The Bornstein Love Fest
When you think of how the public employment review for Lake Worth's city manager came about, it was all Scott Maxwell wanting to rant and publicly humiliate Susan Stanton, our former manager. He couldn't stand her. It started BEFORE he became elected. She was too strong-willed for him. There had NEVER been a public vetting before Stanton or before Scott Maxwell. The employees had been complaining BIG time about her. It didn't matter that many of them were incompetent and just plain not performing, some not even showing up for work. Employees are our most important asset they said, even if customer service was totally non-existent and no one answered the phone.
Stanton went through an extensive public vetting with matrices and ratings that were ALL in the Sunshine. Last night's "review" was nothing but a cheerleading session for Bornstein. We never found out one thing about his first year other than the employees like him, the public likes him (one referring to the review as a "roast") and so does the commission. Commissioner Amoroso even jokingly said, "He is sexy." We were not told how any commissioner rated him or his own self-evaluation during Unfinished Business. Perhaps he revealed that at the end of the meeting. All we knew was, he's a likeable fella.
Barbara Jean Weber
Treated like a rock star, one member of our public even wore a special piece of jewelry of a bow tie in honor of him. The entire audience was there to worship him and not one thing was learned about his performance that has been kept a secret for over a year. All we know is what we see--crime, slum, blight, and the lack of transparency, short meetings and decisions being made out of the knowledge of the public and that he has no stomach for lawsuits as most all have been settled for unimaginable amounts of money. But then, as the mayor said, it is a "trickle down" management style. Who is at the top of the organizational chart that directs the style? The Commission. And we still can't get a department to answer the phone.
Lynn, I was at the meeting last night, and I noticed that you did not get up and voice your Opinion on the City Manager. Why did you not get up and ask the pertinent questions that you were hoping to get answered?
ReplyDeleteYou accused Bornstein of shredding important legal documents, why didn't you ask him about that?
ReplyDeleteIf Stanton was so great how come she was unemployed for 3 years prior to getting hired here, and had to take a hodunk job in some hodunk farming community in the middle of nowhere? ? The 3 ass clowns responsible for hiring her aren't qualified to hire anyone for anything as is proven by what they do now. NOTHING
You continue to truly remain a breath of rotten air.
First of all, it wasn't that sort of a meeting. We never got to hear how the commission evaluated Mr. Bornstein. We never got to hear from the city manager on his own performance. The only thing they were looking for last night were kudos for Bornstein. Anything I might have said would not have been answered. So, why bother? It is up to the commission who lets it all ride and it gets less transparent by the hour.
ReplyDelete@9:25...when and where did I accuse Bornstein of "shredding" documents.
ReplyDeleteNext, it sometimes takes a long time for city managers to get hired and for them to find the "right" position. It is all political. And when you get a city commission crucifying a city manager and saying the most dr4eadful of things, do you think that it might possibly take a little longer? She was hired within months in Ft. Lauderdale.
As far as the 3 "ass clowns" as you put it are concerned--one is retired, one is traveling the world and giving seminars and the other just had a baby. Why all the hate? So, you don't like my fresh truthful remarks, deal with it. Get that exorcism as I suggested the other day. Be a puppet and get jerked around.
if you want hate check dees couple posts. anyway , looks like our heights ammendment vote will be considered null and void by the state. so, back to 65 and 100 feet.
ReplyDeleteWhy were you quiet about vac. rentals last night? Do you realize the heights vote will most probably be considered null and void by the state. We will be back where we started.
ReplyDeletei guess you are addressing that to me? First of all, it was NOT on the agenda.
ReplyDeleteNext, the city might be trying to pull a fast one on the referendum, but all you have to do is read the bill and you will find it does not pertain to our charter Amendment. Even Torcivia should realize that so I wonder why we pay him. But then, he is being directed by this commission to find a way to over-turn it. All three are running again and everyone needs to know that they do not care about the outcome of a vote but only when it pertains to them personally.
There is going to be some nasty ,and VERY TRUTHFUL post cards going out against the three. Mary Lindsey and Shanon Materio will be proud when they see them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn, for the truth once again. Mike seems like a good guy but it's true, nothing is different if not worse. He is working for the commission which is not necessarily for the betterment of our town. he and the city lawyer look tight.
ReplyDeleteLynn, your article brings up some good points. Susan Stanton did not have a chance from the start. Perhaps if she too had ‘a little love’ from the commissioners, many things would have turned out differently. Sadly, it was a time of contempt and superciliousness.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison to the Ms. Stanton’s evaluation, last night for Mr. Bornstein was a piece of cake and it was surprising no performance issues were discussed. Maybe the commission changed the procedure and wanted to address their concerns privately with Mr. Bornstein. When we see the commission’s evaluations and the city manager’s self-evaluation the public will have many questions for him and the commission. It would be great to have the best of both worlds. Ms. Stanton’s admirable push for what is necessary for the city and timely reporting as well as Mr. Bornstein’s admirable ability to get the best of the employee’s abilities. Oh, love the pic of the bow tie necklace but what a funny face! Barb Jean
Beware of commissioners purporting to speak on behalf of staff. Not everyone on the inside is enamored with Mr. Bornstein.
ReplyDeleteWhat has he accomplished that comes close to the tangible results from Susan Stanton? I mean, he seems like a nice guy who knows how to keep a city functioning. Is that all we want?
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny that so many people who want the city run "like a business" (I don't necessarily agree 100% with that) prefer Bornstein to Stanton. If you had a business that was going under and you needed the smartest, most capable and experienced leadership you could get to turn it around, would you pick Mr Bornstein or Ms Stanton?? When high profile businesses choose new leadership, do they pick someone who all the employees will like? Or do they choose someone who will take the business to the next level? Is Mr Bornstein capable of taking Lake Worth to the next level? Or is he treading water until something a little less strenuous comes along?
barbara gives him a plus ---barbara and michael make a good couple
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