Ax falls in S. Tahoe; positions gone, retirements imminent
By Kathryn Reed
“Thank you for your email. Eugene Palazzo is no longer employeed (sic) with the City of South Lake Tahoe. Please contact Tracy Franklin at 530-542-6093 or tfranklin@cityofslt.us. Have a great day. Gene”
That is the auto-reply Gene Palazzo left on his email Feb. 23, the day he found out he no longer had a job with South Lake Tahoe. He had been the director of Redevelopment and Housing.
His is one 11 positions being eliminated. Another 10 employees are taking early retirements.
Some departments are being re-organized, while some people are taking on new responsibilities in positions that are being created.
“This will allow us to streamline operations,” City Manager Tony O’Rourke told Lake Tahoe News late Wednesday. “The reorganization is more of a rebalancing. It allows us to introduce new concepts to the city.”
The anticipated re-org is expected to save the city $10.2 million across five years.
The city has been in the red millions of dollars a year for the past few years, with the anticipation of much the same in the future because of declining revenues from hotel, sales and property taxes.
Spending is the main area the city can control. That is what the reorg is all about. Past practices have been to take from reserves to cover the deficit. O’Rourke and the current council want the city to live within its means.
“We have to control our own destiny,” O’Rourke said. Seventy-eight percent of the General Fund goes toward employee salaries and benefits.
The City Council will discuss the reorganization and five-year budget during the work session March 1 after the regular council meeting.
Positions eliminated on Wednesday also include assistant city manager (Rick Angelocci) and assistant Parks and Recreation Director (Chris Hawken).
The employees represented by unions – those who are not at-will employees – have been told what is in store. However, it is the council that must vote on those jobs. That will happen March 15. The workers have 30 days after that to vacate their jobs.
With bumping rights in the city, the exact people leaving all positions is not known. It’s the positions the city desires to eliminate that are outlined here.
O’Rourke said he wants to work with the unions to abolish the bumping rule because it can mean a person who is less qualified or not a good employee keeps his job based on seniority and nothing else — and bumps a newer hire into the unemployment lines when that person in fact is the one who management would have preferred stayed on the payroll.
Severance packages are still being worked out for everyone.
The positions likely to be eliminated are:
• Accounting technician – (was filled by a temporary employee)
• Assistant engineer – (position was vacant)
Funding will dictate if another engineering position is cut in October.
• Associate planner
• Fire division chief (was vacant)
This leaves one division chief per shift. Fire Chief Lorenzo Gigliotti is keeping his job for now, but will have to step it up a notch, which includes taking a shift in the firehouse and filling in when a division chief is out.
• Housing rehabilitation specialist
• Senior accounting technician
• Senior airport assistant
• Administrative assistant in public works – (was temporary worker).
Those being offered early retirement will leave at different times. They include:
• Fire captain
• Fire engineer
• Human resource analyst
• Information technology manager
• Public Works director (John Greenhut will leave in May.)
• Police captain (Martin Hewlett will leave next February.)
• Police sergeant
• Police officer
• Recreation supervisor (John Collins is leaving; Rob Swain is moving from the ice rink to the senior center.)
One other position is likely to be gone with early retirement; that was expected to be finalized Thursday.
In O’Rourke’s staff report, he says, “The vacant positions resulting from these early retirements will be filled, with the exception of the Public Works Director, Human Resource Analyst and Recreation Supervisor. The Police Captain position will be reclassified to a Community Service Officer and the Police Sergeant reclassified to a Community Service Officer.”
O’Rourke met with everyone Feb. 23 who would no longer be receiving a paycheck from the city, except for Hawken, who no one could locate.
South Tahoe downsized in 2009 in what was called a cost containment plan. On April 21, 2009, the council approved six early retirements in various departments, seven people lost their jobs, and a few positions were left vacant.
Seven months later, on Nov. 17, the council laid off one person, approved nine early retirements and froze more positions.
This is also when furlough days started.
Consolidation, which means departments are being reclassified, is also part of the plan that will be before the council in March.
Hilary Hodges, the current planning manager, will head the Development Service Department at least for the interim. This department will include redevelopment, housing, economic development, sustainability, planning, building and the engineering section of public works.
Stan Sherer, who took over the Parks and Recreation Department last month, will run the Community Services Department. The new department will also include streets, fleet management and facilities maintenance – everything that was in public works except for engineering.
The airport and parking will come under finance; still led by Christine Vuletich.
“Those are enterprise operations that should break even at best or make money. We really need a financial focus on those operations,” O’Rourke said.
Four other positions are being reclassified, with current staff filling the jobs.
The city’s special events coordinator will be Lauren Thomaselli. She has been running Explore Tahoe. Someone within the city will fill her shoes at the visitor center.
“The city is going to be much more engaged in producing new events and assisting other people’s events. This is tied to economic development,” O’Rourke said.
Engineer Jim Marino will be the capital improvement coordinator.
Tracy Franklin, who worked in Redevelopment and Housing, will be the volunteer coordinator. One of the things in the citizens’ survey that was recently released was the desire by locals to volunteer more. The city could reap millions of dollars worth of free service from residents.
Nancy Kerry, manager of Redevelopment and Housing, is moving into the role of communications/public affairs manager. She will work directly for O’Rourke. The job will also include marketing of city services, like Parks and Recreation.
“This is a major step forward, but not the only or final step,” O’Rourke said of all the changes. “We will have to monitor and modify as we go forward.”
WOW! Stunning and brutal. A lot of good people have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Tragic.
If the city government is going to function fine without these employees, it would suggest that they were excess baggage and that the city’s personnel rolls were bloated and tax dollars were being wasted on unnecessary positions
@Joe – these are PEOPLE and people that may have families who depend on them. Your point is well taken but could have been MUCH better worded. Please exercise a little more sensitivity. Thanks.
A good start! Cudos, Tony!
Now if others in the Public sector such as STPUD can follow suit and eliminate the feather bedding and nepotism endemic at the District. Residents will benefit. Our own bloodless revolution like Eygpt.
TFF!
You are absolutely right!! STPUD needs to re evaluate and re organize. They have become bloated and ignorant to the financial burdens faced by residents and businesses.
Tens of thousands of dollars spent on junkets to Washington DC to meet with local legislators (why not save the cost and meet with them in Sacramento?), paid lobbyists (with no demonstrated effect), Southern California lawyers who commute(an in house attorney would be cheaper), membership and attendance in trade organizations with little or no benefit, etc. Failure to avail themselves of free delivery from local parts suppliers resulting in hundreds of unnecessary trips for District vehicles and wasted hours for District employees is an example of local waste and lack of concern for rate payers money. Perhaps the combinating of the Districts high paid Public Information Officer with the Districts attorney for a savings of over $100K/year? Dale Rise, the one board member working for the community has made a good start, but needs our support!
Let the District know that it’s our money spend it with care, do not waste it!
Interesting. How does a police captain’s position and a police sergeant’s position turn into community service officers? So are those guys who check on vacation houses going to tell the police officers what to do now?
Good move, we probably would have been in better shape if it had happened sooner, but at least someone finally made the hard decisions.
Those who were at will are gone, I know the city has to do something but there are some really good people going. I hope all of you that see this as a positive feel the same way when nothing can get done because people have to much on there plate or are not sure what they should be doing.
No joy in this, as it will effect families – some of whom will no doubt leave the hill. If STPUD cares about their budget, maybe “J” should make fewer trips to DC to schmooze. Show that the bigwigs care by meeting electronically like so many companies are forced to do.
This is quite a blow for the community. Lives and families with so much of the city being vacation rentals and being bought up by out of towners whether or not these people are personal friends they were part of the community unit that is continually being eroded away.
People and businesses both. More homes for sale and lost revenues, empty school desks you name it. Very sad and more to come.
You have to live within your means! Correct in that there’s no joy in people losing their jobs! Just as there’s no joy in people in the private losing their jobs and no joy in struggling families having to pay higher sales taxes to sustain our City’s unsustainable govt.
While it’s good to see a new perspective from the new City Mgr., are these early retirements going lead to a greater future liability? Are we to a certain extent just “kicking the can down the road”?
I can appreciate those who want us to be more sensitive to those laid off – these are our friends and neighbors with families. But, the truth is that life is brutal sometimes and some of these people did not deserve our tax dollars when they were they were over-paid for doing little productive work (like one of the person affected by these actions who sat in the office all day for years with little or nothing to do and spent most of the time on personal projects that had nothing to do with city business) and they don’t require our sympathy now. Government is just now learning what every small business in Tahoe knows and everyone out there with a over-stretched family budget knows—-when you can’t afford something, you have to cut back. It has been painful for all of us and, until now, government workers have not had to share the pain. Did the fully employed city workers with fat pensions and generous health benefits feel my pain when the I lost my job? I don’t thinks so.
“Those (parking and airport) are enterprise operations that should break even at best or make money. We really need a financial focus on those operations,” O’Rourke said.
How much longer can the City continue to justify subsidizing the Airport to the tune of a half a million or so per year, while bringing down the budget axe on anyone and everything else?
Back in 2007, the City hired a consultant who put together a rosy scenario where the Airport could generate millions as a regional hub. ha! ain’t gonna happen. it always has been and always will be a publicly subsidized boondoggle serving a small pool of elite gamblers in their noisy jets, private helicopter lessons that disturb the peace in nearby neighborhoods, etc.
If the City can’t afford all the people it just fired, it certainly can’t afford the Airport any longer!
They have to keep the airport open cause that’s “City Hall’…..lol
But I agree with you dad, fully.
Very, very sad! Quite a few of the positions on “the list” are residents who not only worked for the city, but supported our community. Is this part of the Strategic Plan to IMPROVE the economy in South Lake Tahoe? Mr. O’Rourke, you have a lot more to learn about Lake Tahoe and the people who live here!
I agree that the airport needs to be looked at more closely for additional cuts. Unfortunately it seems to be O’Rourke’s pet project even though it’s been a money pit for years.
The City, in taking over the Airport from the Country (for a dollar, years ago), has to keep it open, due to the 20 year restraint on closing, for airports that have received Federal funds (the 20 years is per event). Thus, the best thing for the airport is for the City, County, AND STATELINE CASINOS, to support it, in every way they can, within financial reasonableness. The airport really could bring in a large amount of money.
It is refreshing to see hard work being done and hard decisions being made here in SLT. While we should all have compassion for those losing their jobs, any city job/employee we can get by without with our shrinking tax base MUST be eliminated and as quickly as possible.
The airport will never break even. The City of South Lake Tahoe has sunk upwards of $600,000 per year into it, year after year. Millions of dollars – think about what we might have done with that money – for which city residents have received little in return.
It’s only value is as an emergency base for fire fighting operations, as in the Angora Fire. However, no county resident ever contributed a cent to the airport.
Stateline businesses tout it as a great asset, but they don’t support it.
The poor suckers who live in the City of South Lake Tahoe subsidize the millionaires who the Casinos fly in to gamble.
The city should ask those who benefit from it to pay for it, or else shut it down. It’s crazy that the Casinos don’t pay a cent to support it. It’s crazy that other communities around the lake who will need it should a wildfire strike do not pay for it. Why doesn’t the city ask them to contribute?
Because they want the cake and eat it too!……….Common…it’s a-fine line.
I think STPUD does a decent job, but there are a few positions that should be part-time or eliminated. Likewise, their travel budget seems pretty outlandish. I don’t remember the previous water conservation girl, Shelly, taking any trips. Every time I need to talk to her she was available or at least returned my phone calls. This new person, Sara, is NEVER there and she never calls me back. Ever time I come in, she’s out of town at a meeting. Last time I checked, they were supposed to be public servants.
Gene Palazzo-finally! What a waste of money he has been. In charge of redevelopment to bring more tourist dollars in. His attitude? “we don’t owe these tourists anything” he has been heard saying on numerous occasions. As for the rest-we feel your pain. Time to start shopping at Grocery Outlet….
In response to Robert’s post about FAA funds forcing the Airport to remain open for 20 years — the FAA has discretion to waive this requirement, with a number of stipulations.
If the City wanted to close the Airport because of economic hardship, it could. Other communities have closed Airports despite having received FAA loans. But that won’t happen unless the taxpayers of the City who are providing the huge annual subsidy demand this course of action.
In the meantime, I agree with Robert that stateline casinos that benefit on the back of South Lake Tahoe taxpayers should pay for the airport.
This town is being destroyed by our friends at TRPA, Sierra Clubbers, league to savage lake tahoe, and other so called do-gooders who put people second and the god tahoe first. When Tahoe has no humans than they will have achieved their goal. Oh yeah, living in caves and walking will be allowed for the virtuous
ones.
O’Rourke said he wants to work with the unions to abolish the bumping rule because it can mean a person who is less qualified or not a good employee keeps his job based on seniority and nothing else — and bumps a newer hire into the unemployment lines when that person in fact is the one who management would have preferred stayed on the payroll
wow a novel concept performance based results. Seems to me I was taught that as a small kid by my parents. WSo why do unions get away with it?
Because they can. Hopefully tenure in the public schools will one day fall as well.
Kudos to our new city manager for making some tough decisions and moving toward real change.
First there’s people on the council who have aircraft out there,their buddies with casino ties are sitting at the same table laughing about the residents paying for this Pink Elephant.
It be damn hard to convince those in certain position to give this up.They don’t want drive to the Minden or Carson City Airport to go see a Giants game.
If it ever made it to a council meeting vote ,these or certain individuals should be asked not to vote as a conflict of interest,see if they could pass it.
But seriously ,I really doubt it ever make it that far….money talks ,b—s— walks.
We’ve see this before with no results,the city council was suppose to save tons money(city hall) but so far, I don’t think the plant every produced fruit to my memory.
Tahoe Dad-
Unless knowing completely how the airport runs and generates its money flow, it is biased to make the comment “How much longer can the City continue to justify subsidizing the Airport to the tune of a half a million or so per year, while bringing down the budget axe on anyone and everything else?”
The Helicopter business brings in a great amount of money to the airport, not only being a professional helicopter training business (training pilots who may save your house in the next angora fire), it charters, does tours of the lake and most of all has the only Heli-skiing business in a 800 mile radius. If you have a problem with the mass amount of income the Tahoe revolutionizing company has brought to the table, you need to check your sources once more. Along with your so described nuisance “Private Jets,” The people in these private jets bring in a great amount of funds for the city and its community. If people have a hard time dealing with the aircraft noise, then they probably should have considered that before they moved to their current home instead of place blaming an entity that potentially can turn this place into the #1 skiing destination. I have yet to see an airport that is quiet.
We must start looking into consolidating services with the County. Police, Fire, Snow Removal. Would help the other City services we all rely on.
If Mr O really wanted the best interest of this city, he would start with a huge decrease to his outlandish salary and set the example.
You go Airport Resident. Another thing is that some of those folks being termed are single parents of school aged children and have lived and worked in this community faithfully for the past 28 years. Devotion to the job was the single most motivating factor for one of them in particular, even through having to work with some of the dumbest, non-productive people on the planet that were and continue only in their positions due to “seniority”. Supporting a community through difficult times is what creates the word “community”, but then I guess some of the terminated folks can just start growing the ever popular pot in the growing number of vacated rental homes and possibly turn to prositution as a supplemental income. Oh, but then the latter would most likely be designated as a commodity and then the powers-that-be could tax that too and become just like some Nevada counties.
And finally, a wise young man once said “some turds float, some turds sink, but eventually they all get flushed”.
O’Rourke you know NOTHING about Tahoe! I agree with someone who made the comment if you want to help save money “TAKE A PAY CUT!” Besides I am sure someone else is doing your job anyway, probably Nancy Kerry!
This is a terrible outcome and I feel for those who lost your jobs; it is not easy to be unemployed in SLT. This action will be a ripple effect to our economy. Let’s see how happy a lot of these people making negative comments will be when they lose more and more residents, friends, family, and customers to a falling city!
Kudos to Mr. Ororck for having the conviction and guts to start needed changes in the running of the city! We live in such a beautiful place and yet the far reaching problems of waste and mismanagement within our community are CRIMINAL! As a parent of 3 children,I frequent the rec center alot,there have been in my opinion employees there whos performance does not warrant continued employment.Yes layoffs affect families within our community,however in the real world if a job is poorly performed by an employee,it affects the profitability of the business.Although I agree that families are devastated by layoffs, the employee is ultimatly responsible to his family and employer to do a good job. Thus justifying his or her paycheck and making themselves valuable to their workplace.Some of the previous statements by others seem to ignore the fact that unproductive workers ,especially city workers cost us ALL money. We as taxpayers PAY their salaries,benefits, and ultimately their pensions.My experience with the rec center alone,especially the ice rink,has been unsettling.One employee actually filed a restraining order against a 11 yr old boy, then dropped it because there was no evidence to support the claim, not to mention many witnesses came to the boys defense.This employee still works there WITH children of that age group!The family and the boy were traumatised by this event both emotionaly and financialy,yet the employee remains on staff.Just as a unproductive employee costs taxpayers money, this employee cost the city and the court system time and money by making an obviously false claim against a child!These kinds of things hurt All of us .Our city needs reform and a change in its mentality…people must be held accountable for their actions!So this resident says,Thank You Mr.Ororck!
Mr. O’Rourke may not know Tahoe in particular very well yet, but he certainly seems to understand ski town issues as well as having a pretty good handle on business efficiency. Town has long been overdue for a firm hand and some painful reality checks. We’ll still need to wait and see, but at least it sure isn’t the same old same old.
Do you last two commentator’s realize that Mr. O’Tool doesn’t have the confidence in this community to have his family live here with him? Yep. Ask him where his children go to school, or where his wife works, or shops, or buys dog food for his dog that rummages in employee trashcans for food. Get a clue resident do-gooders and smell the rotten fish.
To everyone who says the City’s layoffs will hurt the economy, Ok then! By that logic the City should hire a 1k new employees, huh? Have them move dirt from one pile to the other! That’ll fix our economy won’t it?
And with me, the jury is still out with Mr. O’Rourke. Yes he’s overpaid! But if someone has a problem with the layoffs, what’s your point of going after Mr. O’Rourke?
And yes Keep Tahoe Cool, the City of South Lake Tahoe will be a very inefficient enterprise until it looks at consolidation of services with the County!
Mr. O’Rourke knows whats needed and has made a small step to meet those needs. When a SLT staff position salary range is 50 to 60 thousand and they retire with a pension of 90 thousand, plus full medical dental and vision benefits, now about $17,000.00 a year for life, something is wrong. A small step toward a balance budget. I only see one person being laid off the rest will retire with at least $100,000.00 in income and benefits, its hard to have compassion, when most in this town make less than half of that amount with no benefits.
what? I had to read those at least 3 times to try and figure what the heck you two said. public school?
Finally, some progressive, forward thinking!!! Out with the old and in with the few. I’m particularly pleased to see one person gone. His corrupt and misguided ways were harmful to our town. As an old friend used to say “he’s so crooked, they’ll have to screw him into the ground when he dies”.
Mr. O’Rourke, thank you and we look forward to great things to come.
Looks like he also handled the nepotism issue with these job cuts.
sick-of-it, who are you and or do you have a vested interest in this? You can always call me to understand what you don’t understand.
It was only a matter of time before the pendulum had no alternative but to swing the other way for the City of South Lake Tahoe’s exorbitant pay scales and bloated staff structure. For example, in 2009 South Lake Tahoe’s police chief’s pay ($224,149) was more than the police chief in San Diego made ($211,026), despite enormous differences in size of staff, population (24,000 vs 1.4 million), issues, problems, responsibilities, etc. It is no wonder that South Lake Tahoe’s percentage of budget spent on employee salaries and benefits is so high. This is simply unsustainable.
Kudos to the new city manager for facing reality.
Lake Valley Fire District should be next
look at the total 2009 wages.
http://lgcr.sco.ca.gov/CompensationDetail.aspx?entity=SpecialDistrict&id=12070906500
Wow! The box 5 of the W2 is insane… They may have a reasobale salary , but they have huge overtime and contributions to pensions and whatnot. Something needs to be there.. Thats ridiculous…
Budget cuts were/are necessary. However, the current plan of lay-offs and reorganizations are not logical, realistic and will not work. In 2-4 years this will become extremely evident. We are not Colorado or San Diego – we are Lake Tahoe and transplants from the above mentioned communities cannot take their “this is how we did it from where I came from” attitude and make it work here until they understand HERE!
In my opinion I believe that Tony O’dork has to potential to make this city an even more amazing place! Though in many eyes his effort to do so is hard to see. The layoffs he has put into action are costing the city money as of right now with all the payouts, pers and Retirenment. Tony makes over 15,000.00$ a month! Check the city website for proof. If the city should start saving money, lets start with the highest costing problem, Tony was hired in at this rate not accepting less. I dont see him willing to lower his pay check for the benifit of the city. Yet all you people defend him and his wallet.
Airport Resident —
you wrote:
“Unless knowing completely how the airport runs and generates its money flow, it is biased to make the comment “How much longer can the City continue to justify subsidizing the Airport to the tune of a half a million or so per year, while bringing down the budget axe on anyone and everything else?”
“The Helicopter business brings in a great amount of money to the airport….
If you have a problem with the mass amount of income the Tahoe revolutionizing company has brought to the table, you need to check your sources once more…. Along with your so described nuisance “Private Jets,” The people in these private jets bring in a great amount of funds for the city and its community….”
So, please shed light on these bottom lines. Please answer:
1. How much revenue does the helicopter business contribute to the city of SLT budget?
2. How much revenue do people flying to SLT in private jets contribute to the SLT budget and to the SLT community (as opposed to casinos)? How many of these visitors would not have come to SLT if they couldn’t fly directly into SLT (rather than flying to Minden, Reno, Sacramento, etc)?
3. How do the contributions to the SLT budget generated by the helicopter business and private jets compare to the annual subsidy provided by SLT taxpayers?
Please list your sources, so I can check them as you recommend. Thanks.
Steve, The Chief’s salary in 2009 was probably $143,000 a salary on par with similar California Police agencies, the additional monies are final payout of all unused vacation, sick and comp inlieu of overtime accrued over a 27 year career with the city.
Airport is a louser! All neg. coments come from city employees or their friends and or former employees. Your just too good for us, and we can’t afford you any more. AVG retiree cost over $100,000.00 a year. “When you ride on the tigers back, watch out you might fall off”. J.F.K.
Tahoe Dad-
Your looking to pick a fight and I believe your falsely accusing. It is almost impossible to figure out how much money the people on privte jets spent. To do so a personal interview with each single person would have to be done, etc. etc…. Id like to see you try and fufill your own questions. Also, I told you to check your own sources not mine. Please reread my statement again which you failed in attempting to use against me.
There were MORE than 3 people who were fired as part of yet another Attack on American Workers…
“re-classified”, means that the positions were eliminated, and others were given a choice to bump other union members if they had the seniority…or they would be out by April.
THE UNION had NO INPUT in this PROCESS…it was handed down by the City Council and the City Manager. No bargaining, and since the labor laws in CA have been re-worded to affect these people’s contracts, we are no longer living in a “right to work state”…
The remaining City workers KNOW they are still under the axe, and are AFRAID to speak out or protest, because they fear they will be targeted next. This is not a ‘saving money’ move…it is another Wisconsin, right here in our own little town…and it is happening all over the US.
STAND UP FOR WORKERS RIGHTS! We should rally at the next Council meeting and show our solidarity with our own public workforce!!!
Wouldn’t it be nice to see real names?
I am so tired of people on these blogs complaining about people not putting their “real names”. This is for comments and there is no requirement for people to post their “real name”, so stop complaining. My name is Heather Cade. Does that make any difference to anyone? Most people are concerned citzens commenting or venting about their likes and dislikes with what is happening in our town. Their name makes no difference to most people because you still, more than likely, don’t know them. What would you do if you did know their “real name” anyway? Seriously.
Lou, Adrian is my real name and what happened to the City workers was handled about as poorly and the least TRANSPARENT manner that I have ever seen since I have lived here and worked there. Your figures on salary, benefits and retirement are correct for some of the positions at the city, but not the majority – it is the minority. The cost for this splendid cost saving measure is going to be paid for (severance packages, etc.) out of the city’s reserve account. How long will it take the city to replace that money? How long will it take before the city realizes that a Parks & Recreation Director knows nothing about Public Works, Street Removal and Motor Pool? This is/was a major move by Mr. O’Rourke and it did not happen overnight, nor did it happen without his little helper(s). My God, some of the people didn’t even know they were “let go” until the showed up for work the next day or read it on this website. This is not the way to handle ANY employee – public or private. There is always a right way to do things and a wrong way – the city chose the later in this case. I will be attending the Council meeting on March 1st.
By the way I hope everyone who’s outraged about the layoffs was just as outraged at the 30%!! raises the top mgrs. received in what was it, ’05? The manner it was done, (some consultant’s report that the public never saw), the rationale (it’s necessary to retain quality people. You know quality people like the PD Chief blasted by a Grand Jury, an out of shape FD Chief, and the keep everything quiet, never answer a question directly former City Mgr., who also was blasted by a Grand Jury.)
And if anyone who’s bothered by the layoffs ever voted for any of the City Council people who approved the 30% raises (esp. after they approved them!), well the kind thing to say is- it’s ironic! Maybe we should try to get a movement started to at least roll back a portion of those scam raises?!
And Mr. Pierini, I want to be free to criticize snow removal services and not have to wake up to record sized berms!!
A responce to the last three comments, snoheather, #1 you gave your name thats good, #2 Adarin, no last name , not good, even though I know it, and its time to step up, #3 call county hot line if that doesn’t help, call Norma or Mr. O’Rourke. # 530 573 3108 for the county. Also how many city employes live in the citi limits?
Tahoe Dad, they can’t generate enough capital to offset the nuisance they cause all below,they buzz the lake,the houses,like clock work.Summer the worst for anyone sitting at the lake,no matter where you’re at.
Why not move the business to Nevada ,buzz the desert, no really inhabits care out there.
That’s why the Navy jet fighters training out there, not South Lake Tahoe, City Hall,runway.
Another Pork OK licensing, no good old boys to complain cause the other buddy got the same product like the hardware ,Scotty’s door knobs monopoly contract.
ANOTHER THING,DURING THE 4TH FIREWORKS SHOW ON THE 4TH JULY,THERE’S TOO MANY CIRCILING THE CITY WITH OUT A TOWER FOR SKY COLLSIONS ON A PACKED HOUSE CITY ,PLANES,LIGHTWEIGHTS,EGG BEATERS,go SOME WHERE ELSE.
I want see the “show” not your motors,blinking lights!!
Lou, You’re funny – my name is Adrian Gooch (of course) and my stance is cuts are needed – no doubt or questions on that issue. Being that said, it REALLY needed to be done differently and I can’t stress that enough!
A, Lets hope it creats less stress, you think I knew, thats not hard. Thanks for steping up. I respect you for that!
Wow. What is HARDTOMAKEALIVINGINTAHOE smoking? Truly sad. I think this person doesn’t like noise? Or maybe he/she doesn’t like the sound of freedom. How about this, you could always move to Yosemite. I hear it’s pretty quiet.
You go Adrian. We miss you.
Tell that to the neighbor who doesn’t like diesels trucks,BBQ steaks blowing in his window,GAGA at 2 in the morning, when I working the berms on all the second home owners,banging the headboard when they try sleep with moans of pleasure,fun,while Mr.Business man weeps over no love or dancing, HAS NONE.
Don’t like a airport sucking my tax dollars,you want pay my share Sock-o?
lol? The only smoke I got is Almond wood keeping it toasty for these front room exposed family jewels.I got pick em up throw over shoulder to go to the wine cellar.
Maybe we all just need to carry mini stingers around at the lake,we all can just pretend they are Big bugs,do the zap it.
Smoking, cigs, is a drug thats is addictive, but it doesen’t affect common sense and noise is unwelcome here. The goose that layed the golden egg has left. The league to save lake tahoe tries to protect Laken Tahoe, and also let people enjoy it as it is. Sick of it, are you on kool aid or have a vested interest in this issue?
Smoke or no smoke Kool Aid is the choice of Sick of it. Let it B. Oh, SOI, no name yet?
Lou Pierini-
Take a Chill Pill and relax.
Sick-Of-It seems to know what their talking about. Perhaps the noise hatting people wouldn’t want commercial airlines coming into Tahoe because their wittle ears huurrrrttt or possibly just cause they like to complain and make other lives harder. The fact of the mater is the airport is making the city money. Though I could disagree with the Airport Directors way of business and such, people need to stop complaining just to hear themselves talk.
sick of it…….maybe the doc could loan you a bottle Prozac in case you don’t have a+ health insurance plan,did the city cut your cables THERE too?.
Airport Directors for a man-less tower..lol
Are you sure your not talking about SLT City Hall janitor?
You know, the one who turns on the heat lights for the Ghost out there KEEPS THE PIPES FROM FREEZING..
Airport-making the city money…could you please show us the Datamation for this statement ?
We need a cure for the internet flu symptoms that’s starting to spread.
Have they developed a vaccine for”SLT’ air-garage EPIDEMIC?
Airport resident You are drinking kool aid if you think the airport makes money Oh whats YOUR NAME? Make my day and bring facts and a chill pill.
People People People
have your opinions, be biased, and blindfolded. I have MUCH better things to do than to banter on and on with closed minded people. I respect your opinions and will remind myself, thats all it is, an opinion. To belittle each other is getting a little babyish. Im steppin out of this.
See ya Guys and enjoy the rest of this winter.
-Airport Resident
To call people close minded, biased, blindfolded and babyish sure is belittling! And yet you say its wrong to belittle people?? Doesn’t make sense or follow any logic! But then again. neither does your statement that the Airport makes the City money?!
Folks, you have got a bit off topic. The fact is that these laid off people have worked hard for this community. While it’s easy to bash salaries and benefits for these employees, remember that most of them, excluding the management and safety tiers, aren’t the ones breaking the bank. Look deeper, talk to some of the employees working for you. These are solid community members that try, every day, to make our town a little better for all of us, both at work and off. Maybe, with a little homework and an open mind, you might discover the truth to what is really going on (it isn’t very rosey for anyone in this community who doesn’t want to be part of a large corporation).
Thank you lonepine11. Whom ever you may be. Some of us are actually reeling with shock and wondering why bad things happen to really good people. Even the higher-ups didn’t deserve the way this was done. Some people who started working in the Childs/Schlerf era were really proud and boasted about working with such wonderful people. The employee survey showed that era is over and dead. Even though salaries are higher than most, folks have earned their keep and work hard, long hours and show up to work on time, every day, day in and day out. S
lol..
73 responses and counting. Is this a record Kae? Speak the facts and stir it up!!
he-he ………Stirring
No matter who it is or where it is lay-offs stink! Good luck to those folks.
I’m new to this site and find it to be a great site. I once worked for the city for almost 30 yr,s. I’ve been retired now for 15 yrs. The City at one time was the best place to work in Tahoe. We were all dedicated to the service of the people, What is happening ? Lou, I know you well,Adriane I know you well and respect you both, I won’t put my name because I know too much and don’t think anyone needs to know. You just wait and see what this O’Rourke has up his sleeve for the retirees. When that comes out you will see the biggest Class Action Law Suit the City has ever faced, And the City will lose and the expense will be very high for the City. Leave the retirees along, we are all watching.
Can anyone sign up? Count me in.
And another thing. Are we just gonna stand there and bleed or do something about this?
Hey people,
What is happening in Tahoe is happening everywhere, in municipalities large and small. It started with the big corporations and now as the downturn (aka recession, although not officially a recession anymore)has lingered, state and local governments have to change the way they do business. Most have been using their reserves to stay solvent. Outsourcing and downsizing are concepts embraced and implemented frequently by the business community. When balancing the budget, you have two choices, either reduce expenses or increase income, the way I see it Tony is trying to do both. I guess if you don’t like what’s happening you could always move, to another town, oh, doing the same thing! At least Tony and his staff have a plan.
Agree with Just Saying, however, some of the people that are being layed off are the actual people that do the work. Most of them are the lowering paying positions, not the real deadweight. But, what happens will happen. Best of everything to those that are allowed to stay on. Over and out!
SLT already has to many unemployed, and many people moving off the mountain in search of work. Laying off more and more employees is hurting our local economy. Most all the recent City employees let go are residents, and also have families. This is not a good plan, and the Council stating that we must “live within our means.” Well, sounds like more layoffs are in the future for more City employees. SLT is not doing well period, and more layoffs hurt our City. More and more vacant commercial buildings and store closures. We need employed people locally to help contribute to our community, and if we don’t have much of that then slow seasons will really hit ALL businesses hard. Then we will see if all of you residents thinking that layoffs with the City are a great thing. These people who have been laid off are not only friends, neighbors, but they contributed to local businesses. Can’t any of you understand this? I guess not from all the negative comments many of you have left about those being laid off. Doesn’t matter the person who was laid off, but that you all like that there is 1 less City worker that you don’t have to pay the salary of. Right? Terrible outlook if that is your view of the situation, and these layoffs will have a backfire affect on our City. The Casinos layoffs did.