Our View: Fumbled response unacceptable
Originally published: Aug. 19, 2011
Last modified: Aug. 26, 2011
Last modified: Aug. 26, 2011
Ashe County residents deserved a better explanation when their county manager position was vacated and elected commissioners failed to tell their constituents what was happening.
Dan McMillan served the county since 1998, first as an assistant to the county manager and later as lead administrator. His responsibilities were great, and we have counted on him. Dealing with a nationwide recession the last three years has not been easy.
He now eyes a well-earned chance at retirement.
It is a retirement accelerated with terms requested in his letter of resignation. Commissioners agreed, foregoing any debate, to pay McMillan through the end of the year. McMillan's salary is listed as $104,865 for 2011, meaning Ashe County will pay him nearly $44,000 for the remainder of the year.
Pat Mitchell, the county's economic development leader, will take on McMillan's duties on an interim basis. Her pay increases more than $1,700 monthly, which will be covered by the county's general fund — also known as the rainy- day savings.
The fund could be drained of more than $8,500 if Mitchell serves through Dec. 31. The county saves at a rate of about $6,900 each month in 2012 Mitchell serves. We have confidence in Mitchell to perform well. But more than dollars, the county operates at a deficit until both positions function as designed.
Why McMillan is no longer serving deserved a better response than conflicting explanations from commissioners and McMillan.
McMillan said Chairwoman Judy Porter Poe advised him to resign. Poe said she and commissioners were taken by surprise. The two versions could not have been much farther apart.
The county manager serves at the will of the commissioners, carrying out their objectives and goals to the best of his ability. Similarly, the commissioners are elected to carry out the objectives and wishes of the taxpayers. In the event of irreconcilable differences, the commissioners have the option to change managers, and the voters have the option to change commissioners.Only, we don't know the truth. And that is unfair.
Silence from the commission, as instructed by the county attorney, is not golden. It is cowardly and a breach of the confidence placed in it by the voters of Ashe County. It is something that happens in the private sector, not in a democratic form of government.
The commissioners work for us. Tough choices are part of the job. That is the responsibility they accepted when deciding to seek office.
Commissioners also accepted the responsibility of operating transparently, within full view of their constituents. Democratic government was designed with checks and balances, and taking away our access to information limits our engagement with government. It is unacceptable.
In his resignation letter, McMillan said, “I am aware there are differences in the feelings of the direction that Ashe County should take in future endeavors and planning. I believe that there are too many good things that have been accomplished for the citizens of Ashe County to allow any disparity between me as county manager and the commissioners that could create future tensions.”
Differences, direction, disparity, tensions — four words that indicate an impasse. That in and of itself is not a problem. Administrators and those they serve find that ground often.
With Poe offering no comment on “disparity” and “tensions,” and saying commissioners were surprised, we beg to ask why Poe and the commissioners so readily accepted the terms of McMillan's request rather than asking him to stay on until his replacement could be found.
Commissioners should have told us which direction McMillan tried to take Ashe County, and if it was as they directed or otherwise. The explanation should be similar, not polar opposite.
Ashe County residents deserve answers.
Dan McMillan served the county since 1998, first as an assistant to the county manager and later as lead administrator. His responsibilities were great, and we have counted on him. Dealing with a nationwide recession the last three years has not been easy.
He now eyes a well-earned chance at retirement.
It is a retirement accelerated with terms requested in his letter of resignation. Commissioners agreed, foregoing any debate, to pay McMillan through the end of the year. McMillan's salary is listed as $104,865 for 2011, meaning Ashe County will pay him nearly $44,000 for the remainder of the year.
Pat Mitchell, the county's economic development leader, will take on McMillan's duties on an interim basis. Her pay increases more than $1,700 monthly, which will be covered by the county's general fund — also known as the rainy- day savings.
The fund could be drained of more than $8,500 if Mitchell serves through Dec. 31. The county saves at a rate of about $6,900 each month in 2012 Mitchell serves. We have confidence in Mitchell to perform well. But more than dollars, the county operates at a deficit until both positions function as designed.
Why McMillan is no longer serving deserved a better response than conflicting explanations from commissioners and McMillan.
McMillan said Chairwoman Judy Porter Poe advised him to resign. Poe said she and commissioners were taken by surprise. The two versions could not have been much farther apart.
The county manager serves at the will of the commissioners, carrying out their objectives and goals to the best of his ability. Similarly, the commissioners are elected to carry out the objectives and wishes of the taxpayers. In the event of irreconcilable differences, the commissioners have the option to change managers, and the voters have the option to change commissioners.Only, we don't know the truth. And that is unfair.
Silence from the commission, as instructed by the county attorney, is not golden. It is cowardly and a breach of the confidence placed in it by the voters of Ashe County. It is something that happens in the private sector, not in a democratic form of government.
The commissioners work for us. Tough choices are part of the job. That is the responsibility they accepted when deciding to seek office.
Commissioners also accepted the responsibility of operating transparently, within full view of their constituents. Democratic government was designed with checks and balances, and taking away our access to information limits our engagement with government. It is unacceptable.
In his resignation letter, McMillan said, “I am aware there are differences in the feelings of the direction that Ashe County should take in future endeavors and planning. I believe that there are too many good things that have been accomplished for the citizens of Ashe County to allow any disparity between me as county manager and the commissioners that could create future tensions.”
Differences, direction, disparity, tensions — four words that indicate an impasse. That in and of itself is not a problem. Administrators and those they serve find that ground often.
With Poe offering no comment on “disparity” and “tensions,” and saying commissioners were surprised, we beg to ask why Poe and the commissioners so readily accepted the terms of McMillan's request rather than asking him to stay on until his replacement could be found.
Commissioners should have told us which direction McMillan tried to take Ashe County, and if it was as they directed or otherwise. The explanation should be similar, not polar opposite.
Ashe County residents deserve answers.