HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-12-24 Public Comment - J. Strout - Public Comment on Status of the Bozeman City ManagerFrom:Jan Strout
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment on Status of the Bozeman City Manager
Date:Monday, February 12, 2024 10:27:27 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
PUBLIC COMMENT – City of Bozeman City Manager - February 12, 2024
My name is Jan Strout, pronouns she/her, and I have lived for a total of over 25 yearsin NW Bozeman. I am one of the co-leaders of the of the Bozeman City for CEDAW
women’s human rights Task Force. Our Task Force members have been dedicated
to advancing the status, safety and human rights of women and girls in all our
diversity as part of a welcoming, fair and equitable community.
The Task Force members and previously, Bozeman Business and Professional
Women, both non-partisan, non-profit organizations have spent considerable time,
expertise, and worked long and hard to educate and activate our community to
advance the adoption of specific policies, programs and budgets designed to
accomplish: 1) increased safety by ending gender- and race-based based violenceand increasing the human right to freedom of movement in public spaces; 2)
economic security and pay equity to reduce and prevent the feminization of poverty;
and 3) protection of bodily autonomy to access and to make decisions about our own
healthcare and rights.
We appreciate the Commissioners’ support and assistance in adopting unanimously
our Bozeman City for CEDAW Resolution - almost 2 years ago - plus all other City
policies related to equity, fairness and inclusion over the past 15 years. Therefore,
we expect these Resolutions and Ordinances to be powerfully included in the City'sStrategic Plan and Belonging In Bozeman (BIB) follow-up. Given those expectations,
they must be implemented in a timely, respectful and professional manner by City
Staff.
Any illusions along the way we had about professional capacity of the City Manager’sleadership have now been revealed and sadly confirmed as we all watched the 17+
minute leaked video tape recording discussion with Bozeman City Manager Jeff
Mihelich and Community Development Head Anna Bentley. This video recording
revealed a clearly disrespectful, arrogant, insulting City Manager that was surprising,but not shocking to many of us, because we have already experienced a series of
ongoing behaviors by the City Manager Mihelich since he arrived on the scene and
spoke hypocritically about caring and supporting many of our efforts on these issues
of fairness, safety, housing and other economic security and health care.
I’ll share a few examples about my own and others shared experiences with theCity Manager’s lack of: professionalism; understanding of our core City values;
respect for his elected and appointed leadership partners; being part of a Team of
elected leaders, staff and community residents; and demonstration of any humanity
and dignity for members of our community and especially for those most under-
represented. Then offer my Recommendations for your consideration.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Protecting our safety and
democratic participation: As we are witnessing, a climate of verbal and
other threats is on the rise nationally and here in our community. Political Intimidation and Violence against women and BIPOCleaders as well as others most under-represented in elected and
appointed Offices is happening and Bozeman is no exception. When
attacks are witnessed at City Commission meetings, reported by severalwomen on City staff and community leaders visible in public life, the City
Manager not only didn’t treat these threats expressed both online and at
public meetings seriously, but he also didn’t take any leadership to follow
through on their reports concerning their safety. He didn’t act for theirsafety or use this as a opportunity to educate our community, to put in
place safety measures and involve elected Leaders and relevant City staff
to craft solutions and prevention strategies.
In case you didn’t notice how few women and BIPOC community members wererunning for Office or being appointed to CAB’s, check out how serious in this just
released Report:
Intimidation of State and Local Officeholders | Brennan Center for Justice
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Need for stronger City Economic
Security measures, investments and policies even before theCOVID Pandemic. Annual reports from HR shows the Top percentile of
highest paid employees are all white men and the lowest percentile are all
women employees in the City. That is why we have invested so much
time in advancing Pay Equity Resolutions, social supports to afford to livewhere working and making the case for Comparable Worth. (CW) is a
more robust method to reduce pay gap disparities and even the playing
Intimidation of State and Local Officeholders
Left unchecked, abuse harms not only elected officials but also thepublic they serve.
field at work. Equal Pay of livable wages is the floor while ComparableWorth is the ceiling of economic equity solutions for ending the
feminization of poverty.
So when we were told Comparable Worth (CW) was added to the 2018 City
Strategic Plan, we asked our Interns to compile Best Practices of CW as a Report
of some cities and states who are leading the way in Paycheck Fairness and
Comparable Worth. We presented this Report in 2021 through meetings, discussions
and follow-up requests to City Manager Jeff Mihelich. We never received any
information about how CW was being implemented as a policy in employeeevaluations or the current 2018 Strategic Plan. And even last November 2023, when
the BIB was being completed, we requested to the BIB project manager that CW be
included in the final BIB. Her reply - after consulting the City Manager - that
Comparable Worth was never in the 2018 Strategic Plan.
We have found this to be the norm in many other areas of his leadership and
management.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Trustworthiness is NOT Possible
for this Manager. The video recording fundamentally demonstrates theCity Manager is not fit to be retained. Mihelich’s contempt for each of the
City Commissioners, our community, our values and this last, best place is
revealed in his whining about being stuck living in this “small town” that is
only a “steppingstone” he resents and only stays to collect his F. U.spending money. Particularly appalling is his exchange with the
Community Development Head about all of the ways they both tear down
elected Officials who serve to make this community better for all of us and
are clearly not in it for the money, for the stepping-stone career path orF.U. disposable income. And as we listen to Complaints from his position
of white, male, economic privilege, as the highest paid City employee that
includes a Housing Allowance, the City Manager has shown no leadership
or compassion for those amongst us who are barely hanging on with lowor no incomes living rough in the cold of their RV’s or tents (go by the
Warming Center) and living with all forms of economic and health
insecurity.
I strongly urge the City Commissioners to unanimously consider the following:
1. <!--[endif]-->Remove the City Manager immediately within the legal
requirements of the City of Bozeman Personnel Policies. In his own recorded words, he has provided beyond a shadow of doubt he
cannot be trusted, believed in or behave as a professional.
2. Do not expend any more money than legally required that shouldn't be used to
buy-off a silent, rapid exit or prevent/overcome a threatened lawsuit. The CM has
confessed his truth and we have heard it. There is not any investigation needed. His
public intentions and actions - as stated in the leaked video – along with his other
inaction and/or unworthy actions have clearly reflected his disdain for our City
policies, leaders and laws which could not help to contaminate a working environment
of the Staff members he is paid to supervise and lead. These are enough for his
removal. Only make any final payments required in the City Personnel Policies.
3. Consider the 2 City Assistant Managers for a short Interim CM position. Save
money by not hiring a place- holder Interim Manager consultant again. The City
leaders and Staff have a lot of momentum needed to advance the recently passedBIB Plans, create the 6-year Strategic Plan and finalize the Unified Development
Codes with priority affordable and sustainable housing supports…to name a few.
4. Search in Montana for the next City Manager and not use a national head-hunterconsultant to find out-of-state and out-of-touch Candidates. We have incredible talent
in the people living in and positively contributing to our community and state for many
years who can be expected to provide excellence, diligence and trust to honor the
values of our City and community members.
5.Thank you to our City Commissioners for having the courage of your convictions to
hold the CM accountable, for your service, putting your lives on the line, believing in
our community and City values – all while having to live with the harm of unfair andtotally unsubstantiated statements by the City staff on the leaked video. That are
further amplified without evidence by the Daily Bozeman Chronicle editorial. You all
have a huge lift as you go through this process and deserve appreciation, support
and respect.
Sincerely,
JanJan Stroutpronouns: she/ella
co-leader, Bozeman City for CEDAW women's human rights Task Force
and member, National Cities for CEDAW Advisory Board Facebook
Bozeman, MT