Council Votes to Keep Galletly as City Manager
Like an eraser cleaning a blackboard, the Grove City Council voted 4-1 Friday to rescind a 5-0 vote taken in June which terminated City Manager Bill Galletly. Galletly will continue as city manager for the foreseeable future.
After a two hour Executive Session Friday, Councilman Larry Parham made the motion to rescind the June 6 motion and continue the employment of Galletly as in the past.
"This was not an easy decision, but it is in the best interest of the city to keep Bill on. It does not make sense to pay two people to do one job," Parham said. Councilman Terry Ryan seconded the motion with the provision that Parham amend his motion to include severance pay of four months and inclusion of sick leave and vacation pay that have been accrued.
Contrary to previous reports, Galletly does not have a contract with the city, but serves as an "employee at will" as defined by state law and can be terminated at any time, with a severance package of four months. Council had planned to make Galletly a consultant to the city after his termination of city manager, but ran into problems over the details.
It appears that everyone put the "community's best interest" first in this meeting.
Galletly said the council went over a lengthy list of items in making their decision.
"I am hopeful that the friction in the community will settle down and we can jointly address some of the issues of concern. This was a difficult decision for the Council and everybody had the best interests of the community in mind. We can build on this…the people will be the beneficiary," Galletly said after the meeting.
The lone dissenter, Councilman Gary Bishop, declined to give his reasons for his nay vote, but said "I am still very much behind the city manager and council…it's over and now let us move on."
So for now, the stack of 14 resumes and applications for the city manager job, still unopened, will probably be answered with a courtesy letter; the three different consultant contracts which were prepared for Galletly as a result of his termination will be filed away; and the long lists of public works projects either started or planned will be addressed uninterrupted.
The 5-0 vote to terminate Galletly taken June 6 brought out issues and problems which were not forseen at the time, over who would look after the list of projects underway in the city, and the cost of paying two or even three people to manage the city and projects.
Had the council terminated Galletly Friday, they were prepared to make Debbie Mavity interim City Manager.
After a two hour Executive Session Friday, Councilman Larry Parham made the motion to rescind the June 6 motion and continue the employment of Galletly as in the past.
"This was not an easy decision, but it is in the best interest of the city to keep Bill on. It does not make sense to pay two people to do one job," Parham said. Councilman Terry Ryan seconded the motion with the provision that Parham amend his motion to include severance pay of four months and inclusion of sick leave and vacation pay that have been accrued.
Contrary to previous reports, Galletly does not have a contract with the city, but serves as an "employee at will" as defined by state law and can be terminated at any time, with a severance package of four months. Council had planned to make Galletly a consultant to the city after his termination of city manager, but ran into problems over the details.
It appears that everyone put the "community's best interest" first in this meeting.
Galletly said the council went over a lengthy list of items in making their decision.
"I am hopeful that the friction in the community will settle down and we can jointly address some of the issues of concern. This was a difficult decision for the Council and everybody had the best interests of the community in mind. We can build on this…the people will be the beneficiary," Galletly said after the meeting.
The lone dissenter, Councilman Gary Bishop, declined to give his reasons for his nay vote, but said "I am still very much behind the city manager and council…it's over and now let us move on."
So for now, the stack of 14 resumes and applications for the city manager job, still unopened, will probably be answered with a courtesy letter; the three different consultant contracts which were prepared for Galletly as a result of his termination will be filed away; and the long lists of public works projects either started or planned will be addressed uninterrupted.
The 5-0 vote to terminate Galletly taken June 6 brought out issues and problems which were not forseen at the time, over who would look after the list of projects underway in the city, and the cost of paying two or even three people to manage the city and projects.
Had the council terminated Galletly Friday, they were prepared to make Debbie Mavity interim City Manager.
posted by Editor | 2:48 AM
6 Comments:
The Stupidity of those chosen as leaders never ceases to amaze! When will the leaders in this community listen to the populace? Hopefully this City can start over after elections in April. Projects....any competent Engineer could direct the city's projects. What's the Asst City manager for?
For now maybe we just hand out over size shoes and Red Rubber noses for the council meetings.
Which populace? The leaders did listen to the populace, maybe not yours. How much would "any competent engineer" cost to direct the city's projects? Probably more than the city manager makes.
The assistant city manager? Nope.
Nice person but no training in engineering.
Maybe you should wear the red nose.
The last time I took a muliple choice test with two choices (for example: A - The city manager keeps his job; B - The city manager is terminated and replaced), marking both answers was not an option and most certainly meant I got the question wrong.
Last week, the Grove City Council made certain that they got the answer wrong, either way you answer the question. Now that takes talent!
Does the current city manager have
an engineering degree? The current
utilities manager Jack Bower knows
more about moving utilities than
Mr. Galletly knows and ever will
know. Mr. Galletly told the council
when they hired him that he knew
nothing about natural gas and very
little about utilities.
I truly feel empathetic for the employees of the City. Instead of doing their job, which they seem very competent at doing, they have to deal with the constant barrage of bull@@@@ from a few troublemakers who have not gotten their way. They do not know who will be leading them on a daily basis for a long time now. Time to call a truce boys. Let them do their job and start doing what's right for the city, instead of your personal agendas. Grow up!
If those who still want Galletlys hide would stop and smell the flowers they would see that it was Earl Shero that kept them from getting their wish. With Earl sniffing around what councilman in their right mind would vote on a consulting contract. Earl had Eddie the boy ready to queer the deal as well. The council acted in the only logical way. That a way to go Earl, you kept Bill on the job.
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