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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — City Councilman Bill Crawford on Tuesday asked his council colleagues to meet in closed session to discuss the employment of City Manager David Jinkens, a move he later said was prompted by Jinkens' “mishandling of important things.”
However, Mayor Jerry Birdwell was the only council member who concurred with Crawford's request, and so the meeting was not scheduled due to lack of council consensus.
Interviewed after the meeting, Crawford listed several areas where he was unhappy with the city manager, including recent issues in the police department and Jinkens' apparent reluctance to cancel a city contract with a Sacramento lobbyist.
When asked to comment on Crawford's request for the closed session, or the councilman's remark about “mishandling things,” Jinkens responded in an e-mail as follows:
“I appreciate the support of the City Council and will continue to work with all members equally to deliver the best service possible to the community.”
Birdwell said he supported Crawford's request so that the council could discuss any concerns about the city manager.
But Councilwoman Kathay Lovell and Councilman Hal Cole said they saw no need for the meeting since the council completed Jinkens' annual performance evaluation just a few months ago.
Lovell declined to comment further, saying any discussion of employee performance must be done in a City Council closed session.
Cole said it would create too much strain on an employee to be constantly reevaluated, and added that he feels Jinkens is doing “a fine job.”
“I hope that we don't do this every month,” Cole said. “It really must be wearing on David.”
But Cole said he'd reconsider his stance if some major issue surfaced.
Interviewed last week, Councilman Bruce Grego said he was satisfied with Jinkens' performance, describing the city manager as knowledgeable, truthful and responsive to his needs.
“I've been happy with him,” Grego said.
However, Mayor Jerry Birdwell was the only council member who concurred with Crawford's request, and so the meeting was not scheduled due to lack of council consensus.
Interviewed after the meeting, Crawford listed several areas where he was unhappy with the city manager, including recent issues in the police department and Jinkens' apparent reluctance to cancel a city contract with a Sacramento lobbyist.
When asked to comment on Crawford's request for the closed session, or the councilman's remark about “mishandling things,” Jinkens responded in an e-mail as follows:
“I appreciate the support of the City Council and will continue to work with all members equally to deliver the best service possible to the community.”
Birdwell said he supported Crawford's request so that the council could discuss any concerns about the city manager.
But Councilwoman Kathay Lovell and Councilman Hal Cole said they saw no need for the meeting since the council completed Jinkens' annual performance evaluation just a few months ago.
Lovell declined to comment further, saying any discussion of employee performance must be done in a City Council closed session.
Cole said it would create too much strain on an employee to be constantly reevaluated, and added that he feels Jinkens is doing “a fine job.”
“I hope that we don't do this every month,” Cole said. “It really must be wearing on David.”
But Cole said he'd reconsider his stance if some major issue surfaced.
Interviewed last week, Councilman Bruce Grego said he was satisfied with Jinkens' performance, describing the city manager as knowledgeable, truthful and responsive to his needs.
“I've been happy with him,” Grego said.
