As we as a community search for a new city manager, I submit the following: Durango needs to switch from a council-manager format to a mayor-council format, wherein the mayor is elected separately from council, receives a professional salary and is responsible for significant budgetary control.
A city manager runs a government like a business – which includes growing the business. Increases in wages and personnel are constantly ongoing.
As an actual member of the community (instead of a hired gun from some glitzy mountain town like say, I dunno, Ketchum, Idaho?) the boss would hopefully have more accountability to the town than someone making 10 times more salary than the average working stiff in Durango.
Three years ago, I decided to run for City Council. This decision was largely based on my interactions with the city manager. When I approached him with a legitimate complaint, he told me, “I work for the City Council. If you have a complaint, go to them.”
So I did. I was met with a great deal of “Ron-splaining” from the then-mayor, which left me feeling less than satisfied.
I’m gob-smacked that during the city manager’s more than 10 years at the city, I was the only person who submitted a formal complaint regarding his behavior. After about five months, I got a response from the manager himself stating that he was not answerable to the Board of Ethics.
Lame and unacceptable.
Let’s see what the CBI uncovers in their lengthy investigation.
Thomas EskewDurango
