Thursday, March 28, 2024

All systems go!

The Dog Warden hired a behavior consultant. For the dogs. We’re not making this up.

 

    Let’s face it, peeps. Mike Bell is in over his head.

   We mean that in the best possible way. He was recruited as the most likely choice to beat Carty for a fourth term as Toledo’s mayor, having no previous political experience whatsoever. While the “not a politician” mantra is typically used by those who are the most consummate politicians, in Bell’s case it was true.

   Carty chose not to run, and Bell eked out a narrow victory over consummate politician Keith Wilkowski, and there was our friend Mikey, in deep doo doo. Suddenly he had to build an administration from scratch.

Help wanted

   Here’s where we gotta hand it to Hizzoner.  He knew from the start he was in over his head, and rather than act otherwise, he did what any drowning sailor would do. He called for help.
   And not just any ol’ help, either. Bell cast a wide net and sought out the best and brightest to fill key positions. Whether he figgered it out himself or got sage advice is immaterial. The fact is, Bell deciphered the most pressing areas needing attention and recruited experienced professionals again and again to fill the needs.
    Crucial area one: Building a competent, professional senior staff having no party or other political patronage to go by. Bell chose long time behind-the-scenes tactician Steve Herwat, a lifer across several mayoral administrations, as his transition team head, and then appointed him to a deputy mayor position akin to a chief of staff. Perfect for a pencil pushing cubicle hound like Herwat.
   Crucial areas two, three and four:  Bell took the reins as the swampy economy was reeling, leading to massive layoffs and job loss. This resulted in a city budget with a huge red hole. Further, the city inspection department had been left to languish under Carty’s furlough program, so that what few building starts existed met frustrating delays in inspections.
   Bell appointed Dean Monske, experienced leader of several regional development agencies, as head of economic development. For finance, Bell landed Patrick McLean, fresh from the budget office of the State of Ohio. To complete the trifecta, Bell convinced William Brennan, then head of the Association of General Contractors, to head inspections. Best and brightest indeed.
    Having sought out skilled professionals to solve the internal problems, Bell rose to T-Town’s biggest challenge. As the saying goes, we has met the enemy, and they is us. That’s right, we bullfrogs are our own swamp’s worst critics.
   Bell decided to use public hearings on his first budget to try to turn things around. That first budget, in 2010, was overflowing with red ink, thus forcing tough choices and frank discussion of those choices. Bell decided to use the opportunity to get Toledoans talking about their personal stake in Toledo’s future.
    Turning Toledo around is no small task. Turning Toledoans around is even more massive. To get the ball rolling, Bell needed an expert in facilitation, someone experienced in leading visioning sessions among folks not inclined to take such an active role.
Worth every penny
   He turned to Steve Cady, associate professor of business at BGSU, to lead the budget meetings. Cady is internationally recognized as an expert in organizational behavior and development, with an emphasis on whole system change and motivation. Another coup! If ever there was a system that cried out for change, with a special need for adequate motivation, it is Froggy Bottom!
    Cady worked out so well, Bell wanted to hire him into the administration. Ah, but here’s the rub. Cady had contributed pro bono consulting work to candidate Bell. Patronage! sniffed City Council, who refused to allow the hire.
   Bell decided to continue to use Cady’s expertise through hiring him on an as-needed basis through a temp agency. To the total of over $50,000 so far.
   Patronage! screamed Councilman Michael Collins. Skirting state law and Toledo’s charter! he added for good measure.
    Slow down, and wipe the froth from your cheek, Councilman. We gotta ask, how much is whole systems change worth? And more to the point, no wonder it’s so hard to lure competent folks from the private sector into the grinding mill of public service, with crank cases like Collins running around.
    It’s hard to believe, but we actually agree with Hizzoner on this one. Getting Cady into the fold is a win for Toledo. Damn the naysayers.
   Full speed ahead!

 

Previous articleCoastal Ride
Next articleTop Docs & Caring Companions

Recent Articles