City Council Does What?

[Sick and Tired of it]

Hemet extends interim city manager's contract during hiring search

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 24, 2009

By MICHAEL PERRAULT
The Press-Enterprise

HEMET - Interim City Manager Len Wood's yearlong contract has been extended three months, giving city officials more time to wrap up recruiting efforts to find a permanent replacement.

Wood, 65, signed an employment agreement last year slated to run through June 30.

On Tuesday, Hemet City Council members voted unanimously to extend the contract until Aug. 30, and it can roll over until someone is hired. The city has received 87 applications for the job and hopes to hire someone by the end of August.

Wood's extension contract calls for him to take a 5 percent salary reduction, part of a 6.7 percent reduction in overall benefits that numerous city officials have agreed to in light of the economic slowdown.

Wood's contract last year called for him to be paid $230,000, plus various benefits and use of a car.

City officials began looking for a new city manager in March 2008 when former City Manager John Davidson left after 16 months on the job. The council authorized paying Davidson $233,080 as a settlement for his departure.

Wood temporarily took on the position after he retired, having served stints as city manager at Rancho Palos Verdes and Claremont. He also was interim city manager in Colton, Bell, La Palma, Signal Hill and Goleta.

Wood has more than 24 years of experience and has authored six books on local government.

Wood was living in Rancho Palos Verdes before agreeing to take the position and live in a city-owned mobile home at Simpson Park.

__________

Wood is the worst thing that ever happened to Hemet. He is a lazy manager that could care less what happens in the long run to the City as long as he leaves with a story of how he saved the day. He works four days a week and and has no idea how to treat employees. He's a bean counter plain ansd simple. Council should just read his book instead of renewing his contract. 5% cut? Set the example and take a bigger cut than employees for once!

[OMG]

The city council's lack of experience and common sense comes through again.

[Rob]

They mismanaged a 23 year old nonprofit senior referral service. One of many mismanagement mistakes they make over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. As soon as Hemet goes to complete shit, they'll bail to one of their nice homes outside the district and live a nice rest of their life in a nice peacefull community that has their shit together.

[Yep]

Rob wrote:

They mismanaged a 23 year old nonprofit senior referral service. One of many mismanagement mistakes they make over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. As soon as Hemet goes to complete shit, they'll bail to one of their nice homes outside the district and live a nice rest of their life in a nice peacefull community that has their shit together.

Rob I agree. It's called "City Council Syndrome." Once you are elected you feel entitled to do what you want without consequences. They forget they actually represent people about 2 minutes after they win and start making decision that benefit the people and businesses that gave campaign funds. Not the community.

[digby charlie]

Question:"Is there a 912 group here in Hemet?"

[city guy]

you dont have any idea of what your speaking of. Wood is a hard working man and with his help the City will be saved.

Sick and Tired of it wrote:

Hemet extends interim city manager's contract during hiring search
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 24, 2009
By MICHAEL PERRAULT
The Press-Enterprise
HEMET - Interim City Manager Len Wood's yearlong contract has been extended three months, giving city officials more time to wrap up recruiting efforts to find a permanent replacement.
Wood, 65, signed an employment agreement last year slated to run through June 30.
On Tuesday, Hemet City Council members voted unanimously to extend the contract until Aug. 30, and it can roll over until someone is hired. The city has received 87 applications for the job and hopes to hire someone by the end of August.
Wood's extension contract calls for him to take a 5 percent salary reduction, part of a 6.7 percent reduction in overall benefits that numerous city officials have agreed to in light of the economic slowdown.
Wood's contract last year called for him to be paid $230,000, plus various benefits and use of a car.
City officials began looking for a new city manager in March 2008 when former City Manager John Davidson left after 16 months on the job. The council authorized paying Davidson $233,080 as a settlement for his departure.
Wood temporarily took on the position after he retired, having served stints as city manager at Rancho Palos Verdes and Claremont. He also was interim city manager in Colton, Bell, La Palma, Signal Hill and Goleta.
Wood has more than 24 years of experience and has authored six books on local government.
Wood was living in Rancho Palos Verdes before agreeing to take the position and live in a city-owned mobile home at Simpson Park.
__________
Wood is the worst thing that ever happened to Hemet. He is a lazy manager that could care less what happens in the long run to the City as long as he leaves with a story of how he saved the day. He works four days a week and and has no idea how to treat employees. He's a bean counter plain ansd simple. Council should just read his book instead of renewing his contract. 5% cut? Set the example and take a bigger cut than employees for once!

[city guy]

you and Rob are mistaken. It was one council member who was involved way before the 3 new council members took office. the new guys talk about change and I can see it happening from my desk

Yep wrote:

<quoted text>
Rob I agree. It's called "City Council Syndrome." Once you are elected you feel entitled to do what you want without consequences. They forget they actually represent people about 2 minutes after they win and start making decision that benefit the people and businesses that gave campaign funds. Not the community.

[Also City Employee]

city guy wrote:

you and Rob are mistaken. It was one council member who was involved way before the 3 new council members took office. the new guys talk about change and I can see it happening from my desk
<quoted text>

City Guy:

I would suggest you out from behind your oak desk and look at the community. Wood is simply cleaning up what elected officials have screwed up in the past because of what the blogger calls City Council Syndrome. You gotta agree with him to an extent. The problem with current council is they don't want to "fix" anything they are content to just let Woood cut till there is nothing left, which must not be the case in the Administrative job you hold. This council needs to fix the issues and find a way to get revenue into the General Fund. Our community is on the low end of the socio-economic spectrum in the Valley and we take harder hits when the economy slumps. This community will not be "saved" until the voters engage in the political/government process and call for real fiscal changes. We are on the right track but in a few years residents will look at the city and say "what happened?" I think Wood cut the police department by close to 20%. Like it or not when the community allows that to happen we will see changes, but they won't be good ones. I'll check back in 5 years or so with you to see what you think then.
Non-desk worker signing out!

[Rob]

Not to mention community apperience/impact some of these new buisnesses that are getting approvial to setup and operate, ie: smoke shope (head shops), check chashing buisnesses, 99 cent stores, etc....This along with the abandonded buildings/buisness, empty weed/trash filled lots, drug dealers, hookers, gang members. Oh, and Dowtown Hemet is a pleasent place to take a stroll with it's homemade plywood sings, inconsistant facades.

I guess City Guy is right. Hemet is in a better place than it was 20 years ago. My bad.

[its too late]

Also City Employee wrote:

<quoted text>
City Guy:
I would suggest you out from behind your oak desk and look at the community. Wood is simply cleaning up what elected officials have screwed up in the past because of what the blogger calls City Council Syndrome. You gotta agree with him to an extent. The problem with current council is they don't want to "fix" anything they are content to just let Woood cut till there is nothing left, which must not be the case in the Administrative job you hold. This council needs to fix the issues and find a way to get revenue into the General Fund. Our community is on the low end of the socio-economic spectrum in the Valley and we take harder hits when the economy slumps. This community will not be "saved" until the voters engage in the political/government process and call for real fiscal changes. We are on the right track but in a few years residents will look at the city and say "what happened?" I think Wood cut the police department by close to 20%. Like it or not when the community allows that to happen we will see changes, but they won't be good ones. I'll check back in 5 years or so with you to see what you think then.
Non-desk worker signing out!

I agree with you. This city WAS once a nice place but is now a pathetic reminder of mis-management. I love seeing all the boarded up homes, dead lawns, homeless camps and all the slinging of drugs in this town; not to mention that the cops hands are tied in trying to clean this toliet up. Just several reasons that I can't wait to move to Arizona in 3 weeks. At least there, the taxes are low, jobs are plentiful and they have Sheriff Joe who doesn't put up with sh*t.
Bye y'all.

[Tommy]

Is there anyway we can recall that b*tch Robin Lowe?

Recall Robin Lowe and fire her "disabled" husband.

[its too late]

Tommy wrote:

Is there anyway we can recall that b*tch Robin Lowe?
Recall Robin Lowe and fire her "disabled" husband.

dont you love nepatisim? I just love how a person claims they are "disabled" yet hold down a well paid job. what a bunch of clowns.

[HEMETBEAST666]

ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS,
THEY DONT SEEM TO HAVE ANY PROBLEM TAKING YOUR MONEY. I BET ALI BABA WOULD LIKE THEM IN HIS BAND BUT I DONT THINK THEY REALLY CAN SING OR DANCE EITHER.
THE MAYOR SEEMS INTENT ON LETTING LITTLE IDIOT WORKERS IN PD AND CODE ENFORCEMENT PROVOKE ME AND I JUST ASK GOD TO SMACK DOWN ON IT ALL.
A 10.4 EATHQUAKE WILL NOT HARM ME, IT WILL ALLOW ME MORE FREEDOM, WHOSE GONNA BE ON CODE ENFORCEMENT WHEN THE ROADS IN AND OUT OF THE AREA FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES ARE ABSOLUTELY IMPASSABLE.
HEY, LOOK AT THE COUNT OF DEATH IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND AREA AS PERCENTAGE NATIONWAIDE HIGHEST OF WAR CASUALTIES AND DONT YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT I SET THIS AS A CURSE?
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SULFUR. HEMET MAY BE HEAVAN FOR A FEW, CHIEFLY THESE THAT ARE BRINGING IT TO THE LAKE OF FIRE. BUT IT IS HELL FOR US WHO SUFFER UNDER THEIR INJUSTICE AND CONTINUAL OPPRESSIONS AND PROVOCATIONS.
I URGE CITIZEN ACTIONS, HERE I AM, IF YO0U THINK YOUR SO HIOGH AND HOLY NOVER THIS VERY LEAST OF CHRISTS THEN BRING IT ON, BY ALL MEANS. I WAR ONLY WITH PRAYER AND WILL SHOW THIS WORLD THAT NOT ANY WEAPON IT HAS WILL OVERCOME EVEN ANY EVIL ONE WHO IS HOLY AND HAS FAITH IN HIS GOD.
Oh how much you a people, and a nation are kept in darkness by idiots seeking to promote their careers as theives and liars.I pray now God open your eyes and minds and cause you to see and understand, AMEN.

[use2b]

It's all fun until the beast shows up.

[HEMETBEAST666]

use2b wrote:

It's all fun until the beast shows up.

Well I guess at least someone is having fun with us being ripped off and lied to and hurt by them. Sorry I stepped on your toes there, I will stay out of this forum from hereafter.

[What]

You areall missing the point,

[What]

Wood has got to go. he is destroying the city. he is stuck in the 80s with his old school BS. Hes a typical slash and burn manager with absolutely no nrw ideas. He tried to sneak a raise in for his buddy Tom Kanar but got caught. The council should have fired him but thet are all pansies. i'm out,

[jbbl]

Have you seen the duface. He looks like Humpty Dumpty.

[concerned citizen]

do all council members or just ms lowe, in the city of hemet get free maintence on ther personal cars? such as new tires, free gas, oil changes. if so then shouldn't all employees get the same! how much do they really get in city perks besides there so called meger sarly$$$

[concerned citizen]

its too late wrote:

<quoted text>dont you love nepatisim? I just love how a person claims they are "disabled" yet hold down a well paid job. what a bunch of clowns.

why do they still allow this bumbling clown a position to even work he dosen't do anything except drive around pino from restrant to restrant! he can't do the job he was hired to do he can't get to the ground! now they give him a bigger truck to drive around in more $$$$ it was just detailed $$$ for him because he can't clean it himself!!senice when does the city employ someone that is a walking time bomb heart attack waiting to happen? when will this council wake up maybe the new city manger will see whats happening?