Letters to the Editor for June 17, 2009

Brocato was a good manager

To the editor:

I had the privilege of serving Baker City as a councilor for two years. During that time we interviewed prospective new city managers. When we interviewed Steve Brocato we asked what his management style was. His response was if you want a bureaucrat, I am not the one, but if you want a team builder and a fiscally responsible financial manager then I am the one you want.

I am here to say all of us including Bev Calder, agreed that is what we felt was best for our city. Later, it is my observation, Bev seemed to me to try to micro-manage Steve and he would have none of it. The City Charter does not allow individual councilors to try to set policy. What happened after that was very evident that she wanted him out.

I am sorry our new councilors got caught up in this. I feel this is a real travesty and not representative of the community. Like I have said before, every employee has strengths and weaknesses and Steve’s strengths in team-building and running the city, far outweigh his lack of willingness to be bureaucratic.

Dennis, shame on you. You are an employer and know how to work with employees. What happened here? I think it is time if we do not get this resolved soon, we should remove these two individuals from representing us. This has a real negative impact of jobs in our community and attracting any economic development to come to our beautiful city. Join with me and make your comments known through letters to the editor and on Facebook “We Support Steve Brocato.”

By the way if you were not at the council meeting, please review it on channel 3 and hopefully soon on YouTube.    

Terry Schumacher

Baker City

Thanks for another great rally

To the editor:

We would like to just extend a great big thank you to the organizers of the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally and the people of Baker City for another wonderful weekend spent with you all last weekend.

By the amount of bikes and people that were there, it seems as though it was another successful rally once again. And the people of Baker City were very pleasant and friendly like we’ve come to know of them from past rallies.

Not even the weather, no matter how “wet” it turned out to be, dampened the fun and good times we had while we were there. A great big hats off to all of you for all you do and have done and can’t wait for next June. Keep up the great work!    

Michael and Sharon Chaddic

The Dalles

Support the Council’s decision

To the editor:

Am I wrong? I thought the Mayor was in charge of the City Council meetings. What I have seen, it appeared that Mr. Brocato took charge. I didn’t vote for him and I think the way things work is that the City Manager works for the council.

I believe Mr. Brocato treats citizens that dare to go up to voice an opinion very shabbily by interrupting, sometimes not letting them speak or threatening to throw them out.

The four City Council members that voted to fire him have my full support. They are very competent people and I think they are very brave to confront the issue of poor behavior on Mr. Brocato’s part.      

Janis Taylor

Baker City

Good job, four councilors

To the editor:

Most of us have witnessed a group of young children playing. When one of these children doesn’t get his way he decides to take his toy and goes home. Well, the people of Baker are witness to what happens when that child grows up and becomes an adult who doesn’t get his own way. They threaten to “sue you all” or become “a real pain in the butt.” And then they fear becoming the laughingstock of all the good cities of Oregon!

Like all the other cities in Oregon really don’t have enough of their own business to deal with. Arrogant, aren’t they? The real reason I wrote this is that I would like to thank the four councilors for a job well done. Regardless of how rude and disrespectful the other councilors have been you have stayed professional and never lowered yourselves to their level. Stay strong and remember there are 9,000 plus people who do not work for the city.      

Gaylene Morris

Baker City

Councilors’ vote took courage

To the editor:

I’m grateful to the City Council members who made the difficult decision to dismiss the City Manager. Obviously, this wasn’t done lightly. This took more courage and thorough considerations than I can even imagine mustering. I’ve enormous respect for their sustained ability to respond thoughtfully and professionally in face of rude, mean-spirited and unruly behaviors opposing them during the meeting. Dissent and debate are essential, it’s a profound embarrassment done unprofessionally. These four elected Councilors, mindful neighbors in our community, are acting with a grave sense of responsibility and concern. They deserve public respect.

There have been numerous concerns regarding Mr. Brocato’s behaviors. His dismissal might not be as abrupt as we think. I remember wondering what was happening when he abruptly fired the City Attorney and City Planner. As City Manager, he made those decisions within his job description as did the majority of the heavy-hearted council last Tuesday.

I’ve seen Mr. Brocato behave rudely and act outside his role during meetings to censor and control proceedings. This isn’t acceptable behavior for a public administrator. It doesn’t allow for citizen’s concerns. This doesn’t build community. Mr. Brocato has skills well suited for corporate work, accomplishing one-sided gain through aggressive maneuvering. Nothing wrong with that. However, in a public role of power this behavior is appalling. It is arrogant bullying. None of us are without fault. But this is misuse of position, misuse of power, and disables democratic discourse.      

Alice Lentz

Baker City