Mailbag: Payout to departing employee appears reasonable

Re. “Commentary: Payout to public affairs manager emblematic of bad business,” (Sept. 10): In rebuttal to John Stephens’ recent criticism of the $170,000 payout to former Costa Mesa Public Affairs Manager Dan Joyce as being “emblematic of bad business,” I believe we need to try to put things in perspective.

First and foremost, Mr. Stephens, as an attorney, should know that the city had to take its attorneys’ legal advice into serious consideration in the handling of this matter. And also, for good legal reasons, all the details in this matter will never be made public. And to criticize this decision, which on the surface admittedly does look unreasonable, without knowing all the facts is somewhat unfair, and is simply political grandstanding.

When employees or managers in the private sector underperform, they are let go with maybe two weeks’ severance pay. They don’t get the benefit of “administrative leave,” an invention of the public services sector.

Or, if it is just one failure in the midst of a series of successes, they let that person off the hook. Not even the greatest baseball players of all time got to bat 1,000. People are human; they make mistakes.

Business promoters put on events and sometimes their revenue projections fall short and they take a big loss. It is commonly known that more new businesses in this country fail than succeed.

It would appear that attendance by our citizens in the events of the 60th anniversary celebration fell short of expectations, notwithstanding a plethora of costly entertainment. It would also appear that control over expenses was not well-implemented. A bunch of reasons that lead to a $200,000 shortfall.

Rather than moving on and taking this matter in stride, absorbing this unexpected loss as an expense in the process of providing a fun event for our citizens to celebrate the 60th anniversary, this city has chosen to make a mountain out of a molehill.

I would argue that this had to be done to satisfy the extreme overreaction of certain members of the public. It’s OK to run up unfunded pension liabilities of over $200 million, about $2,000 for every man woman and child that lives in our city, without anyone going to jail. But there is a screw-up costing $200,000, and Costa Mesa needs to turn over every rock, with countless hours of staff time and attorney time, and administrative leave and now a payout.

This entire matter is a reflection of the lack of sophistication of many of our citizens who do not understand how the business world works and who do not allow our city leaders to run the city like a business, keeping the big picture in perspective. This Mayberry attitude continues to this day to get in the way of running the city in a more efficient manner. To demand 100% transparency in all matters and obsess over every failing is not workable in either the private or public sectors.

Al Melone

Costa Mesa

The writer is a candidate for City Council.

*

Teacher against dissections

Re: “Teacher who questioned cat dissections sues school district, claims retaliation,” (Sept. 18): Karen Coyne teaches compassion for all life and humanity’s best values. Superior idea that Newport Harbor High has a Compassion in Action Club. She ought to be nominated as California Teacher of the Year.

Al Wonders

Newport Beach

*

Cool down the classrooms

The recent heatwave demonstrates a dearth of leadership in the Newport Mesa School District. The superintendent should demonstrate his ability to lead by turning off the air conditioning to his office as well as the district board room, where the school board members meet, until air conditioning is installed in all classrooms throughout the district. I am confident that the school board will find the funds to provide the same level of comfort to the classrooms that enjoy in their offices. As a veteran, I am reminded of the Infantry leader’s creed; “Lead, follow or get out of the way”

Tony Bartolic

Newport Beach