Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/116300
OPINION WHAT'S UP WITH CITY'S NEW LEADERSHIP by DAVID G. WILSON Usually a period of sweetness and light ensues when individuals are hired in high-profile positions in local government. Such may not be the case in regards to Rochelle Small-Toney who has been announced as deputy city manager. In Fayetteville, her responsibilities will focus on community development Rochelle Small-Toney A surprise development shortly after Small-Toney took office was the denial by the city's bonding company of a $50,000 bond for her which is a requirement for Savannah's city managers. The cause was a problem with Small-Toney's credit history. But a more serious issue with Small-Toney's tenure related to unprecedented salary increases for several staffers who received increases of more than 20 percent while city policy permitted no more than 2.5 percent. These raises also occurred while the city was in a severe budget crisis. To the dismay of the city council and citizenry, Small-Toney hired an Emergency Services Director at twice the salary of his predecessor. And, as it turned out, the new guy lied about his qualifications and was subsequently fired for cause. These issues were among failure to timely report travel expenses, inappropriate travel and convention charges and a purchasing department in disarray. Six months into SmallToney's tenure the City of Savannah elected a new mayor, who like SmallToney, is an ambitious and successful African-American woman. In the year that followed, the mayor and city manager had difficulty working together and in September 2012 the mayor asked for Small-Toney's resignation, which was rendered. Had the issues that occurred during the brief year and one half that SmallToney served as city manager been stretched out to five or 10 years she may have weathered the storm of criticism leveled at her. But the management style that Small-Toney demonstrated to the Savannah City Council, her staff and the people at large was too much and too soon. She clashed with a strong-minded female mayor and it was over. So the obvious question is which Small-Toney will fill this newly created position in Fayetteville's city government? Will it be the progressive hard driving get it done Small-Toney that attracted Ted Voorhees or will it be her counterpart that led ultimately to her demise in Savannah? Hopefully she has profited by past errors in judgment and behavior and if such is the case Fayetteville will be the better community. in areas related to minorities that will include furtherance of the Murchison Road Corridor, public housing and addressing fairness for minorities and women in the city's granting of contracts. These assignments are closely related to Small-Toney's previous jobs in Charlottesville, Va., and Savannah, Ga. In Charlottesville she oversaw the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. In Savannah SmallToney managed various communitydevelopment programs. She was appointed Savannah's city manager in March 2011 and was asked to resign that position in September 2012. The relatively short tenure of Small-Toney's career as Savannah's city manager was marked with controversy beyond what might be considered normal. The Savannah Morning News reported that as she took her office, the city was in the midst of general belt tightening. Still, she chose to redecorate her office with a price tag of $40,000. That was preceded by a $7,500 welcome aboard party for 400 or so guests that she threw for herself. Meantime the police department was asked to reduce its budget by 5 percent. The AfricanAmerica police chief had his knuckles rapped for having the effrontery to DAVID G. WILSON, COMcomplain and was ordered to say no MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com more by Small-Toney. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Styles of Yesterday & Today Hosted by The Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville To benefit Child Abuse Prevention & Intervention Programs Saturday, March 23, 2013 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24, 2013 1 p.m. & 5 p.m. Location Crown Center Ballroom 333 E. Mountain Drive • Fayetteville, NC 28306 Tickets: $35 VIP Tickets: $60 FACILITY FEE & TICKETMASTER FEES WILL BE APPLIED. For more information, visit www.childadvocacycenter.com or call (910) 486-9700 Special thank you to our generous sponsors: Corporate Benefactors: TLC Auto Wash & Fast Lube Anna C. Cole, LPC Hogan & Kimrey, LLP, Attorneys at Law Dr. Wes & Lucy Jones Robin & Debbie Jenkins Timothy D. Edwards, Attorney at Law Short Stop BB & T Systel Business Equipment Breezewood Healthcare, P.A. Cape Fear Discount Drugs Gold Sponsors: Beasley Broadcasting Group Inc. Highland Construction Lumberton Ford Williams Printing Silver Sponsors: Bank of America Celebrations Weddings & Events Centerplate Catering Crown Center Crown Trophy CTS Cleaning Systems, Inc. Dr. & Mrs. Sam Fleishman Highland Pediatric Dental, Yvette McAlister Stokes, DDS, P.A. Silver Sponsors: Once Upon A Child/Plato's Closet Owen's & Bordeaux Florist Rainbow Pediatrics of Fayetteville, P.A. Trisha Taris - Keller Williams Realty Up & Coming Weekly Doll Salon Premier Sponsor AAA All American Associates in Family Medicine Jos R. Santz I, MD & Maria J. Villena, MD Pink Sponsors: An Affair to Remember Dairy Queen Jernigan's Just A Little Panache TRP CPAs, PLLC Village Family Dental Recommended for children 6 and up American Girl Fashion Show is licensed from American Girl Programs, Inc. All American Girl trademarks, names, and characters are trademarks of American Girl, LLC, used under license. All rights reserved. SEASON OPENER March 29, 2013 Crown Coliseum Enter for your chance to win tickets Name: _________________________ Phone Number: __________________ Email: _________________________ Please send completed entry form by Wed., March 27, 2013 to: Up & Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 or fax to 910-484-9218 MARCH 20-26, 2013 UCW 9