Mayor Accepts Bill Killingsworth's Resignation

[JaxByDefault]

The TU has a list of all of the city employees dismissed yesterday along with salaries, etc.

They have Bill Killingsworth, along with a handful of others, listed as "Will Revert to Civil Service Position."

Any news on this? Let's hope it's true.

The link is

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-09-28/story/dismissals-cut-through-top-level-jacksonvilles-city-government

[avs]

Does the conversion of the Killingsworth position to a Civil Service position actually mean job security based on his merit?  In other words, it is no longer a position that the Mayor appoints.  So even after Brown goes, as long as Killingsworth is still doing a good job, the next Mayor can't oust him?  That may actually be a good move, although it may mean a paycut for him too...

Anyone know why the conversion of the positions to civil service?

[urbanlibertarian]

I don't think the positions are reverting to civil service, it's the people.  They may be taking civil service positions until the reorg is completed and they are appointed to newly created positions.  This is pure speculation on my part.

[avs]

That makes sense. 

Let's hope this reorganization has better public communication going forward

[ChriswUfGator]

StephenDare and all the rest:

Maybe Killingsworth's removal is a bad move, I don't know.

All I'm saying is that it is the Mayors PREROGATIVE to make these kinds of decisions.

If you don't want future mayors to have this kind of power, then lobby to change the City charter.

Perhaps BK's removal will spark a move for some real change in how we run our city.

If your post reflects the administration's attitude in general, Brown will be a 1-term Mayor.

[Jimmy]

You know, it seems every time the mayor has been in front of a TV camera lately he mentions this massive reorganization of city government that is coming soon.  Could it be that yesterday's actions were just phase 1 of that effort and that we will see some of these folks return to prominent positions after the dust settles?

That has been my thought... if this is the case... more transparency would go a long way...

I agree with you here, BT.  While the Mayor doesn't have a Communications Director at present, there is a Deputy Spokesperson who should be in front of cameras to put this in context.  If not the Mayor himself.

[ChriswUfGator]

Does the conversion of the Killingsworth position to a Civil Service position actually mean job security based on his merit?  In other words, it is no longer a position that the Mayor appoints.  So even after Brown goes, as long as Killingsworth is still doing a good job, the next Mayor can't oust him?  That may actually be a good move, although it may mean a paycut for him too...

Anyone know why the conversion of the positions to civil service?

It's a moot point, in these situations nobody really stays, they just go elsewhere and do their thing. Killingsworth isn't going to take a demotion from Planning Director to janitor just because he's entitled to civil job security, he's going to go somewhere else to be a Planning Director. He's making a career, not just collecting a paycheck. Frankly, that's what separated him from the rest of the typical COJ pack in the first place. Even if he temporarily stays with COJ, I'd expect somebody to come in and scoop him up in short order. He's talented, and everyone knows it. He isn't going to stay on the market long.

[Debbie Thompson]

The loss of Mr. Killingsworth is terrible.  I know, everyone has said it, just chiming in my two cents.  What in the world were they thinking?

[Ralph W]

There's the thing - they were not thinking. Or, there are some favors owed....

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I know this come to a shock to most, but could this be part of a bigger plan.

We've heard the mayor talk about creating a division to oversee DT exclusively?  Glass half full? 

[Bridges]

This is starting to feel dirty. 

[mvp]

Please include Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi, Dir. of Environmental & Compliance, in your retention efforts.  It is because of him that we've had such a massive improvement at Animal Care & Protective Services.  He has saved thousands of animals' lives through his leadership and management.

[iloveionia]

It's a moot point, in these situations nobody really stays, they just go elsewhere and do their thing. Killingsworth isn't going to take a demotion from Planning Director to janitor just because he's entitled to civil job security, he's going to go somewhere else to be a Planning Director. He's making a career, not just collecting a paycheck. Frankly, that's what separated him from the rest of the typical COJ pack in the first place. Even if he temporarily stays with COJ, I'd expect somebody to come in and scoop him up in short order. He's talented, and everyone knows it. He isn't going to stay on the market long.

You are right.
Preservation SOS is deeply indebted to Bill Killingsworth for listening to a Springfield voice about preservation.  It is because of him mothballing came to life and because of him Springfield will get positive love and attention to save our homes and retain our history. 
I just don't get it.  But I suppose that is politics.
I am extremely disappointed in Mayor Brown.

[avs]

Killingsworth isn't going to take a demotion from Planning Director to janitor just because he's entitled to civil job security, he's going to go somewhere else to be a Planning Director

I didn't mean he was taking a new position, just that the position of Planning Director was being restructured.  My father is a Planning Director, and we moved all over the country as he took various Planning Director positions, not that anything is wrong with being a janitor, just wasn't what he did

[Kay]

Please include Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi, Dir. of Environmental & Compliance, in your retention efforts.  It is because of him that we've had such a massive improvement at Animal Care & Protective Services.  He has saved thousands of animals' lives through his leadership and management.

Totally agree.  Ebenezer should stay.