April 22, 2015<\/p>\n
Todd –<\/p>\n
The dismissal of Lea Dunn as Addison\u2019s City Manager at the special Council meeting on March 28, 2015, is \u201cold\u201d news, now.\u00a0 But, I need to express a few of my thoughts about \u201call that\u201d.\u00a0 Towards the end of this special Council meeting, Chris DeFrancisco asked to be included in the search process for a new city manager for Addison, after you purposefully excluded him from those you appointed.\u00a0 One of the reasons you told Chris why you did not select him was because he has been \u201cdisrespectful\u201d to you.\u00a0 You used this word toward him more than once, in that conversation.<\/p>\n
I hardly think YOU should be \u201ccalling the kettle black\u201d, Todd.\u00a0 In describing the way you (and \u201cyour\u201d Council members \u2013 Blake, Janelle, Mary, and David) treated Lea Dunn since she became City Manager, \u201cdisrespectful\u201d would be one of the nicest words I could use!<\/p>\n
You have done everything you could to make it uncomfortable and difficult for Lea to do the excellent job she is MORE than capable of, for the Town.\u00a0 Including trying to block her from even assuming the job.\u00a0 You turned this in to a personal <\/em>and political <\/em>attack on Lea.\u00a0 The recent job performance rating of \u201cPoor\u201d you (and \u201cyour\u201d Council members) gave Lea is laughable and, in my opinion, makes you all <\/em>look pretty silly.\u00a0 You and \u201cyours\u201d are entitled to your own opinions, but NOT to your own facts. \u00a0I do not know of an out pouring of dissatisfaction from Addison residents about Lea\u2019s job performance over the past 18 years. Other than your personal<\/em> and political <\/em>desire to have your \u201cown\u201d City Manager, I am not aware of any valid<\/em> reasons why Lea should have been given a \u201cpoor\u201d job performance rating.<\/p>\n But, in looking back, I guess I shouldn\u2019t be surprised.\u00a0 The first time you were running for Mayor of Addison, you CALLED ME, looking for my support.\u00a0 In telling me some of the things you would do if elected, you said you would replace Ron Whitehead.\u00a0 As soon as I heard that, I told you I did NOT agree, and, thus, could not support you.\u00a0 In your campaigning, I don\u2019t remember you mentioning your position about Ron, directly.\u00a0 After you were elected, any of the numerous times I heard you give a speech, you PRAISED Ron and our EXCELLENT Town staff.\u00a0 I was appalled by your deceit, and knew I could not trust you.<\/p>\n This same public praise toward Lea was sickening to me, especially<\/em> at Ron\u2019s \u201cappreciation\/retirement\u201d party.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before you came up with every \u201creason\u201d why \u201cwe\u201d (you and \u201cyour\u201d Council members) should do a \u201csearch\u201d just to see if there was any one who could do a better job.\u00a0 When that didn\u2019t \u201cfly\u201d is when, in my opinion, you made it a personal vendetta to get rid of Lea \u2013 only because she was too much like Ron.\u00a0 Bullying is not attractive in junior high, and certainly is even less so when used by an \u201cadult\u201d.\u00a0 This <\/em>behavior, by you and \u201cyour\u201d Council members, is why I have lost all respect for all of you.\u00a0 And, in my mind, your integrity has been destroyed.<\/p>\n I imagine when all of the people currently on the Addison City Council, including you, ran for election, they said they are \u201cfiscally responsible\u201d.\u00a0 How can that be true when, by you and \u201cyour\u201d Council members\u2019 actions toward Lea, the Town had to pay Lea a significant amount of money to end her employment?\u00a0 AND, you will likely spend tens of THOUSANDS more of MY dollars searching for a new city manager!\u00a0 No matter how much money you spend in this search, it is my opinion that you will NOT find any one more TALENTED and DEDICATED to the \u201cAddison Way\u201d than Lea had been for all the years she worked for the Town.<\/p>\n Your duty as Mayor, as well as all the Council members, is to do what is BEST for the residents of Addison, in response to the recommendations of the City Manager. \u00a0It is NOT to do what YOU would like<\/em> to have happen.\u00a0 Just getting rid of the people who have different views and ideas than you can be never-ending, and certainly not fulfilling.<\/p>\n You may think you have \u201cwon\u201d, Todd, by bullying Lea to resign.\u00a0 But I remind you of a long-standing Truth – \u201cwhat we sow IS what we will reap\u201d.<\/p>\n Sincerely,<\/p>\n Kathy Farrer<\/p>\n