Janesville Break Room Too Hot To Handle

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The argument over the remodeled break room at Janesville City hall is apparently over. Although our local newspapers seemed to have steered the focus on the high costs and supposedly lavish amenities, the truth was that city government broke down. The monetary costs in this case turned out to be secondary to the real problem.

JG excerpt:
Said (Public works director) Messer, ”It was never our intent to create a situation where the relationship between the council and citizens erodes. Obviously, this project touched a nerve in the community. That was the furthest thing from our intention.”

I disagree with this perspective, it is the relationship between the people and the manager that has taken a hit. The break room controversy also exposed a serious communication hole between city employees and council members that may only get worse in the coming months. To the contrary, the relationship between the council and the citizens may have only gotten stronger after this one.

If the duly-elected representatives (council) were deliberately kept out of the loop on this project as it seems to appear, then so were the taxpayers of Janesville. They know it, (we) were the real losers here.

JG letter excerpt:
City employees aren't eligible for profit sharing, etc. Most are paid average to below-average salaries for position requirements. Even the city manager, in a comparable position with the budget and employees he manages, would be paid three to four times that in the private sector.

So for once, Paul, given the verbal assault the city employees have had to endure from the fab five (the same five citizens who complain at every council meeting) and their minority posse, consider it a small gesture on behalf of the city manager. What else could he give?—Jeff Clark, Janesville

A couple of things here. One, some of your worst employees are those who always feel like they are underpaid and under-appreciated. After a certain point, they can never be satisfied, they carry a chip on their shoulder, are perpetually unhappy and are certainly no joy to work around. If some city employees feel this way, by all means go work somewhere else where you will feel better. Two, unless Mr. Sheiffer paid for the break room out of his own pocket, the improvement was a small (albeit unintentional) gesture on behalf of Janesville taxpayers, to give credit elsewhere is a slap in the face to the taxpayers. And finally, there is no better way to belittle (working for free)councilmen than to write-off their concerns and questions as the habitual complaints of ignored citizens.

The January 9th Gazette ran an article titled,"Council puts breaks on lounge controversy" which oddly enough did not contain one reference to the city manager or his input into the discourse necessary to amend the problem. It seems like only those who cared enough about the issue were quoted.

The city manager insulted questioning council members by abruptly exiting a council meeting in progress. Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate the city managers performance including some city employees and their willingness to get along with others. If you can’t take the heat, it’s time to get out of the kitchen.