HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-24 Public Comment - A. Kociolek - Public Comment_ City Manager VideoFrom:Angela Kociolek
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment: City Manager Video
Date:Wednesday, February 7, 2024 8:42:53 PM
Attachments:Public Comment City Manager Video.msg
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February 7, 2024
Dear Mayor Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, and Commissioners Coburn, Fischer and Madgic,
First, I absolutely do not condone nor understand Jeff Mihelich and Anna Bentley’s aCtudes
towards Bozemanites, but can only imagine how horrifying and violaHng it must feel to be put on
display like they were. I hope they are receiving mental and emoHonal support from people they
trust.
Second, I have no connecHon with Rumble or Take Back Bozeman nor have any understanding of
their moHves, but I appreciate their posHng of the leaked video. Its content provides supporHng
evidence for the general undercurrent of condescension many of us have noted from the City
Manager’s office and Community Development Department over the past year. Jeff and Anna
should be held accountable.
Third, a leaked video is oOen a sign of unrest and potenHally a cry for help. This needs to be
considered.
Fourth, the commission should call for inves7ga7ons into the following six items. Then, I believe,
the public has a right to know what was discovered.
1. Who was involved in leaking the video, how did they do it, and why did they do it? (This
inquiry should be done in a safe environment with protecHve measures in place for
anyone involved.)
2. What did Anna mean when she said, “that’s inappropriate?” (I believe her statement
was in reference to Mayor Cunningham but I couldn’t understand if she was saying it
was inappropriate for the Mayor to do research for a developer, if it was inappropriate
for him to direct staff to do research - but then it sounded like her team fulfilled the
request anyway, or something else.)
3. What was the full context of Jeff’s comment, “shouldn’t be talking to developers?”
What are the rules around this? Are developers considered disHnct from other
consHtuents and are the rules different? Is there a known history or issue with Mayor
Cunningham or other commissioners not abiding by these rules?
4. Have any other subordinate staff been in similarly awkward posiHons/conversaHons with
Jeff? Have there been any HR-related complaints about Jeff?
5. Was/is there bias in Anna’s review of past/current development projects?
6. Was there preferenHal treatment of Advisory Board Chairs with whom Jeff was “buddy
buddy?”
FiOh, despite Jeff’s quick apology, it rings hollow. He let us know how he really feels about all of us
and his statement seemed like a desperate a_empt to keep his job. When working as a public
servant, everything done at work is public. For Jeff to claim it was a private conversaHon or that he
only said those things because he was under stress holds no water. If Jeff really needed to vent, he
would have done well to find a trusted confidant who didn’t work for the city – or a therapist.
Jeff has shown that he does not deserve to be the highest paid person in Bozeman and that he
would simply take advantage of his cushy situaHon here. Not only did he show contempt for his
fellow staff, commissioners, the engaged Bozeman residents, and the people of AusHn, Jeff also
showed extreme lack of discreHon as a leader.
Why would a boss be talking about such things as his potenHal for an increased salary with a
subordinate making a 1/3 of his income? It’s insensiHve. Why would he be talking about leaving as
soon as he is vested? It’s in poor taste and is destrucHve to the ideas of team spirit and Bozeman
pride. Why would he be bad mouthing commissioners - old and new - to a staff person who is not in
the posiHon to manage commissioners? It breeds disrespect for elected office, calls into quesHon
the moHves of a recently elected official without any real basis to do so, and sets a bad precedent
for staff to follow. These “why” quesHons are probably unanswerable but some of the things he said
and how he said them were so egregious that I’m trying to make sense of it.
The height of Jeff’s obscene privilege came into sharp focus when he described his housing and car
allowance as “stupid stuff.” How many residents of Bozeman would love “stupid stuff” like housing?
Please vote to 1. Terminate Jeff’s employment immediately aHer the Special Mee7ng on February
12, 2024, 2. Limit his severance package as much as legally possible, AND 3. Make public all the
details of his dismissal as is legally possible. Anything short of that would be impotent and a
disservice to the people of Bozeman and to any poten7al future employer.
Sixth, while I can appreciate that Anna was operaHng in the power differenHal dynamic, she also
showed her true colors about engaged ciHzens. It calls into quesHon her role in supervising the
Community Development Department and the enHre UDC update process – of which public
engagement should be a huge part. Anna must also be held accountable. While I appreciated her
statement that something “was inappropriate” it’s not enough to go on unHl she speaks out. Some
sort of consequence is necessary because Anna did not seem like a completely innocent bystander
or vicHm in the conversaHon I saw. We have heard nothing from her or about her and I hope that
will change during the Special Mee7ng.
Seventh, building public trust will depend heavily on the decisions you make at the Special
Mee7ng. PuCng Jeff on administraHve leave was a good start. The people and taxpayers of
Bozeman are depending on you to find a suitable City Manager who deserves the job. Barring any
official/administraHve red flags, and based on his track record of service to Bozeman, it seems Chuck
Winn could be that person.
Lastly, we should not wait for more bears to be habituated! But that’s another le_er.
Sincerely,
Angie Kociolek
620 N. Tracy Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715