Last week the big news story was the announcement by the ICMA that CEO Marc Ott was retiring to spend more time with family. We also learned that Port Huron City Manager James Freed was given a trial date for his defamation lawsuit against the ICMA.

Coincidence?

These two stories are inextricably linked and are the topic of this week's podcast episode.

SHOW NOTES:

In this podcast I mentioned that Caribou, Maine City Manager Penny Thompson is a founding member of the American Association of Municipal Executives and that she is looking for an assistant city manager. You can find the job description here: https://www.cariboumaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ACM-for-Planning-and-Economic-Development.pdf

If you want to join the American Association of Municipal Executives and becoming a founding member, register today at: https://community.aame.org/.

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Marilyn Rivers had a stellar career and an impeccable reputation having served for nearly 20 years as the Director of Risk and Safety for the New York city of Saratoga Springs.

About 18-months away from this 20-year mark where she would be eligible for her pension, a newly elected commissioner set his sights on her to settle an "old score" from fifteen years ago.

Rivers wanted to do this podcast because she never had a chance to defend herself, her record, or address the toxic behavior of this commissioner during the entire ordeal. She told me that she needed to do the podcast because she wanted her "voice" and her good name back.

This is slated to be Part 1 of a multi-part series. Stay tuned for the next episode when Marilyn will reveal tips, tricks, and tactics to reduce your insurance costs and make you look like a star for your governing body or your city manager.

SHOW NOTES:

Here is a link to Marilyn Rivers' consulting firm: Rivers Risk Consulting, LLC. The company's LinkedIn page can be found here and this is a link to her personal LinkedIn Page

If you want to join the American Association of Municipal Executives and becoming a founding member, register today at: https://community.aame.org/.

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

ICMA CEO Marc Ott has presided over an organization that is dysfunctional, lacks accountability, and produces mediocre work product.

His permissive and absentee approach to managing employees allowed ethics staffers to prosecute a personal and political vendetta against Port Huron City Manager James Freed -- a stain that will be forever left upon his legacy.

Combined with an international development emphasis that has lacked focus and failed to deliver results, it has been Ott's shepherding of the organization towards the promotion of a leftist political ideology that has alienated many members who simply desire to be in a non-partisan, apolitical organization that will help them become better public sector executives.

For these reasons and more, it is time for the ICMA executive board to terminate Ott and begin the process of repairing the damage done during his tenure.

SHOW NOTES:

Here is the court ordered motion to compel issued against members of the ICMA executive board.

Here is the most recent ruling by the judge highlighting the stall tactics used by the ICMA in its case against Freed.

If you want to join the American Association of Municipal Executives and become a founding member, register today at: https://community.aame.org/.

SUBMIT JOB POSTING:

Do you have an executive or senior level vacancy in your organization? Use this form/link to submit your job listing in my weekly newsletter for just $100:

https://forms.gle/ceMzWqeLwiRFRAGj9

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Subscribe to my FREE weekly report of city and county manager resignations, terminations, and retirements (RTRs) at this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/

If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.