On Accountability 

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of op/ed pieces that will provide readers with proposals to improve East Ridge by write-in Mayoral candidate Dick Cook, publisher of East Ridge News Online. The incumbent is welcome to submit his own op/ed articles, as are candidates for City Council.

It is my belief that one of the biggest failings of the current administration _ and for that matter those of the past two decades _ is not being accountable to the people of East Ridge. 

I must assume that the incumbent Mayor and members of the City Council get a fair amount of telephone calls, e-mails, texts from citizens complaining about everything from cats running lose in the neighborhood to potholes ruining suspensions of vehicles. I’m also assuming that our elected officials try to address these complaints on a piecemeal basis. We’ve all seen members of the council – Jacky Cagle more than anyone – ask the City Manager in an open meeting to address a problem that was brought to the elected official’s attention. And in time the issue is addressed; or not. This is a band-aid approach, at best, and a frustrating exercise in Whac-A-Mole at worst.

Accountability in East Ridge begins with its elected officials. But that is not where it stops: far from it. It is my firm belief that this city can deliver better services to the 21,000 residents who call East Ridge home by adopting something that’s done all over the spectrum of private and public business: Yearly Performance Evaluations. 

Some four years ago, the current city manager said during his interview for the job that he would most certainly institute yearly performance evaluations. For whatever reason, he has failed to do so. After all, he runs the day-to-day operations of the city. I’ve never heard any of our current elected officials mention the prospect of performance evaluations. 

I’ve often wondered why our elected officials are mum on this topic. Could it be the tail wags the dog? Used to be the formula for winning an election in East Ridge was to get the employees on your side. These folks were spheres of influence in their neighborhoods. These days, I would venture to guess that the majority of city employees don’t live in East Ridge and don’t vote here. Nevertheless, some strongly-held and proven notions don’t go quietly into the night.

If elected Mayor, I would propose that the city council pass an ordinance that would require the city manager and his staff to implement a yearly performance evaluation for all employees. That way we could identify and reward good employees, give some that are under-performing additional training, and if employees are not getting the job done, find people who can get it done. Remember, the city gave out $600,000 in raises to employees last year under a “salary stabilization plan,” and that’s not counting a cost of living adjustment.

If you really want a better city, start by electing a mayor who has the vision to propose an ordinance that will make all city employees more accountable to the people they serve.

I think it’s fair to say I may lose some city employees’ votes with this proposal. Good employees should welcome this proposal as they would potentially gain from it. Marginal ones will revile it.

Nonetheless, my wish is to be a public servant, not a politician.