Verbose

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

To: Department Directors

From: County Manager

Subject: Mismanagement/Corruption

Date: July 1, 2001

During our staff meeting of June 20, 2001, I had an opportunity to discuss my personal and professional feelings and thoughts regarding recent events that surround our government.  More specifically, the unpleasant experiences we have had as of late with continuing revelations of mismanagement, political patronage and worse yet, corruption in significant parts of our organization.  In the past few weeks, subsequent to extensive media coverage on the pavement/repair contracts at the Water and Sewer Department, I have been approached by our Mayor and Commissioners, members of the media and residents of this community expressing their outrage and dismay at County government.  All, without exception, told me (as I expressed to you during this meeting) that they are fed up with the ongoing reports on corruption.  Frankly speaking, I too am fed up not only with these revelations but more so with our “business as usual” attitude, our perceived inability to act and the lack of professional and personal concern shown throughout the years for these issues.

While it is evidently clear that events at these departments Seaport, Planning, Development and Regulation and WASD, are not the makings of present management as some would like us to believe, it is also evident that those who throughout the years had oversight responsibilities for these areas failed to act.  They are now shedding their responsibility by indulging in hollow rhetoric or pointing the finger in an opposite direction.  Let's not fall in this trap.  Our job as professional public administrators is to stay above this fray and stay the course by continuing to work through these difficult times in a professional manner.

That is what our community and out elected officials expect of us.  That is what we must expect of ourselves and what I expect of you.  We must say “enough”. As we...