He is now having directors double up on their duties;
Shawn Pritchett, who has served in the role of finance director since late 2018, will now also be the director of innovation and technology for the city, following the council’s unanimous approval of TenHaken’s appointment.
It is getting pretty obvious that PTH is struggling to recruit people to work for him, which he even admits;
TenHaken called Pritchett an “obvious choice” for the role, and candidly noted that he was “0 for 3” in directors of the department during his administration, which he said was one thing that made him want to look inside for a new director.
He is actually ‘0 for 12+’ when it comes to directors. I have lost count. Why is it that people either don’t want to work for Paul’s administration or only last a short time?
Maybe he needs to start merging other department heads? Like Fire and Police? Parks and Rec with Entertainment facilities? If we can’t find people to work for this mayor maybe we could just consolidate?
This is sounding like Elon Musk with Twitter. Make those who stay work twice as hard. Send the misfits packing. Considering there’s to many positions at city hall with big titles but little responsibility, TenHaken may be onto something. After his term, TenHaken should consider CEO at Twitter.
what does that say about either job, that one person can do both?
I think it is the title of this position, which is the problem. Because, shouldn’t it be “Innovative technology”? Because, if innovative and technology are separated by the word “and”, then they are two separate things, but then how can technology be state of the art if it is not innovative, and how can innovative be allowed to happen if it is fostered, or attempted to be foster by outdated technology that is not naturally innovative? The title suggests to separate operating systems, or realities, which are not compatible, but yet together they are going to get the job done, but how? Or, would “One Sioux Falls” be the convenient variable which makes it all possible?
( and Woodstock adds: “Perhaps, keeping liquor in your file cabinet, and then posting that on FB as a prerequisite makes finding good candidates harder, huh?”…. )
Let’s start a new game called: If we can’t find people to work for this mayor maybe we could just
Fire him
Recall him
Run him out of town
Now its your turn
You would think someone (Someday?) from the 73% crowd would be willing to help out.
I have no issue with 1 person overseeing a city department, in fact the charter allows a mayor to appoint the same person to direct two departments. This is being over exxagerated. Let’s remember these are “Appointed Positions” they are not elected, nor are they defined as full time city employees, they can be removed, at anytime by the Mayor and/or Council…
Awhile back, debated whether or not to give the Mayor a salary increase by adopting the charter, many of you chose to NOT to adopt an charter amendment to change that rule, however, many of you claim these “appointed positions” should be paid more than the mayor, I suggested otherwise – for the Mayor and All Appointed Directors all make up the “Administration” of which by law, effectively changes frequently every two years.
You do NOT want full time, permanent Directors, you want each “Mayor” of who is elected by the people making up the city, to appoint persons close to him, of which advise him on how to administrate the city beaucracy of Departments, Offices, Agencies, Employees, Corporate Partners, all in the Best Interest of the City (the people).
Because ‘we’ hold elections every two years, the cycle of replacing a Mayor, the City Council, the Directors must also be refreshed, and defined, and changed frequently.
We have in the Charter, that the Mayor gets to establish his own ‘team of advisers” from Attorney, Finance, Public Works, Planning and Zoning, Innovative and Technology, Chief of Staff, Central Services, etc.
The Council has the means to hold investigations to subpoena them, in order to hold them accountable for how they administrate the Public Offices, Divisions, Agencies, Employees, Partners.
Knowing this, their jobs are short lived, the salaries should NOT compete with the private sector, however, they are free to leave anytime they wish, if a better opportunity comes up in the private sector, of which we shall not compete with.
Now, Mayor Paul TenHaken has only 3 years left as the Mayor, it would tough for him to fill any Director’s position, knowing that the new Mayor can replace any of them, so why would someone want to leave a nice, cushy, Executive Office at a Corporation, or Small Business ownership position?
Remember, every four years, the Mayor has to go through the process of reaffirming his Directors for a second term, yes, it means the Directors are tied to the “Mayoral Term Limits, let alone beholden to our elections.
The only real, full time Positions in the City effectively are the Managers, Sub-Managers, and Employees themselves.
As to why it may have been difficult to hire a Innovative and Technology Director – perhaps the Pay does not equate to what this type of position can earn in the private sector, one would have to take a pay cut to take a public office, let alone Deal with all “Your” drama and political attacks and abuse and shaming that comes there way by people such as yourself on social media, internet, etc.
Yes, I just said, part of the problem may actually be the amount of ABUSE directed towards the Directors by people such as yourselves…Even I can understand this.
As a Small Business Owner, I am subjected to political attacks, abuse, public shaming as well, but… I am not public, and I can sue you for that type of behavior. A public official cannot sue the citizens, cause ‘we’ in the private are protected by the 1st Amendment.
I am pretty sure, that Shawn Pritchard can effectively manage both the Finance Dept and the Innovative department for the remainder of the mayors term (2-1/2 years). He has a management team that can effectively operate the office in his absence.
“So, let me get this right, they have now learned how to create and control fusion, but yet they still can’t grow hair on a bald man’s scalp”…. “If you ask me, it seems to me that our priorities are little bit screwed up around here”…. #ThanksALotBiden #Limitless4Scalps
“Oh, and to be a bit more germane around here, maybe the Mayor could headhunt some new recruits from Chick-fil-A, huh?”….
“Say, I’m really bummed that Dua never came out with a Christmas record this season…. You know, something like ‘Dua’s Disco Drummer Boy'”…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKPk9OLKY4s
Mike, you should probably go to the doctor. You seem to have a pretty serious case of diarrhea of the keyboard.
“Directors” and only one example is given.
Say, little bird, you do realize she was raised Muslim, right?
“Yah, but she gets it”….. :
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmMd1fGNTCz/
“On another note, is it true that one of Trumps digital trading cards shows Stormy spanking Donald?”…. “If so, I’m all in….” #MAGAwithNFTs #PleaseSantaPlease
Yes, Mike Z gets verbose. Mostly on topic but how about not so lengthy? One thing he often mentions is the unconstitutional city charter. It’s obvious the mayor has to much power. Putin kills his critics. Favorably, the mayor can only fire them with little or no grounds.
“Who was that?”,
Fire him?
Recall him?
Run him out of town?
nah, this is South Dakota.
We elect our empty suits (even those without ties) to higher office.
Mike, you could leave out every other word. Would still be too long and make as much sense.
How is the charter not constitutional when the state constitution allows for Home Rule…I never understood the arguments on this..
The charter does not over rule the constitution, but allows to maintain our sovereignty where the public laws of the state do not restrict us.
Does this mean we are all a bunch of sovereigns? (#YES!!!)