Yes, that the city manager is like a CEO doesn't mean he outranks the council and the council president. And, yes, he serves at the pleasure of the council who serve at the pleasure of the electorate. Meaning: Sheiffer has been our city manager for over twenty years as a result of the will of the electorate.

How does this clarification justifiy converting to a politically charged councilmembers-elected-by-district system and a politically charged mayoral system?!

Yes, the City Manager is the CEO, however, he does NOT out-rank the Council President who is elected by the people. The Manager only serves at the pleasure of the Council, not the other way around.

If this kind of nonsesne isn't another argument for coucilors elected by district rather than at-large, and an elected Mayor then I don't know what is.

Scheiffer is a well-paid pencil pusher who has been able for lo these many years to push past councils around. His job is only to do the council's bidding. That's it.

The Council President comes ahead of the pencil pusher with respect to protocol.

I must have missed something I thought Brunner was council president. Sometimes hard to keep up on all this :)

I struggle with doughnuts. The doughnuts usually win.

Kinda like Mike Sheridan living in two districts?

It's kind of hard for the council president to be there when she doesn't even live in Wisconsin anymore!!!!! Yup, she took a new job with GM. She now lives by chicago durning the week and most weekends.
Now can someone please tell me how our council president can have the city of Janesville's best interest at hand when she doesn't even live in Wisconsin?
PS. She is still a Wisconsin resident, She LIVES in Illinois!!!!

I have to go with the city manager's position. I am sure if he DIDN'T show up for the press conference, the pack of wolves would be nipping at his heels. The guy just can't win. I believe they both should have been there, but especially the city manager who most people can relate to. I am sure that Gov. Doyle couldn't even name half the council, but I am sure he knows the city manager. I think the council individuals who are making this a big deal need to pick their battles.

Saying that Tuesday was a day of crisis and overwhelming and then not allowing the core parts of city government to be seen as a solid front for the city is pathetic and egotistical. The Sheiffer regime is almost over and then maybe we can get someone in here that is willing to work with and for the city, not the other way around. If someone is going to take the "It's my way or the highway" approach to managing, then they need to know that the end results, good or bad, will be their measuring stick.

I am glad to see Tom McDonald speak up for the "voters" in Janesville and not worry if he bruises a few egos. Sometimes the truth hurts, but that hurt isn't anywhere close to the hurt that's being put on all of the hard working families in Janesville, GM related or not. I hope Tom and the rest of the council will begin to work with and not for the new city manager.

It is a time of change and high anxiety. The incumbent City Manager retires in September. The new City Council wants to show leadership. The natural tension that exists between the "executive" branch of government, and the elected "legislative" branch of government is exacerbated by the recent announcement by GM. This is testing of political will and not a failure of our form of local government. What matters is that the Council and the City Manager exhibit leadership and come up with a plan to deal with the pending local economic crisis. I expect these compentent, qualified and intellegent people to come up with a plan and deliver.

I have less whining from my kids on who sits where in the van. Now I have to read about adults complaining about where they have to sit or stand...... Come on grow up shut up and do the job you were elected to do and quit trying to get face time on the front page of the Gazette.

I'm wondering if all council members were part of the e-mail exchanges and, if so, is that a violation of the Open Meeting Act? My town has a paid Administrator and our elected officials are a President (Mayor)and six Trustees. To remain compliant with the Act, a majority (3) may not be involved in an e-mail exchange or for that matter, discuss city issues when randomly meeting. Janesville have the same rules? simply curious...

So when the City Council ask Mr Sheiffer to hold off hiring & firing in order to let the new City Manager do it. He is offended & refuses.

When the Council wants a study session on his duties. Sheiffer “suggested the council wait to have the discussion until a new manager is hired this fall”.

I'm wondering who leaked the emails to the press.

I agree with Russ Steeber. The city manager is hired by the council to represent the city in such matters. Councilman are little more than politicians and if their egos demand, they can seek their own lime light, not be dependent on the city manager to provide a staging for them. I don't see it as the councils business to protect existing liquor stores from competition, by limiting liquor licenses. Sam's Club is undoubtedly the competition everyone is afraid of. The whole thing "smacks" of a small town attitude. A major retailer offering consumers low prices should not be denied a license, to benefit existing business.

Look at the job responsibilities, the Constitution, and U.S. history. There are three branches of government....executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislative branch passes the law of the land, has budgetary authority, and provides a check on the executive branch. In Janesville's form of government, who does that? The city council. Much like Congress is the "People's House", the city council is elected by us to be our voice. We may not agree with them all the time, but who agrees with any elected legislative official 100% of the time. Given this analogy, what role would you expect the Speaker of the House (in our case Council President) have? Limited.

Then who is the executive branch which cares our the law of the land...why the City Manager. Much like the President of the United States, he is responsible for executing what the legislature passes via laws, budgets, etc.

Who should be the spokesperson....the City Manager or the Council President? Long term it should be the City Manager for a steady, consistent, professional message to everyone including residents and businesses. A Council President is selected based on the criteria of the longest person not having the job. What qualifies them to be a public speaker for the city.

As it applies to the GM announcement, the answer is both (the City Manager and Council President) should be involved. Both acknowledging the need to work together as representatives of the executive and legislative branch to get through this time.

Any council members that want to be part of the executive branch are strongly encouraged to apply for the City Manager job else do what you were elected to do.

Let me get this straight. The CEO/City Manager in Janesville does not answer to or report to the Board Chairperson/Council President who represents the board members/taxpayers? If so why have a council and council president? Would it not seem mandatory for the CEO to inform the Chairperson of his/her actions on behalf of the compnay? If not, that is what's referred to as a "Loose Cannon" or going "willy nilly". Come on, the City Manger has an obligation to immediately contact the Council President and inform of the news conference to receive direction and attendance expectations. This is a "No Brainer" and all council members should be upset and the board president should be livid. If Sheiffer on the other hand owns and runs Janesville as an LLC, he shouldn't have to answer to anyone.

I don't see anything wrong with investigating the structure of government and the responsibilities for the city manager and council. This is a good debate to have. Lets try having it by not personally attacking people, but debate on the merits of the proposals from citizens and councilmembers. I find all city councilmembers to be people who are interested in improving their community.

If you watched the meeting on JATV12 clearly MacDonald is looking for some sort of celeb status. Our city manager is paid well to do his job. I expected him to be there. MacDonald implied he only should have been there if no council members could have. How crazy!

Said it before and here it is again. Sheiffer has way to much power as city manager. Janesville needs a MAYOR who works with and executes the councils direction. Sheiffer has been making way to much money and works for and represents wealthy influential groups first and foremost. He understands how to cater to these specific groups to keep his job. Steeber knows and is used to the submissive leadership style of management. Council memebers need to stand up and demand the leadership role they have as representatives of the people. What happens is that a City Manager takes on the self proclaimed CEO which is, High Salary, Untouchable by the taxpayers, protection by the wealthy, and basically if allowed becomes a dictator. I think we have a US President like that right now. Congress much like Janesville's past councils have not held the leader accoutable as they are voted to do. Get a MAYOR/COUNCIL city leadership so that the people have more say in how their city's direction goes or they have the opportunity to vote them out. If Janesville residants don't stand up and take charge then sit back and take whatever you get period!!

We have to remember that the council is a collective executive, but the city manager does have a job definition (I'm sure they have one on file that's 10 or 20 pages long). I'm not sure what the objection to him representing the city at a press conference is. At the same time, he should defer certain questions to the council, as he does not SET policy, and that's an area where the council should raise objections when a line is crossed. I don't know if he did this, but Steve is known for speaking his mind. Perhaps there could have been a better attempt to get all seven councillors to the event. Probably there should have been either the president or vice president of the council at the table. But Steve would have been much more prepared to answer any given question.

I second whydoyouask’s comments. Bravo to Councilman McDonald! It appears we now have a Councilperson willing to stand up to the administration and stand for the residents of this city. It certainly took some gumption to call out the city manager like he did but I have a feeling these undermining actions such as what the city manager did here have been going on for a long time. Shame on Councilman Steeber for his comments regarding people’s “egos.” Clearly this was not the case. There are obviously a number of Councilpeople (who are elected by us citizens to represent us, unlike the City Manager) who do not only want to represent the city at “ribbon cuttings” as Councilman Steeber stated, but in times of crisis such as the unfortunate GM news.

I'm not feeling comfortable with the council arrangement during such an important time in Janesville's history. That is not to say I don't think they've served Janesville well in the past. However, now we need solid professional, experienced, and schooled city representatives to help get us to the next phase of our development. I fear our current situation will become overwhelming under the current arrangement.

I applaud Councilman Steeber as I believe his assessment is indeed the most accurate of the group. The city manager belongs at the table. The council president may be there as well, but certainly not the whole council. Having been at the last neighborhood listening session, I believe that the relationship between this new council and old administration is way more contentious than it needs to be. Both sides need to sit back and ride out the remaining time until the manager's retirement. Roles can be defined when the replacement is in place.

Would a consulting firm help in situations such as this???

I applaud Councilman McDonald for taking the initiative and raising these questions. For far too long, city council members have shied away from their elected responsibilities -- representing the citizens of Janesville -- and allowed Sheiffer and other staff to play those roles.

I understand that previous councils might have, as was indicated in the above story, only shown up for the good news and buried their heads in the sand when bad news arose, but McDonald's actions indicate that he is willing and able to represent the city in good times and bad.

I do not know Tom McDonald personally, but did vote for him because his public comments and campaign materials painted him to be exactly what he has shown he is during his two-plus months on the council -- a dedicated public servant who wants to stand up for the best interests of the city and its residents. Unless he shows otherwise, he has my vote for as long as he'd like to keep throwing his hat into the ring.

Mr. Steeber sounds like a golfing buddy to Mr. Sheiffer.
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Anyone think Mr. Sheiffer's real motive in getting close to Gov. Doyle is a future appointment to something, something to play with during retirement?