The Burkett memo is posted at http://issuu.com/peninsuladailynews/docs/council_policechiefmemo07192010
SEQUIM – City Manager Steve Burkett outlined to elected city leaders his specific reasons for asking former Police Chief Bob Spinks to find another job, saying it was necessary to change the police department’s direction, organizational culture and financial management.
The Peninsula Daily News obtained the July 19 memo last week.
“Although there has been some negative reaction and questions by citizens, the reaction and feedback to me from employees in the department has been positive,” Burkett said in the memo.
“I am very comfortable with this decision and confident that I will be able to appoint a new chief that will be able to develop an environment of trust, productivity and cost-effective provision of public services . . . While we wish Bob well in his future endeavors, I believe that in the best interest of Sequim, a change was needed.”
Burkett had urged Spinks to find a new job by May 31, or resign in any case by Dec. 31. Spinks unsuccessfully sought positions with the police forces of Lebanon, Ore., Pullman and West Richland.
His last day was July 2, after he signed a severance and non-disparagement agreement with the city of Sequim. He was paid $31,044.52 on departure, including severance, unused vacation and sick time.
Spinks continues to live in the Sequim area and has a radio show on KSQM-FM.
“The reason I asked the chief to search for a new job is because I came to the conclusion that the city needed a change in approach, style, direction and results in our police department,” Burkett wrote.
Burkett saw that potential for change in new Police Chief Bill Dickinson, 60, who started in early September.
Burkett last week said he did not want to comment beyond what he has said in the memo.
Sequim Mayor Ken Hays said neither he nor any other City Council member had anything to do with the decision about Spinks.
Mayor responds
That was left up to Burkett, who as city manager is responsible for hiring and firing department heads.
“I thought those were sound reasons to make a change,” Hays said, referring to the memo.
In the memo, Burkett said he was responding to questions from citizens at council meetings and news media accounts about Spinks’ departure.
“The former chief has also been quoted in the news media that the reason for his termination was that I wanted my own team and he was unaware of any other reasons for my decision,” Burkett wrote.
“Although developing an effective management team is an important part of my responsibility, the desire for my own team is hardly a substantive reason for crucial personnel decisions such as replacing the police chief.
Burkett said his overall goal was to allow Spinks “the ability to make a smooth transition to a new bigger and better police chief job.”
“Unfortunately my lack of comments on the reasons for Bob’s termination has resulted in a perception that he has perpetuated in the media that my decision was somewhat arbitrary or without substantial management and operational justification.”
Based on his experience with several different chiefs and a history of recruitment and the selection process, Burkett said, “I have a clear understanding of the requirements of the position and the standards that we should expect for the position here in Sequim.
“After serious thought and consideration, I came to the conclusion that Chief Spinks did not meet my expectations.”
Burkett said that, in addition to the technical requirements, he expected the chief to possess excellent leadership and management skills and values.
“It’s important that the chief develop and maintain the trust and respect of the employees in the department, establish excellent customer service expectations, demonstrate effective teamwork with the city manager, department heads, council and the community,” Burkett wrote.
“The chief also must be an effective financial manager and be able to provide high quality customer service for good value and at a reasonable price.”
Burkett cited the need for more effective communication and trust inside of the department.
Employee concerns
“Recently I conducted an employee survey that indicated some concerns about the organizational culture and environment from the perspective of the employees of the department,” Burkett told the council.
“While the police staff has continued to provide excellent service to the city, the level of communication and trust in the department illustrated by the survey are not acceptable.”
Burkett said he and the new chief would develop an environment inside the department that improves the employee satisfaction levels.
“I will be selecting the chief that can help me build a department where there is mutual respect, consistently and fairly applied discipline, an organization that uses taxpayers’ money wisely and cost effectively,” Burkett said in the memo.
Burkett said he expected his new chief to provide new direction in the management “of our scarce financial resources.”
He said the city of Sequim currently has an estimated population of 5, 830 with an annual police department operating budget of $2.4 million.
This represents a cost per capita for the department of $411, far higher than most Washington state cities of comparable size.
He shared with the council comparisons that ranged from Sammamish at $101 annual cost per capita to Lynnwood at $383. Port Angeles, he reported, provides police services for $228 annually per capita.
“As you can see, Sequim is the most expensive police department measured by the cost per capita in these comparisons,” Burkett stated. “I’ve yet to find a city in the state that has a higher cost per capita.”
Calling the workload “very moderated,” Burkett said “The trend of the increasing cost for our department is inconsistent with other similar cities and unsustainable.
“Since 2004, the cost per capita for our department has increased by 42 percent. This is inconsistent with my approach to financial management.”
Expanded HQ
Burkett also cited Spinks’ proposal as interim city manager to remodel and lease additional space to expand police headquarters in the Sequim Village shopping center.
The city leased the space in 2008, never using it, at a cost of about $76,000 in $3,800-a-month rent to building owner, McNish Family LLC.
In 2008, Burkett said, Spinks and the public works staff told the City Council that the work could be accomplished within a $320,000 budget.
New Public Works Director Paul Haines, hired by Burkett this year, estimated the cost of the project at $660,000.
Because the estimate more than doubled, Burkett has recommended to the council that the city not proceed with the project, concluding it was not cost-effective to the taxpayers.
The council backed Burkett’s position and settled with the contractor, Hannah Construction of Port Angeles, for $34,100 for planning work to remodel the additional space for a police briefing room, office space, an armory and physical fitness area.
Calling the project “poorly managed,” Burkett said he talked to police officers after he came on board nine months ago.
“I heard from them almost unanimously that it was a big waste of money,” Burkett said.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
