Typo apology to Mark Perry whom I referred to as "Mary" Perry

My fingers betrayed me.  As, apparently, did the editorial part of my brain.

Mark Perry is the Mayoral candidate.  I mistakenly referred to Mark as "Mary" in my last
blog.

If you see Mark referring to me as "Denise" Allen in any of his blogs, he is just getting justified revenge and I am not at all offended.

FIRE CHIEF NOT PAID A PROFESSIONAL SALARY, AND RESIGNS.

Here is an email I sent to the Fire Chief after I learned of his resignation.  His letter of resignation follows this email. 

If, as you read his letter of resignation, the injustice of his treatment doesn't move you to vote for Mary Perry and Dennis Allen, I fear I cannot reach either your mind nor heart with sufficient evidence to influence your vote.

MY email to Chief Reese:

"If  your chronology of the circumstances leading up to your resignation does not ignite the ire of the voters of Windcrest, and spur them to send Baxter and Gretz packing, I can only surmise that too many of our citizens have little interest in protesting unethical and despotic behavior to unseat the incumbents.

 

Your resignation letter contains all the evidence necessary to incriminate the perpetrators of this atrocity.   I cannot imagine a more obvious example of why we need a different Mayor and different Council members. 

 

It is my sincere hope that publication of your letter of resignation motivates even the most passive and brain washed members of our community to cast out both the director of this tragedy and his lackey.

 

If Mark is seated, we can fill the position of Fire Chief with a qualified professional, compensated with a salary commensurate with the responsibilities of that position.

 

My very best to you."

NOW HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION FOLLOWS. IT IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT SO YOU CAN FORWARD IT AS YOU WISH.  SOME MINOR FORMAT CHANGES MAY BE APPARENT DUE TO THE COPYING PROCESS.  I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY OF THOSE FORMAT CHANGES.

 

8601 Midcrown Drive. Windcrest, TX 78239

Fax:210-655-7204 .210-599-6007 or 655-0022 ext. 2320

October 7, 2013

 

Subject: Resignation Letter — Dan Reese

 

This letter is to serve notice that I have decided to resign as the Fire Chief for the City of Windcrest.

 

In 2008, I was selected as the fourth Fire Chief of the City of Windcrest. Of the three prior Fire Chiefs; two were

paid, only Tom Winn served as a volunteer Fire Chief.

 

In 2007 a selection committee was formed. That committee included Volunteer Firefighters, City Staff and some

citizen involvement. The purpose was to hire a paid Fire Chief to replace the outgoing Volunteer Fire Chief. I was

selected and met all the qualification requirements. The only issue was the State of Texas requires that a Fire Chief

have 10 years as a volunteer in order to be paid anything over minimum wage. Let me say that again — I was fully

qualified on day one to be the Fire Chief.

 

The Committee, the City Manager and the City Council recognized that I entered into a verbal agreement with the

City; I would accept the minimum wage compensation until the 10 year requirement was met —that 10 year

anniversary occurred on April 9, 2013.

 

At the time of my selection, I was also employed by Lear Sigler as an instructor at Randolph AFB. The schedule at

Lear Sigler allowed enough flexibility to serve to that job as well as run the Wiridcrest Volunteer Fire Department.

In 2010, the Lear Sigler position moved to Pensacola Florida. I was offered an opportunity to move, but chose to

stay in Windcrest and wait out the 10 year point. This decision was a great financial burden on my family, reducing

my pay by $80,000 per year.

 

The agreement I had with the city was clearly outlined by me to Mr. Castillo during our initial meetings when he

was hired, so this is not a new issue.

 

In June, 2012 I had a discussion with the City Manager, Mr Castillo about putting an appropriate salary in the

budget for the Fire Chief’s position — he told me the Council did not want to deal with that then but would discuss

it in January, 2013. No action was taken in January.

 

In April 2013, I met with the City Council in an attempt to get them to fund my position at an appropriate level —

Again - No action was taken.

 

The day after I met with the City Council in April, I met with Mr. Castillo, the Mayor and Sarah Mangham. At that

meeting, I was told some pay raise would be considered and then fully funded during the next budget

deliberations. Again - No action was taken to raise my salary.

 

In April 2013, during the first round of discussions for the current budget, I was shown a draft budget by Mr.

Castillo that included a raise of approximately $50,000 to my position.

 

In July 2013, the “Proposed Budget” was published by the City Manager; the pay increase was removed without

any discussion. I attempted to discuss this with Mr. Castillo — requesting a meeting via e-mail and again with a

meeting request on his calendar — Mr. Castillo ignored both requests to meet.

 

Via e-mail, I requested to meet with the City Council during the Budget workshops — I was advised I would be told

when I could address them. I received no notice so I came to the last scheduled Budget Workshop, was recognized

and addressed the Council on the history of the Fire Chief Position and my requests. Again—no action.

 

The City Council met three times for Budget Workshops and conducted two Public Hearings. Again — no action on

by salary.

 

I was asked for and produced several examples for salaries — two of them were conducted by the City of Windcrest

in 2008—2009. I produced a salary survey of neighboring Fire Departments. The salaries that were produced

clearly showed that the current salary for the Fire Chief should be comparable to the Police Chief.

 

This issue is not NEW —We started talking over a year ago. Now, after all that time and after considering two

budgets, we are at a point that the City wants to find a way pay the position of Fire Chief less than the average

because it is a Volunteer Fire Department. This is an insult to me and an insult to the Fire Department. To suggest

that services provided by this department are less than a paid department is offensive. My position is to lead a

professional Fire Department that happens to be Volunteer.

 

I have been reprimanded by the City Manager in private and two City Council Members have suggested in open

session that my actions to get the city to honor the agreement were inappropriate.

 

In a written memo, the City Manager has falsely accused me of going around chain of command “several times”.

He even falsely accused me of soliciting Paul Greenwood to speak on my behalf during a meeting on September 3,

2013. In that memo, he stated that he had lost “all trust and confidence” in me.

 

During some very tense times in this city, the last two Mayors have asked me to consider me taking on the

responsibility of City Manager. Mayor Bruns came to me when Ronnie Cain was about to retire. Mayor Baxter

came to me when there was a possibility that Mr. Castillo might have to leave based on some allegations leveled

against him from a previous position. In both cases I told the Mayors the same thing — “all I want to be is the Fire

Chief” --- and that remains — all I wanted to be is the Fire Chief.

 

I should have been compensated at an appropriate salary beginning on April 7th, 2013 —6 months ago. As I have

noted previously, I have been told at least four times that something would be done with no action. I have lost all

confidence that the City Manager, the Mayor or the City Council will take appropriate action. I have honored my

part the agreement made in 2008. The City of Windcrest has failed to honor its commitment to me. By resigning I

am not waving my right to seek proper compensation for the time served since April 7th,, 2013 when my salary

should have been increased appropriate to the position.

 

I have attached a copy of the memo given to the City Council on September 15, 2013. It goes into more detail

regarding the history of the hiring process, my certifications, my accomplishments and the accomplishments of the

department during my tenure.

 

I will resign my position as Fire Chief effective November 1st, 2013. I will do what I can to help transition the Fire

Department to a new leader — I only hope you treat the new Chief better than you have treated me.

 

Daniel Reese, Chief

Windcrest Volunteer Fire Department

 

Atch Memo titled “Windcrest Fire Chief’s Position”

 

Attachment

Windcrest Fire Chief’s Position

On January 1, 2008 I became the Fire Chief in the City of Windcrest. That process began when the previous Fire

Chief, Tom Winn retired. The City advertised for a paid Fire Chief and accepted resumes and applications as would

be expected. A paid Fire Chief for the City of Windcrest is not a new concept — in a letter dated June 25, 2007,

Chief Tom Winn states “The fire chief’s position in Windcrest has always been a paid position so that aspect won’t

change.” (attached)

 

A selection committee was established that included the City Administrator, some City Staff members, some

Volunteer Firefighters and some citizens. I do not remember the exact makeup of the selection committee but I

do remember that there was the City Administrator (Ronnie Cain), the Economic Development Corporation

Director, (Ray Watson), Mr Harold Woods (Citizen), and the firefighters were Paul Greenwood, Daniel Andrade and

Lea Wendlaridt.

 

The committee received and considered several applicants — I believe three were 20 or so potential candidates

(including 3 from Windcrest VFD). All applicants were aware that the position was to be a paid Fire Chief. I

understand that the committee interviewed three outside applicants and three inside applicants. I am aware that

the three inside applicants were myself, Joe Moran (Fire Marshal), and Andy Deason (Captain with WVFD and a

paid firefighter with San Antonio Fire).

 

The result of that selection committee was an offer to me via letter dated August 29, 2007. I was informed via that

letter that I would begin on January 1, 2008. The Windcrest Volunteer Fire Association was also advised as to the

decision and unanimously approved the selection.

 

I began volunteering at the Windcrest Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) on April 9, 2003. So at the time of my

selection as Chief, I had 4 years and 8 months with the department. I had all the certifications and credentials

required for the position. The State of Texas has an additional requirement when it comes to being a Paid Fire

Chief, that person has to have a “Head of Department” certification. To have the “Head of Department”

Certification, a volunteer firefighter must have 10 years’ experience. There is, however, a statue (Title 27, Part 13,

Chapter 421, Rule 421.9) that allows for compensation not to exceed over federal minimum wage at 2080 hours

per year.

 

At the time of my selection as Fire Chief, the City Council was made aware of the limitations on reimbursement. It

was clear at the time that I would have been paid an appropriate salary when I met the 10 year requirement. The

budget for the City had been developed for a Paid Fire Chief and was adjusted to reflect the fact that I was

restricted in the compensation I could accept.

 

As far as members of the City Council they were Jack Leonhart (Mayor), Garlene Bach (Council member), and Rick

Bruns (Councilmember). Two members of the Council have since passed away — Jim Trembly and Charlotte

LoBasso.

 

On January 1, 2008 I began my tenure at the Fire Chief of the Windcrest VFD. This is a great department and

exceeds standards set forth for Volunteer Fire Departments. During my time here we have:

Department Growth

• Voluntarily sought certification with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) — the governing body

for Paid Fire Departments. We have been inspected twice since 2011 and maintained a certification

normally reserved for Paid Departments

• Updated all the Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG5). Most were over 10 years old when I arrived and

are now up to date and being revised again to keep up with times.

• We developed a clear organizational structure outlining job descriptions and responsibilities for our Fire

Officers.

• Implemented a certification program for firefighters not previously done that ensures they have all the

training required before they are put on the fire ground.

• Developed a driver training program that locally certified each driver in the apparatus they were getting

qualified in.

• Oversaw the expansion of the Dorm program to include an additional house, in effect doubling the size

capacity for volunteer firefighters in our Dorm Program.

• As Emergency Management Coordinator, personally updated 21 of our outdated Emergency Management

Plans required by the State of Texas.

• In 2010 the Department was awarded the Emergency Management System (EMS) unit of the year for the

State of Texas.

• I have served as the Chairman of the Texas Emergency Services Retirement Plan for the Firefighters for

the last two years.

• I am an active member of the Alamo Area Fire Chief’s Association — a group of Fire Chief’s in the San

Antonio Area

o I coordinated the Mutual Aid Agreement for the City of Windcrest to participate in the San

Antonio Area Mutual Aid Agreement with other departments in the area to provide for Mutual

Aid when needed

• I was elected as the treasure of the local active in a local Fire Chief’s Organization - the Combined

Emergency Services Organization (CESO).

Personal Professional Growth

• I am certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) as a Head of Department for Fire

Suppression

• I hold an Intermediate Certification with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) — as far as I

know, I am the first Fire Chief to hold a certification with the TCFP

• The State Fireman’s and Fire Marshal’s Association (SSFMA), the regularity agency for Volunteer Fire

Departments. I hold several certifications with them including Advanced Firefighter, Instructor, and

Vehicle Extrication Tech 1 and 2.

• This October I will complete the requirements for the Texas Fire Chief’s Academy — that gives me a

certification in Texas called “Certified Fire Executive”. As far as I know, I will be one of the few Chiefs of

Volunteer Departments to complete this Certification.

• I have attended classes at the National Fire Academy they were:

o Incident Command Of Initial Company Operations

o Command and Control Decision Making in Multiple Alarm Emergencies

o I have been accepted to attend a class in March 2014 titled to Command and Control of Fire

Department Operations at Natural and Manm6500ade Disasters.

• I have completed multiple Incident Command Trainings including:

o IS 100, 1S200, 1S300, IS 400, IS 701, IS 704

• I completed training at Texas A&M Emergency Operations training — Management 314, Enhanced Incident

Management/Unified Command and Control — a week long course in major disaster response

• I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aviation from Louisiana Tech University and a Masters of

Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California

 

Pay expectations

On April9th, 2013 the restrictions imposed by the State of Texas were lifted. At that time I was eligible for

appropriate compensation as a Fire Chief

• My research indicates that most Cities pay their Fire Chief approximately the same as they do the Police

Chief. The City of Windcrest enlisted “Public Sector” to provide salary surveys for 2008 and 2009. In both

these studies, the pay of the Fire and Police Chiefs were comparable. I am sure that there were some

differences due to time on the job, certifications, etc. Of the 14 cities listed, 9 paid their Fire Chiefs equal

to or more than the Police Chief, and in 5 the Police Chief was paid more than the Fire Chief.

• I was asked to do a more recent salary study. We did Freedom of Information requests to many Cities in

the area. The result of that was an average salary of $76,482. Those cities (two — Universal City and

Balcones Heights) who have selected the Fire Chief as the Emergency Management Coordinator have an

average salary of $88,254

 

Using an average of $65,000 per year, the City of Windcrest has saved over $260,000 by paying me minimum wage

for my time as Chief.

 

When I was selected as Fire Chief, I was also employed with Lear Siegler at Randolph AFB as a ground instructor for

the Air Force Navigation School. The position at Randolph afforded a lot of extra time, that extra time was spent at

the Fire Department. The position paid just under $80,000 (with benefits). In October 2010 the position moved to

Pensacola Florida. During that transition I turned down an opportunity to move to Florida, it was my desire to be

the Fire Chief for the City of Windcrest. Because of the drastic reduction in pay, I sold all the leave and vacation

time and put it aside to help pay our mortgage during the time between October 2010 and the end of the 10 year

period, April, 2013. Our decision to stay effectively forfeited over $200,000 in pay and resulted in the need to use

the vacation/leave pay for mortgage rather than use that for savings or other expenses.

 

What I have given

I have by any measure done a great job and gone above and beyond for the City and the Fire Department. In the

past 10 years I have responded to over 7863 emergency calls. That equals to over 2 calls a day —365 days a year.

 

Our tracking system accounts for the time on emergency calls in terms of minutes spent. Total time of events

including Training is 17,848 hours - Given 8,760 hours per year — I have spent over 2 years responding to calls and

training. This does not include the regular I the office doing the work of the City.

 

I have often said that if you feel you are indispensable then just leave, you will see that your position is filled, so it

is with the Fire Chiefs position. The Fire Chief in the City of Windcrest is a unique position. It requires someone

who will give of their time at all hours of the day, 365 days a year. It is much more difficult to provide 24/7 fire and

medical coverage with volunteers than it is with a paid staff. We provide professional level service with

volunteers.

 

It is my desire to remain the Fire Chief for the City of Windcrest — I respectfully request that the City Council fund

the Fire Chief’s position at the appropriate salary in the budget being considered.

 

 

Watch what they do, NOT what they say

John Gretz filed a complaint against me because I had left off the word "for" on my campaign signs preceding the office I sought.  I do not dispute that I made an error.  I did immediately correct that
error upon it being called to my attention.  It was minor and transitory.

Here is my email to Mr. Gretz about his superficial and false attempts to act as a friendly adversary in this campaign and his true behavior seeking any small advantage possible to protect his seat in the Mayor's chorus.

"I received a copy of the complaint you filed against me for the temporary omission of three

letters (inadvertent) on my signs. 

I picked up ALL the signs I could find (I believe a couple of them may have been removed

by a party other than one of my supporters) that evening.  Both myself and my supporters

drove the streets of Windcrest on the morning of the 28th to ensure that we had collected

all the signs.  I also sent an email to Code Compliance that I had collected my signs, but an

uncorrected sign might "show up" without my authorization or approval due to an unauthorized

party securing a sign.

 

I'm confident your campaign was not damaged in any manner or degree by such a minor and

transitory occurrence.   You may also recall that the City Manager had answered a complaint

about signage (placement) by stating that the Administration allowed corrective action on signage, without penalty, if the corrective action was done with dispatch, which certainly was the case with my corrective action. 

I expected more gentlemanly comity from you. You may recall I demonstrated such courtesy to

you by letting you know that some of your signs were placed in error.  You were informed so you could have time to correct that error without any subsequent official complaint to the Texas Ethics Commission or our own City Hall.   

It appears that despite your communications with me indicating a desire to avoid a bitter and nit-picking campaign season and a wish to maintain a social relationship based on a common interest to improve our city, you have succumbed to a "win by any means" attitude.

 

I do understand the need to follow rules and regulations.  I also know that minor infractions of bureaucratic guidelines do not warrant excessive attention nor destruction of social and business relationships, especially when corrective action is quick and no harm done. 

When I am seated in your place, I will never publically or privately speak of friendship and "community" while concurrently engaging in surreptitious behavior that gives the lie to my statements. 

I think it best that you drop the façade of a friendly attitude toward me. I no longer trust that your words indicate your true intentions and beliefs."

 

                                                          ----- End of my email ------

 

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT OF HISTORY, YOU KNOW THAT JAPANESE AMBASSADORS WERE NEGOTIATING A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES AT THE SAME TIME THEIR NAVY WAS STEAMING TOWARD PEARL HARBOR TO ATTACK OUR FLEET.

 

FDR called it a "DAY OF INFAMY".  Do you see any similarities in the behavior of the Japanese

who wished our destruction and that of Mr. Gretz?

 

 

Thugs on our streets!!

While I know that "coincidence is not causation", sometimes there is a probable link between events.

One of my supporters had a fine piece of pottery destroyed (someone came on the property and smashed a decorative pot) a day after one of my signs was placed in the yard. 

Ask yourself why vandalism is an acceptable method of showing displeasure at a political sign.  What are the values and ethics of people who condone or conduct such activity, either in person or by proxy?

This is NOT the America I fought for while in the Army.  This is NOT the America our Founding Fathers and Citizen Soldiers desired when they rebelled against the dictatorial edicts and oppression in their fight for freedom.

 I won't sit passively on the sidelines while my Constitutional rights to freedom of speech, assembly and voting are challenged. 

If you want to live on your knees, do nothing. If you want to change the way honest citizens are treated, help me secure a place on the Council. 

I'm willing to be one of your advocates on the Council.  I need your vote to be that advocate.

HOW will you help me help you?

 Send me an email and let me know you want to make a difference.  Dennis4Windcrest@gmail.com.

Why are Windcrest staff resumes hidden from the citizens?

Mayor still "stonewalling" requests for resumes.

Alan Baxter replied to my email request(s) for a copy of the City Manager's (CM) resume with "white noise" and deflection and a ramble about "participatory government".  None, NONE of his comments had any bearing on my request.  He never explained WHY the City Manager's resume was unavailable, nor did he promise to correct that deficiency. 

It is important to note that the City Manager refused to answer my emails, and the Mayor did not direct the CM to conduct the "customer service is #1" activity that is bally-hooded in all the press releases. 

I believe the City's Personnel Manual requires resumes to be on file (unless it is now "under revision" to allow hiding the resumes).  So the City violates it's own personnel policies.

If you want to apply some pressure to help reform this arrogant and autocratic and deceptive cabal, go to City Hall and put in a Freedom of Information request for the resumes of the City Manager, the Municipal Finance Officer and the Public Works Director.  If you don't get a copy, come to the next
Council meeting and speak as a Citizen to be heard.  Maybe a room full of outraged voters will spur some corrective action.

Email to the City Manager regarding his resume. 9.20.13

 

I asked for a copy of your resume but instead received a Public Records Request reply from Ms. Mangham stating that your resume was unavailable because (following a search for a copy of your resume) the City of Windcrest does not possess a copy in its files.  The reason given for this deficiency was that the Personnel Officer was "not part of the hiring process". 

That statement indicates both "inattention to detail" in the personnel office, and a lack of customer service since there was no explanation of why an attempt by Ms. Mangham to retrieve a copy of your resume and place it in the files of the City of Windcrest, and subsequently send a copy to me, was unsuccessful. 

Apparently there is no process, set up as an annual review (a very basic suspense task for personnel departments) to ensure that all employee personnel files are current. Current includes a resume for those holding Executive positions. I am only addressing PAID staff positions.  I am not interested in volunteer or elected official resumes.   

Personnel departments (with perhaps the exclusion of Windcrest) have checklists that indicate what documents belong in a personnel file.  Omissions are corrected as discovered, or at the annual review of the personnel files for completeness. 

Are other pieces of employee information missing from the files because Ms. Mangham was not "part of the hiring process" when the employee was interviewed and subsequently hired?   

Apparently, the MFO (dual hatted as Head of Personnel) did not want to walk to your office, ask you for a copy of your resume, either accepting a copy from a file you have in your office or wait while you printed a copy from your computer.  She could then take that copy to your personnel record and insert it in its proper place. She could then find a copy of your resume upon request, and have a copy made to provide to citizens upon request. 

Another option would have been for her to send you an email asking you to open the computer file folder on your office or home computer containing your resume, ask you to save a copy of that document as a PDF extension so it could not be altered, and email that PDF doc to her for printing and subsequent inclusion in your personnel record.  The PDF version could then be transmitted to citizens by email upon request, without fear of alteration, saving everyone time and demonstrating a true commitment to customer service and transparency. 

I do not seek a copy of your resume because I believe you are not qualified for your position. Many trusted sources familiar with your hiring assured me that you were "by far" the best candidate of those applying for the CM position.  I too believe you were the best candidate of those applying for the CM position. 

As the CM, you hold an office equivalent to that of the CEO of a business.  The Mayor continuously reminds all who read the press releases that Windcrest is "run like a business".  I know of NO business, large or small, domestic or foreign, public or private that would neglect to have a resume of their CEO readily available to the public. 

Successful businesses are PROUD of the accomplishments and job history of their CEO.  They want the public to know that the organization is being led by a person of sterling character with unquestioned honesty, success in progressively more responsible and demanding assignments and possessing the professional qualifications for the position gained through a combination of academic preparation and technical certifications.   

I believe Windcrest should demonstrate to its citizens and the public at large that we are just as proud of being served by someone of your accomplishments as any public business would be of its CEO. Your career was not "born" in this little bedroom community and your history is pertinent to showing how fortunate we are in Windcrest to be able to attract and retain someone of your caliber.   

I believe you should immediately provide Ms. Mangham with a PDF version of your resume, direct her to place it in your personnel file to correct the omission, and direct her to provide your resume upon request so Windcrest citizens can be impressed with your qualifications and more receptive to compensation predicated upon your qualifications.  

If you are unwilling to provide either a Word doc or PDF doc to Ms. Mangham, please explain to me why you do not want the citizens of this community to be able to read your resume.   

Remember, I believe you are highly qualified for the position you hold.  I look forward to having a document that proves me correct in that belief, instead of having to rely only on second hand information.   

Thank you for reading this email and I look forward to your reply and a receipt of your resume.    

Dennis Allen

 

My priorities for this coming FY upon being elected

My priorities in this election are as follows: 

·        If elected, I will vote against actions leading to a dissolution of WD#10 by ANY Administration.

I want the current Administration to immediately cease all overt and covert activities directed at an eventual hostile takeover of Water District #10.  I do not want politicians in control of my drinking water, or able to raise my water utility rate at their discretion.  The economic development of a parcel of land in Windcrest does not require the City to change current geographic boundaries.   

·        I will oppose hiring friends and/or former business partners/associates who do not have the professional skills sets for the job.

I want all hiring based strictly on the professional qualifications of the candidate for the advertised position.   

·        I want the Council to establish a professional base salary for the position of Fire Chief to ensure that Windcrest can continue to attract and retain a highly qualified individual for that leadership position. 

The Mayor stated that Public Safety is his number one priority (and that of the Council) for 2013 -2014.  The proposed budget does not support that statement because there was no allocation for a professional salary for the Fire Chief in the document presented on the 9^th of September, 2013 (public hearing on the budget).  Mayor and Council did not commit to funding a professional salary for the Fire Chief, deflecting this issue by saying they were “in negotiations” for such a salary.   

·        I want the Council to explain why they support or reject agenda items.  All they need to do is say something like “I supported giving the City Manager a pay increase of 18% this coming year because…………….then state their reasons.

Council members do not currently explain their votes for or against any initiative or project or operational change.   

·        I will push for term limits for the Mayor and Council members.

Elected service to our community should not be a career. 

·        I will show the Council, Mayor and staff how to construct documents with analysis that leads to a logical recommendation for or against action. 

   Email me at dennis4windcrest@gmail.com and I'll send you a copy of the analysis I provided to the Mayor to support a soccer field - but I don't agree with the location.

Operational processes and decisions are not rigorously analyzed with decision papers capturing the facts and assumptions used to reach support or rejection of the action being considered.

 

Open meeting to discuss the 2013-2014 budget

Issue 1: The City Council and Mayor would not state that they intended to fund a professional salary for a Fire Chief for the City of Windcrest. I made a presentation stating that I supported a professional salary for a Fire Chief as a POSITION initiative and not just because Dan Reese held the job. 

The POSITION requires a salary commensurate with that of the other Public Safety Department, which is the Police Department.  Parity in salary is justified for the Chief of Police and Fire Chief.

All I got from the Mayor, with the Council sitting on their lips as is their wont, is that the City of Windcrest is in NEGOTIATIONS with the Fire Chief on the matter of salary.  Those "negotiations"
should have been finished in time for the funding of the salaried position on the September 4 revision of the budget.

I believe that if the Mayor and Council wanted to pay a Fire Chief a professional salary, at least a base salary would have been in the budget for 2013-2014. 

Issue 2: I did not want the Council to take away one of the Patrol Corporal positions that have been in past budgets.  The new budget reduces the number of Patrol Corporals to 2 from 3.  I made the point that each of the three shifts needs a senior patrolman.  The Mayor said he'd get with the Chief to discuss adding a corporal and the Chief had to come forward and tell the Mayor and Council that he already had 3.  DUH!!!!  The point I was trying to make was don't cut the allocation. 

Issue 3:  Touchy subject. Compensation for the City Manager and Municipal Finance Officer.  I thought the CM was getting a merit raise of 18% (far above the 3% given to the other city employees). I believe I was told it was not a merit raise by a "new 3 year contract". I fail to see the difference. 
  The MFO position showed a raise in compensation to about $80K from about $67K, another large merit increase upon first inspection.  I was advised that the $80K wasn't a raise, but rather a projected figure of income available to the MFO if she worked more hours as approved by the City Manager.  If the MFO is anticipated to need to work about 20% more hours, what is different between 2013 and 2014 that so many more hours will be needed?  Let me be clear - I'm NOT opposed to pay for performance or merit raises.

posted 9.12.13 at 7:02 PM by Dennis

Open letter to City Council regarding 2013-2014 Budget

4 Sept 2013

Open letter to Council, CF Mayor:

I attended the “budget” meeting on September 3, as you well know.  Prior to attending that meeting I visited the City website to look at the information under the Budget tab.  I found instead a PR piece that most closely resembles a “State of the Union/City” and which ran to page 71 of 207 pages.  Those first 71 pages focused on showcasing recent initiatives or successes attributed to the current Administration. 

Make no mistake about my comments.  I do NOT object to PR postings, I support letting the public know how Windcrest is progressing.  Be clear that I am not writing this letter to you to dispute the accuracy of numbers or genesis of any success stories in the “Mayor’s Summary..”.  I simply do not believe that presentation belongs under the Budget tab, and the multiple pages of information did not help me understand HOW the upcoming budget would fund the future prioritized operations of this City (budgets being forward thinking documents).  

Please move the State of the Union/City briefing material to a more appropriate site on the City web. Replace those 71 pages with one page that clearly lists the priorities for the 2013-2014 budget (followed by all the required legalese and 2013-2014 spreadsheets). Ensure that readers know that priorities listed have been integrated into the 2013-2014 budget as proposed and presented to the citizens on 3 September, and will again be presented on 9 September, 2013 in a public setting.

At the meeting on 3 September I had hoped to see some briefing slides or perhaps even a couple of pages of handouts that would be useful for citizens to understand and comment on WHY specific budget line items were being amended from 2013.  Significant increases in line item expenditures are due to increased emphasis (defined priorities), or expected inflation.  Tell citizens which applies.   

I am working under the assumption that ALL of the Department Heads prepared their section budgets based on their knowledge of what it was going to take to sufficiently fund their department(s) operations in the coming fiscal year.  Most often, such budgets are padded a bit, but hopefully not egregiously so. I am also working under the assumption that the City Manager has directed integration of the Department budgets into the 2013-2014 projections as a reflection of internal consistency with the wishes of the Mayor and Council.  Those Department budgets are “signposts” on the road to a final budget.

I was disappointed in not hearing and seeing the budget “vision” for 2013-14 articulated with priorities clearly set. I’ve seen the Mayor’s “Future Vision” (page 40 of the 207 pages) on the website.  Since not all actions cannot be equally weighted, I’d hope to see (clearly stated in bullet form) the top three priorities from that “Future Vision”, most important presented as #1.  Such a format would allow the citizens present, or watching, or who intend to participate on the 9^th of September to weigh how closely the priorities of the Mayor matches their own needs and wants.   I was also hoping to see those top 3 priorities from the “Vision” discussed by the COUNCIL , with some dialogue as to whether each COUNCIL MEMBER agrees with the priorities.  I heard no such dialogue.

I found 3 initiatives on the Mayor’s Future Vision (I support the posted list pending learning how the list will be executed) which are consistent with my personal priorities. 

Additional police officers was the first bullet on the Mayor’s list.  My most basic need is one of security. If I and my property are not “safe”, then I won’t ever be comfortable in my environment and will move as soon as possible to an environment that is “safe”.  I’m willing to forgo a perfectly smooth street, pretty parks with serviceable tennis courts, put up with a lack of desirable retail shopping establishments and even willing to pay a high tax rate if I believe I’m “safe”.  In the presence of a threat (which we know requires constant vigilance and “boots on the ground” for patrolling) additional police officers gets my vote for the number one priority for future funding.  Establishing a secure environment is the most basic task of responsible government, and the foundation to quality of life in Windcrest.  I would support a budget expense that ensures our police force is not unduly constrained by short sighted financial allocations. 

The Mayor’s Future Vision also lists spending over $1 million ($1,320,000 in the 2014 budget) for maintenance and improvements to our streets.  That could fall under the second priority of Infrastructure Improvements. Implementation of only the street portion of infrastructure improvement will require significant funds transfer to the street CIP and needs to be defended on it’s merit relative to other actions such as “Parade of Homes” support or paying $38,000 for the “Light UP”.

The final priority in the top three taken from the Mayor’s list could be Employee Compensation and Retention.  Windcrest citizens don’t expect superior performance from inferior employees.  Philosophically, I reject compensation for the general population of workers being raised by only 3% (admittedly higher than a simple COLA) since 3% of $30,000 is only $900 (and that sum is taxed) while the City Manager will benefit from over 18% boost in compensation (see page 138 of 207 showing the City Manager receiving a raise of $17,385 [up to $112,385 from the current base of $95,000]).  I do support pay for performance, and don’t begrudge the City Manager a reward for carrying out his orders with dispatch.  However, I don’t believe that the QUALITY of the City Manager’s performance can be defended as deserving a percentage increase in compensation of more than 5 times the percentage of the most deserving staff person’s in a lower level job.  I anticipate many in this community will share my reluctance to bestow such disproportionate largess on selected individuals.

So Council Members, would you please articulate YOUR priorities for the 2013-2014 budget at the next public meeting?  Tell your constituency what you believe should receive significantly higher funding and why, even if your opinion is not 100% consistent with that of the Mayor who has already published his wish list.

Thank you for reading my letter. 

I don’t need, nor really want individual replies.  I watch what people do to ascertain their motives and values rather than simply listening to what they say.  I look forward to the coming meeting on Monday to learn what YOU believe and value.

Dennis Allen

 

Why is Dennis seeking a Council seat?

Why I’m running for Place #5 on the Council: I’m seeking a seat on the Council because the incumbents on the City Council have supported the dissolution of WD #10.  That one issue is enough to require some new balance on the Council.   

However, I have additional concerns with the Council’s performance and hope to be able to influence some changes to that performance when I’m elected to a seat on the Council.  

I object to the Council failing to require an initial and formal “needs” analysis for projects and making that needs analysis publically available for citizens to review.  The proposed “soccer field” is an example of a project that had no formal needs analysis yet blundered ahead until the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sent the Mayor a certified letter to stop the dirt dumping because the City had not obtained the proper permits  for the construction site nor addressed other issues.  The letter is a public record.

  Note:  After some personal research and analysis, I wrote a justification (needs analysis with recommendation) for a soccer field and gave that justification and recommendation to both the Mayor and the Chairperson of Parks and Recreation.  I’ll support some land being designated for a multipurpose field upon which soccer could be played.  I'm not sold on the proposed location as the best site for such a recreational area.  If you want to see a copy of that analysis and  recommendation, I can post it to this site.  I believe it to be a general format that could be implemented by the City for future projects. 

 I object to the Council avoiding debating [in public] the merits or shortfalls of agenda items. 

I object to the passive acceptance of excessive personnel turnover without complaint from Council incumbents.  Experienced employees are too valuable to be treated like a commodity. 

I object to the Council failing to explain why they concur with the analysis of qualifications used for hiring decisions.  "Best qualified for the position because......."?

I object to the Council allowing official briefings to them by department heads, prospective vendors or contractors to be of a quality easily surpassed by high school students. 

I object to financial reports and budget data to be presented in formats that are difficult to comprehend (even for sophisticated consumers) and needing amendments when challenged for accuracy.

 

I believe that as a private citizen I have insufficient status to influence City Hall. 

I’ve made both public and private offers to help the City improve operations.  I did NOT ask for any compensation for my time.

 Those offers to help have been rejected.

I feel compelled to seek an elected public status that will help allow me to be more effective in helping this City upgrade operational procedures and gain more public trust through those changes.