| Building livable communities that improve people's lives |  |
| Leadership and Management
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- Communication goofs that can torpedo your leadership hopes
Communication no-nos that can get you knocked off the promotion list include making racially biased comments or off-color jokes, swearing, flirting and failing to make eye contact, a survey of executives by the Center for Talent Innovation and Marie Claire magazine says. "You don't get a shot at being a leader unless you signal right," says Sylvia Ann Hewlett, founding president of CTI. Forbes
(11/16)
- Calif. city manager will fund pay raises with his salary
The San Leandro, Calif., City Council approved $10,000 raises for the assistant city manager and the police chief, per a proposal by the city manager. The raises will come out of his salary. "We have two extremely talented and marketable managers," City Manager Chris Zapata said. "They are vital to the management team." He says he proposed the raises because he does not want the assistant manager and the police chief to leave, because the city has had a lot of turnover recently. The Daily Review (Hayward, Calif.)
(11/20)
| Budgeting and Finance
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- Ohio mayor proposes balanced budget
The mayor of Newark, Ohio, proposed a balanced budget of $28.97 million for 2013 that would give employees a 1% raise. The city will receive about $1 million less from the state next year, but attrition, department efficiency, road salt left over from last year's mild winter and less overtime for firefighters allowed the mayor to balance the budget. The Advocate (Newark, Ohio) (tiered subscription model)
(11/25)
| Emergency Management and Public Safety
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| Legislation, Policy and Grants
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- Mass. city council will weigh dog-ordinance changes
Worcester, Mass., City Manager Michael O'Brien proposed an amendment that would delete provisions about dangerous nuisance dogs and repeal the "pit bull ordinance," based on state animal-control regulations enacted last month. State law prohibits regulating specific breeds of dogs, and the dog-complaint process was changed to include a hearing. Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Mass.)
(11/26)
| Public Works and Infrastructure
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- Colo. city council will look at adding "parklets"
The Aspen, Colo., City Council plans to discuss the installation of "parklets," which are parks about the size of two parking spaces and would make pedestrian and other traffic safer and more efficient. The historic-preservation officer prepared a memorandum for the council that discusses possible benefits and locations. The Aspen Times (Colo.)
(11/26)
- N.C. city council is split on streetcar funding
The Charlotte, N.C., City Council will try a third time this fall to agree on funding for a streetcar extension and pass a capital budget. The streetcar extension, which was proposed by the city manager and would cost $119 million, has divided council members, five of whom support it and six of whom either oppose or do not want property tax to fund the project. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.)
(11/26)
| Human Resources and Development
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- City manager hopes to inspire others by paying full retirement share
Covina, Calif., City Manager Daryl Parrish will pay his full retirement share, hoping other city employees will follow suit. "It's the way public service is going, and obviously controlling our pension costs is very, very important, and you really need to lead by example," he said. "I wouldn't ask someone to do something I wouldn't do." In addition to paying the 8% employee share for the California Public Employees' Retirement System, Parrish has an amended contract that reduces the length of severance and health-insurance coverage in the event of his termination and restricts the use of his city-owned vehicle to city-related activities. San Gabriel Valley Tribune (San Gabriel, Calif.)
(11/23)
| Recognitions and Transitions
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- Ala. city hires first manager
The Clay, Ala., City Council voted unanimously to hire Ronnie Dixon as the city's first manager, after the mayor decided to replace the city clerk with the position. Dixon will also serve as city clerk, treasurer and zoning officer, and he will manage all department heads. The mayor decided to form a manager position after witnessing problems during the past four, when he was a member of the City Council, including a lack of budgeting. AL.com (Alabama)/Real-Time News from Birmingham blog
(11/20)
- Okla. city manager hopes to revitalize community
Sereniah Breland, the new city manager of Guthrie, Okla., is excited about the fresh ideas and energy she will bring to the table, but she's also excited about building on city employees' experience. "City employees have already been successful here," Breland said. "There are progressive ideas here and workers with experience and expertise." Breland, formerly city manager of Goliad, Texas, says she wants to add more community-gathering locations downtown and to recruit community organizations to expand recreational programs for young people. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)
(11/23)
| ICMA News
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ICMA's Leonard Matarese will conduct police/fire Web conference
Back by popular demand, ICMA's eye-opening Web conference will help you make informed policy decisions by knowing what to ask of police and fire departments -- typically the toughest departments from which to get accurate, measurable information. Register for "Asking Police and Fire Chiefs the Right Questions to Get the Right Answers" and learn from a nationally known public-safety expert with a combination of experience as a city manager and a public-safety professional. The Web conference is at 1 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 5.
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Study guide accompanies fire and emergency services book
ICMA has released the "Managing Fire and Emergency Services" study guide, which accompanies the newly revised ICMA green book "Managing Fire and Emergency Services." The study guide is designed to help students of fire and emergency services and those preparing for promotional exams develop knowledge, skills and abilities to meet challenges in the increasingly complex field of fire and emergency services. The self-study format allows students to complete the review at their own speed and provides tips on how to make the most of the self-paced study. For professors, the study guide's format can be a helpful resource to organize lesson plans based on the primary fire text. Save $10 and order the self-study course.
| SmartQuote
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 | The passion for setting people right is in itself an afflictive disease."
--Marianne Moore,
American poet and writer
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