Jerry Berry Resigns

[queen of the waterfront]

The Langford one was a sad state of affairs but is doing just fine these days.
It gets curiouser and curiouser doesnt it?

[titan5]

I see the Bulletin has posted another common sense story related to this issue. While the Daily continues to cast aspersions towards our Mayor, the little paper that could continues to provide informative and well researched news. See todays Bulletin story here. Hats off to Mitch Wright and his capable unbiased team.

[fearthereds]

I knew you'd be back for this one, T5. Any criticism of Ruttan and you come out swinging.

I think it's obvious that some (not a majority, thus no opportunity to fire Berry) has made it their business to slag Berry all over town for the past 10 months. Ruttan is too weak to manage the dissension among council members and so the slagging continues.

I reckon that Berry realized there would be no end to the conflict. I expect he went to Ruttan and said "how much will council pay for me to go?". The idea that he quit as a cost saving measure is nonsense and fools no one. Ruttan's lack of political smarts is showing here.

The Daily News got it right; and the Bulletin wrong on most accounts. Anyway it looks like Ruttan dislikes the Daily because editorials in the past have said he is weak and lacks leadership. I think he mistrusts the Daily because it is highly critical of him and his council. So he is less forthright with the Daily. Fairly simple.

[Smokey©]

I am glad to see Titan5 back.

Aside from his protectionism of John Ruttan, the guy from Lantzville,
Titan5's viewpoints are on target and add to the debates here on the forum.

[Smokey©]

The idea that he quit as a cost saving measure is nonsense and fools no one.

I agree. How much money will be saved in how many years is a hard question to answer, however the promotion of the current assistant city manager to city manager has to come at some costs. Add the settlement (severance or whatever term is finally agreed upon) that will be paid out to Mr. Berry and then calculate how many years it will take before we start saving money. Will it be before the next election when a new council is elected and they decide that Mr. Henning is not the right person so they agree to his inflated pre-arranged agreement and then we look for a new candidate considering of course those that are already in the system.. . . and on and on it goes. Eventually we get new city manager after city manager until we announce that Mr. Lander is perhaps the only person left that qualifies. (have you seen his resume?)

Smokey© keeps his tongue firmly planted in his cheek

[Smokey©]

Quite interesting parallel story, in the City of Vancouver recently.

Shortly after being elected to the Mayors position, Gregor Robertson and his politifcal party, thought that Judy Rogers had too much power as City Manager and replaced her with Dr. Penny Ballem. Judy Rogers was in the $300,000 a year range and her transitional package was $572,000.

After cutting city staff and not replacing early retirement staff, Dr. Penny Ballem announced that Sadhu Aufochs Johnston (from Chicago) would be hired as Deputy City Manager to lead the city's environmental efforts. He is scheduled to begin work on November 2, 2009.

[titan5]

Quite interesting parallel story, in the City of Vancouver recently.

Shortly after being elected to the Mayors position, Gregor Robertson and his politifcal party, thought that Judy Rogers had too much power as City Manager and replaced her with Dr. Penny Ballem. Judy Rogers was in the $300,000 a year range and her transitional package was $572,000.

After cutting city staff and not replacing early retirement staff, Dr. Penny Ballem announced that Sadhu Aufochs Johnston (from Chicago) would be hired as Deputy City Manager to lead the city's environmental efforts. He is scheduled to begin work on November 2, 2009.

Difference being that Rogers was terminated without notice and Berry has offered to leave if the numbers make sense. I expect it to cost somewhere close to $400,000.

The standard CON management contract calls for one months salary for every year worked if terminated without notice therefore, if Berry was fired and bound by the standard agreement for management he would be entitled to between $400,000 and $570,000 (he was paid $228,038 plus expenses last year) but because he has offered to take a buyout I would hope it means a little less cost to the taxpayers.

If you assume a 4.12% annual increase (based on increase from 2007 to 2008) Berry would make over $1.34 million in the next five years vs his ~$400,000 buyout saving us $55,000 by the 2011 election and close to $900,000 over the next five years.

[fearthereds]

I think it is wishful thinking to expect Berry to accept less than he would have been owed if Ruttan had the support to fire him. Lets face it, he is doing the mayor a favour by resigning earlier than he ever would have had there not been the witchhunt. No, I wager they'll end up paying him at least as much as a firing would have produced.

[queen of the waterfront]

I think it is wishful thinking to expect Berry to accept less than he would have been owed if Ruttan had the support to fire him. Lets face it, he is doing the mayor a favour by resigning earlier than he ever would have had there not been the witchhunt. No, I wager they'll end up paying him at least as much as a firing would have produced.

Half a million to say goodbye.
Is it cheap at the price?

[titan5]

I am glad to see Titan5 back.

Aside from his protectionism of John Ruttan, the guy from Lantzville,
Titan5's viewpoints are on target and add to the debates here on the forum.

Thanks Smokey.

I like to think of it as loyalty and integrity. Traits that are sadly lacking in many these days.