Late in Monday's City Council meeting, blogger Maria Pellum raised the question of what will happen when and if City Administrator Bibi Taylor takes maternity leave.
Taylor has appeared at recent meetings in maternity garments, but no one has commented on it publicly nor has any announcement been made.
Since January, Taylor has not only been city administrator, but has also been handling director duties of the largest of three city departments, Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services. Taylor previously served in that role from July to December 2009 and remained on in acting capacity in January. However, since no replacement has been hired, it has fallen to her to carry out some of the vital functions of the department.
The city is also lacking a chief finance officer.
Pellum also inquired who would continue the investigation into the $20,000 payment by city check to WBLS for an Aug. 1 "town meeting."
Council President Annie McWilliams said the governing body has not been informed of Taylor's pregnancy. Already lacking a CFO and finance director, "Theoretically, we might be running without a captain of the ship," she said.
The city has been without a CFO since 2008 and the council is currently asking the state to assign one. Introduction of the FY 2010 budget was delayed Monday in part due to audit and control issues within the AFH&SS.
"The takeaway from the auditor is that we need strong financial management," McWilliams said.
The WBLS investigation is "moving forward," she said. Funds for the radio show and commercials were taken from the budget line for IT hardware and software maintenance.
Taylor made no comment Monday on her status. The council did not press for answers, as the issue is potentially a personnel matter that cannot be discussed in public.
If Taylor needs time off before other cabinet gaps are filled, the administration may find itself lacking three of its most vital leaders.
--Bernice Paglia
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There are those who belive that smaller government works more efficiently, so one less . . . . .
ReplyDelete"The WBLS investigation is "moving forward," she said."
ReplyDeleteWhy would this take so long? Who did what, where and why - simple enough. Information from all those involved should be able to respond to that within 24 hours.
I think the important question is not whether Ms Taylor will go out on maternity leave, but whether she will return.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell you're a woman Bernice...No man in his right mind ( and yes, we as men, understand very few of you women even consider that a possibility )would imply, wonder or question out loud whether a woman is pregnant ! LOL.
ReplyDeleteIf she leaves....watch the bow of the USS PLAINFIELD start to slip beneath the surface of the water..
QUESTION: What's the difference between the USS Plainfield and the Titanic?
ReplyDeleteANSWER: At least on the Titanic, they had a chance.
Why has Trenton not stepped in to take care of this yet?
ReplyDelete