The water issue has been glossed over by past commissioners. All the home construction spells big trouble for our existing water supply. A moritorium in all construction is well overdue --- and probably too late to avoid a real big problem in the existing water supply. As far as "do nothing" McCourt, here's your hat, what's your hurry, don't let the door hit you in the butt!!!!

[Lives in Alamogordo]

The whole system of city government needs to change. Right now each district elects a commissioner, and then they get together and elect one of their group as "mayor." So in effect the whole city doesn't in effect have any say in who's the "mayor." It's not a mayor in the traditional sense. Also, the commissioners are basically unpaid volunteers. The old saying is true: "You get what you pay for." The commissioners need to be paid an appropriate amount for a city our size, and the mayor needs to be an independent executive position(also paid an appropriate amount) and elected citywide.

[get a grip]

Dave Delerenzo wrote:

Why do the tax payers have to pay to get rid of someone that failed to do his job. Sounds like he was in there just for the money. He should have been given his walking papers and a gift certificate to McDonalds for $5.00 He resigned he should get nothing.

He resigned, yes, but he is treating it as a termination because it was not his decision to resign - it was the city commission's suggestion he resign, thus he gets his walking papers and a severance package. The money he is getting is what is the difference of his salary should he have continued to the end of his contract. Since he is resigning before the end of his contract, the city has an obligation to pay his contract out - that is why people have contracts.

That is money the city had budgeted for his salary under the terms of McCourt's employment. Don't freak out about it, it is common practice in political, administrative, and bureaucratic circles.

[Bob]

The system of city government is fine. The mayor doesn't have any more power than any of the other commisssioners. It is mainly procedural and ceremonial.

[Ron Jeske]

get a grip wrote:

<quoted text>
He resigned, yes, but he is treating it as a termination because it was not his decision to resign - it was the city commission's suggestion he resign, thus he gets his walking papers and a severance package. The money he is getting is what is the difference of his salary should he have continued to the end of his contract. Since he is resigning before the end of his contract, the city has an obligation to pay his contract out - that is why people have contracts.
That is money the city had budgeted for his salary under the terms of McCourt's employment. Don't freak out about it, it is common practice in political, administrative, and bureaucratic circles.

The Commission "requested" his resignation. Nobody said "You're fired." McCourt could have declined the request and made them move against him formally. As for his position that he was terminated and resigned all in one move, that doesn't make sense. You were either terminated or you resigned.

And this City Commission fails to see that they have been had, and that means that Alamogordo has been had.

McCourt got one over on the City on his way out and is $38K better off for it. Now he can either look for another job or take retirement with a nice start-off bonus.

[RKS]

alamogordo is in trouble wrote:

The good citizens of Alamogordo really need to step up and start paying attention to what is happening. The firing of Pat McCourt is tragic for the city. This so called new admin is something to keep an eye on. Brewer arrested and doesnt even have a drivers liscense,and Lujan not really sure if he even has a high school diploma, is that the best we could do. The good old system sure seems to be in full force now, and the shifty 50 is some thing else that should be dissolved.Citizens of Alamogordo lets band together and start attending the comm meetings and voiceing our concerns or these people who are elected by us will run this city into the ground.

It might be true that Brewer had an issue on the home front or that Lujan's education isn't what you would like it to be. Neither of these issues has any bearing on whether or not these commissioners are willing or able to voice the concerns of their constituents, does it? Life experience and learning to do the best job counts for something I would think.

Do you really think that not having a driver's license determines if someone is effective in a position or not. Get real!

...and remember one more thing. McCourt may have been great at his job in some areas, but there were obviously serious shortcomings or issues that we are not aware of at this juncture. If Carroll or Griggs were heading the commission as mayor, rest assured that those issues would remain there, and would be allowed to continue - it is the "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" mentality. Is that what you want?

And by the way, commissioners only receive a small stipend monthly and I believe it is something like $100.00. Not too much in light of all the hours they put in to constituent affairs, research, meetings, exec sessions, etc. If you don't like the caliber of folks on the commission, why don't you run for a seat next time. Just a thought.

[Ron Jeske]

Lives in Alamogordo wrote:

The whole system of city government needs to change. Right now each district elects a commissioner, and then they get together and elect one of their group as "mayor." So in effect the whole city doesn't in effect have any say in who's the "mayor." It's not a mayor in the traditional sense. Also, the commissioners are basically unpaid volunteers. The old saying is true: "You get what you pay for." The commissioners need to be paid an appropriate amount for a city our size, and the mayor needs to be an independent executive position(also paid an appropriate amount) and elected citywide.

This idea is what is at the basis of a call for "governmental accountability" in other cities. It is time that changes are made because the reality of the economy today is that Alamogordo is not just a little town. It has real needs that really have to be met by people who are committed to doing the job on more than a single night per week.

[Bob]

Ron Jeske wrote:

<quoted text>
This idea is what is at the basis of a call for "governmental accountability" in other cities. It is time that changes are made because the reality of the economy today is that Alamogordo is not just a little town. It has real needs that really have to be met by people who are committed to doing the job on more than a single night per week.

And who is going to give that much time for about $100 a month. Would you?

[Ron Jeske]

alamogordo is in trouble wrote:

The good citizens of Alamogordo really need to step up and start paying attention to what is happening. The firing of Pat McCourt is tragic for the city. This so called new admin is something to keep an eye on. Brewer arrested and doesnt even have a drivers liscense,and Lujan not really sure if he even has a high school diploma, is that the best we could do. The good old system sure seems to be in full force now, and the shifty 50 is some thing else that should be dissolved.Citizens of Alamogordo lets band together and start attending the comm meetings and voiceing our concerns or these people who are elected by us will run this city into the ground.

The box lid is off and it is time for some deep research and discussion of what Alamogordo needs and wants. Someone who acts unilaterally based on calls from "interested parties" or someone who works for ALL citizens of Alamogordo. That is one place to start. The overall operational pattern within the City government is something else to look at. The assets of the City are for all, not the few. Users who make agreements for use of City property should abide by the contracts they make. The City should look at expenditures that benefit everyone on an equal basis. The golf course clubhouse fiasco is a prime example. A new clubhouse was needed, to be sure, but something smaller would have been just as efficient and far less costly. In all the time that I was in Alamogordo, there were no huge tournaments that required a lavish clubhouse, and that was used as a justification for the new building.

The idea of taking a closer look is LONG overdue. It is time to act.

[Elemental]

Dave Delerenzo wrote:

Why do the tax payers have to pay to get rid of someone that failed to do his job. Sounds like he was in there just for the money. He should have been given his walking papers and a gift certificate to McDonalds for $5.00 He resigned he should get nothing.

If he had not resigned they would have had to fire him and he would have got more and we would have paid more because there would have been a drawn out court battle and we would be paying for a battery of attornies. Would that be better?
Pat was never in it just for the money. If you had six people telling you what to do at the same time and some of them telling you one thing and otheres telling you another, I bet you would resign too.

[Elemental]

RKS wrote:

<quoted text>
It might be true that Brewer had an issue on the home front or that Lujan's education isn't what you would like it to be. Neither of these issues has any bearing on whether or not these commissioners are willing or able to voice the concerns of their constituents, does it? Life experience and learning to do the best job counts for something I would think.
Do you really think that not having a driver's license determines if someone is effective in a position or not. Get real!

Who are you telling to get real? People who think they should be able to trust their commissioners?
Yep, life experience of how to drive for years without a license and learning how to hide things. I am sure, they will be effective at something in their positions, the real question is effective at what and why?

[Posole Momma]

RKS wrote:

<quoted text>

Do you really think that not having a driver's license determines if someone is effective in a position or not. Get real!
.

No I don't think having a driver's license determines effectiveness;
but breaking the LAW every time he drove "unlicensed" to and from El Paso and for that to his city council meetings makes me ponder his ability to be a part of the governing body of Alamogordo.
And believe me this is real!

[special need mom]

I belive Mr McCourt to be a honest and kind man. He and his wife have taken my children to many base functions so they could see the jets. They have shown much kindness to my house full of disabled children. I further belive the city commissioners are using him as a scapegoat for their own mistakes. I question the honesty of many on the board. One of the men curently on the comision clamed he lived next door to me while he was running. He does not nor has he ever lived their. One is a wife beater. We need to keep Mr Mcourt and get rid of the commissioners.