Curt Childress-Part One

Mr. Childress is the Director of the Community Vitality Center for the City. In the organizational scheme developed by the former consultant and current Interim City Manager, Leslie Cullen, this Center replaced some of the departments you might have been familiar with in the past: Economic Development, Community Development, Special Projects, Community Planning and planning for the physical development of the City.
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Ms. Cullen informed us in the last issue of the Sentinel admitted that she does not have a lot of experience in the field of city management but that she will rely on the staff. In her statement to the Sentinel she said, “You need to have people who you trust and who are experts in their fields give you the technical information you need to make informed decisions.” Let’s just examine the “expertise” of Mr. Childress in his area of responsibility as taken from his application and resume.
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In 1994, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. His career began in the State of Virginia as a Landscape Designer/Estimator for a private firm. Upon leaving them, his next position in Virginia was as a Cashier in a Gourmet store which was in addition to his four month position with another firm as a Landscape Designer. That covers his first two years.
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In March 1996, he took a position as a Landscape Specialist with a firm in the State of Maryland. A year after taking this position he became a Landscape Specialist for the Maryland Highway Administration. Two years later he went back to the private firm he had previously left as an Environmental Analyst. Eight months later he went back to the Maryland Highway Administration as an Environmental Analyst III in October of 1999. He worked for them until coming to Northglenn in October 2001 as a Landscape Architect. He served in that position until late in 2005, when he became our Community Vitality Center Director.
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I’m going to finish this phase of the report with one additional item from his resume and application. He has been the owner of Metropolitan Landscape Design Inc./ Gro Team since 1992. Yes, two years before he obtained his Bachelor’s degree. His Maryland company existed during the time he was in Iowa and Virginia as well as Maryland. While I can admire his spirit, it does not belong as an entry in his Employment History.
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I will be commenting on his lack of expertise in the area that he directs more this weekend. Since he does not have the expertise Ms. Cullen is counting on, I will be reporting on the expertise of the individuals that Mr. Childress is relying on. We will then come to the sad end. For now, please refer to the first paragraph.