To say I was shocked when Tom Rockovich let me know Monday that he was planning on retiring June 19th is an understatement.
I was also saddened and concerned.
Tom has been a community asset and his retirement will be a huge loss. I think he has done an unbelievable job keeping this city afloat through extraordinarily difficult times. And that is just one of his many managerial talents.
Most importantly, I’ve always found Tom to be good to his word. That’s a rare thing in today’s world.
I think we are going to have a difficult time finding someone anywhere near as capable as Tom, but I hope I’m wrong. I do know that it will be impossible to replace Tom as a person. The best we can hope for as someone with their own unique blend of strengths and talents.
Tom gave me the letter announcing his retirement late Monday morning when I happened to stop in at city hall. When he handed me the envelope he said I might want to open it.
I did. I read the letter and I’m not sure what I said. It wasn’t much. I think the word sorry came out.
Truly I was speechless. I didn’t say anything to anyone other than the Mayor who was also at city hall. I wasn’t sure if Tom had yet had the opportunity to inform every member of council. I stayed mum on Tuesday so that he would have the opportunity to break the news publicly.
I also was still struggling with how to respond and what to say. I’m still struggling. Sorry is about the best I can do.
Tom is going to Butler where he will manage an authority. They are getting a good man and a stellar manager.
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17 comments:
Typical Oil City.
Now you can blame things on the departure of the only competent city manager on the face of the earth.
Way to go.
Nobody can take Tom's place.
There is perhaps a bit of hyperbole in the above comment, but Tom was certainly more than just competent. As I said in my post, I viewed him as an incredible asset to the community.
I’m not planning on blaming anything on his leaving, and I don’t think anyone else is either.
The interim will be difficult. There is a lot going on right now that if carried through successfully can create a much brighter future for the community, or at the least help set the stage.
I’m not happy about Tom leaving, but all we can do is move on.
Would you please explain why council feels it's necessary to hire a consultant to hire an employee and exactly what is the price tag involved in that?
In response to the last anonymous:
To make sure we get it right.
Hiring a new city manager is a tremendous undertaking fraught with peril. Use of the consultant we have chosen will, in my mind, help guide us in the search and selection process and ensure we make the best possible choice for the city. It makes the process more neutral, more encompassing and more professional.
Ultimately it will be council that does the hiring, but recognizing we could use help it getting the right pool of candidates and making the final selection to me shows our strength.
I think it shows this councils weakness and gives you someone to blame.
I'm glad to see council is using an outside professional for this search. This choice is very important for the well being of the City and no one on council has (to the best of my knowledge) the background or expertise to hire someone for this position.
In my opinion, it's better to admit you need help and get it done right than to pretend you don't and have it done wrong.
You didn't answer how much this is going to cost. Another consultant Oil City councils answer to everything.
What no committee? Don't you people usually get a committee, a panel or something to help decide. I find it mind boggling that you didn't get a consultant to tell you which consultant to hire.
John:
Strength of council. This council forced Tom to find a way to add $80,000 dollars to a budget that wasn't there. Unless of course you add the majic money Councilman Mehlberger found. This council has added more ordinances to the books in two years than any previous council has during four, any many were already on the books in some form. The last two coming from one complaint a peice( one from a council members relative the other from a supporter of the Mayor. This council is led by a women who violated the sunshine act along with a former mayor and a currnet council member. This council spends money we don't have on consultants then complains we don't have money. Council pushed Glen Cochran off of the Re-Developement board to make room for Ron Gustofson, another supporter of the Mayor. This council may have strengths who knows anything is possible but charater isn't one of them.
I continue to stand by council's decision to hire a consultant to aid in the search for a new city manager.
More importantly, I stand by my personal and individual support to take that approach.
I can't help but get a sense that there is a bit of an organized effort to challenge that on this board, which is fine.
(Details of the contract with the council will be gone over at Monday’s meeting, including costs)
I hope everyone remembers that council is made up of individuals and we do not always agree. I spoke out and raised concerns about adding money to different budget categories and decreasing others that defied the manager's recommendations.
There is absolutely NO truth to the allegation that council forced Glen Cochran off the RDA. I only learned of it when his resignation was submitted.
I have to tell the last poster and everyone else I take offense at the attack on my character as a member of council.
I do wish that those who disagree with me, as well as those who agree, would make the choice to run for city council and leave their own imprint.
As a council member, my position, my votes are noted publicly. On this forum, my opinions carry my name. I allow anonymous posting on this form to get the widest range of opinion. Still, if someone feels as strongly as the last poster, I would think they also would like to stand publicly by their position and list their name.
Perhaps I’m a bit test this morning. There is very little about serving on council that I’m finding fun or enjoyable. I do hope I’m doing the best I can for the city and remaining true to myself.
John, regarding your comment that those who think they can do a better job should run for council - I would be that some of your biggest critics on here did that and LOST.
I don't agree with all decisions you make but then I don't always agree with all the decisions anyone makes. When you step up to be of service you open yourself up to criticism and bottom line you can't please everyone.
Regarding Tom's departure, new blood isn't always a bad thing. Oil City needs sharp efficiency mixed with creative and progressive ideas to make things BETTER.
It takes a unique personality that can deal with constantly changing bosses (mayor, council) and their varying level of knowledge. Both have to respect each other's knowledge and be able to work through differences. Tom did that for years. But sometimes you just can't and then one of parties has to stick it out or move on.
Let's just hope and pray Tom's replacement will build upon his legacy and take us to the next level that's eluded the city for so many years.
One more thing - unlike the local paper, I admire your willingness to post comments you personally find offensive. That takes a strong confidence in one's own CHARACTER.
You wonder why people criticize council? Well, the council never met a consultant it didn't like!
I agree what's with all the consultants?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Tom, we are going to miss you":
(I have taken the liberty of editing the comment from this poster. I hope it accurately portrays his/her core message. I eliminated some references to individuals and allegations that may or may not be true. The writer wished to specifically criticize my actions, which I allow (although I don’t exactly enjoy it). However, I don’t believe it is fair to make allegations or claims against others by name on this forum. – John Noel Bartlett)
Well John, you are right that Council had nothing to do with forcing Glenn Cochran off the Redevelopment Authority. … But nobody did a thing.
I find your statements on Rockovich's leaving the city to be too little, too late. So you were "speechless" and "sad" and "sorry" to see him go. Well cry me a river. You know, everyone with half a brain knew that “some members” (original deleted) were out to get Rockovich …. But nobody did a thing. Where were you when Mehlburger came to a council meeting with his own budget? Councils not allowed to get into staff functions, much less someone try to write a budget who has limited experience and limited intelligence. Some one - right then - on council should have stopped that nonsense. But no one had the courage. (Two sentences deleted)
You know, the problem with council is that you are always going to have a few jokers who think they know more than the people who came before them. And you'll always have egos on council who want to push people around. But it was up to you and “the remaining members of council” (names deleted) to step in, call your own private meeting and tell them this stuff ends now. You can fault “others” (names deleted) for being the driving force behind the manager’s departure. But you … are more guilty. You had an obligation to stop this. You did nothing.
An honorable man has been hounded from his job by a dishonorable council. And you smugly say we need to put it behind us. Well good luck in your search. You'll probably let “others on council” (names deleted) the pick the next manager. Can a state take over of Oil City be far behind?
All I can say to the last poster is Amen!
Wednesday, June 16, 2009
Today's Derrick tells the tale:
$7,000 for another consultant to help find a replacement for Rockovich.
Lets stop right here! every council member including myself knows that Mrs. Mayor had it out for tom. That is the fact! The problem i have with it is that Tom spent the majority of his life working for this city, and Mrs.Mayor was only elected for 4 years. Its sad to see someone get pushed out after so many years of service by a less experienced Mayor.
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