The Bully

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Mark Farrington
City of Lake Worth
Human Resource Director

At the February 7th meeting, Mark Farrington held his ground with Vice Mayor Maxwell. I was really impressed and thought that "wow, here is a guy who won't put up with any BS." But between that meeting and Thursday night, things seemed to turn around. He became totally a "company man."

Mark Farrington suggested an entirely different process than what was decided at the February 7 meeting...instead of 3 top candidates he suggested 5. Perhaps Farrington came up with this all on his own. Perhaps he was told in no uncertain terms, get Kroll on that short list. We will never know if the commissioners have given any direction to staff, which is against the Charter, as employees want to keep their jobs.
Many of staff will accept untenable conditions and go to extraordinary lengths to keep their jobs even kissing the boss' ring. Being fired is costly as you have witnessed in the city manager fiasco. She was fired because of a personality mis-match and a commission that had no faith in their ability to control that employee--no faith in their own leadership. An employee who stands up to his beliefs, is honorable but occasionally it is difficult to do when you are working under a bully.

John Dootlittle said, "Bullying wasn't okay in elementary school and it isn't okay now, especially when it comes in the form of a U.S. Supreme Court decision." And this thought trickles right down to our own dais at City Hall. Actually what is occurring from the Visionaries on the dais is exactly what they accused Susan Stanton of doing--bullying.

Did you ever know or encounter a bully when you were a kid? Sometimes that behavior can be identified as early as kindergarten. Some bullies don't grow out of it and continue on into adulthood. Some just haven't learned to control their anger and fighting instincts. Some become elected officials or your boss. Some just accuse the other guy of exactly what they are doing themselves...all because they want their way and they make no bones about it. They have an uncanny way of "seeing" it in someone else but they never, never look in the mirror.

• greater than average aggressive behavior patterns
• the desire to dominate peers
• the need to feel in control, to win
• no sense of remorse for hurting another
• a refusal to accept responsibility for his/her behavior

The definitions of a bully are: 1) To treat in an overbearing or intimidating manner. 2) To make (one's way) aggressively. 3) To force one's way aggressively or by intimidation. 4) To provide persistent, unwelcome behavior. Source: Lifafteradultbullying.com

We have that on our dais. No one should have to put up with it. Our former city manager put up with it from Scott Maxwell over and over again. The Human Resource Director does not stand alone when it comes to being a victim of bullying. There is the Utility Director and the Assistant City Manager who has had to stand up for herself with the Vice Mayor for a year now on the beach redevelopment and casino leases. I can just imagine what an unpleasant experience it is to be constantly subjected to harsh, severe, sarcastic and sometimes even hostile questions and/or rhetoric from the King Inquisitor who now has powers he never dreamed thanks to two who just go along.