Where is Gary O'Connell?
Charlottesville’s City Manager, Gary O’Connell, has been on medical leave since October 22, says City spokesperson Ric Barrick, recovering at home from a “private” and unknown medical procedure that is requiring him to "rest at home to recover." An email autoreply from O’Connell says he will return on November 23. Barrick says that O’Connell’s condition is “not life threatening” and that he would “probably return” earlier than November 23. Meanwhile, Aubrey Watts, the City’s economic development director, has been left in charge, with city staff filling in as acting City Manager on a rotating basis, says Barrick.
20 comments
Often seen in recent days and weeks at the downtown ACAC working out, wonder what type of medical condition this is that he can exercise but not go to work ? Come to think of it I'll bet alot of people fit into this category.
Maybe this is a good place for Seriously to comment. Seriously appears to know of the hidden details.
A friend of mine had HER knee replaced and she was out for 6 weeks, and then on 1/2 days for another two. The truth is that we know nothing of his medical condition or what his recovery might require. To disparage him for having one is pretty darn rude in my opinion, particularly when you don't have all the facts.
I wish Gary good health and a new job somewhere else, maybe in South Carolina. Maybe his former assistant city manager will hire him there.
What ever is causing Gary to be away from work I hope doesn't happen to Obama. I can't think of who should be rotating for him.
Why is his position being filled on a rotating basis? Don't we have an assistant city manager? This would seem like the perfect time for him/her to step up and show us that they could do the job for real. Or perhaps Gary doesn't want anyone to know that the city could be run smoothly without him?
I would like to know who missed him in the first place?
That doesn't surprise me, Sarah.
Sick leave, medical leave, light duty.... it's all misused and abused while feeding at the public trough.
Not that long ago, had a city employee limp around on crutches on light duty for the last ten years of his career. As soon as he retired he was suddenly climbing ladders and painting houses.
And to think I got fired for not following doctor's orders in which he wanted me to take off from work. And at which time, unlike Cole Hendrix, Gary O'Connell seemed to have no backbone watsoever.
@Gasbag: You call this a show?
Wake me when something interesting happens!
You're not it!
@gasbag: You definitely dreamed it. His wife has never worked for City Hall. One call to City Hall's HR dept. could have verified that for you. You really seem to enjoy spewing the nonsense though.
You said:
"Department heads firing people so as to create to a position and hire a friend or family member."
EVIDENCE, PLEASE. What department heads? What positions? Who was fired? What friends/family members were hired? As they say, "Either put up, or shut up."
"Or in many cases, department heads simply hiring family members of employees already feeding at the public trough."
EVIDENCE, PLEASE. What department heads? What family members? Put up, or shut up.
"The Sheriff’s Department has been full of nepotism and favoritism since Raymond Pace died and Mannie Norford retired."
EVIDENCE, PLEASE. Put up, or shut up.
He doesn't do anything anyway. All of the drama with racial issues for years has been under is watch. He has done nothing to resolve any of the issues within the Police Dept. or City. The City enjoys resolving things by paying people off like the issue with R. Gilmore and the City Yard. Gary has known of these issues especially with the Police Department. There are approx. 9 blk police officers in the City doesn't seem to be adequate when considering the makeup of the City population. Good topic for the Hook to check into since in 97' this was pointed out in a survey of the City
Mr/Mrs/Miss boo!, if you don't like the show, change the channel.
@Gasbag: Stop blaming others for your shortcomings.
Next!
Well, well, Mr/Mrs/Miss boo, the only thing you didn't question is the one fact that very easily proven.... the number of "father & son" teams working at the local cop shoppe. I'm sure every son in the "father & son" teams was the best qualified candidate at the time. Nepotism had nothing to do with their being hired. LOL!
And you don't seem to argue the fact that a new incoming sheriff hired his own son, and then proceeded to promote his own son.... over top people that already been there for many years. Flagrant nepotism at it's best!
You only question the events that can neither be proven or disproven, so to speak. Like we would all expect a department head to actually step forward and admit, "hell yeah, I forced the person to resign! My best friend had a son who needed a job!" Department heads may do stupid things, but they aren't really that stupid. When a department head's best friends dine with him and his wife, travel with him and his wife, watch ball games with him and his wife..... and then when the son of the department head's best friends comes to work, it doesn't take a mental giant to see that "friends and family" was a factor in the son being hired.
And these events have taken place on O'Connell's watch. And as Jim mentions above, this could very well explain why a low percentage of blacks are hired. They're not in the "friends & family & nepotism" equation.
ps - the above reminds me, wasn't Gary O'Connell's wife hired or appointed to some position within city government? Or did I dream that one night?
Mr/Mrs/Miss Type Something Here, if you don't like the show, change the channel as well. And if you find an interesting channel, please call Mr/Mrs/Miss boo above, he/she is bored also.
Some of you have obviously never worked for the city. You haven't experienced the nepotism and favoritism that takes place. Department heads firing people so as to create to a position and hire a friend or family member. Or in many cases, department heads simply hiring family members of employees already feeding at the public trough. Do you have any idea whatsoever how many "father & son" teams work at the cop shoppe alone? One of the newly hired "sons of rank" was terrorizing my neighborhood a few years ago, but he passed a background check with flying colors. The Sheriff's Department has been full of nepotism and favoritism since Raymond Pace died and Mannie Norford retired. One of the first things the incoming sheriff Carlton Baird did in 1984 or 1985 was to hire his own son as a deputy sheriff. This son expected to be nominated by the Democrats and actually become sheriff this November. As we all know though, that plan didn't work out too well for him. Go to any city department and study the family trees. It's still just the "good ole boys" taking care of their own.
"Well, well, Mr/Mrs/Miss boo, the only thing you didn’t question is the one fact that very easily proven”Š. the number of ââ?¬Å?father & son” teams working at the local cop shoppe. I’m sure every son in the ââ?¬Å?father & son” teams was the best qualified candidate at the time. Nepotism had nothing to do with their being hired. LOL!
And you don’t seem to argue the fact that a new incoming sheriff hired his own son, and then proceeded to promote his own son”Š. over top people that already been there for many years. Flagrant nepotism at it’s best!"
...Because I overlooked that point. Don't use that as an excuse to back out of having to address the other, very valid points that I brought up. In case you forget, here they are again:
ââ?¬Å?Department heads firing people so as to create to a position and hire a friend or family member.”
EVIDENCE, PLEASE. What department heads? What positions? Who was fired? What friends/family members were hired? As they say, ââ?¬Å?Either put up, or shut up.”
ââ?¬Å?Or in many cases, department heads simply hiring family members of employees already feeding at the public trough.”
EVIDENCE, PLEASE. What department heads? What family members? Put up, or shut up.
ââ?¬Å?The Sheriff’s Department has been full of nepotism and favoritism since Raymond Pace died and Mannie Norford retired.”
EVIDENCE, PLEASE. Put up, or shut up.
Don't dodge out of it by looking for the one point in your "gasbag" post that was overlooked, and then focusing on that. You are very transparent, and not as clever as you think. You can either put up your evidence, with names and departments (and dates would be good too, but if not then names and departments would suffice) OR, shut up and be called out as the exaggerator (and possibly outright liar) that you seem to be.
Waiting......
This is really a ridiculous conversation. A man has surgery which should be a private situation, a paper writes about it as if it is news, people who don't know him comment on a situation they know nothing about but seemingly have some vested interest in, former jaded employees who obviously have nothing to do with their time operate behind the disguise of a computer and change their names several times, life goes on as people are missing, homeless populations are rising, and the most important election for Virginia is looming in 10 years and we are talking about a man who just is trying to recover from surgery. Priorities folks!
@ **** -The last Assistant CIty Manager I had the displeasure of dealing with was one of the most incompetent and unresponsive government employees I've ever dealt with (well outside of the DMV), and that is saying something considering her competition within the city staff. She's gone to Savannah now thank God, but my encounter with her has made me very leering of putting whoever has that job in charge of anything. I really wonder why we even have one though if that person isn't even among those rotating.
Actually most cardiac patients are prescribed cardiac rehab at ACAC. So my guess, without any direct information is that he could be there because its part of his recovery. Come to think of it many joint replacements have rehab too.
A friend of mine had her knee replaced and she was back to work after 2 weeks.