Here are the City Council Written Comments for the 2022 City Manager Performance Review. This is a public document. You’ll note that it is divided into categories. Each question can have comments, but what really matters is the score for each question. A positive score being considered >=2.
And here is a table I whacked together showing those scores, with overall and by category averages.
| LEADERSHIP | BUDGET | COMMUNICATION | OVERALL | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planning And Management | Supervision And Delegation | Forges Compromises | Hiring | Leadership | Ethical | Operational Efficiency | Completion Of Prior Objectives | Risk Management | Job Knowledge | (Avg) | Financial Management | Analytical | (Avg) | With Council | With Public | Credits Council | Accepts Direction | Sensitivity | Honest, Fair | (Avg) | (Avg) | |
| Mahoney | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3.9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Harris | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Buxton | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | |
| Achziger | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | |||||
| Pennington | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Nutting | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3.2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
| Steinmetz | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3.3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2.2 | 3.1 |
| (Avg) | 3 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3 | 2.4 | 2 | 3 | 2.4 | 2 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.9 |
The averages are a bit weird because more than one of us left various questions blank or N/A. Frankly, it’s impossible for us to honestly evaluate several of the categories due to the separation between the Council and the staff. It’s not like we have opportunities to see Mr. Matthias’ management on a daily basis. And for that reason (and more), I strongly urge the public to read the Council’s comments as I do not believe that these 18 numbers accurately represent how each of us feel things are going.
The Review Process
On our Council, the Mayor arbitrarily sets the agenda for these meetings and the format of this review. This is not specified in our Rules of Procedure. And in my opinion that is one of several ‘authorities’ the Mayor has taken on which should change. As with everything else, one can’t really hold the Mayor solely responsible for this since none of my colleagues seem to object.
In previous years, we would receive each other’s notes in advance. This year we did not. So much for discussion.
Cherry Picking…
I’ve never argued about Mr. Matthias’ employment contract based on salary. I’ve argued based on performance, which is another thing this system doesn’t take into account.
We don’t evaluate our situation objectively to performance metrics in comparable cities. And we don’t evaluate our situation objectively based on our own performance goals like any other corporation.
At the end of the day, we can all cherry pick. And we do.
But that is not meant as a slag against Mr. Matthias. I’d say the same thing with any City Manager.
My low score is based (mostly) on bad attitude and bad access to information. As as I said, a lot of the questions none of us can answer because we can have no idea of the internal workings of the corporation. (We were offered a single 15 minute meeting with staff next month. Fifteen minutes. Once a year.)
I can, however, do those comparisons with other cities–and with our own city and the past. It’s harder than it should be, but I can do that.
But when you hear me complain about anything, there will always be independent and objective research behind it.
The Future
But most CMs cannot do that much work. Most CMs have day jobs and families and won’t have the time or the background expertise. They’ll have to take what they see and hear at face value. And that is what I hope to change.
In closing the year, I want to remind readers of something that should be obvious. When you hear “the State of the Union” from the President, you’re getting their point of view. It’s not a lie, but it’s also not an objective assessment of how the Country is doing. A city is no different. Every message you will hear from the City (and city) comes with a POV. It’s true–and the accomplishments are real, but it’s also not the whole truth. It’s a press release.
Part of the City Council’s job is to promote the City. But part of it is also to question that message.
When people talk about “how the city is doing” I want to have objective ways for residents to decide one way or the other.