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For the first time in two years, Port Richey City Manager Vince Lupo is to receive a written evaluation of his performance. Here's a peek at our version in light of the events that have transpired since Lupo's last trip under the council microscope.
Protective of employees: Needs work. City manager failed at attempt to seek injunction intended keep a gadfly out of City Hall. Building official felt compelled to request his own State Attorney's Office investigation of what he called stalking by another citizen. Consultant recommended eliminating police dispatch service and a couple of cop jobs. City manager responded with own plan to cut four jobs including two in the building department.
Protective of animals: Needs work. Lots of work.
Protective of self-interests: Excellent. Eliminated anticipated public criticism by distributing evaluation forms to council members.
Personal appearance: Needs work. Animal-parts jewelry is a turn-off to some, judging by letters to the newspaper.
Citizen relations: Excellent. Just ask bingo lobbyist James Carter or Carter's bosses at Paradise of Port Richey, employees of which were suspected by a police officer of pilfering city water to scrub the gambling boats. Not so, said the city manager, who characterized the police report as containing grossly inflated accusations.
Employee relations: Needs work. Was tardy in approving $2,271, or 17 days' pay for U.S. Air Force reservist and Police Officer Scott Schuck under a state law that provides for leave for annual reserve training. City manager initially declined payment request, following a legal opinion that state law did not apply since Schuck was called up for active duty, not participating in training. So much for patriotism. After acquiescing, manager said it felt good to do the right thing. We wonder if he feels well very often.
Council relations: Could be better, otherwise, the members wouldn't be evaluating him. Still, his relationship with council members is better than the city attorney's. Also, sat on board of non-profit group begun by council member Dale Massad and saw no conflict until Massad faced re-election. Withdrew from board of Africare after trips to Africa in which he bagged the Big Six of big-game hunting.
Services: Excellent. Ordered police to work overtime to try to catch suspected vandals of campaign signs. Established aggressive code enforcement resulting in building official reprosecuting alleged violations against gadfly even though a citizens board had cleared her previously. Did we mention it's the same gadfly, Delores Felske, the city manager wanted to bar from City Hall?
Innovation: Excellent. Attempted to cash in on school-crowding crisis by partnering the city with gambling maven Mollie Kolokithas to finance city government operations with proceeds from casino parlor on the waterfront. The only things standing in the way are the Florida Constitution and the will of voters who three times turned down proposed amendments to legalize casino gambling.
Fiscal management: Needs work. Attempted to restore his own $10,000 travel allowance while council considered cutting police department and/or building department employees to stave off budget shortfall.
Also, prepared current year's budget working under erroneous assumption the city would receive nearly $124,000 from Pasco County for its redevelopment fund. Tax money, however, is paid a year in arrears and the first payment from the county isn't due until next fiscal year. It delayed planned capital spending including sidewalks, drainage, landscaping and waterfront improvements. Lupo's assistant, Lou Clini, characterized the gaff as "money we can do without."
Employee supervision: Needs work. Boneheaded memorandum from Clini, which recommended immediate disbanding of the police department last year, is indicative of an administration run amok while simultaneously kowtowing to political forces seeking retribution against Police Chief William Downs.
Goals for coming year: Continued employment; maintain police department; maintain building department; balance budget. Mostly, increase professionalism and assert leadership skills.
Future with city: Looks promising. It is the city attorney who can be fired with just three votes, not the manager.