I just ran through the comments on the web regarding this article and the related nepotism article. How about considering this view point; diversity, demographics, a “directive” to hire relatives and finally, all of the previous as a means or barrier (directives or encouragements to hire relative) to a fair and equitable way to achieve diversity on the city employee roster…

I’m amazed that the comment section doesn’t get it. I used the “find on this page” tool to search all of the comments on the ice arena and nepotism story page for “diversity, equity, equitable, demographics, equal, justice and fair”; all separate words. I found justice as in Justice Department and fair but no other conversation alluding to the fact that this is completely contrary to the concept of equal opportunity employment. Giving preference to people who look and think like us erodes the integrity any equal opportunity employment processes that are supposed to be in place with all employers, especially government agencies.

I'm amazed at how people are missing the big picture on this.

:)

That makes us even.

Now go read Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov or something!

You continue to prove my point.

Are you ever going to say anything concrete?

My only failing here is I can't write down to your comprehension level. No one can, you don't read and you can't understand anything even slightly complex. That's why you're dizzy.

You just don't seem to get it.
Your "analysis" continues to run in circles.
It's dizzying.

You have every right to state your thoughts.
Where you lose credibility is when you try to analyze and demean all thoughts contrary to yours.

Teeber and JohnDoe, criticizing what someone says here doesn't mean you are being told not to say it. The point is: if you're going to say something, attach some reason and facts to it. I have a right to tell you that, don't I? Stop telling me that I don't have the right to state my thoughts here!

Gazettefan:
When Scheiffer several times “injected himself” into his relative’s personnel matter, regardless of what was said, even if he offered support to supervisors over his relative’s matter, the fact that the City Manager injected himself in this is wrong on it’s face. Whether or not there is proof that Scheiffer intended to apply pressure, he’s no novice, he knew that his involvement would apply pressure on these supervisors on behalf of his relative. That is what lawyers call prima facie evidence.
Even if Scheiffer’s record is otherwise exemplary, this nepotism matter and his and the city attorney’s attempt to parse the meaning of the word nepotism, are serious breaches of public trust. This is not a private corporation. Scheiffer is not risking his own profits on the performance of his relative employee. These are public service jobs and public money collected by the taxing authority of the city government. Scheiffer and the city council shouldn’t need an ethicist to tell them that.

Anyone, dalesgirl3? There seem to be a handful here that thinks otherwise. Will you provide details? If not, why not?

I don't want to turn this blog into a witch hunt or a venue to talk about one's character. That stated, if you haven't worked for Bonnie Davis you don't know what you are talking about. Her management style leaves a lot to be desired. She is not ready to be elevated to sainthood as many would like. Enough said about Ms. Davis from me.

Anyone who has ever worked for Bonnie Davis in any capacity will tell you that she is anything BUT an "honest,caring,hard working woman!!" Good grief!! I almost lost my dinner when I read that!! The city council should clean house at Leisure Services and START with Bonnie Davis!

Gazettefan,
You act as if you are the only rightous blogger on this board and everyone else is wrong. You pick apart everyone who doesn't have the same views as you. We are all entitled to our views whether it's me, JohnDoe, Or anyone blogging no matter if you agree or not on anyones views. It's no reason for you to slam others for their views.

Once again, if anyone has a position contrary to yours, you claim it is either wrong, a distortion, or not good.
The ability to recognize and accept differing viewpoints simply for what they are is not one of your strongpoints.

JohnDoe, yours is an example of reading but not comprehending. Claiming something is wrong that isn't wrong or distorting something that might be wrong or only slightly wrong is not good.

Teeber, as your attempt at character assassination continues, you're only proving that you don't have anything. Imagine someone going around saying the same things about you: vague accusations that contain no proof or basis and claiming the truth will eventually come out. Even without proof or basis you concede nothing in all these exchanges. There's something telling about this. Maybe it's your inability to participate in the give-and-take required to work well with others.

I can only hope that in light of all this that was brought out, That an investigation into, And changes made whether in department heads, Management, Or in policies. And, Avenues opened for staff to properly and professionally conduct city services.

JohnDoe,
Thats exactly the point. You hit it right on the head. Unchecked problems that have gone on in abuse of power at city hall can be looked into and corrected.

"I think most of the complainers are homegrown and lack the proper perspective necessary to appreciate how good it is here."
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Even if things are good in general...
they won't remain that way if the not so good things are allowed to go unchecked...
and, even if things are good...shouldn't we continually strive to make them even better?

gazettefan...the perception (or misperception if you choose) is that you tend to (or attempt to) overanalyze the posters who don't agree with you.
.

And you say..."When I become guilty of direct insults it's because I'm responding to posts that don't include reason"
Just because you don't see the "reason" doesn't mean others share your same perception.

gazettefan, That was a nice piece. I understand your feelings and views here. However, The fact is that there has been wrong doing there. Yes, Lots of facts I'm sure haven't come out. And i'm sure if they do, It will bring lots to light.

PART TWO

Re: my insulting attack on some bloggers here. When we disagree with someone we should do so by taking the other person's stance apart piece-by-piece. This is pretty much what I do. (So do you and you do it well. I appreciate your well-written, well-thought-out posts even when I disagree with you.) When I become guilty of direct insults it's because I'm responding to posts that don't include reason and facts but instead are only continuations of baseless rants that I've already responded to with reason. The misperception problem in the "nepotism" matter comes loaded with prejudices that throw the whole thing out of proportion. When someone doesn't provide a reasoned response to another post, what's going on there? what kind of mentality are we dealing with?

I keep reading about these workplace problems and grudge problems with Sheiffer that have noting to do with how well the city is run. If any of it is true I feel for people on the wrong end of that stuff. But know this: every U.S. president has been hated by thousands of people, even the most popular ones. We can't judge an administration by workplace problems. An administration has to be judged by how well it handles its citizens and constituents. Further, on the people attracted to blogging here: how do you explain the high percentage of people on this site who defend pimpery and prostitution?

I'm not on the council and don't work for the city nor have I ever done any of those things. I don't know that the girl in question is a niece. I may have inferred it from the fact that she's young and from someone's statement that she's not a member of the immediate family, I could be wrong.

PART ONE

billnewbie,

The lack of proper proportion given to the issue at hand is what gives off the stink -the perception or more accurately the misperception. I agree, though, that the stink (otherwise known as the "appearance of impropriety") should be removed i.e. family of city workers having priority.

But if misperception is a large part of the problem and not strictly the thing itself, then it's the misperception that should be under attack too. We shouldn't be feeding into it.

To equate Janesville government with Chicago government is part of the misperception. Again, it's a matter of proportion. The "nepotism" here is not endemic to how this city is run. That's where the focus should be. Despite the appearance of impropriety, we should attack any claim that the problem is bigger than it really is.

Why does contacting the relative preclude contacting the supervisor? There's nothing in the info we have here that states that Sheiffer attempted to undermine the supervisor's authority. An undue but unrequested element of deference to Sheiffer may have been at work here. And it seems reasonable that any permanent city employee (even a prominent one) would partake in the dialogue regarding a misbehaving relative.

I've lived all over this county and in several places overseas and I never cease to be impressed by how well this city is run. I think most of the complainers are homegrown and lack the proper perspective necessary to appreciate how good it is here. This also means that they're not well read.

Re: associating all the complainers here with B'moon. If any of you insist that you aren't in lockstep with her I'll take your word on that. This is good to know because it supports my truthful claim that despite having the invaluable benefit of exposure by way of radio, newspapers, and TV over a long period of time she and her rants have failed to form a substantial and meaningful following.

Gazettegazer, You may not know all the facts in this story but you are entitled to your views as well as I am of mine.

Localboy, As I have stated, I have a right to state my views without being criticized. I am a concerned citizen in this community.

So in reading this:

Sheiffer is evil
Davis is saint
Unnamed relative (why unnamed) is worthless

Big ROFLMAO to buying this line in Davis camp....stop my sides are hurting...hahahahahahah

Don't know what this is about but sure don't seem to be nepotism

Teeber - Jimmy Carter was a nice, kind, considerate, and caring individual. Under his leadership, we had record interest rates, the rest of the evil world took advantage of us, record unemployment, and a term of chaos. The U.S. was suffering from low self esteem because of it. Maybe the same situation in the LS department?

jr, Yes, Things are not good there at all.

saywhat, I understand your feelings on other people here but I can say this, Bonnie Davis is one of the most kind, Conciderate, and experienced recreation directors around. If you can only appreciate what good this lady has done for the recreation department. She has gone through a lot dealing with whats been going on.

I have workd for Bonnie Davis and can't say many kind things about her. I have had experience working for Cullen (at the Ice Arena and Dawson) and appreciated his management style. I can also appreciate the delicate situation where you need to treat all employees fairly and can't.

Interesting conversation, Teeber and Zigmon you got it right! Your description of sheiffer and city hall is right on and has gotten progressively worse over time. Employees that have the knowledge and skills are the ones that are beat down, ignored and chastized while the YES keep climbing that ladder...leadership they say. I give the new council president Amy credit for at least questioning some of the goings on. I'm sure scheiffer has had a few choice words for her.
Having to use a tape recorder at work should give us all an indication of what is happening. not just summer help issues. Lets make sure Scheiffer gets no where near the new city manager. Definitely dont't use him as a consultant.

thatsforsure, I agree too!

I think it is more then necessary for a third party to launch an investigation into these allegations, as well as other issues currently happening in city hall.

Zoom, I'm personally not out for "Important feelings". Far from that. I as others i'm sure are just concerned about unprofessional behavoir that is going on. It's probally a good bet that the gazette and council members have heard i'm sure.

The vague accusations, posted anonymously, are cowardly, and borderline libel. You won't "make a difference" by posting the "from what I heard..." comments here. You'll just make yourself feel a little important, and yet not change a thing. If you have real facts, contact the Gazette, or someone new on the city council. I'm guessing all you know is rumor and second hand gossip.

Localboy, It doesn't matter what time I am up reading posts. The fact of the matter is that this is important to me as a citizen of this community. I do not beieve in a city hall that is abused and ran like a dictatorship. I don't really care about Detroit. I care about this city. Hopefully the citizens there will get smart and change will happen as I hope it does here. Yes, Maybe you are older than some of us here, But I for one do care. And if I can make a difference in how things are ran the right way, Then yes, I'm going to stay informed, Involved, And in touch.

Teeber - change will happen when you channel the same energy that is takes to read posts until 12:20AM in the morning, about border line gossip in the paper about the city manager. This will be fixed when you and everybody else who is a arm chair city manager, apply for the position that is currently open.

You think we have trouble in our city hall? Check out the mayor scandle in Detroit. They have trouble! We have some personality conflicts between two woman (relative and LS Director), and it makes the newspaper. Janesville is a 60,000 person small town.

I just hope some change in city hall comes out of this.

ihavealife, I don't know anything about that.

What could possibly happen that the City Manager would feel it necessary to inject himself into the disciplining of a temporary summer employee? Particularly when the employee works outside of city hall in a relatively meaningless job. Surely they have more important matters to deal with than those. Other than the fact the employee is a relative this makes no sense whatsoever. This stinks

I think the biggest problem is hiring a relative of the City Manager, who is effectively the boss of all city employees. How could Sheiffer not think there might be some conflict, real or perceived? Even if he didn't intervene in an unethical way, and nothing written in the Gazette says that he did, a manager could still feel pressure to not discipline or fire the City Managers relative.

Zigmon, Thank you! This did really happen! Believe me! It's such a travesty that the man got away with it.

Why did this relative of Mr. Sheiffer's not follow the proper chain of command with her complaint? She bypassed several levels of authority and went straight to the city manager with an alleged complaint that was discovered to be completely unfounded. That the city manager was EVER involved in this situation, much less still involved 4 MONTHS later is appalling. That supervisors were never allowed to reprimand the relative for making unfounded accusations is nepotism at its finest. For Mr. Sheiffer to claim that he did not believe this was nepotism is flat out unbelievable.

Gazettefan, To clarify things. This matter should have been done with in January. But Shieffer was still involved as of April. His memo saying "what is the resoulution" is proof that he still was involved after the january situation. The fact that the supervisor was i'm sure working and she obviously didn't want to work which jepordized the patrons at the ice rink and the fact that she went to Mr Shieffer without following the chain of command definately says that she went to shieffer and complained again and shieffer was still involved. Sheiffer should not have been involved in the first place ever. If she had a disciplinary action coming, Then let the supervisor deal with it. I'm sure the supervisor at the time did not have a clue as to the relationship between shieffer and her until it became known.

billnewbie, those were short ones and yours is worhthy of lengthy consideration, then I got sidetracked with the thing below and now I'm really pressed.

Email that issue about ms_sassy. Contrary to what some people claim here, I need my time for other things.

You didn't misquote me.

Here is the response from the reporter re: my request to clarify Sheiffer's "injection" into the matter. It seems that Sheiffer's UNWILLINGNESS to interfere with the supervisor's authority exists in document form as memos.

------------------

Hi: just real quick: the relative made the complaint on Friday, Jan. 4, and Sheiffer met with her and the hr director on Sunday.

He wrote a memo again on Jan. 29, saying he had been contacted at home by another relative about the incident, which by that time was supposedly closed. He in that memo acknowledged he should step back into the role of (relative) and handed the matter over to other people at the city.

In April, the relative didn't report to work when she saw the supervisor was working. She instead called Sheiffer. He wrote a memo to city employees, saying this obviously related to the earlier incident, and asked: "What is the resolution?"

If you want to talk further feel free to give me a call.

Inaccuracies gazettefan? Are you going to claim that I misquoted you?
I noticed you had time to post 4 other comments over a span of 16 minutes. I’m crushed that I am so low on your priority list.
Is this going to be like the last time you were going to get back to me about an exchange we had some months ago which included ms_sassy_wi? I'm still waiting for that one, too.

Teeber, click on gazettefan to the left. That will allow you to contact me without either of us knowing who the other is. Check it out.

I'm going to post the reporter's response to my request above.

Gazettefan, How do I know who you are? I cant compromise my job. Meeting in person would be better.

This whole story and situation stinks. The article is just enough information to inflame some, but not enough information to ease the minds of others. I think if the WHOLE story were to come out, it would probably have stink attached to both sides.

Correction: if it isn't allowed here.

Teeber, email me that stuff if you don't want to say it here.

Zigmon, SarahB, I tried to explain what was going on but it got removed by the Gazette staff. Zigmon is totally right! I as well as him have been subjected to what he just spoke of only worse! If the public only knew! Yes, There needs to be an investigation in to going ons at city hall! Big time! Time for council members to stand up to the plate and take a hard look!

billnewbie, your post is well written (though with some important inaccuracies) and I'd like to respond to it properly but I don't have the time right now.

Well, Zigmon, start talking then ... you are undercover when posting comments here. Forget the investigation stuff ... just tell us what is going on.

Reading many of the comments, it is easy to see how uninformed many of you are about what is really going on here. I have been inside city hall for many years. I have seen the fear that many city employees and council members have of getting on Sheiffer's wrong side. People do not disagree with him because they are in fear of losing their job. I have witnessed several full-time employees being harassed and pushed out of their jobs because they have gotten on Sheiffer's wrong side. Consequently, Sheiffer is surrounded with "yes people". He has had free reign to completely do whatever he wants with no accountability or fear of retribution. There is much more to this story and the public needs to know. Especially now when there is going to be a new manager. If this is not brought forward we are doomed to more abuse of power by city hall. It is no wonder that employees have started to tape conversations to protect themselves. You as taxpayers have no clue how much you have been kept in the dark. Further investigation needs to be done.

This is just a irresponsible abuse of power in a higher office.

sounds like a screemin meemees all over again. what was good for halbach, should be good for him i say tht he should give up his pension. why is this not on the front page of the paper with their pictures and address. to me he was only prastatuiting the city.

I urge all of you out there to contact your city council members and start asking questions as to what is going on down there at city hall! This really needs an investigation!

Billnewbie, Thank you! I couldn't agree with you more! Your so right! I couldn't have said it better!

Gazettefan:
The policy to hire relatives first stinks. What Sheiffer did intervening for his relative stinks. Now the stench is in the air.
You stepped up to defend him by writing “It would be good to know what the nature of Sheiffer's "intervention" was. I suspect he made an effort to get his niece to behave.” If Sheiffer was calling people at the Ice Arena about his relative, how is that getting her to “behave”? Wouldn’t one contact the misbehaving relative directly, thereby sparing the supervisors and co-workers from the appearance of pressure being applied on his relative’s behalf by the city manager?
You later wrote in Sheiffer’s defense “There are a few maladjusted, unaccomplished losers in this area who deal with their personal frustrations by projecting that frustration onto Sheiffer. Briarmoon is their queen but be assured her following is small and cowardly and unwilling to stand by her side when she foists her psychotic rants at Sheiffer, other city employees, and even the council too, during council meetings twice a month.” How does attacking those who dislike Sheiffer justify the nepotism? Why did you drag Briarmoon into this? What is the point of raising the spectre of this “demon”?
You also wrote “there is something about blogging here that draws the area's worst malcontents and chronic complainers.” Many would claim that this quote applies to you, and me too for that matter. I’m all for answering a fool according to his folly, but calling him a fool only makes him defensive.
Lastly, I find your defense of Sheiffer in this matter to be out of character, from what I see of it here. Do you have some interest in this? Are you on the council, or employed by the city, or were you at one time? The story doesn’t identify the relative as Sheiffer’s niece, yet you do, so how do you know?

I am quite certain that Bonnie Davis has told all she has to tell. Why stop now?

Gazettefan, I can't comment on things. If you ask Bonnie Davis, I'm sure everyone would get an eye opener!

TEEBER...I am likely to believe that if "what you heard" about the files being destroyed, that would have come up in all of this already. I am thinking that maybe this story might have had a little bit added along the way. I most certainly could be wrong, but we all played that game in grade school....tell a sentence at the beginning of the line, and by the time you reach the end of the line it is completely different. We all need to remember that.

Gazettefan, If you want facts, Talk to Bonnie Davis. Believe me, She has all you want to know.

And on another note, sometimes people AUTOMATICALLY make assumtions and dislike a superior's family member before they even give them a chance to prove their worth, just because they are thought of as "a shoo in".

Teeber, if you're onto something ("From what I have heard...") report it like a reporter would report it. WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN ETC. Include facts that support what you heard. I'm not being sarcastic, we'd really like to know.

Steve if you read this......What goes around comes around, you will get yours in the end. And to Bonnie Davis your my inspiration. What a woinderful lady!

JOHNDOE...Perception....ahhhhhhh, what a flexible thing that is. Things are only as we perceive them, and that is a fact. When emotions and heart get in the way of facts, that is where the trouble in communicating begins.

I don't condone the way things were handled regarding the lack of working skills this family member had. But, I do want us all to ask ourselves a question. How many of us know a teenager that has gotten a summer job because of who their parents know? (i.e. the neighbor....the boss....a friend of the family....jobs vary, but most times kids are hired by word of mouth). I understand the concern, because he was held in high regard, but sometimes people over eggagerate the reprocussions of diciplining someone who knows someone. If that is done, and the reason's were just, then the disaplinarian can have a clear concience. If someone is threatened by the status of someone else, than that person is in the wrong position.

So far the perception is that although there may have been a screw up re: hiring summer workers the citizens of Janesville haven't risen up angry and ready to crucify Sheiffer.

It's all a matter of perception...which is what lies at the heart of this story.

I'd summit our comments for judgment by any objective third party, would you?

My point to you exactly.

JohnDoe, your convoluted last comment proves you're in no position to analyze what goes on in any one else's head.

I did and it still is.

JohnDoe, it's only a stretch if you didn't give the comment proper attention.

Just because something may not be illegal does not mean that it is necessarily right.
But by reverse deduction you always seem to come to that conclusion.

MooShoo, he might be open to legitimate criticism.

"To render Sheiffer as you have is to trash those councilmembers for commending Sheiffer which, in turn, is to trash the electorate who put them in office."
.
That's quite a stretch, even for you gazettefan.

Teeber, your confusion now is a case in point re: what you should know when you pretend to know what you are talking about:

Corruption in a municipality is to be reported to the the Wisconsin Attorney General (the chief law enforcement officer in our state) or, barring satisfaction, the Justice Department of the federal government. The effort to bring the state or federal government down upon corrupt city officials should be accompanied by proof.

billnewbie, for a comparison to be effective each element of the comparison has to precisely match in meaning each element of the thing to be compared. Your comparison lacks precision, it lacks precision especially in the area of proportion.

Councilmembers Amy Loaushing and Bill Truman (who B'moon claims to be her allies) along with the other five councilmembers, only three days ago, voted unanimously to commend Sheiffer for his twenty-one years of service as Janesville's city manager. All seven of the councilmembers learned of the "nepotism" problem back in April, four or five months ago.

To render Sheiffer as you have is to trash those councilmembers for commending Sheiffer which, in turn, is to trash the electorate who put them in office.

I am not exactly sure where Billnewbie is going with his analogy. I would say the City Manager cannot defend his actions, and he has opened himself to legitimate criticism for defending an indefensible position. The "email" nepotism policy smells. If he intervened to protect his neice from discipline, something is rotten in Denmark.

...annd this is in the paper why?

Gazettefan, How can anyone go to the proper athorities and complain when number 1,) there is NO one to turn to because the authorities IE: (human resources, City attorneys office, Department heads) are just as bad as the city manager. Number 2,) The city council just turns a blind eye as to whats going on. So you tell me who someone can turn to when there is a situation like this? I'd certainly be interested to know?

Gazettefan:
If my neighbor throws his smelly garbage on the lawn between his house and mine to my chagrin, defending him by saying that otherwise he’s a good neighbor, even if he is, and by calling me finicky and a “Moonie” doesn’t really clear the air I have to breath, does it?

Uncle Steve stuck his neck out and now is paying the price for family loyalty...been there done that myself...ouch

onelife2live, if she is invited to Thanksgiving dinner, according to some people, Uncle Steve better not be the one carving the turkey!

janesvillean, good post. But the malcontents not understanding how the electorate kept Sheiffer as city manager for over twenty years is inexcusable. They should know this on their own. And I have told them repeatedly; but the character assassination continues; there's something sick going on there.

Seems to me that this teen relative, should have been happy to have gotten a break in getting hired and been the best employee at the Ice Arena. Ungrateful, presumptuous and probably not welcome to the Thanksgiving dinner, I would hope.

SarahB, I wouldn't go so far as Gazettefan to say that all the anti-Sheiffer complainers are fringe malcontents. They mostly don't understand that the council (representing the voters) is the boss and if the manager weren't getting results the council would have fired him long ago. The council has turned over many times since Sheiffer was hired and he has had his contract extended repeatedly.
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All that said, he's in a job where you make decisions and recommendations that are going to leave someone disappointed. He gets to be the focus of everyone's ire as they see their taxes go up. His personality is not servile; he's even been known to blow up at the city council and walk out. Still, he only did that after he had over 20 years' tenure in the job.
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Of all the things he's done, this is really among the worst. But it's more an error of judgement and certainly well short of anything requiring a criminal investigation. The proper response is that the council should specifically consider and restate the policy, as they are the elected policy-making body. I think we can assume they will do so. Even if they had not, it's unlikely that a new city manager would have pursued similar practices, as they would want to tread lightly in their new position.

I contacted the reporter.

CHEERS!!!

Yet another reason I don't enjoy the political arena in Jville. Very two-faced with a double-edged sword if you aren't related.

I thank God that my parents raised me to be honest and work hard for every darn penny I make. I also thank God I have a job in this economy.

I agree, and have posted before Steve Sheiffer has done a lot of good things for the city and we will be hard pressed to do as well. That being said it looks as though there are problems with not only nepotism but with trust inside of the city government. I guess since he is gone he can avoid the tough questions but our city council needs to step up to the plate and clear the air here.

Gazettefan, I would recommend that you contact Bonnie Davis then and maybe she can help you with the information you seek or contact a council member and get some answers. I'm only stating my displeasure here with city hall in whats going on there.

teeber, I didn't say you didn't have the right to speak. And I'm with you on being against corruption. I've condemned Chicago government for years. You should go spend some time there and then come back here and see how different the governments are in each city.

Whenever I ask any of the complainers here about why they haven't gone to the proper agency and bring some kind of charges against Sheiffer, they can't tell me anything solid. They can't explain why they are unable to do so. That only leads me to believe that they have nothing.

If I had reason to believe that the crap I've heard about Sheiffer were true I'd be in the forefront for bringing charges against him. And why does he get all this acclaim from accomplished people including the average Janesville citizen? How could all the bad stuff be true without a groundswell of opposition to Sheiffer, the reasons just aren't there.

If this current issue is an exception to what I'm saying about him then I will say so. I still want to know the nature of his "interference" and I still haven't determined the degree of nepotism in question. And it's not entirely clear that the nature of the niece's employment is nepotism.

The reporter in her headline or her story doesn't describe the issue as "nepotism."

Gazettefan, I as well as you have my right to speak how I feel about this article and other articles involving our city government. I am a concerned citizen as anyone here is. As for the "Briarmoon" connection, I highly doubt it has anything to do with that. You shouldn't be too quick to jump. Any person who would stoop so low like that in office should be investigated. We all here have our likes and dislikes and I happen to have a dislike for people who abuse their power in a public office.

ihavealife, I think we each need a drink after this hellish day of disagreement!!!

tjncj, maybe the city official made allowances in deference to Sheiffer. Maybe Sheiffer's interference was well-intended and not malevolent. The "interference" should be clarified by the reporter.

cocktail...., maybe she was. She's probably a brat who should have been fired immediately.

SaraB, Sheiffer isn't unpopular. There are a few maladjusted, unaccomplished losers in this area who deal with their personal frustrations by projecting that frustration onto Sheiffer. Briarmoon is their queen but be assured her following is small and cowardly and unwilling to stand by her side when she foists her psychotic rants at Sheiffer, other city employees, and even the council too, during council meetings twice a month. And there is something about blogging here that draws the area's worst malcontents and chronic complainers.

On Monday, for his twenty plus years of service as city manager, Sheiffer was commended unanimously by the council at his last council meeting. He has also won many other awards for his service as city manager here.

This matter of nepotism doesn't look good and I will respond to it shortly. Someone mentioned the nepotism that is institutionalized in Chicago. I reject that nepotism entirely.

teeber, was asked the other day to be specific about his rants against Sheiffer. He had nothing to offer.

Even if the worst version of the current story were true, it wouldn't erase Sheiffer's accomplishments in Janesville.

Was she driving drunk on the Zamboni?

SarahB, I think it's probally because so many of his "pets" covered up and lied for him because the "pets" would get pereferential treatment.

Gazettefan - "one top city official........is heard on tape saying the girl would have been fired if she had not been related to Sheiffer."

I don't suspect the same interference you do.

I'm rather new to Janesville and am hoping that somebody can fill me in on what occurred to make the city manager so unpopular. I had only read the other day that he was in the job for many, many years. How did he hold the job that long while being so unpopular?

The city council needs to fire Mike Williams and replace him with Bonnie Davis. She is a very caring and professional lady who does things the right way, Not the wrong way like he has. Also, The council needs to investigate Sheiffer, The City Attorneys office, As well as the Human Resources department. I'm sure they were all "pets" of Sheiffer.

It would be good to know what the nature of Sheiffer's "intervention" was. I suspect he made an effort to get his niece to behave.

Crap! I apologize ... I am so sorry ... I misread the article and thought the conversation being taped involved the young worker and the leisure services director. I just now went back over the story and found my mistake. Again, I apologize to all parties involved.

Wisconsin allows phone conversations to be recorded as long as one party (of the two having the conversation) is aware of it being taped. So, my guess would be that the employee was not aware the call was being taped. Personally, I find that to be an appalling action by any manager/supervisor, especially one working for a municipality. Yes, it was wrong for the city manager to involve himself in this situation. However, I also would never want to work where a relative of mine holds a high-ranking position ... that is setting yourself up for possible ridicule and failure.

I think this policy definitley needs to be removed. It only serves to keep the same families involved over and over again. Some believe that LTE or termporary work doesn't rank with full-time or part-time temporary work, but I disagree. There are a lot of contacts to be made in the city government. If someone knows you, knows that you are the child of so-and-so they will definitley look closer at you. This isn't right. I'm proud of our council's response to this. I have hope that it will only be a matter of time before this policy is removed.

Nuts don't fall far from the tree. Good thing the tree is going to be cut.

Your council is responsible for not holding Scheiffer accountable. They should hire a completely out of the area attorney firm with a great reputation for governmental and employment law to do a complete and independant investigation into wrong doing and then should there be any found go directly to the Attorney General as the Rock County District Attorney is not dependable enough to do what's right. He has shown time and time again his bias's and refusal to equally prosecute.

Trust me, From what I've heard, This is not the only thing that man has done! It's far worse than this. The council should ask for an investigation into all this!

"Sheiffer several times earlier this year injected himself into a personnel matter involving the relative,"

Interesting, if you go to Yuri Rashkin's blog, you can read Sheiffer's final comments to the city/city council:
http://www.yurirashkin.com/

Steve Sheiffer's Remarks--

"Being city manager is a lifestyle; not a job. Being city manager is a passion; not an avocation. Being city manager will consume you and your family at all times. You must be prepared to give it the total effort; and above all else, you must be prepared to stand on your values, your ethics, and your integrity on the shifting seas of turbulence in the face of strong winds. Your task is to provide leadership and vision to create a great city.

A city manager is not a politician. A city manager is not a partisan official. A city manager does not show favoritism. A city manager is a trained professional who by education and experience brings expertise to always pursue that which is in the best interest of the entire community. To govern for the common good, and not for the benefit of a few. To demand excellence and success, and not to settle on favoritism and special interests."

This certainly seems like a poor decision and should have been addressed by the council at the time. In future it should be made clear that there is no preferential treatment. When it doesn't involve family this is called patronage, and the practice remains endemic in cities like Chicago. At its worst the result is "no show" jobs or just goldbricking. It saps the morale of other employees and makes the people doubt whether they can get city services they need without connections. Thus, no matter how acceptable this may be in private business, it should be carefully and emphatically avoided by municipalities.

Sheiffer has been misusing his authority and influence for personal gain and vendettas since he's been in office. Checks and balances appear to be non existent in our current form of local government. It's about time somebody was smart enough to tape evidence against the minions that blindly serve his purposes. What comes around goes around Stevie.

Zoom, you are exactly right. I also work for a company who allows employees children to do summer work. However, they are NEVER allowed to work in an area that their relatives work, and no one would ever think of interferring with a Personnel issue.

Once again Steve over stepped his position. I for one am hoping for a change for the better!

It's time for everyone to wake up and start asking city council members questions as to what is going on at city hall. It's not business as usual. Maybe a little house cleaning is in order.

While the hiring of an employees child for seasonal work is common, they should never be placed in a job that could be directly influenced by their parent. I would think this also applies to any other relative. Why would Steve Sheiffer think this wouldn't create an awkward situation if the relative had problems?

The issue in question here does not include the harmful element of nepotism. Sheiffer used an opportunity to get the word out. The policy of allowing relatives to be hired doesn't preclude encouraging it. Actual nepotism tends to be secretive. And the kind of jobs in question don't seem to be administrative or managerial.

Re: the word "companies": the city of Janesville is a corporation and its managerial personal and counclmembers are not in place as a result of political affiliation.

That said, I will concede the point that a greater effort to make city job availability more public should be instituted.

"Sheiffer several times earlier this year injected himself into a personnel matter involving the relative..." and Wald Klimczyk feels this is not nepotism? Why else would Sheiffer inject himself in to any issue going on with a lowly seasonal employee at the ice arena? Was Cracker Jack giving out city attorney certificates at some point? I hope Klimczyk looks up billnewbie's posted reference on just what nepotism is!

Why is this story coming out today, the end of Scheiffer's rule. And the last week of seasonal work for the hired seasonal employees who go back to school next week. If this was a problem last spring, why hush it up over the summer? But thanks Marcia and the editors for bringing it out now. Maybe next summer anybody's kid can get a summer job, not just favorites.

I don't think relatives should work for the bosses no matter what the job-My last job involved the boss's sister-we had the same job but she always got to do the special things and when something went wrong, it was never her fault.

Yes, it has caused a problem if Steve has intervened and if the ice arena supervisors are unable to treat all employees equally with the same expectations of performing the job they're paid to do.

Interestingly on dictionary.com, the very first example of the definition of nepotism is "She was accused of nepotism when she made her nephew an officer of the firm". Certainly not immediate family.

Does Wald Klimczyk have any relatives working for the city?

GOOD RIDDEN'S SHEIFFER

The City Manager's responses are Clintonesque, at best. A man of his intelligence cannot actually believe that the hiring of a relative of the Top Guy would not cause issues; to [allegedly] insert himself into the normal disciplinary process is flat out wrong.

Funny how this comes out now, after his last day on the job. Is it possible that the whispers that City Hall runs on fear were true?

nepotism [nep-a-tiz-zum]
Noun
favouritism shown to relatives and friends by those with power [Italian nepote nephew]
Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

The city attorney and Mr. Sheiffer should avoid redefining words to suit their bias.