buie Archive

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Albany City headhunter picks puzzling

I recently read with considerable interest an article published in the New York Times (Aug. 17, 2009) entitled ‘… Big Pitches, Big Fees, Few Jobs” regarding job search companies. They are commonly known as headhunters.

My question: why do we need the services of a job search company?  Does Al Lott feel a sense of gratitude to Slavin for recommending him?  Does he not trust the competency of the city’s Human Resources staff?

The article cites experiences of newly unemployed persons who thought they would have an edge as they succumbed to the fresh maelstrom of emotions. The constant pressure of the companies’ salespersons compounds their anxiety. Consequently, they are paid from $5,000-8,200 advance fees and to date some remain unemployed.

The article noted that state attorneys general had researched complaints about career counseling companies during this recession. In fact over the years, several state attorneys generals have filed lawsuits after consumers reported having been misled.

Now, I wonder how successful has the city of Albany been as it has paid thousands of taxpayers’ dollars to Slavin Management Consultants for their services. In 2004, they were contracted for the city manager’s position. Since then, City Manager Alfred Lott has consistently used Slavin to search for the chief of police, finance director, human resources director, assistant city managers, Civic Center director and the intriguing, infamous downtown CEO/Manager Don Buie. It seems difficult to understand that Slavin

missed Buie’s incarceration and felony conviction, citing ignorance of the law of limitation changes regarding a criminal background search. Ignorance or selective memory loss?

Incidentally, of the placements listed above; the police chief was under pressure to resign; the finance director at that time was fired by Lott, and the new one replaced by Slavin, Robert Jones, who was known for getting a short nap during city commission meeting, also resigned with a handsome severance pay; and Jim Coston, the HR manager, was hired by default after the Slavin recruits declined the job offer. It’s no secret Lott and Coston’s relationship was more confrontational than most; Coston abruptly retired. Wes Smith and John Mazzola have managed to remain in place.

What really comes to my mind is the good ole’ boy system; it almost sounds as if Slavin had no competition and automatically received contract renewals. Therefore it appears to have been very little opportunity for healthy negotiations among other possible vendors. Perhaps Buie felt the same way; why couldn’t he make his own deals and throw process and procedure out with the wash?

My question: why do we need the services of a job search company? Does Al Lott feel a sense of gratitude to Slavin for recommending him? Does he not trust the competency of the city’s Human Resources staff? Given the poor success of headhunters and the excessive expenses incurred, I would strongly suggest the City of Albany to develop its own search process. I like the mayor’s approach. Pass the ballots around — Slavin yes or no. Just something to think about.

Written by Leon Modeste, Albany, Georgia.

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Lott and Buie: What did they know and when did they know it?

It’s easy to miss things in the mess that was left in the wake of Hurricane Don (Buie). However, an email this weekend left me wondering a thing or two. As we all know, Don Buie was arrested for domestic violence. It was all over the news, as we all remember.

So what’s going on now? Well, I want to know how in the hell the City didn’t know something considering how many times his name flowed through the Georgia Crime Information Computer (GCIC) system.

When City Manager Al Lott told Jennifer Emert that he knew the media would find out about the conviction eventually, it led some who knew about the GCIC checks to wonder when Lott knew. After all, the press would find out eventually … after everything that had happened. But Lott may well have known months earlier and did nothing.

Buie checked on his application that he had never been convicted of a felony, despite having actually been. Had Lott known months prior to the whole Buie-gate scandal exploding in his face, would he have acted? After all, he’s a public servant, right? While that’s technically true, Lott doesn’t act like one most of the time. He prefers to not answer some members of the media, and even some members of the public if he can help it. He even seems to have made a habit of not responding to Georgia Open Records Law requests whenever he can get out of it.

The fact of the matter is that Lott had a convicted felon working for him with practically zero oversight by anyone. Lott is reported to not be the kind to call references to see what we were getting as well. Now, the public trust has been destroyed and we don’t know if this could have been avoided … or at least minimized. Does anyone in the city even care?

tomknightonWritten by Tom Knighton.

Tags: buie, lott