D’ville hires consultant, police officer

D’ville hires consultant, police officer

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Tuesday, June 14. 2011

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Danielsville city council hired a full-time administrative consultant for city hall and a full-time temporary police officer at a special called meeting Tuesday evening.

Mayor Philip Croya said the council hired Jerry Presley, of Nicholson, as a full-time consultant for city hall at a salary of $4,000 per month, with no benefits.

“I know that sounds high, but it’s actually cheaper than what we were paying our former city clerk, who received benefits,” Croya said. Croya said Presley will begin work on June 13 and will work on a “month-to-month” basis with no contract.

He explained that former clerk Connie Riley’s salary, including insurance and benefits, cost the city $3,509 per month.

“And that’s without overtime, which she always had,” Croya said.

Croya said this hire also eliminates the part-time position at city hall, which was an additional expense.

“Now it’ll just be (city clerk) Suzanne (Ferguson) and him,” Croya said.

Croya said Presley is “well-qualified” for the city government position and is currently working on his master’s degree in public administration.

“I know ($4,000 per month) sounds like a lot, but it’s not when you factor in benefits that were being paid before,” Croya said.

The council also hired Comer police officer Cliff Moody as a full-time (40-hour maximum) temporary police officer for the city. Croya said Moody will continue to work for Comer as well, but split his time between the two, working weekends in Danielsville as well to complete his 40-hour work week.

The city also hired Comer police chief Brent Zellner on a part-time, temporary basis at $12 per hour. Croya said Zellner will work with him to get the “administrative side” of the police department set up (including policies and procedures) in preparation for hiring a police chief when the council is ready to do so.

“We want to get the police office on the right track and (Zellner) will also be on hand to help the police chief, once that person is hired,” Croya said.

“We’re actually saving money for the city by doing these things,” Croya said.

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#1 Fire range on 06/14/11 at 08:37 AM [Reply]

So now Comer police can use the new fire range in D'ville instead of building there own in Comer and spending a lot of money.

#2 Anonymous on 06/14/11 at 01:18 PM [Reply]

what was the reason that the other chief was let go ? does anybody really know.

#2.1 Holly on 06/14/11 at 07:52 PM [Reply]

To anonymous- Of course you can see what my name is I want people to see, I am Scott's wife which was one of the three fired. My question is kinda the same thing "What was really the reasons behind the firings" I can put a few reasons out there its really no secret but I'm not.I can tell you it wasnt because they all didnt "click" unless the mayor and council were just putting on fronts. Only they know the answer but whatever Im done wondering.
To Philip and Council- I am only writing on here because I want to get some things clear and I want people to know, Im not being ugly when I say this life is too short to be mad and Im not going to hide behind an unknown name and i'm not going to cause trouble for this person and possibly thier job for what all was told to Scott on the phone over the weekend and you know who you are but I was told some of you thought that I was one making comments on the paper about the firings and that bothered me if there is a problem with me come to me I dont bite. Scott and I both did sit down and read comments the first couple of days I will admit some were good others would make my blood pressure sky high. I think a few of you know and people who truly know me if I have something to say I will come to you or to the city hall and say it just like I did after Scott was fired no matter what the circumstances are whether good or bad. I have a backbone. The one yall thought was me posting comments is a friend close to our family. There is a part of me that says I dont need to explain myself then theres a part to where I say enough is enough. I feel Scotts firing was nothing but an excuse get rid of him and to hire another one back I have no problem telling anyone that, and no Scott did not have his Class III license but did have a lot of certifications under his belt the last 2 test that were scheduled that WE paid for Scotts truck broke down in Atl and the "last test" scheduled for March our Son was hospitalized for 10 days, no testing was available in April cause testing are held every other month and before one could be scheduled in June Scott was fired. Our Son's life is way more important than a test but that dont matter to any of you. I do remember the question asked of Scott was he ever told that he had to have these and the answer was no, even a council person acknowledge that scott was never told only because there was and still is an employee there that has this license so really no concern there but since it was said that the city or citizens has spent enough money on Scott yall need to remember about those license, the city only paid for 2 or 3 and the others that were paid for came out of OUR pocket I have bank and credit card statements to prove so. To everyone reading there is a lot more to the "firing story" than what was printed of course, but you know what, people get fired, its part of life, and to the ones who was calling Scott names and making ugly comments I want you to come tell me face to face and that we also had a lawyer to write that letter, can one not sit down and write a letter several times until they find that perfect one for them? You dont know jack, if you have somthing to say come tell me I'm not hard to find in danielsville you tell me and I will tell you whats on my mind.A lot of you need to grow up this is done its over with I hope for the best for the city of danielsville and their mayor, council and employees. Things happen for a reason, always do, the Lord works in mysterious ways...so thank you, and no hard feelings on our end. Holly.

#2.2 Anonymous on 06/16/11 at 07:03 PM [Reply]

NO!!!

#3 Resident Redneck on 06/14/11 at 08:29 PM [Reply]

WHOA I have a problem with Mr. Croya's math skills to start with? He said they would pay this new consultant $4,000. a month but they paid the former city clerk $3,509. a month I don't know where you went to school Mr. Croya but $4,000. is more than $3,509. and how is that saving the city money? AND make sure these new people that were just hired have a cell phone that way they can be fired Croya's way when they are no longer useful?
That's probably a new requirement to work for Danielsville? You must own a cell phone that can receive text messages? AND I also wonder if Mr. Croya hired Mr. Presley by text message or in person?

#3.1 1whowonders? on 06/15/11 at 06:12 PM [Reply]

I agree! And if there was a problem with overtime, then why did he not use his "I'm the mayor and I can do what I want with employees" attitude to curb this situation? Why was the city clerk working overtime? Is the mayor not the one to approve overtime with employees? The mayor has been in office for over a year and if these were issues during the 15 months he'd been in office, then why were they not addressed prior to employees being fired? As the mayor, did he at any point during the months leading up to firing these employees address any issues in monthly meetings with the city council regarding the overtime and certification completions? At any time did the mayor address the city clerk as to why she was putting in overtime? After all, the mayor signs her check, right? According to her termination letter placed in the paper, she was fired because of a software purchase not yet approved by the city council and which was to be, I heard, discussed as part of the agenda the following Monday during the monthly city council meeting. Don't remember anything in that termination letter in the paper implying anything regarding overtime which would be costing the already strapped city extra monies. The mayor also stated in the paper that "IF" this software (that the city clerk was to have purchased without approval) came in, then it would be sent back. Was it paid for prior to the city clerks being fired? If so, why say "IF"? Or was this just some made up reason/excuse since you had no other reason to fire her at the time? "IF"! A lot can be read into "IF"! Maybe she is telling the truth but we only hear your version...always two sides; in this case five. Same applies to the maintenance supervisor. Since the mayor has been in office over a year, why not confront the employee in maintenance in a professional manner and inquire as to why, he had not completed his certifications and put him on notice with a time frame for completion? After all, that is his poisiton to make sure employees are up to date in their training/certifications. Certainly this man wasn't fired for lack of doing his job, nor for a lack of his dedication to his job. I've seen that man working in freezing cold weather on Sundays and Saturdays and even in the rain and have heard because of his position, working all times at night when there are emergencies. But knowing this man, he never complained about the time because that was part of his job. Guess it was just easier to fire employees via-text message, like a coward, rather than confront them face to face as the mayor who had a rather difficult task at hand.
The mayors termination letters, turned into the paper the day of the firings of these employees probably had nothing to do with the actual reasons of why they were fired. I'm just wondering how long it was before the ink dryed on the termination letters before the paper received them? Hummmm...or did the paper get notification first and know it before the employees were fired? Obviously,the mayor has the Casey Anthony syndrome...this being the inability to keep stories straight or to tell the truth. Or does the mayor just have the inability to confront employees on a face to face basis as a professional in his position? This obviously wasn't an employee issue when it came to their ability to do their job...seems more like a personality issue with the mayor himself not being able to "adjust" in his position and get along with the employees, NOT vise-versa. I don't care what kind of man some of you may say Mr. Croya is...because like some people, Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggert, Bill Clinton, and now Weiner, he obviously has the ability to fool some but not all. I can understand not getting along with one or two employees under your supervision, but three very good employees were fired and TWO very good employees WALKED OUT! These are the same employees who stood behind the mayor and supported him during his election. Questions the city residents should be asking: Is this new $4000 monthly consultant a resident of this county? Does the new maintenance supervisor NOW have his certifications in order and complete? OR did he complete them after he was hire? OR renew what he had when he was an employee of the city prior to Mr. Anglin being hired? Hummm ?? And is the extra person who the mayor said HAD to be retained by the city until the maintenance supervisor completed certification, still on city payroll? Why was the new city maintenance supervisor, Josh Lester, not already qualified? Could it be your new maintenance supervisor doesn't have all the certifications he needs? Was the new maintenance supervisor afforded a time frame in which to have his certifications complete or renewed? I'm sure the residents of this city would definitely be interested in how much you and city council members are really saving the city Mr. Croya. Any break-downs you'd like to share with the public since you've made this issue so public? And how is hiring a part-time employee who is the Chief of Police of Comer not a conflict of interest for either city? And a Comer police officer who would be in a temporary position working full-time (40 hr max) and split between the two cities on the weekends not a conflict? Of course the new city attorney who replaced Victor Johnson because of a conflict of interest has all the answers, I sure. Maybe he should work on policies and procedures as well protocols on how to fire personal in a professional manner. Oh and by the way, I now hear that Mr. Anglin is being denied his "unemployment benefits" because "he didn't follow the rules"! Hummm...back to the termination letter in the paper; he was fired for not having his certifications complete. Philip Croya may wonder why this is still an on-going issue with regards to comments. Well, it should be and until the residents of the City of Danielsville have the answers to questions like these, it will continue to be an issue to comment on.

#3.1.1 E.J. on 06/15/11 at 08:27 PM [Reply]

Paragraphs would be nice; this long string of words is too hard to read. At least there is puncuation and Capital letters. Maybe I'll read it later.

#3.1.1.1 1whowonders? on 06/16/11 at 08:57 AM [Reply]

Background is always helpful in issues such as this.

Bottom line is; there are always another side to this issue. In this case about 5 more. And the public seems to be hearing only one side.

There is no animosity from the employees, just total confusion as to the facts being presented to the public.

These employees have families who depend on them and now they are being denied their umemployment benefits.

That's totally shameful. Shame on all of the City Council members and the Mayor for their part in all of this!

#3.1.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 06/16/11 at 08:44 PM [Reply]

1whowonders- AND the only side the Mayor wants anyone to hear is HIS? He wants people to think he is an honest, upstanding,trustworthy,and a man? Well I don't know about being honest BUT BUDDY you have proved YOU AIN'T upstanding, trustworthy,and as for being a man? You may be a male BUT YOU AIN'T NO MAN. An upstanding, trustworthy MAN would have looked ALL of them people in the eyes and fired them? If your scared say your scared and resign? Mr. Mayor you may be a lot of things to some people but to me you are NOT A MAN. You may be the former shell of a man but you lost the right to be called a man when you took the cowards way out?

#3.1.2 Resident Redneck on 06/16/11 at 12:37 AM [Reply]

1whowonders- I agree if he is the Mayor and if HE IS A MAN all he's got to do is say NO OVER TIME for no city worker and tell them they will be paid for 40 hours? If they work over 40 hours then they donate that time UNLESS approved by the Mayor himself? Problem solved. BUT I'm like you it makes me wonder what was really going on behind those closed doors? It sounds like someone wouldn't play with the Mayor the way he wanted to play SO he is going to use and abuse his power and fire them? Then he can say they are cry baby's and just bitter and some of you people run wild with that?

#3.1.3 Connie Riley on 06/16/11 at 05:25 AM [Reply]

Nice. For the record, the only overtime that I "ever" had was pre-approved and only due to the lengthy meetings of this Mayor and Council. You are correct that NO SOFTWARE WAS PURCHASED. And, I too am being denied unemployment benefits. Thanks for possibly opening some peoples eyes that actually vote in the City of Danielsville.

#3.1.4 Anonymous on 06/19/11 at 09:35 PM [Reply]

Do not tell us your name!!!

#4 bubbalicious on 06/14/11 at 08:50 PM [Reply]

The last we read about the firing was http://www.madisonjournaltoday.com/archives/4052-Three-fired,-two-resign-in-county-seat.html

Zach, did anybody at the paper find out what the real story was? I wonder how much overtime was really involved -- if it wasn't more than $500 a month, then the mayor's not being honest about the cost of a consultant. Maybe he should've considered such costs before he went ahead and fired people.

#5 Anonymous on 06/17/11 at 04:13 PM [Reply]

The Mayor was right in his decision, period. And if the people who were fired are as gramatically inclined as the wife and person making these long, run-on sentence comments, then I can see why they got fired.

Paragraphs work well. Use periods. Use commas correctly. Using caps are bad grammar, that's yelling in "computer lingo." The nice trimmed letter sent to the editor wasn't written that way.

#5.1 YouMustBeKidding on 06/18/11 at 02:31 PM [Reply]

Wow, we have a true-blue grammar, spelling and punctuation expert in our midst. We're honored!!!

BTW - it's grammatically, not gramatically
& it's Using caps is (not are) bad grammar

Although technically, capitalizing words has nothing at all to do with grammar.

#5.2 E.J. on 06/18/11 at 08:09 PM [Reply]

Well, you see, when one is totally immersed in ranting, one becmes so self-absorbed that one loses the perspective of actually communicating with others. They just want to let off steam whether it makes any sense or not. I just don't read rants.

I've noticed that there are a whole lot of folks in Madison County that have trouble controling their emotions and also take everything that happens to them extremely personally. Few people here seem have an understanding that business is business, not personal.

They would never make it Atlanta or any other sophisticated place. Business is a game; the rules are rigid; there are absolutely no favors (except in politics).

#6 Anonymous on 06/17/11 at 09:13 PM [Reply]

Resident Redneck, why do you hide behind that name. You MUST BE THE COWARD. I bet that Mayor would slap the taste out of your mouth if you would say these things to his face.

#6.1 Resident Redneck on 06/20/11 at 09:53 PM [Reply]

Anonymous- WHO'S SCARED AND A COWARD NOW and WHO'S HIDING BEHIND A NAME? At least I took the time to think one up and everyone who knows me knows I am Resident Redneck? You don't even have the mental power to think up a clever name. AND I don't know about slapping the taste out of my mouth OR do you think he would want to give me a butt whipping by text message? AND I would stand there and let him slap me because I would hurt him alot worse than a butt whipping? I would have him arrested and kicked out of office?

#7 JC REDNECK on 06/21/11 at 01:18 PM [Reply]

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THE REASON FOR THE FIRINGS WHERE TO HIRE FAMILY OR FRIENDS THAT NEEDED A JOB. NOTHHING MORE, BUT THEY WILL NEVER ADMIT TO IT. IT HAPPENS IN EVERY CITY.AND YES GEORGIA IS A RIGHT TO WORK STATE. ONLY WAY TO GET JUSTICE FOR THIS, IS TO STAND TOGETHER, IT WON'T HAPPEN OVER NIGHT. BUT IT WILL HAPPEN. GOOD LUCK.FORMER MADISON COUNTY. BEEN THERE DONE THAT.

#7.1 Resident Redneck on 06/21/11 at 03:27 PM [Reply]

JC REDNECK- I totally agree with you and in GA they don't have to give you a reason to fire you? Your boss can come in one day and not like your hair style and fire you if he wants?
BUT WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS the way the people were fired? BY TEXT MESSAGE. He don't sound like NO MAN to me? He sounds like a teenager who got his feelings hurt. AND he says he has to make the big decisions? I would think firing someone would be a big decision? If he's not man enough to fire someone face to face HOW CAN WE think he is man enough to make really big decisions that effect us all? It sounds to me like he's the one who's SCARED?

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D’ville hires consultant, police officer

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