Clash Over Team Builder's Value During Fiscal Crisis
By Corey Lyons
Contra Costa Newspapers
Feb. 6, 2004
With eight frozen positions and dismal budget forecasts, the city has spent more than $55,000 on a consultant with a doctorate in psychology who specializes in team-building skills.
Bill Mathis Associates, of Napa, was retained Nov. 1, 2002, a few months after the arrival of City Manager Mike Ramsey. Mathis, 60, is a writer and speaker whose articles include "When Council is Unhappy with City Manager" and "The Seven Symptoms of a Manager in Trouble."
The city has relied on his services for 15 months, racking up a $55,168 tab that continues to swell.
As cities brace for more economic uncertainties in a state soaking in red ink, the continued use of the consultant raises questions about fiscal prudence.
"I will not approve any more expenditures," Councilwoman Sue Angeli said Thursday. "I have made it clear that I don't think we should have to bring someone in to, No. 1, teach people how to get along and, No. 2, I don't believe in these touchy-feely sessions."
Other city officials praised Mathis, a $250-an-hour consultant, saying he has helped improve communication and efficiency at City Hall.
They say he has helped initiate the city's first organized major projects list, addressed a management clash between the planning and public works departments and facilitated the city manager's evaluation process.
Later this month, Mathis will prepare for and facilitate a daylong public workshop to help council members identify and prioritize their goals. The cost to taxpayers will be $4,000.
Then, in late March, an "executive team" of city department heads will meet with him for a three-day retreat to Napa to talk about the goals and discuss project timetables.
The cost to taxpayers will be about $9,500.
"The reason we use him is the same reason folks go to other professionals for help: to maintain and improve their own health," Ramsey said. "An organization is sort of like a body, and it needs to be taken care of."
Richard Ricci, the city's finance director, said that he was initially skeptical of an outside facilitator.
"But I am now a proponent of Mathis," he said. "He's had a very positive effect on the organization, and has sped up the process to get to know Mike Ramsey."
Mathis, who said his firm services 50 cities a year in California, said his work is not "touchy-feely," but effective and practical.
"One of my major activities has been working with the council," he said, "helping them focus in a laser-like way how to stay within their budgets and within capacity of staff.
"Ninety percent of all the councils I deal with over-estimate what staff can do, particularly in tight times."
By the end of the March 29 retreat, the city will have paid Mathis about $70,000 — or more than 10 percent of the roughly $650,000 the city has spared by not filling vacancies.
A $35,000 contract with Mathis was approved in November 2002, five months after Ramsey was hired.
Then, in February 2003, the council voted 4-1 to approve an extension of the contract, as requested by city staff. Councilwoman Terri Williamson voted no.
In the meantime, a team of nine city officials is planning to meet with Mathis for a two-night stay at the Christian Brothers Retreat and Conference Center in Napa, beginning March 29. The center, wrapped in 500 acres of vineyards and wooded hills, includes 14 rooms and two suites that range from $115 to $175 a night.
The purpose of the trip will be to allow top management to hash out how to implement the goals set by council members during the workshop Feb. 28.
Ramsey, who will attend, said the trip is well worth its costs and allows the team to get away from distractions and focus on developing a "yearlong strategic plan."
"When you get into a real serious conversation and come up with a strategy," he said, "you can't just call a timeout after two hours and expect to pick it up again at that point in time."
Ramsey said he and Mathis had talked about a working relationship at City Hall that would last three to five years.
Contra Costa Newspapers
Feb. 6, 2004
With eight frozen positions and dismal budget forecasts, the city has spent more than $55,000 on a consultant with a doctorate in psychology who specializes in team-building skills.
Bill Mathis Associates, of Napa, was retained Nov. 1, 2002, a few months after the arrival of City Manager Mike Ramsey. Mathis, 60, is a writer and speaker whose articles include "When Council is Unhappy with City Manager" and "The Seven Symptoms of a Manager in Trouble."
The city has relied on his services for 15 months, racking up a $55,168 tab that continues to swell.
As cities brace for more economic uncertainties in a state soaking in red ink, the continued use of the consultant raises questions about fiscal prudence.
"I will not approve any more expenditures," Councilwoman Sue Angeli said Thursday. "I have made it clear that I don't think we should have to bring someone in to, No. 1, teach people how to get along and, No. 2, I don't believe in these touchy-feely sessions."
Other city officials praised Mathis, a $250-an-hour consultant, saying he has helped improve communication and efficiency at City Hall.
They say he has helped initiate the city's first organized major projects list, addressed a management clash between the planning and public works departments and facilitated the city manager's evaluation process.
Later this month, Mathis will prepare for and facilitate a daylong public workshop to help council members identify and prioritize their goals. The cost to taxpayers will be $4,000.
Then, in late March, an "executive team" of city department heads will meet with him for a three-day retreat to Napa to talk about the goals and discuss project timetables.
The cost to taxpayers will be about $9,500.
"The reason we use him is the same reason folks go to other professionals for help: to maintain and improve their own health," Ramsey said. "An organization is sort of like a body, and it needs to be taken care of."
Richard Ricci, the city's finance director, said that he was initially skeptical of an outside facilitator.
"But I am now a proponent of Mathis," he said. "He's had a very positive effect on the organization, and has sped up the process to get to know Mike Ramsey."
Mathis, who said his firm services 50 cities a year in California, said his work is not "touchy-feely," but effective and practical.
"One of my major activities has been working with the council," he said, "helping them focus in a laser-like way how to stay within their budgets and within capacity of staff.
"Ninety percent of all the councils I deal with over-estimate what staff can do, particularly in tight times."
By the end of the March 29 retreat, the city will have paid Mathis about $70,000 — or more than 10 percent of the roughly $650,000 the city has spared by not filling vacancies.
A $35,000 contract with Mathis was approved in November 2002, five months after Ramsey was hired.
Then, in February 2003, the council voted 4-1 to approve an extension of the contract, as requested by city staff. Councilwoman Terri Williamson voted no.
In the meantime, a team of nine city officials is planning to meet with Mathis for a two-night stay at the Christian Brothers Retreat and Conference Center in Napa, beginning March 29. The center, wrapped in 500 acres of vineyards and wooded hills, includes 14 rooms and two suites that range from $115 to $175 a night.
The purpose of the trip will be to allow top management to hash out how to implement the goals set by council members during the workshop Feb. 28.
Ramsey, who will attend, said the trip is well worth its costs and allows the team to get away from distractions and focus on developing a "yearlong strategic plan."
"When you get into a real serious conversation and come up with a strategy," he said, "you can't just call a timeout after two hours and expect to pick it up again at that point in time."
Ramsey said he and Mathis had talked about a working relationship at City Hall that would last three to five years.
posted by Corey at 9:33 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home