Mark Farrington's last day

Mark Farrington, photo from in 2012

On June 27 we reported that Mark Farrington, Human Resource Director, was leaving and taking a job in Lakeland. Today is his last day with Lake Worth.

So many people have bailed out and the city keeps it all top secret...no details are ever given unless it is something totally off the wall as said when Doug Wood, Finance Director, recently walked out with NO notice.  City Manager Mike Bornstein said that "Wood left because Lake Worth’s government is not yet the well-oiled machine Wood might have expected." It's no wonder that few want to give the city $63.5 million.

Mr. Farrington will be working 28 minutes from his home and as he said, "That's why we work--to take care of family." Congratulations to Mark Farrington and good luck in your new job starting on August 4..

Read about the position of HR director for the City of Lake Worth.

Mark Farrington to become Human Resource Director in Lakeland

Comment Up

The City of Lake Worth's human resources director will become Lakeland's next human resources and civil service director, city officials announced Thursday.

Enlarge

Mark Farrington

Mark Farrington, 59, was chosen from a group of 60 applicants to fill the job left vacant since the city's former human resources director, Tommy Hamrick, resigned in August after employees complained he mistreated workers and retaliated against those who complained.

Farrington starts Aug. 4
Read about it...

Internal Auditor Appointee Withdraws because of stalled negotiations

Comment Up

The "negotiator," Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell, flubs another one--
This is very unfortunate. Mr. Marksmeier was approved 5-0 by the commission and was a position that was filled following requests from the public. It begs the question - why could terms not be agreed upon? Commissioner Maxwell negotiated the city manager's contract in a very short period of time. Commissioner Maxwell should have updated the commission if there were any issues with this important position. He did not.

From: Robert Marksmeier [robertmarksmeier@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 11:59 AM
To: Scott Maxwell; scottmaxwell1@bellsouth.net; Mark Farrington; Elaine Humphreys; bobbyma@miamidade.gov
Cc: Pam Triolo; Christopher McVoy; Suzanne Mulvehill; Andy Amoroso; Silvina Donaldson; Joni Taurosa; Sarah Fargo; Human Resources
Subject: City of Lake Worth Internal Auditor

Good morning Vice Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Farrington and Madam Attorney

Want to thank you, the Mayor, the Board of City Commissioners and the City of Lake Worth for the opportunity afforded to me by selecting me as the City’s Internal Auditor/Director at the May 1, 2012 Regular Commission Meeting, contingent upon the successful negotiation of an employment agreement (Agenda Item 10A).  However, to this date we have not been able to come to terms on this agreement/employment contract.

Therefore at this time, I am withdrawing from the negotiations and appreciate the opportunity afforded to me. It truly has been an honor to have met each of you and the citizenry of Lake Worth.

As stated in the Lake Worth City Charter, “… an Internal Auditor is to be amongst the designated roles in the city along with the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and other such officers…”. This is an important and vital position in any organization and/or government.  The Internal Auditor is an independent assurance activity designed to add-value and improve an organization’s operations, risk management, control and governance process.

I truly wish you the best in your search to fill this important position and role in protecting the city’s assets, public's interest, and government transparency.

Sincerely,
Robert Marksmeier

Internal Auditor Lake Worth

As we all cry for transparency and getting to the bottom of things, having an Internal Auditor is something that we, the citizens, have waited and wanted for several years.

Back on March 20, the city commission ranked their top candidates for Internal Auditor based only on the application and resume and then voted on accepting 5 candidates to interview: Glenn Holloway, Robert Marksmeier, Kathleen Matthews, Christina Seymour and Steven Wolkomir.

The applicants for Internal Auditor were narrowed down to three with Kathleen Matthews withdrawing Friday. Prior to yesterday's public interviews that took place at City Hall before the Commission, each applicant met with each City Commissioner in a private meeting. The IA reports directly to the city commission, not the city manager. The only city employees present at yesterday's meeting were Mark Farrington, Human Resource Director and Pam Lopez, City Clerk. There were less than two handfuls of residents observing this momentous occasion, something that we all have been asking for since the position was eliminated from the Budget back in 2009.

We used to have an internal auditor and he was good. Back in September 2009, the position was not funded because of budget constraints. The Commission went along with the thinking that we had an external auditor and justified the elimination of the internal auditor position. Scot Menke, IA at that time said, "The City Commission needs to restore the independence of the internal auditor in any future internal audit services." Both of the candidates below stressed that the position was not management but independent and that the position be free from politics.

Steven Wolkomir

29 years as an internal auditor--
school districts, Citizens Property Insurance
and for various cities.
BA in Accounting, CPA, Member of IIA, ALGA
and other professional groups.
He is well experienced in internal auditor start-ups
and describes himself as a generalist.
Gives objective and constructive appraisals and mentioned
auditor accountability and independence.
Used to working with politicians in his career.
He was ranked in the top 5 by all 5 commissioners
thus getting on the short list of consideration.

Robert Marksmeier

Senior Auditor and advisor Miami/Dade County for 11 years--
was involved in the GSA investigation audit.
BA, MBA, is a Certified Internal Auditor & candidate for CPA.
Has CIA, CGAP, designations as well as other professional affiliations.
Utilities would be his number one priority.
Says we need the right structure and the IA needs to be transparent
and independent of politics. His job must be objective.
Would involve the entire commission and the citizenry.
Does not want the department set-up to fail.
Based on his submitted resume,
originally ranked in top 5 by 3 commissioners.

The Bully

Comment Up

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.