The Baldwin Shuffle

Well, it was unfortunate I could not speak on Bob Baldwin tonight and the fast one he pulled on his last day in office. The Commission seemed to believe that somehow his betrayal was their fault for not making it a formal policy--not writing and extending employment contracts--that they only mentioned it but because no vote was ever taken on the numerous occasions it was brought up, that they believed he could get away with what he did. I can assure the Commission right now that Mr. Baldwin knew exactly the wishes of the commission and he did not give a flying crap.

Ok? Got it?

On the last day in his job, Bob Baldwin picked up his Bic and finally did some work—he signed what I thought were 3 employment extensions (Rachael Bach, Laura Hanna and Paul Blockson) knowing that what he did was in direct violation of the city commission’s wishes. Tonight I find out it was 4 contracts. Elaine Humphreys admitted that Baldwin gave her an extension on his last day on the job. Commendable of Bob to protect city employees. How many more are there of which we are not aware?

Mr. Baldwin probably had the easiest city manager’s job in the country. He wrote his own contract and didn’t even have to come into work. He was out more than he was in. And by getting away with the good will of Lake Worth for over 1.5 years, he extended it to at least 4 employees on his last day here. He did more on his last day than he did in one year and 9 months or whatever it was.

If there is any way to get retribution I say go for it. If there is any insurance policy that covers employee insubordination to this degree-- going completely around the will of the commission-- costing the city thousands of dollars, proceed with it. But let us not allow Bob Baldwin to get away with it and sweep it under the rug.