It has been 17 years and 208 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.
Please note: It seems that when one takes a short vacation all hell breaks loose. Glendale and IceArizona have resolved their differences for now. I will be posting a future blog on that event. In the meantime, I noted that the Glendale Star reported that it had attempted to contact me for a comment for their story. Thank goodness for digital phones. Having checked all calls for the past several weeks I can confirm that I received no phone call from the Glendale Star.
On July 22, 2015 the Glendale Police Department issued a press release confirming that Commander Andre Anderson has been hired as Ferguson, Missouri’s Interim Police Chief. In my blog entitled Beasley may have company in Ferguson dated June 25, 2015 I announced that it was possible that he would take the job as well as issues that both Beasley (hired as Interim City Manager) and Anderson could face.
Several nagging questions remain. I had heard that Anderson was reluctant to take the job because of the pay disparity between Glendale and Ferguson. Ferguson is a much smaller community, about 1/10 the size of Glendale. I had also heard that that Glendale might make up the disparity in pay between Anderson’s current salary and what he was offered in Ferguson. Would Glendale do such a thing? The rational answer is ‘no’ but we have certainly seen Glendale do other irrational acts. It doesn’t seem that it would be legal. So…the question for Glendale officials is this…is Glendale subsidizing Anderson’s pay while he works for Ferguson? It is a question that deserves a public answer from Glendale because Ferguson isn’t telling.
Anderson is on a six month loan from Glendale. He will be using up all of his vacation time and when that runs out, he will be on unpaid leave from Glendale. However, that explanation doesn’t answer the question of whether Glendale is subsidizing Anderson’s pay.
Another question…what is the city’s reasoning in allowing Anderson to serve as a paid administrator in Ferguson? Was it a favor to Glendale’s former City Manager Ed Beasley? It’s eerily similar to Beasley’s allowing Alma Carmicle, Glendale’s former HR Director, to telecommute from Mississippi.
The Glendale Police Department has, in a fashion, loaned personnel to various state task forces. They remain on the Glendale payroll and their salaries are not subsidized. Although it may have happened I do not recollect in Glendale’s history a Commander taking leave to serve as a Police Chief or in the administration of another municipality. More answers should be provided by the city than has been offered to date. Come on Glendale, come clean.
© Joyce Clark, 2015
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“On Loan” is an interesting classification. I would assume that if Anderson is using all of his vacation days and then will go on unpaid leave – there would be no subsidy in pay from Glendale – but who knows, stranger things have happened in this City of ours such as Sherwood and Chivira voting for the Hockey Management Agreement back in 2013 when the then City Manager, Dick Bowers, told council that it was a bad deal and he didn’t recommend it. With regard to Anderson, an important question would be if the pay is being subsidized and he is “on loan” whether or not there would be a potential for liability, worker’s comp, etc. issues to flow back to Glendale Taxpyers should there be an issue or incident that occurs in Ferguson. Anderson has taken a new job so why keep the strings attached to Glendale.
It is interesting to get a different slant on the arrangement for Andre Anderson to become the Interim Police Chief of Ferguson, Missouri. The news media indicated Mr. Anderson took an unpaid leave of absence from his position here in Glendale and my interpretation of unpaid would seem to mean he is receiving no salary/compensation from the City of Glendale for the stated period of his leave of absence. If his status is “he’s on vacation” Mr. Anderson is certainly entitled to receive his vacation pay. Do I think it is appropriate for an individual to still be an employee of city government and work for another municipality, absolutely not, so the question quickly becomes what exactly is the status of Mr. Anderson? Ms. Clark you are absolutely correct in attempting to get answers for the taxpayers of the City of Glendale. Thank you.
Why is it so strange? The city was paying the former city attorney while he was working for the coyotes. At lease Andrea is working for another municipality even though it’s on the other side of the mississippi. Lol
Better check you geography. Arizona and Ferguson MO are both on the same side of the Mississippi River.
Joyce,
” .. It’s eerily similar to Beasley’s allowing Alma Carmicle, Glendale’s former HR Director, to telecommute from Mississippi… ”
Wonder how close to the truth this is?
Joyce,
Is it possible he will be receiving ‘assignment pay’ since it is a temporary “assignment”?
Me, that’s a very good question.
Sure have been several employees who have received “sweet deals” from the City of Glendale. As time goes on some things stay the same. I thought when you took a job elsewhere you were gone from your prior position. What a bunch of BS. Business as usual.
Ok now, all joking aside this is quite normal even thought it’s the first time Glendale is doing this for a predominantly black community. Where was the cynicism when they sent someone to the city of Avondale for almost a year to serve as city manage or the fire captain to the city of Goodyear to tryout as fire chief? How about all the money spent (wasted) on the sister city programming?
Joyce the tone of the blog and the comments so far remind me of the difficulty some politicians are having a hard time saying Black Lives Matter and is opting for the more generic version All lives Matter.
I think I have said enough.
Tahj, Yes, but have you ever heard of a case where the employee on loan/leave had his/her salary subsidized??
the leave is used up in such a short period, will increase his pension that he will be receiving from Glendale.