A CUNNING PAIR: NOVAK/CULLEN

Under the Mayor’s leadership the City Council has promoted the Deputy City Manager, Leslie Cullen, to the position of Interim City Manager. The manner in which she even obtained the position of Deputy smacks of cronyism. Ms Cullen has been an employee of the City since last July. Prior to then she was a consultant who took in $300,000 serving the former Manager through a series of contracts.
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In a posting and a letter to the editor last fall, I decried the organizational restructuring of municipal operations that saw the elimination of all departments as we know them. At a recent meeting, the Parks Board was so confused with the new structure that they asked their Council representative to try and find out who was their liaison with the staff. Or, who is in charge of parks? The new structure was devised by Ms Cullen while serving as a consultant.
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On July 6, 2005, the former Manager implemented Ms Cullen’s new organizational structure. The position of Deputy had been held by Karen Skifalides until July 1, 2005. Concerning the position of Deputy he stated, “I plan on trying something different in that the position will be filled on an interim basis by people that will be working on projects that will be short term in nature, but will involve the continued evolution of our organization for the future. People who fill the position will come from inside and outside of the organization, and will hold the position for a time that will be specified by a contract.”
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I can hear the Mayor and her oligarchy saying, enough of that, we want Leslie Cullen on staff. Ms Cullen began as Deputy on July 25th. Proof of that lies in the fact that the outgoing Manager recommended that Ms Cullen NOT be appointed as Interim Manager.
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Ms Cullen is an academic and global thinking expert that probably wouldn’t know the difference between a water and sewer line. After listening to her at the Council meeting of February 24th, she proved my point. I have been assured that she is very nice and pleasant to be around, unless you work for her, and that she is very good in her field; which isn’t municipal operations. I also have seen that she can talk you ear off and not miss one buzz word.
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In her own words she describes her qualifications as follows: “I have a proven track record in producing turnarounds that have caused substantial change. In working with Northglenn as a consultant, I became very connected to the Vision of the ‘New Northglenn’. I believe that I will be able to move this vision to reality as an internal with my other employee partners at an accelerated rate.” For more of her own comments and those of her sponsor, Mayor Novak, you should read the cover story in the February 23rd issue of the Sentinel. Yes, she has a law degree but has not practiced for years.
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Ms Cullen started her career as a registered nurse in 1980. In 1986 she received a law degree and worked for two firms until 1992. From 1992 to 1996, per her resume or 1997 per her application she was a partner in a firm that consulted with law firms in the area of strategic planning, organizational change, marketing and client relations. From 1997 to 2000 she worked as a consultant with a firm specializing in “large scale organizational change projects” for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
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Now her work experience becomes somewhat confusing. Her resume and application states that from 2000 to 2004 she operated her own business, Collaborative Solutions, as a business strategy consultant. Her resume states that from 2003 to 2005 she also worked for Sirna Therapeutics as a Vice President in re-organizational activities but her application states that she was there from 2004 to 2005. At the same time, her application states that she was Vice President for Mines and Associates from 2003 to 2004 but the position doesn’t appear on her resume.
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It is obvious she has considerable experience in going into companies and selling them innovate packages of organizational modifications. I do not believe that she has the knowledge or experience to manage a city’s operations as Deputy Manager, Interim City Manager or Manager based on her resume, application and public statements. I can assure you that if the position of Deputy had been advertised in a professional city management newsletter, she would not have met the minimum qualifications necessary to even apply.
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And now for the saddest part. Mayor Novak and her oligarchy will do everything possible to make Ms Cullen our new, permanent Manager. They will go through a recruitment process for a Manager but it will be a dog and pony show for your benefit. Only you can ensure that a legitimate process will be conducted and a professional manager employed.

Executive Session Leaks

Executive Sessions of the City Council are provided for in the Charter. There are seven purposes for which the Council may exclude the public from its discussions. The subject matter is to remain confidential among the individuals that attended the closed meeting. Persons not on the Council may attend with its permission. Unfortunately there are always leaks and a considerable number if the subject is sensitive. I fully support closing those leaks.
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Mayor Novak is currently on a rampage because I, among others, learned about some of the items they have discussed in past sessions. She is particularly irritated with me because I shared the information with you through a letter to the Sentinel, discussions with other reporters and by postings on this site. She should also direct her anger to some friends and members of the staff who also obtained the information I shared with you. Just because I made it known to the public is no reason for her to funnel her anger in my direction. A leak is a leak.
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I am in turn very upset with her and her dear friends for breaking State law by conducting meetings without the required 24 hour prior notice. Check the City web site. Under public documents you will be able to check the notices and agendas for February 16th. You will not find the required notice of an executive session that they held on that date. You will only find a Special Meeting and a Study Session; no Executive session.
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Hum, I wonder if that illegal executive session has the protection or requirement of confidentially. Some of the information I obtained came from the “unmeeting”. I shared it with you because I did not know that it came from behind closed doors; and you didn't even know about the meeting period. There are laws prohibiting the conducting of a meeting without public notice.
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While I am on the subject, I would like to close by suggesting that the Mayor and Council narrow the subjects covered in their executive sessions. When they cover a rambling number of subjects it is no wonder that attendees might have a problem remembering what part of a discussion occurred in executive as opposed to an open meeting a day, month or year later. For example, a real estate discussion might have a confidential segment that results in a public meeting following the executive session. “Now just what was said where and when” is a question Council members have to remember if the private discussion rambled.

Interim City Manager Selection

This Thursday evening the Northglenn City Council will consider the hiring of a professional city manager to serve as the Interim Manager while they seek a replacement for Mr. Nelson. DISCLAIMER: I have not met, communicated with or know either of the individuals discussed further in this posting.
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They have identified an individual with considerable expertise and excellent credentials. He served as a City Manager for almost 30 years before retiring and is on the Credentialing Committee for the International City Management Association. He currently serves as a Range Rider for the Association in Colorado. A Range Rider provides guidance and assistance to other Managers and Cities in the State.
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The question before the Council will be whether to hire him as Interim City Manager or to continue allowing the current Deputy Manager to serve as Interim. Leslie Cullen has been filling in for Mr. Nelson since the 10th. Ms Cullen has never served as a manager, deputy or assistant on the staff of any local government. Until last July her career was as a consultant on organization structuring almost exclusively in the private sector.
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I recently mailed her city application to all members of the Council so they would have first hand knowledge of her experience or lack thereof. Ms Cullen is charming and persuasive but not knowledgeable in municipal operations. Unfortunately, the Mayor and majority of the Council are not convinced that an outside professional is necessary.
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The City Council is slated to meet with the Range Rider this Thursday night, February 23rd during their regular meeting. This issue is important because the Mayor wants to stretch out the selection process for a new manager by using another consultant. According to her, the process could take up to nine months. I would hope that the Council would do their job by advertising, interviewing and selecting their own City Manager. And, I sincerely hope our Council will choose to have a professional at the helm during this period.
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If you have the time, please come and express your opinion at the start of the meeting or call your Council representative in advance.

Urban Renewal Director

I recently posted an item on this site concerning the Northglenn Urban Renewal Authority’s membership. The same posting was sent to the Sentinel as a letter to the editor. Recently, the Board took another step which reaffirms my belief that the Authority should be abolished and the duties taken over by the Council.
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At the Mayor’s request, the Chairman of NURA convinced the Board to appoint the temporary, interim City Manager, Leslie Cullen, as its Executive Director. Recently I sent the Mayor and Council a copy of her application for the purpose of demonstrating that she does not have the knowledge or experience to be the Deputy Manager or interim Manager. I now add NURA Interim Executive Director to the list.
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I would like to recommend that the Board appoint a person with some knowledge and experience as soon as possible. For 25 years Pat Breitenstein served the City well in the planning, zoning and development fields. When I was appointed to NURA Pat was the Executive Director. In 2004, Pat was one of the many laid off. It didn’t take long for the City Manager to realize that he had made a mistake. Pat was rehired on a part-time basis for a specific project and then brought back full-time. Pat should be appointed Director today. He can handle the position and his other duties with the City easily.
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As an alternative to Pat, we have an icon on the City staff that is planning on retiring to part-time this year. I’m speaking of long time economic development genius and special projects officer, Jerry Starling. Jerry has too much talent and knowledge for the City to loose.
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I have not talked to either of them but urge the Mayor and Council to do their normal thing and tell NURA to appoint one as Executive Director.

City Manager Resigns

Thanks to the persistent effort of a minority on the City Council, City Manager, Phil Nelson, resigned today. While this is a great start many of his additions to the staff who are serving where not qualified remain. Our efforts will continue to return common sense to the City.

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Correction: Nelson chose to share his future with a few but delayed submitting the resignation.

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Addition: Nelson was expected to submit his resignation late Friday the 10th and should received a good and just severance package.