SUFFOLK
The city's former economic development director maintains that she was forced last week to resign or be fired the same day.
Cindy Cave, who left last week after less than seven months into her job, laid out what she called "the real facts" behind her sudden departure in an e-mail to members of the Economic Development Authority board.
City spokeswoman Debbie George responded to a request for comment from City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn by writing "We cannot comment on personnel matters."
Cave's statement also raised questions about the viability of a major business deal that Mayor Linda Johnson touted in her State of the City address last month.
Cave said she was "blamed" for the lease between Sparta Composite Products and Denver-based developer ProLog "not being signed & ready to go."
In parenthesis, she added:
"With all due respect, this is a matter between those two business entities. If the Sparta deal falls through, it will not be because of me, but rather due to the economy."
The deal is to include a $13.2 million plant that would create nearly 200 jobs within five years. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine issued a news release about it in March.
Paul Oppenheim, vice president and general manager of Sparta Composite Products in San Diego, Calif., declined to respond to Cave's comment. But he said: "I can assure your readers that our project is still going forward, and nothing has changed as far as our timeline or our plans."
Cave said in her e-mail to EDA board members that she regretted not having time to say goodbye. She said she was providing the facts of her departure because some of them had been asked about it by reporters. Cave provided a copy of the e-mail she sent to the EDA but did not respond to an e-mail requesting further comment Wednesday.
Cave said Deputy City Manager Patrick Roberts and the human resources director visited her at 3:15 p.m. May 21 in her office. Roberts, whom Cave did not identify by name, said "this is not a good fit," Cave wrote.
He cited three issues, including the Sparta project, she said.
"He took offense when I passed along negative feedback to him from disgruntled business/property owners trying to navigate through the City's development process," Cave wrote.
Also, Cave said, Roberts "accused" her of using the budget process to "downsize/demote staff." Cave said she countered that she had presented a department budget with a 10 percent reduction, as requested by City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn, but her budget was reduced by 37 percent.
Cave wrote that she was told of no performance concerns during her employment. Cave said she was given two choices: "to resign or be terminated... either of which would result in May 21 being my last day of employment."
Mayor Johnson said Wednesday that she did not know anything about the situation other than that city staff had accepted Cave's resignation late last week.
Asked whether she wanted to know the reasons behind Cave's departure, Johnson responded:
"Do I want to know? As far as wanting to know, it's not really my business. We're not into personnel. We're supposed to be into policy."
Councilman Charles Parr, the council's liaison to the EDA, echoed the sentiment, saying that he hasn't asked why Cave had left and didn't want to know. "That's a personnel matter," he said.
Councilman Robert Barclay said he asked Cuffee-Glenn about it Wednesday and received a "satisfactory explanation," but it wasn't something that he would discuss.
Jim Shirley, a new board member of the Economic Development Authority, said he'd like to know more.
"We probably got quite a bit of money invested in her," he said. "And she's only been here seven months. So what are the circumstances?"
Pilot writer Phil Walzer contributed to this report.
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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Didn't Make The Club
This lady's opinions must not have agreed with the good old boys and girls!!
Yepitsme
Yepitsme - I think you are wrong in this case. This is not a privite company where the boss has the right to tell you to do the job his way or take the highway. This woman works for the people of Suffolk. It appears to me that she took her concerns to those above her on behalf of the people and they didn't like it. She did not(before now)take her concerns to the public or try to embarass her superiors. But she has now because they forced her hand. They tried to sweep her under the rug and it backfired on them. They probably did have the right to let she go - but the reasons they gave are too minor for something else not to be smoldering in that fire. It would be interesting to hear from the City Manager on this, but we probably never will.
Politically incorrect to fire the City Manager?
I ran for Suffolk City Council many years ago because of was upset with the excuse of "we set policy only". It seems that excuse is still hanging in the air. That is nothing more than a diversion from take the actions necessary to make dramatic change when necessary. The city council needs to immediately terminate the city manager and start taking direct responsibility for all of the things that happen under their watch.
Term Limits Term Limits Term Limits
Term limits for every elected position in this country. Starting with the US Senate and House of Representatives. Elected office was never meant to be a career.
NOT SURPRISING SUFFOLK
Yup, The Good Ol Boy Network is alive and well in Suffolk. Matter of fact, its growing. The son's and daughters of the previous Good Ol Boys have now taken over and the RUSH to steal from the Citizens has led to a feeding frenzy.
Anytime anyone says they seek public office because they 'want to serve' (the public)............riiiiiiiiiight ! Self-Serving .
When the Wife of a City Employee ALMOST forces a Resident to SELL THEIR HOUSE AND MOVE because of a barking dog ?
Can you say 'abuse of priviledge' ?
One Formula most of the City Govt uses? Buy land at a pittance THEN get it RE-ZONED and sell @ a mass profit.
To Moose
Moose, I agree with your premise of "If you don't like the way things are now, you have to take a CHANCE on CHANGE and vote out every incumbent that has been in the elected position for two terms." The only problem is the premise is flawed. It doesn't work in Suffolk when city councilmen run unopposed, and they are elected from each borough; yet each one votes on decisions that affect all of Suffolk. When Suffolk has an at large election and allows all citizens to vote for all city council members, then will you see new faces within the city council; and only then will the good old boy chain be broken.
i've seen this before....
and it's usually because insecure and incompetent people are afraid they'll be revealed. But what do I know...
never resign
Anytime a business, especially the City of Suffolk recommends resignation or termination, opt for the latter. I don't know what it is about the City but they tend to take (hope for) the opt out easy approach than having their potential dirty laundry aired. I've noticed reading these comments that it depends on who you're friends with, work for/with, who you supported in the past, your agenda, etc as to how you view this subject. I hope everything works out for the best for her.
Suffolk Manager
If you don't live in Suffolk, "WHO CARES." These are political jobs so stop crying your eyeballs out....you got another job, shut-up becasue as I said, "WHO CARES."
I do support term limits. Most of those people think they're royalty!
Do you want to solve the real problem?
If you do, then it's time to put TERM LIMITS on every elected and appointed seat of public trust in city government. This is nothing but an ongoing case of corruption caused in part by complacency. George Washington said it best, "it is wrong for any person to monopolize a seat of public trust". That's why he limited himself to two terms in every office he held. A smart man, maybe we should pay attention to what he said. He was right then and he is right now. If you don't like the way things are now, you have to take a CHANCE on CHANGE and vote out every incumbent that has been in the elected position for two terms. The main problem is that our government has lost touch with the citizens because they have been in office too long and are sheltered from the everyday struggles of the everyday citizen. PLEASE PEOPLE!!! WISE UP!! Stop putting the same loser's in office over and over again. A rookie can't mess it up any worse than the corrupt, self involved, greedy, complacent loser's we have in office now.
The Johnson Parade goes on
That's what happens when you elect an incompetent empire builder as Mayor. I'd never invest a cent in Suffolk.
PROFESSIONALISM OVER POLITICS
This is what you get when you don't value a gem like Steve Herbert as city manager. Back to the good old boy system. How sad. Don't expect the revolving door to stop anytime soon...unless they find a bunch of bobble heads to agree with everything. Sigh.
as with any job...
You do what your told and paid to do, not argue and do it your way. Not saying she argued or put her beliefs ahead of her bosses, but those that have commented seem to think a person is hired to do what ever they "feel' or think is right.
The changes are getting worse.
The same old "good old boys", if you don't play get them out. I've lived her 40 + years, it has not changed much, the politics or circus in Suffolk's management has gotten a little loser with the cannons. Instead of working with the people they've hired, the city manager's plays head games, with the people that work here, and always does the CYA, instead of working for the people, they work just as hard trying to hide those things they believe are the best things for their friends or their own pockets.
Suffolk is still in the dark ages
I can tell you that "navigating" the development process in Suffolk is a nighmare. I've dealt with every city in Hampton Roads and I can tell you that Suffolk is the most messed up (to put it in words I can repeat here) City of them all. If they fired Ms. Cave because she voiced her concernes in this area, I can well imagine why - because they are trying to keep the citizens of Suffolk from finding out how bad things are. I don't think a single one of the City's departments speaks to anyone in any other department. They have no idea how to work together to get anything done. I could never live in Suffolk - that City belongs in the dark ages.
he did not play her cards right.
She should have refused to resign and when she was fired sued the City. I am sure sure she could have filed a claim that would have made them squirm. She did not play her cards right.
All I can say is...
...INVESTAGATION!!!
"It's My Way or. . . . . . "
"It's my way or the highway!" The City Manager's management style is to control every action by "Fear!" The City Manager does do her own dirty work, but sends her henchmen in to delivery the bad news. This situation must end and the City Council needs to take notice of this issue. Resignations, firings, conflict of interest, pay-offs, and backdoor politics are issues plaguing the government of Suffolk.
"It's NOT a good time to be in Suffolk!"
what a mess
Suffolk's city government overall is sooooo messed up. Just one pratfall after another. Sad to see.
well, well, well...
Suffolk's dirty laundry is starting to show...I suspect problems run deep within this city's administration. Time to clean house.