For the second time in less than a year, the Frankfort City Commission on Monday took a vote to remove its city manager. Unlike the last go-around in August when leaders opted to fire then-City Manager Keith Parker “without cause,” interim City Manager Tom Russell will stay in his post a little longer.
With an April 1 deadline looming, Russell’s employment status with the city, which is currently listed as seasonal, will either have to change to full-time or he will have to leave City Hall. City leaders also have the option of moving Russell to full-time employment, temporary full-time employment or discontinuing his interim city manager duties.
On Monday, veteran Commissioner Katrisha Waldridge, who has been critical of Russell’s performance of city manager duties while he doubles as emergency management director, led the charge to remove him.
Her motion to remove Russell failed in a 3-2 vote. Mayor Layne Wilkerson and Commissioners Leesa Unger and Kelly May voted against Russell’s removal while Commissioner Kyle Thompson supported the motion, which would have assigned Assistant City Manager/City Solicitor Laura Ross to delegate administrative duties via department heads until a permanent city manager is hired.
“I think this is the best direction for us to get moving. It solidifies safety and security in our emergency management side,” said Waldridge, who has advocated rehiring Parker in some capacity. She stopped short of making a motion to do just that on Monday.
Russell defended himself, saying, “… Sitting in this chair and doing both positions every now and then gets a little time-consuming, but I have great staff on both sides of the street here and we are not lacking or suffering.”
With important projects such as the Parcels B and C development underway, we agree with the mayor that making another interim change in the city’s top administrative post, which has become a revolving door over the past decade with five city managers and Russell, would be a bad idea at this juncture.
The past two city managers, Cindy Steinhauser and Keith Parker, stayed in their posts for a total of 39 months. What Frankfort needs is a city manager who is willing to stay the course, who has the confidence of the city commission and a steady hand to guide the community through the Capital Plaza redevelopment project.
While we agree with Waldridge that the commission must move quickly to find that person, another interim arrangement in the meantime doesn't serve the public interest.
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Parker could slide right into this position seamlessly, without missing a beat. From all that we have learned since his untimely dismissal, it was not only without cause but without merit. It appears that some on the former Commission also broke the open meetings law by conducting secret and private meetings unbeknownst to Commissioner Waldridge.
Why not do this? Nobody’s really given any reason. So in summary, nobody really gave a reason why they fired him, and nobody’s given any reason why they won’t hire him back. What’s wrong with this picture?
I kinda like the idea of Laura Ross taking it on! Get her another assistant (if really needed ?) It can’t be that complicated is it ? They have a ‘ “seasonal “gentleman doing it now ! He claims it’s the staff that doing it anyway! ( I remember my grandfather’s doctor came to see him at his home one day with his nurse of many years at his side, the doctor said of his nurse “ She knows everything I do ! She just doesn’t say it out loud!”
Plus it is in her job description anyway...You are paying the interim his salary based on 140,00/year; paying Keith Parker a huge severance and paying our City Attorney to do her job which again, includes Assistant City Manger as a potential job duty.
We could cut a deal with Keith about the severance pay if we hired him back as the city manager!
As we have seen in the past, back during the Roach culture wars, Ms. Ross is very good at herding cats! But I do not believe it would be fair to require her to do both jobs at the same time! Unless we pay her double. Maybe she could do one part-time hourly? But compensate her accordingly.
It makes one question the actual value of a city manager when they come and go ( like people to an ice cream shop ) for what ever reason- and the city keeps rollin’ along - those in “ power” just toss in a replacement temporarily. They get all dressed up with no where to go! Ideology runs deep in the City Government- if it was a tangible , geological area would it resemble a deep , deep labyrinth of crevices ? Once you hike down in the crevices, it takes a long time to figure your way out - and looking down in it are the citizens!!!? Funny
We cannot blame Keith Parker for being a short timer. He was a victim of overzealous City commission members. Keith had allegiance to the city, because he’s from here. The same cannot be said for Cindy Steinhauser.
I was surprised when they booted Parker out also . Putting all my criticism aside - Parker should have stayed as City manager . “It’s dang if yo do and dang if you don’t”
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