I admit feeling an initial degree of anger as I read about City Manager Eric Holmes’ creation of the new city staff position of communications manager. It’s not that the person the city hired, Barbara Ayers, doesn’t appear qualified for this new position — based upon her employment experience — or that $90,000 is an unreasonable annual salary for such a responsible new position.
Nor is it hardly surprising that Holmes feels the need to connect “with the citizens that we serve,” as ongoing dire city budget constraints dictate that firehouses be closed and vacant police positions go unfilled. After all, why shouldn’t Vancouver’s citizens be restless, as declining property value assessments still result in property tax increases?
I’ve heard that an effective manager must be willing to make unpopular decisions, when necessary to better serve the masses. Let’s hope that the expense of Holmes’ expansion of staff will do more than just improve the city’s public image. Let’s hope that some tangible improvement in the efficiency of city services will be immediately self-evident to the taxpayers.
Ralph W. Burke
Vancouver
