Nice Work if You Can Get It
I thought we did a great job with last week’s paper, then a story like the one the Orlando Sentinel broke last week about the diaper wearing, pepper spray and mallet wielding astronaut and it made me want to quit journalism altogether.
Why? Because it just may be the greatest story since, well, om, ever.
It’s a classic human interest story. I mean, who among us can’t relate with this story? Who among us, that are NASA astronauts, mothers of three haven’t gone completely cuckoo for cocoa puffs, downloaded the flight plans of another person, strapped on a diaper to avoid bathroom breaks, sped 800 miles in order to mace that person. Who hasn’t driven around with disguises, pellet guns, giant garbage bags, steel mallets and knives? Who among us, those who have traveled to space and returned safely home, don’t know what to do with three feet of rubber hosing and a potential rival for the affections of someone you are stalking in the workplace?
It’s truly a bizarre story, and one that will likely add Lisa Nowak’s name to the four or so astronauts everyone can name.
*****
Of more intrigue to those watching Parkville politics (something the Luminary is wont to do on occasion) is the story of the recent personnel changes up at City Hall.
As reported in previous issues, longtime clerk Barbara Lance has now assumed a part-time role as the assistant city clerk, flip-flopping jobs with Claudia Willhite. As reported in this issue, Deb Hammond was hired as an assistant city clerk as well. This is a good thing. You can never have too many clerks for your tax dollar. Parkville needs to promote that fact. Kansas City is the city of fountains, Parkville is now the city of city clerks.
The story behind the story, the kind that can’t really be reported on (but can be commented on), is the somewhat tenuous relationship shared between Mrs. Lance and Parkville’s Mayor Kathy Dusenbery. Neither of the two can be described as a shrinking violet and tensions really came to a head last election when Mrs. Lance sent out a curious press release touting her friend’s entry into the race. Unauthorized press releases from the city have stopped since that point in time, but rumors of an imminent change at the clerk’s position ran rampant, particularly with Mrs. Dusenbery cruising towards an unavoidable electoral landslide.
Dusenbery has been looking for an administrative ally for quite some time. With Mrs. Willhite taking meeting minutes, and Mrs. Hammond working on various office related and legal issues (Ms. Hammond is a paralegal), Mrs. Dusenbery finally seems to have achieved that goal.
This could have been a blood bath up at City Hall. I mean, Mrs. Lance is a Parkville institution, just like Tom Hutsler. Instead, patience won out and Mrs. Lance found a job she has basically created for herself (records administration) and likes. Mrs. Dusenbery gets clerkage she feels she can work better with, and there’s no hard feelings – at least on the surface.
Maybe, that is, until next year’s budget comes rolling along.
Editor’s Note: The above column received a scathing reply from former city clerk Barbara Lance. What follows is the letter, more context and then my magnanimous reply via email.
Mr. Vasto:
I know research is tedious, but I’d like to direct you to two sources you might have checked out before you wrote that I am now “assistant city clerk.”
First, in the Parkville Luminary last week, Nancy Jack reported that I was changing jobs, and I would be working with records. She did not say I would be assistant city clerk.
Second, in the meeting packets which the City of Parkville provides to officials, staff and reporters (and oh yes, to one publisher — that would be you) I suggest you check the January 16th packet, which contained a copy of the ordinance making Claudia Willhite city clerk, creating a new position called “Records and Special Projects Administrator,” and naming me to that position. It is not an assistant city clerk position, and the Board of Aldermen, the mayor, the city administrator and I all agreed on that before the ordinance was passed. Part of my duties will be new to the City — changing over to electronic record-keeping for many documents. I will also be assisting with the website, writing proclamations, etc.
The minutes I took in January are probably the last ones I will ever take. Claudia and I will work together on other issues, i.e., Sunshine Law requests, liquor license assistance, and TIF Commission matters. We may work together on other matters as well, but I will not be taking minutes, doing agendas, or preparing packets for you and others. As Ms. Jack observed, Ms. Willhite and I work very well together, and I was proud to swear her in as my successor.
And in the most recent meeting (again, check with your reporter) Deb Hammond was hired as an administrative assistant, NOT an assistant city clerk.
Now, about research, where is that “curious press release” you mention, the one I supposedly sent before the last election touting a friend of mine? Chances are fair to good that any candidate I sign up would be a friend of mine, as I have worked with the Board of Aldermen for 25 years, and have been active in city matters for that length of time. So it’s not news to say something was “about a friend of mine.” Is it possible you are referring to the routine notice we send out to the press when a new candidate signs up to run? And is it “touting” to include the candidate’s name and address? The working press seems to appreciate that information. As for “touting” any candidate, I think that would be a quick route to termination.
I have to tell you I was oblivious to the RAMPANT RUMORS you cite regarding an “imminent change to the clerk’s position.” Silly me, I was just sitting at the meetings taking minutes, or in my office answering phone requests, or transcribing minutes, or working with the mayor to organize the Groundbreaking or the Awards Picnic or the Mayor’s Christmas Party. Little did I know that rumors were running riot outside my door. That is, except for the time you and Don Breckon suggested it was past time for me to retire. I say “you AND” because you ARE the publisher. Does it come as a disappointment to you that a year later I am still not retired?
The change in my employment was my idea, made with the goal, as Ms. Jack reported, of doing some other things in my life away from City Hall. Working half-time (and, I hasten to add, being paid half-time, as you are so zealously guarding the city’s tax dollars) will give me a more relaxed schedule; I’ll be 80 this spring, so I feel I’ve earned the right to “sleep in” if I want to. I’m proud that I’ve been able to work full-time through my 70’s, and that I’m still working, and giving it my best shot, and enjoying it.
If I didn’t love this city so much, and if I weren’t having so much fun doing the job (the last one and this one), I might consider retiring. Or not — don’t get your hopes up.
I recognize that I have been on “Vasto’s List” for a while, though I don’t know why. It doesn’t matter, because I do not intend to be drawn into a jousting match with you. Please be advised that this is the first and will be the last letter you will receive from me about me, no matter how much fun you intend to have at my expense in the future.
I will, however, continue to be courteous and responsive to requests from you and your staff for information about the city.
Barbara J. Lance
Records and Special Projects Administrator
cc: Kathy Dusenbery, Joe Turner, Brian Atkinson, Deborah Butcher, Jeff Bay, Jim Brooks, Dave McCoy, Dave Rittman, Marc Sportsman, Gerry Richardson.
(To Marvin Ferguson by FAX)
bcc: Stacy Wiedmaier, Nancy Jack, Andy Hyland, Jared Hoffman, Ivan Foley, Denise Bassett, Curt Lance, Liane Lance, Trina Lance, Martha Zirschky, Linda Arnold.
And now…THE CONTEXT:
Clearly Mrs. Lance was stung by the editorial, which I actually thought was too nice! Let that be a lesson to all columnists out there, endeavouring to tell it like it is — you can’t win, so don’t pull your punches.
Obviously, what I wrote was a column, and I was just telling it like it is. The bottom line is, when I called and asked the City Manager about the two new positions at City Hall, Mrs. Lance’s was called “Deputy City Clerk” and the job description for Mrs. Hammond (and parts of Mrs. Lances) have them doing work that an assistant city clerk would normally do. The point is, there are a lot of people doing clerical things up at City Hall.
Second issue: Just because Mrs. Lance wasn’t aware that rumors were running rampant, doesn’t mean they weren’t. In fact, they were and the Luminary shed light on that in this column. She should be thanking us to have learned this.
To be more specific, the candidate in question was Charlie Poole — a former alderman of 14 years who had unsucessfully ran for mayor the election previous, losing to current Mayor Kathy Dusenbery by around 50 or so votes. There is little question that Mr. Poole and Mrs. Lance are good friends. On the day Mr. Poole filed to run for mayor a second time, Mrs. Lance went to lunch with him, came back to the office and sent out a press release of the candidates in the race. It was not “routine” (in fact, I believe it was the only one I’ve ever received…I certainly didn’t receive one this election cycle). It was a subtle way of saying — I opine — that “my friend is in the race” to the press.
This isn’t Watergate stuff…but it’s telling and yes, it angered a lot of people at City Hall who felt that the clerk was overstepping her boundaries a bit. Clerks don’t normally send out press releases unilaterally.
Poole ran a disaster of a campaign and he refused to even speak with the Luminary during the cycle. As a result, we enthusiastically endorsed Mayor Dusenbery and she won in a landslide.
Next issue: the confusion over the opinion pages. It’s hard for some people to get this, but just because I *publish* it, doesn’t mean I agree with it. Lord help me if I agreed with this week’s op-ed, for instance. The opinion page is an OPINION page. Heck, even I don’t agree with some of my own opinions from a year ago.
Mrs. Lance mentions a column written by Don Breckon, the former Park University President (which can be found in the editorial section of this website) where he opines that it’s time for Mrs. Lance to retire. This enraged Mrs. Lance and her family, who blame me for saying it.
Here’s where it gets weird. I want Mrs. Lance to work as long as she is competent and able, anywhere she wants! I never lobbied for her retirement — especially over her age. If there is any employer — and I mean ANY employer in Parkville or Platte County that hires more 80+ year old employees than me, I’d like to know. Both my reporter and columnist average 82.5 years of age.
That said, if it’s true that the mayor — or any elected official for that matter — felt they were being hamstrung by an unelected city clerk, I would be an advocate for their termination. I’ve never called for a termination at City Hall in any column I’ve ever written because there hasn’t been the need to do so.
So, no, I don’t have a “list.” I’m an equal opportunity basher (and often times we are pointing out the good…those don’t inspire hate mail, however) and I will continue to comment on Parkville’s political landscape truthfully and accurately. That’s why the Luminary’s success at the news rack is unprecedented and why some people who want to control all the messages in town can’t stand it.
Anyway, it didn’t bring me any pleasure knowing that Mrs. Lance was that upset over the column, so I penned this sincere reply. We haven’t heard back, but I’m sure we’ll be revisiting the story again someday anyway.
Dear Barbara,
Thanks for taking the time to write this.
I personally think you’ve overreacted a little to what I wrote, and I regret that you took it this way. I also think you’re splitting hairs a little bit: when I called and spoke with your boss, he described your position as the “deputy city clerk.” I was not intending to trivialize your work and recognize that you take a great deal of pride in what you do.
I doubt there’s much I could write here that would assuage your feelings. I do my best to keep things “in the ring,” that is, I do not comment on the personal affairs of people in politics. That said, I know it is difficult to read about yourself in print (I have been the subject of articles before, myself). The fact is, you’re a big part of city politics and reporting on such matters will remain a big part of what we do at the Luminary. I stand by my analysis from last week.
Lastly, I do not agree with every opinion expressed on the Luminary’s opinion page, even if I do decide to publish it. Personally, I write what I feel, and sign my name (and include a picture) to everything I write in the Luminary so there can be no mistaking as to where I stand on an issue and that’s the best I can do. I do not wish for you retire if you do not desire to do so, in fact, I don’t really give your employment status much thought — I’m pretty libertarian in that regard. At the Luminary, half of my staff is aged 80 years or older (Grigs just turned 85) so I certainly don’t begrudge you anything. Also, I don’t have “a list.”
Thanks for your offer of continued courteous service and responsiveness. I appreciate your contributions, particularly the story you wrote about previous city award winners and all of the assistance you’ve provided Nancy Jack over the years.
Sincerely,
Mark Vasto
Publisher
The Parkville Luminary