During my 16 years of service to Glendale as a councilmember I would often ask questions of staff members. I suspect that I became infamous among staff for my “curious questions.”
No matter how consequential or inconsequential my question(s), it and the answers were routinely copied to the mayor and all councilmembers. I was told repeatedly that all councilmembers should have the same information and that staff was obligated to treat and inform all councilmembers equally. This was habit and practice for years before I became a councilmember and up until January of 2013.
I was quite surprised to recently receive some emails “over the transom” that violated this long standing policy. These emails make it evident that with the advent of City Manager Brenda Fischer and her handpicked crew this policy is no longer being followed. The emails I received predated the council approval of the IceArizona arena lease agreement. It is clear from the senders and recipients that the policy of distribution to the mayor and all councilmembers was deliberately ignored in an effort to provide information to supporters of the deal and to deny the very same information to those councilmembers recognized as opposed to the deal.
One email from Julie Frisoni dated Wednesday, June 26, 2013 9:09 AM was sent to Councilmembers Martinez, Knaack and Sherwood. In it Ms. Frisoni forwarded a response from Tom Hocking on an arena operating cost question. It was not sent to Mayor Weiers or Councilmembers Hugh, Alvarez or Chavira. Apparently it was information Ms. Frisoni felt would assist those in support of the deal and was withheld from those in opposition.
Yet another email from Frisoni dated Sunday, June 30, 2013 10:34 PM was sent to Councilmembers Sherwood, Chavira, Knaack and Martinez. In it Ms. Frisoni forwarded talking points on the benefits of an anchor tenant at the arena prepared by Jeff Teetsel, Credit Suisse’s Manager of Westgate. Once again the information would assist only those in favor of the deal. It was not sent to Mayor Weiers or Councilmembers Hugh or Alvarez.
Ms. Frisoni is not the only current or former staff member to violate this policy. Craig Tindall, IceArizona’s Counsel and Glendale’s former City Attorney, sent an email to Councilmembers Sherwood, Knaack and Martinez dated Friday, June 28, 2013 8:04 AM which explained why the deal would no longer be a management agreement but would be a lease agreement. You would think that the city’s former Attorney would know better.
You can be sure there are far more emails floating through city hall that offer information to selected councilmembers in support of an issue and denied to others perceived as being in opposition. These emails are illustrative of an attitude prevalent beginning with City Manager Fischer and working down through the entire organization. It is a cancer causing distrust and divisiveness not only among elected officials but throughout the organization. It creates classes of “haves” and “have nots.” If there is a pattern of violating this ethic, it leads one to ask what other situational ethical tenets are being ignored?
Tenet #5 of the International City Managers Association (ICMA) states, “Submit policy proposals to elected officials; provide them with facts and advice on matters of policy as a basis for making decisions and setting community goals; and uphold and implement local government policies adopted by elected officials.” It does not say to submit policy proposals to selected elected members. It does not say that all councilmembers are not equal and some deserve more information than others. There is an atmosphere of corrosiveness eating away at Glendale City Hall that City Manager Fischer has a responsibility to eradicate for she is ultimately responsible as the top manager of Glendale’s government.
© Joyce Clark, 2014
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My only question is why is Frisoni still employed considering this and her unethical rise through management ranks under Beasley. Have you ever wondered why the Bidwells and Super Bowl Host Committee don’t want to work with Glendale? Look no farther than Frisoni.
I completely agree, John. Frisian is “poison” and dangerous. She is unqualified, unprofessional, unethical, and several other “UNs” that I can’t think of right now. Brenda is going to have to take some action to get a grip on all of the bad actions or she will be at risk herself. Since Brenda is focused on “counting votes” to keep her job, she will have to do some NEW math.
Caution needs to be exercised when sending emails to council members. If a quorum of the members receive the email they could violate the state open meeting law if they were to answer the email. I agree that these emails should be sent to all council members but they should contain a warning that a reply should not be sent. The information being transmitted is “for information only”.
Why doesn’t the Mayor and/or Council do something to stop this new practice of only giving information to a selected few? I’ve always wondered, who exactly is in charge — The Mayor and Council or the City Manager?
When I was on council when an email was sent to all Councilmembers an admonition such as yours was definitely attached. We were also verbally directed on the issue. I do not know what the current practice is.
Joyce, you are absolutely “on point” to refer to the ICMA Code of Ethics. Besides Tenet #5, I think Tenet #10 also is important in this situation. The guideline in Tenet #10 says “The member should openly share information with the GOVERNING BODY (capitalized for emphasis) while diligently carrying out the member’s responsibilities as set forth in the charter or enabling legislation.” The governing body is the entire city council, not just some of them.