Mr. Cooper has written a very powerful letter that should be taken as a wakeup call that things are not going to improve at city hall unless action is taken.
I give Mr. Cooper credit for writing the letter. It takes courage to stand up for what you believe especially when you present yourself as a target for retaliation.
Mr. Cooper’s letter describes a dysfunctional workplace, and he is right: something is broken at city hall.
The top three reasons good employees leave are being dissatisfied with advancement opportunities, poor opinion of their boss and his/her performance, and being overlooked for promotion.
The hiring of Mr. Prefontaine is simply the tip of the iceberg. How many well-qualified employees have been overlooked for promotion? What other job descriptions have been rewritten so that the city manager could hire from his own short list? Why does the city spend tens of thousands of dollars for a professional recruitment firm? Is it just for show?
Mr. Cooper states, “There comes a time when you’ve got to look under the hood and find out what that clunking sound is.” That is true.
But you need a skilled and qualified mechanic to diagnose the problem, and the will to fix it.
The city’s reputation and integrity is on the line. The recent departure of several senior managers and the city manager’s hiring blunders makes St. Albert a less desirable employment opportunity for young professionals.
While the city manager is responsible for the problem, the mayor needs to be held accountable.
It is the mayor’s duty to protect the integrity and reputation of the city. He is aware of what is happening, has refused to protect the employees, and he continues to support and condone the city manager’s actions.
The mayor continues to exercise complete control over the majority of councillors. Don’t expect change in senior management turnover or in hiring practices any time soon.
Norm Harley, St. Albert
