It is amazing that Santa Clara’s new City Council has taken so long to locate where the pen, pencils, and erasers are located (especially the erasers).
What would make the most sense for this Council is to correct some egregious actions taken by Mayor Gillmor and her prior Council. Or, in some cases, not taken.
For the past number of decades, an unwritten tradition has been followed in the Santa Clara Police Department. Once the Council decides on the percentage of pay increase for the rank and file, that same percentage is used to calculate the benefits for higher ranking staff like lieutenants, captains, and the chief. The police chief is elected, which means his salary and benefits package, up until October 2018, was decided by the City Council. Traditionally he would receive the same percentage increase or decrease as his officers.
It was a deliberate act by Gillmor and her old Council when it came time to award Chief Mike Sellers his increase. Sellers was placed last on the agenda and, as the old Council wrapped up their meeting near midnight, they gave no raise to Sellers.
Sellers had just beaten the Gillmor’s candidate Pat Nicolai in a hotly contested race, decided by a few votes.
But Sellers wasn’t the only city employee snubbed. There were many who felt the axe of Gillmor’s disdain. Long time City employee Rajeev Batra served for years as Director of Public Works and a short time as acting City Manager. He was promised an increase in pay for increased responsibilities, which would improve his retirement. While he was entitled to higher retirement pay, which was minimal, Gillmor and her Council did not nor would not approve.
When you look at the mega-dollar salary and benefits that have gone to City Manager Deanna Santana, now pushing close to $800,000, and three assistant managers at $350,000, Santa Clara is so out of balance they are looking up to see the bottom. Folks, this is not a good view.
The landslide victories granted to the new Council was a vote for change. Has anyone noticed any change?
It is time for action and this Council can best restore sanity and ratchet down the financial awards that have been passed out like jellybeans at the county fair.
Santa Clara needs bean counters, and not jellybean givers, or residents will wind up in the jam.
Leading the way is Santa Clara’s key legal employee who wasted and spent $5 million of resident taxpayers’ dollars. Why is City Attorney Brain Doyle still employed by Santa Clara?
Every day he remains is an endorsement for incompetence.
Where are the erasers?
