No One Will Notice

Whose SIX MILLION DOLLAR SCREW UP IS IT ANYWAY?

By Marc Garman

7/23/12

By now most of you know about the big Six Million Dollar screw up at City Hall.

Screw up? What Screw up?

You know, the one where the City failed to give the cops and firefighters notification that they wanted to open labor contracts for negotiation this year. The one where those MORON INCOMPETENTS in the HR department blew it. The big disaster that resulted in Human Resources (HR) Director Deborah Boutte getting sent to the guillotine of municipal discontent. (They don't talk about the guillotine playing a role in the disappearance of the past HR Director...but connect the dots folks. Someone's head had to roll over this..in a quiet back door way that never made big headlines.)

There's one sticking point though. When VIB requested copies of formal notifications sent by the city there were none. Not until this year. In other words, negotiations between the City and safety employees have been initiated without formal written notice for years. Records indicate no formal written request to “meet and confer” with safety employees has been issued by the City for at least a dozen years. The first copy we could find of such a communication from the city came this year. In her response to our FOI request, interim Human Resources Director Mary Neilan says the following:

We have researched the city's records from 2000 to 2012 and have found one (1) written notice sent to VPOA to "amend or terminate the Agreement". That is what I attached.

At this point, the VPOA (Vallejo Police Officers Association) police union has made their position clear: They intend to play hardball. This is pretty obvious when you read the “Request to Meet and Confer” issued by the city for the 2013 contracts. READ HERE

Vallejo's police often proudly and publicly wear the Badge of Diminished Staffing. However, they have very consistently taken actions that protect their very high wages and benefits only and forsaken opportunities to add more police. Cities all over California are teetering on the brink, with some, such as Stockton moving forward with bankruptcy. But it would seem that Vallejo's police union never got the memo.

The recent opportunity to add more police using measure B sales tax monies is a prime example. Vallejo could have hired five more police, but with the provision that they be hired on a second tier (lower) benefits package. The VPOA declined.

Considering the very rich wage and benefits currently given Vallejo police, (not to mention the 6.29% raise they received while the city was still in bankruptcy) even second tier hires would be far from poverty. Just a more reasonable reflection of current economic challenges facing city budgets all over California. But it boils down to politics and maneuvering. Any downward wage precedent set by the new hires could be carried forward to influence contract negotiations now set for 2013. This does not play into the seemingly monomaniacal pursuit of cash over safety that would appear to be a core principle of VPOA.

We all need to work together in order to move Vallejo forward. Nobody wants to tell cops or anybody else that they have to take a pay cut. But nobody wants to be looking at bankruptcy again. Ever.

Vallejo's fire department has been willing to step up with their 12 recent hires, brought on board with a downward modified benefits package. As to whether fire will give further considerations on their contract this year is uncertain at this point. They have; however, already given wage and benefit concessions to help the city, where police have not, so it seems unfair to ask them to do even more. (Perhaps Vallejo's very well paid managerial employees will lead the way with a voluntary pay and benefit reduction? Maybe not.)

Let's face it. Vallejo's public safety workers are still very well paid despite bankruptcy and Vallejo's economic hardships. Other employees, both safety and other municipal workers have given. Even if they don't have to, it is time for Vallejo's police to step forward.

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Firebug   |August.06.2012 http://www.linkedin.com/pub/debora-r-boutte/3/a85/a6b

Rememberances of things past   |August.01.2012 Utility Users' Tax http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite/default.asp?serviceID1=749&Frame=L1 Q: What community services does the UUT fund? A: Vallejo's UUT pays for many critical City services. The UUT provides Vallejo with a protected and reliable local revenue source to help maintain police, fire, 9-1-1 emergency response and other essential local services. Q: How do we know that funds would be spent responsibly? A: Measure U will continue to ensure our local control over the current funding generated by this tax, and will include strong fiscal accountability protections such as requiring an annual independent City audit. All funds must be spent on City services, and any rate increases would require voter approval. At the time it was warned that without the pay and pension issues being resolved the money from the tax increase would end up being exported to CALPERS. And it is being exported out of Vallejo. IMO the tax increase should be repealed as it has not performed as expected and not reinstated until substantive changes in pay and benefits are achieved.

Remembrances of things past   |August.01.2012 Remembrances of things past, Utility Users

wharf rat   |July.31.2012 @ IBEW Seems the IBEW members "most who live here " have a strong commitment to our Town as evidenced by the consessions they have made over the years . Too bad the other three groups dont share this ethic , another reason for parity for all COV Employees . We can not continue to favor one group over another all the while ignoring our infrastructure . public works Workers are as important as PSU members and probably more productive than the CAMP crowd , certianly more cost effective .

Retired_IBEW   |July.31.2012 @pacman, I don't think IBEW would ever go on strike, it was my experience that they honestly care about the people of Vallejo. Unfortunately everything they have sacrificed in terms of pay and benefit cuts never helped the taxpayer, it just went into the pockets of management and the other bargaining units.

pacman   |July.30.2012 IBEW workers are the ones who should consider going on strike , if VPOA takes one more dime while the IBEW Workers get cut I say strike time then we will see who wins the hardball game . IBEW gives and gives while the other three PAC'S take and take IBEW has a strong cause for lawsuite after all isin't this discrimination ?

GW   |July.30.2012 According to the article, this year was the first time that the six month prior notification to reopen negotiations was insisted on. Does this mean that all prior negotiations have been done without this prior notification? If that is the case, who was at the helm during all those years and why was this clause not invoked then? Is it possible that the contracts were gone through with a flea comb this time around, but not before? Translation: We did not know the minute details that have a big impact were hidden in there somewhere! Who was the party who notified the other party to the deal that the time frame to open new negotiations has just passed and therefore the deal remains in place for another year? Bet there was a lot of High 5'ing going on on that day!

Anonymous   |July.30.2012 VPOA and hardball! Let's see, over 40 years ago VPOA--you know, the guys with guns and badges--went out on STRIKE against the citizens of Vallejo. It should & must be illegal for the guys and gals with guns & badges to have a union, and it certainly should be illegal for any union to strike against taxpayers. If they don't like it, they can get a job elsewhere. There are NO guarantees in life, no guaranteed job, no right to a job. If the boss wants you OUT, open the door and don't let it hit you in the butt as you leave. In this case, Boss = Taxpayers.

TAX PAYER   |July.29.2012 Considering Craig had his Signiture on this Document , one just has to wonder what the heck , or where was he , and where was he for all of the years when he had Execuitive Positions in COV , and exactly what has been GAINED by such . His Employment seems to be Bullet proof . Many of his co-workers and associates bite the bullet while Craig steams right along, all the crap like water on a duck . the origional- tefflon don . When will he have to do a full disclosure ? None of us are exempt from the will of the People , and sooner than later all of it catches up with one .........

know vallejo   |July.29.2012 the HR director was the scapegoat on this. craig witless sat at the negotiating table. he's the one responsible. he should be gone. he is worthless. unfortunately, it seems that we're stuck with him. keen hasn't handled this one well at all.

wharf rat   |July.29.2012 We will see if parcipatatory budgeting outcomes reflect this oversite

anon   |July.28.2012 When was the HR Director hired ? they should know the single largest contract by rote however Craig W with his fingerprints all over it also bore responsibility and dropped the ball they both should have been let go .

Anonymous   |July.28.2012 I believe Marc said that the HR Director lost her job because of this screwup. That's more accountability than this city has ever shown! As for VPOA, let them play hardball. Next year they'll just take double the cuts to makeup for this year. Remember Measure A boys?

Mr :O   |July.28.2012 Any suggestion as to what we can do to put focus on accountability in this matter? Outsource police services to a neighboring city, county, or the state of CA. Maybe look into a management co if such exists. The normal reasons for having a local police force are local control, frugality, local employment opportunities, having a police force that is sympathetic to the local population, having police whose interests are aligned with the city, having a police force that lives locally. None of those factors appear to be present in Vallejo.

What Can We Do?   |July.26.2012 Any suggestion as to what we can do to put focus on accountability in this matter?

Workerbee   |July.25.2012 Whatever happened to the Workerbee they were planning on throwing under bus over this screwup ?

wharf rat   |July.25.2012 VPOA owns Vallejo , I wonder what is the net loss of City income due to so many of our highest payed Employees living out of town is ?

Firebug   |July.25.2012 No one is saying disarm, just not shoot everything that moves.

Anonymous   |July.25.2012 I understand that the family whose elderly labradog was shot and killed by the VPD has moved to Marin and their house has been added to the rental market.

Twisted Logic   |July.25.2012 So with your logic if we disarm VPD we will be safer in town? What a twisted logic!

Firebug   |July.25.2012 For all the kudos the former chiefy nichelini got, he was too dim to comprehend what happened in Mexico when their President unleashed the military on the drug trade. When violence is escalated the crooks will respond accordingly, and the innocent will be caught in the middle of cops and crooks fighting in the streets. Six years later that is exactly what is still going on in Mexico. If someone is going to commit crimes in Vallejo it is apparent based on the itchy trigger fingers that their will be no bargaining with law enforcement so the crooks will arm themselves better and plan better. The losers will be the innocents like the family dog, unarmed people and victims of friendly fire.

busted flat   |July.25.2012 IBEW has given so much up for so many years , they have for more than a decade foregone their COLA raises to avoid layoffs , just to have them happen anyway while the CAMP , VPOA , IFFU have raped our City budget and by doing so have raped and pillaged all of us . The fact is the whole fiasco is not sustainable , we can not afford them "WE DONT HAVE THE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE PSU'S AT THE CURRENT LEVELS CONSIDERING THE UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY'S We are heading beyond bankruptsy to a total meltdown when one day we will not be able to make payroll or any other liabilities just plain BUST and will have to dissolve our City and become a County or a State waife . a wholesale welfare state, good game for those with bank and connections some real red meat .

Anonymous   |July.25.2012 It's tough when the distinction between crooks and cops is so distorted. I'm no longer sure who poses the bigger threat.

Anonymous   |July.24.2012 Interesting

Anonymous   |July.24.2012 @Retired-IBEW, two councilmembers did not want to go after IBEW and voted "no" on the other contracts because of the disparity. You can thank Davis, Hannigan, Wilson, "I don't have enough information" Sunga and Bartenke for the unfair contracts. We'll see what happens, but I bet IBEW gets mostly left alone and the "haves" will take the big cuts. FINALLY.

vallejo resident   |July.24.2012 It is becomming clearer every day that the police are not interested in the state of the city of vallejo or the safety of their citizens. They feel attacked and respond accordingly. I was disturbed when the police shot and killed a family dog when going to take a report from a victim of crime. I was more concerned when 4 people in the city were shot and killed by our police in short order all with the purported reason that they posed immediate threat to the involved officers. What happened to non lethal apprehension of perpetrators of crime and letting them have their day in court? But this mornings paper really clarified the situation. As I read the article in several regional papers the police apprehended an indivitual who had called 911 multiple times and decided the appropriate action was to take him to jail and charge him with abuse of the 911 system. Subsequently he dies in custody 3 hours later. Sounds to me like he actually had good cause for calling 911. Perhaps a trip to the emergency room for evaluation would have been better than a trip to jail and an autopsy. We need a chief and officers who live in our city and have the desire to make it a safe place to live with a group of PEACE OFFICERS who use skillful tactics to evaluate situations they are called to and apply their training in safely apprehending those who are violating the law. We do not need a group who acts like the toughest GANG in town.

GW   |July.24.2012 Looks like Vallejo is becoming the employer for former Novato employees. Too bad 37 does not have a car pool lane. It's good to have friends in elevated places.

Retired_IBEW   |July.24.2012 my guess is that Police will play hardball and the City will make another run on IBEW and probably take the scraps they left on the plate of retirees, the Council had no problem at all taking the most from those who had the least and I'm sure they will sit around smugly congratulating themselves again the next time they do it. And the incompetence in the City extends beyond HR believe me..just ask a few rank and file City employees what they think of the 'management' and the elite CAMP crowd, I'm sure they would love to tell you what they think about the 'leadership' in Vallejo

Anon II   |July.24.2012 Heads should roll over this colossal $5.6 million dollar mistake. Keen should replace his assistant manager Whittom too - he knew and knows those contracts inside and out. I think Whittom might be in with the cops. But whatever, let's move on with more intelligent and less easy to corrupt folks in offices downtown.

Anonymous   |July.24.2012 Vallejo taxpayers united? Isn't it the general voting should have done?

anon   |July.24.2012 Every Employee should have the same benefits package and there should be parity in the wage structure . Political action groups should not be recognised one look at the VPOA contract cements this argument . Perhaps We should form our own PAC like Vallejo taxpayers united "VTU" and bust up these fifedoms it could be done by popular vote .

tramky   |July.24.2012 VPOA always plays 'hardball', which is code for extracting as much money as possible from taxpayers around this town. Recall that VPOA actually WENT ON STRIKE against the citizens, residents & taxpayer of this City in 1969. That's right, the people carrying guns & badges WENT ON STRIKE against the people of Vallejo. So that is VPOA's legacy, that is their MO. Nothing surprising in any of this. The arrogance is massive. Public service unions must be banned & abolished; they have NO PLACE in municipal governance. Get rid of SEIU, too, and ALL the rest of them.

Private sector   |July.24.2012 In the job I currently hold in the private sector, my officer partner was layed off 3 years ago, so I hold down the fort for two people, not to mention they cut my hours to 30 hours a week, I have been at my postion 9 years, never a raise and a 12000 pay decrease since I started. I can quit if I choose, I choose to stay for now, but I dont expect a pay raise anytime soon, or to have my hours at work restored. It is what it is in the private sector.... Folks DO NOT KNOW HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT AS CITY EMPLOYEES, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ONE CITY EMPLOYEE SAY HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT? EVER? They think they are really put upon and could do so much better in the private sector.

Clarke Johnston   |July.24.2012 The noticing/serving letter fiasco is costing us dearly at the very time Vallejo MUST be on top of it's financial game. For two compelling reasons: One - We've just left bankruptcy, and should, by all means necessary, balance our budget. Two - The economy is clearly stalling again, with job losses continuing, more foreclosures, the European Union crumbling, Sacramento spending like crazy...etc...etc. Also, despite some good progress via public meetings and input, and the fact that at least SOME city staff are feeling heat and fire, no comprehensive city/downtown plan exists. Under these circumstances, NO PAY raises should be granted under ANY circumstances, and employee contributions towards pensions and healthcare probably need to be doubled, merely if only to stay abreast of increased costs in those areas. Period. To entertain any pay raises is foolish, unwise, and a dis-service to the already strapped citizens of this town. More California cities will be filing bankruptcy soon, let's not be the first to return, further complicating our lives and tarnishing our battered image.

Mariner's Landing   |July.24.2012 We had annual reviews at the company I work for 3 months ago. They announced yesterday that "no," salary increases to anyone at the company were going to be issued. Our sales are down 20% over prior year--upper management thinks we are headed into another recession. The next step is usually body count reduction.

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 Considering the very rich wage and benefits currently given Vallejo police, (not to mention the 6.29% raise they received while the city was still in bankruptcy) Marc, the 6.29 percent wage increase isn't the only post bankruptcy wages the PD received. I think they also received another 1.33 percent the following year, and they will also receive an additional raise that will be retroactive to July 1. The raises themselves are costly, but the actual cost of the raises needs to be multiplied by a factor of (TIMES) 1.5 to understand the true additional cost of each 1% in salary increase. The reason for that is each 1% salary increase also icreases the cost of pensions, disability insurance, banked leave, and accumulated sick leave. An 8% increase in compensation increases employee cost, as a percentage of payroll, by at leat 12%.

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 It's very clear at this point that We need a Citizens Advisory group overseeing city staff. My experience with Craig (akg 6 mllion dollar man)has also been less than stellar. He's given me absolutely wrong information concerning city ordnances and has not replied to several inquiries . He is the head of code enforcement and caters to the old boys in this town. More than a year and a half into the Boax homeless encampment on Wilson avenue the city had paid thousands of dollars to clean Hal Boax's property and hadn't billed Hal. Craig W also ordered code enforcement staff to burn all of their documents that were more than five years old. Seems code enforcement is not computerized and they're still storing public documents in cardboard boxes. There have been slumlord good old boys and girls not repairing proPperties for 20 years and the documentation evidently was shredded with no public notification.

Billy the Greek   |July.23.2012 "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." - Edmund Burke

anon   |July.23.2012 The members of VPOA work for COV should not they have responsibility for notification as well , after all they work for us and should demonstrate some loalty perhaps a whole new contract is in order one that favors the Taxpayer first a take it or leave it one .

anon   |July.23.2012 This is not a Union per-say rather it is a PAC/special interest group for them to hold us over the barrel on this contract clause 'wich has never been enforced before just shows what we are dealing with I say don't pay it to them let them sue we might come out better in the long run it is time We stood up to them "no one is ireplaceable" We should start laying them off and replace them with new hires under a different contract.

Corruption   |July.23.2012 The word on the street is that Whittom is not to be trusted, and that he is "in bed" with the cops. ASt any rate, he certainly should have been in charge of any/all notifications and should have seen to it that it passed through Human Resources properly. This is especially true with one of the most important contracts in the exit of Bankruptcy. These people are so incompetent. And if I were City Mgr. Dan Keen I would get out the shovel, move the dirt around, and get rid of the worms & snakes. Keen needs to have loyal partners, and quite frankly Whittom just does cut the mustard, corruption or not.

wharf rat   |July.23.2012 Craig W the "six million dollar man" what do you think would happen to someone in the private sector who made a mistake of this magnitude? The money should be recovered from Managements compensation and the VPOA should be punished for holding up our budget on a loop hole this fiasco should be fought tooth and nail if they wont look after the best interests of their employer they should be let go and their replacements required to sign a oath with a more general loyalty commitment .

Salty Dog   |July.23.2012 And....and....and..... Europe is imploding economically, Libor has been fradulaently manipulated, the American economy is flat, unemployment is elevated, claims are up, job creation is down, municipalities are claiming bankruptcy with increasing frequency, more people than ever are on food stamps, and I just received a $300 refund on my land tax for overpayment due to reduced assessment. The stock market is going seriously bearish, quantitative easing can no longer work (if it ever did) with low interest rates, the Fed is out of bullets and the slide continues. The only bright spot is the promise of handcuffs, finally, and just under the Staute of Limitations, for the scam artists often referred to as "financiers" or "bankers". Even the most strident trade unionist cannot help but recognize that this is not a time to be making demands. But, it is likely improbable that they will agree to concessions.\ Which is why any negotiator for the City residents better be very clear about his/her duty and understand the current economic climate that can actually bring sanity back to public pensions and benefits. There is a great opportunity now to get it right.

Salty Dog   |July.23.2012 The failure in all this, in my opinion, stems from a failure of those in decision making positions to understand their fiduciary duties and their responsibility to the positions they hold. The police union is doing what police unions do and always have done- get as much as possible in a collective bargaining process for their members. I tend to cut them some slack on that account, regardless of how narrow sighted their position. But, on the other side of the table, those negotiating have forgotten that their duty is not to the City Manager or Council or any other number of officiants who comprise the organization know as the City of Vallejo. It IS clearly a duty to do what is in the best interests of the tax paying residents....and THAT has clearly not occurred and apparently for a dozen years or so. Formal notification ( and failure to notify) of pending negotiations is hardly an item that can be easily dismissed or discounted by mistake or sloppy management. Formal notification sets apart the two sides and underscores that there are two agendas- one in favor of union members, the other in favor of the taxpayer. Clearly, that has not occurred and a bargaining relationship that is just too cozy has been allowed to evolve that has resulted, in a word....a long word....maybe a word that I made up....bureaupathological behavior. That has to stop and will stop when the residents of Vallejo are confident that negotiations are conducted to produce the best results for those who must (are forced to) foot the bill. And we ain't there yet. A step in the right direction would be a Council that discusses and reiterates the goals and duties of negotiators when bargaining. In my opinion.

But Why   |July.23.2012 Why was Whittom not canned over this. Ultimately it was his responsibility. He was part of the negotiations ALL THE WAY. Never liked him much but since this happened...well, let's put it this way, he is either stupid/incompetent or bent. Either way he should have been "retired". I now have zero confidence in him.

GW   |July.23.2012 My question is: How can an important, yet minute splinter in a contract, such as the 6 month notification clause, have been ignored for such a long time? 12 Years?? Whom can we thank for finding this little dastardly piece of reality and slamming it on the table now when we all thought there was light at the end of the tunnel? I can not influence the police union as I am not a member of this elite club, however I am a taxpayer and deserve accountability from those that are receiving lucrative earnings on my dime! Who is responsible for this years long "NOT KNOWING" what is in the contract they negotiated, starting with the attorneys and down the food chain?

Manonymous   |July.23.2012 Be careful with terms "downward modified benefits". The only real difference is the medical benefit package. Pretty much everything else is status quo for the new hires in VFD versus the veterans

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 Craig is not on the ball. If he did not pay attention to things of this magnitude in the city, what else does he do? We need a shake up in the city hall. I like the way the CM asked department head to face the residents in recent meetings. It is about time the departments know what their duties are.

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 Craig W has been a good friend of Marti Brown's for a long time.

The Citizens always Lose   |July.23.2012 As usual the City Staff is more concerned about having a "good relationship" with the Unions. Did the City really look into past practices or was avoiding a fight more important? Why did the City purposely leave the impression that letters of intent had been sent in the past rather than letting the Taxpayers know that Public Safety (VPOA in particular) had refused to negotiate? Finally the use of comparision cities (especially the use of highly compensated ones) is taxation without representation. We have no say in what we pay.San Bernadino who is bankrupt pointed out the folly of having pay and benefits dictated by others. When will the City start representing the Citizens? Currently the managers who represent us during negotiations benefit from higher wages they give out to others.

Firebug   |July.23.2012 The real test will be in the coming months no more binding arbitration to run to just a non-binding from the State.

Mousy   |July.23.2012 Of interest is that Stockton's cops reference Vallejo's pay.

Jay   |July.23.2012 I think part of what is in play here is that Vallejo's police pay rate is tied to a number of other cities, and vice versa. If Vallejo cops accept a concession, it affects compensation in cities around the Bay, most of which are in better financial situations than Vallejo. It's not just Vallejo cops who have their pay on the line, and you can be sure that outside pressure is helping dictate VPOA's negotiating stance. God bless Dan Keen -- he's going to have a big fight on his hands. And yeah, this should have been sorted out in bankruptcy. Davis, Hannigan, Wilson, and Sunga really effed things up.

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 Misogyny, alive & well in Vtown

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 Yes, Anonymous, like VPOA already said "cut staff all you want, we wanna be paid". What ever happened to integrity?

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 And this is the folly of angry women wanting to wear big pants and play hardball with the boys. You wanted hardball, you got hardball.

Firebug   |July.23.2012 Being that the clause in the contract has not been "past practice" why on earth didnt Mr. Keen file an "unfair labor complaint" to the Public Employee Relations Board (PER?

know vallejo   |July.23.2012 craig witless, the teflon asst. city manager, should have his head served on a platter for this. he was the one at the negotiating table, not boutte. who's protecting him and why?

Anonymous   |July.23.2012 Let's not forget that raise was given in BK by sime real idiots: Osby Davis, Hermie Sunga, Michael Wilson & the worst if all: Erin Hannigan, who thinks she's qualified to manage the county's budget? Of course VPOA is going to play hardball, I mean com'on the got a raise in BK, why would they settle for 2nd tier or cuts now that we're out of BK? Thanks Erin & friends, now that we have a more reasonable IAFF, you've created monster out of VPOA...."cut staff all you want, we wanna be paid"

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