Each year, City Manager Jay Ash undergoes a performance evaluation—a standard practice that City Council President Leo Robinson is now opening to public participation. The annual review of the City Manager’s performance is mandated by the City Charter and reflects the Council’s commitment to ensuring professional municipal administration. This requirement emerged from Chelsea’s governmental collapse in the early 1990s, marked by widespread corruption and fiscal crisis. The new city charter that followed was built on a fundamental principle: never again. In keeping with that commitment and legal obligation, Chelsea’s city manager faces accountability. “We stress professionalism here, and a basic tenet of a professionally run entity is evaluation of staff, especially at the CEO level,” said Councillor Robinson. “It’s true that the Charter calls for an evaluation, however the Charter is silent on public input. We want to make sure that we engage the public, though, because this is an important undertaken which could shape the future of our municipal leadership for years to come,” Robinson added. Robinson is reaching out to a Chelsea public that continues to evolve. The city’s population shifts substantially every five years, with thousands of residents arriving and departing regularly. According to Robinson, the evaluation will inform a subsequent decision by the Council regarding whether to extend Ash’s contract. Ash’s present contract expires in June of 2011. “It’s less than a year away, so we’re putting our ducks in a row, making sure we have the evaluation to help guide the next decision about whether we want to ask the City Manager to continue to do what he’s been doing here since 2000,” commented Robinson. Yet another consideration circulating through city hall concerns whether Ash himself intends to continue, given that Ash has indicated he does not view the position as a permanent career. The Council will assess Ash across eleven categories: Finance, Economic Development, Neighborhood Enhancement, Community Development, Public Safety, Government Philosophy, Personnel Administration, Policy Execution, Intergovernmental Relations, Community Leadership/Public Relations, and Overall Effectiveness. Robinson is inviting public input on these eleven areas or any other relevant matters. Written comments—by letter or email ([email protected])—must reach Robinson by September 3, 2010. A subcommittee that Robinson will establish on September 13th will review these comments and prepare a draft evaluation for the full Council by October. The subcommittee meetings will be open to the public. “Community input is invaluable in the work we do, especially on this topic. I hope we receive feedback, but positive and critical, so that we can have a more informed opinion of the City Manager’s performance and where the City goes for leadership in the future,” concluded Robinson.
