Bust My Britches, They Actually Did It!

 

I probably should digest what took place at last night's Board of Alderman meeting for a few days, but I think fun times are ahead and I couldn't wait to give you my take on it right now. I still cannot believe what happened simply because its ramifications are so staggering. Mayor Nickolas Guccione, our Mayor Nickolas Guccione, the one who's most challenging task of the day is counting how many chicken parts to put in each package, is going to be serving a dual role to include that of City Administrator.

 

You heard me right, Guccione will now be responsible for everything. Alderman of Ward 1, Chris Gard suggested it and it got enough support from the board that it happened. When the aldermen discussed his new role Guccione said he could handle it, but as talks turned to duties he started back-peddling. "I'm only here one day a week, but I come here every evening." So here's the story; we now have a full-time mayor who only works one day a week, doesn't that sounds exciting!

 

It is my belief that Guccione wanted to be Mayor and Interim City Administrator with the fat paycheck that comes with it, but—and this is a big BUT—he will only get his mayor's salary which is somewhere in the range of $14-$15K a year, which some believe to be too much. That's a real let down for Guccione, four times the work at a tenth of the rate, but it's a real good deal for the city (if it works out). I'll go out on a limb here and say; Nickolas Guccione is the lowest paid City Administrator in the history of Wentzville!

 

Guccione's bubble burst when the City Attorney, Paul Rost said: "According to statute, being a 4th class city, you cannot hold both jobs at once. If you were to take the interim City Administrator job (with the fat-fat paycheck), you would have to resign from office, and visa-versa." So now he has the responsibility of being mayor with all the work and responsibility of a City Administrator piled on. Mayor Guccione is a much better man than I ever gave him credit for because he's going to do all of this in one day a week (and evenings of course), Bravo Mayor Nickolas, you are truly the King of Wentzville!

 

The Aldermen, as I, have confidence that our city directors will step up and keep the day-to-day functions of the city going. They are intelligent, capable, and highly-educated in their various fields. The problem I see is the day-to-day interface between them with their City Administrator who will be cutting and packaging chickens four days every week, where will they go to get answers or decisions? This is going to be interesting to watch.

 

I smell disaster for the city and I don't know how it can function when Guccione has to make snap-decisions...right now. It ain't happenin'. Are the aldermen setting him up, knowing that he can't possibly do the job? What happens if he screws something up? I know that employees don't like working with (or under) him, that may be why he can't get any of the Directors to take the interim job. They don't want him messing up and blaming them, he is famous for excuses and always has a fall-guy. You watch, when he blunders he will use his famous, "I didn't do it," or "I didn't know, nobody told me." And now he can use the old: "Hey, I'm doing two jobs here some things are going to fall through the crack." A note to staff: Gird your loins, you're about to get something you really, really don't want!

I'll be watching more closely now than I ever did to make sure the blame goes where it belongs. After all, he said he could do it. When things start to go south in our city, I'll make sure you get it first.