Mark Palesh is no Machiavelli. As Auburn's city manager, Palesh said it is important for the city government to accomplish its goals. But what is just as important is how those goals are accomplished.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Mark Palesh, Auburn's city manager, recently completed his first year on the job.
Mark Palesh, Auburn's city manager, recently completed his first year on the job.
“I have a very firm belief that the ends do not justify the means,” Palesh said Wednesday afternoon during a conversation at Auburn City Hall.
Last month, Palesh, 58, marked his first anniversary at the head of the city's daily operations. Both residents and staffers have likely noticed some changes he's put in place since his arrival.
Palesh said he is satisfied with a number of his accomplishments over the last year. He helped produce a budget that did not raise taxes, and he implemented a human resources department.
On a smaller scale, he has brought some day-to-day changes, as well, some that have met resistance. At his request, jeans are no longer worn by city hall staff, though a new policy allows employees to dress down on Fridays if they make a donation to a city charity.
Thursday night city council meetings have become more efficient and businesslike since his arrival, though a public comment period is now restricted to two meetings per month.
“My philosophy is if we're not going to do things well, why do them at all?” Palesh said. “Citizens expect us to do things as sharply as we can.”
Auburn Mayor Michael Quill, who took office in January, said that Palesh brings a sense of professionalism to city hall.
“He brings a lot of experience, including his military experience,” Quill said, referring to Palesh's time as an officer with the Air Force. “I think he has done an excellent job.”
When Palesh moved to the area with his wife and the two youngest of five children, he had already worked in five different cities and three different states. Because of this, he has been able to draw from experience when facing issues in Auburn, he said.
“Most cities have a lot of the same problems, and a few unique ones,” Palesh said. “My job is to fill in the gaps in the areas that haven't been discovered yet.”
One of those gaps in his mind was the lack of a human resources director. Palesh said he was surprised that
position did not exist when he started here, as such a department is helpful “not only for the city, but also for the employees.”
The financial gap is one that Palesh said he is quite proud of helping to fix. When he arrived, there was a $1.5 million deficit and major problems with the city's water and sewer, he said. By the end of the last budget process, the city was $800,000 in the good.
Palesh attributed the accomplishment to the willingness of the city staff to prioritize.
“When you start with the premise (that you) don't want a tax increase, you have to prioritize,” Palesh said. “If it comes to things that have to be cut, we'll start at the bottom of the list.”
One of the cuts, though not made for financial reasons, was to a popular summer music series. Palesh, with support from the police department, opted not to renew the permit for local bar Spirits to hold outdoor concerts on State Street. The reason Palesh gave was because alcohol would have been served outdoors.
More recently, the city accused a local video store of violating a municipal code by renting adult videos. Palesh was vocal about his disapproval of the store, stating that he would like to see the code changed if the eventual court decision goes against the city.
Palesh said he can see how people would interpret such decisions as being based on his personal moral beliefs. But worst-case scenarios seem to happen when those types of decisions are not made, he said.
“It is the ... effect of not adhering to moral issues that causes problems,” Palesh said.
City Councilor William Graney said he thinks Palesh lets his personal beliefs weigh in on some of his decisions.
“I feel Mark (Palesh) has been doing a good job,” Graney said. “He is a little bit stubborn on some issues. ... But not being from this area, he doesn't know the flavor of the community. That is where we come in.”
Councilor Matt Smith, the lone Republican on the five-person board, said he is pleased with Palesh's job so far, noting that the manager does not make decisions based on political pressure.
“We've had a number of disagreements, but that is OK,” Smith said. “The bottom line is he makes decisions based on what he feels is best for the city, not on what the most popular political whim may be.”
Palesh said he has been working to build better communication between himself and the city council, something which he feels has improved since he started. But when making a decision, he would still rather ask forgiveness than permission.
“I am not going to bring anything to the council that I can handle myself,” Palesh said. “That's what they pay me to do. And if I am not making the right decisions, they will replace me.”
Council Thomas McNabb, who criticized Palesh in the summer over communication issues, said this week that Palesh overall is doing good work, but McNabb declined to answer detailed questions because the council still must complete Palesh's formal review.
Palesh said he feels that he works well with the council, not against them. After all, if the people who pay his salary do not know what he is doing, there is a big problem, he said.
“The elected officials know the city better than I ever will,” said Palesh, who added that he brings a manager's point of view to any decision, while the councilors bring the voice of the people.
“We have to work as a team on things. This is not a dictatorship.”
Graney said that things are running smoothly since Palesh started, and he has handled recent changes, like a new mayor and a new councilor, very well.
“The year before, we were looking at an 8 percent tax increase, a layoff of(city employees), and we had a serious problem with the water,” Graney said. “We have done a lot in the past year to right this ship.”
Councilor Gilda Brower, who started her first term in January, said she has appreciated the accessibility of Palesh and the department heads. There have not been major disputes between councilors and the manager since she came on, she said.
“So far, I like what I see in terms of his interaction with all of us and with the mayor,” Brower said. “Everyone has a very logical approach to things.”
As he begins his second year and approaches a new budget, Palesh said he needs to continue to work with city officials to make sure that the right decisions are made, and they are implemented in the right way.
Over the next year, Palesh said he would like to see the city build a better relationship with the county, especially as regionalization of services and public safety departments becomes more of an issue.
He also expects to work with city residents as Auburn puts together a new master plan.
“We have an opportunity to re-invent ourselves as a city,” Palesh said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
Last month, Palesh, 58, marked his first anniversary at the head of the city's daily operations. Both residents and staffers have likely noticed some changes he's put in place since his arrival.
Palesh said he is satisfied with a number of his accomplishments over the last year. He helped produce a budget that did not raise taxes, and he implemented a human resources department.
On a smaller scale, he has brought some day-to-day changes, as well, some that have met resistance. At his request, jeans are no longer worn by city hall staff, though a new policy allows employees to dress down on Fridays if they make a donation to a city charity.
Thursday night city council meetings have become more efficient and businesslike since his arrival, though a public comment period is now restricted to two meetings per month.
“My philosophy is if we're not going to do things well, why do them at all?” Palesh said. “Citizens expect us to do things as sharply as we can.”
Auburn Mayor Michael Quill, who took office in January, said that Palesh brings a sense of professionalism to city hall.
“He brings a lot of experience, including his military experience,” Quill said, referring to Palesh's time as an officer with the Air Force. “I think he has done an excellent job.”
When Palesh moved to the area with his wife and the two youngest of five children, he had already worked in five different cities and three different states. Because of this, he has been able to draw from experience when facing issues in Auburn, he said.
“Most cities have a lot of the same problems, and a few unique ones,” Palesh said. “My job is to fill in the gaps in the areas that haven't been discovered yet.”
One of those gaps in his mind was the lack of a human resources director. Palesh said he was surprised that
position did not exist when he started here, as such a department is helpful “not only for the city, but also for the employees.”
The financial gap is one that Palesh said he is quite proud of helping to fix. When he arrived, there was a $1.5 million deficit and major problems with the city's water and sewer, he said. By the end of the last budget process, the city was $800,000 in the good.
Palesh attributed the accomplishment to the willingness of the city staff to prioritize.
“When you start with the premise (that you) don't want a tax increase, you have to prioritize,” Palesh said. “If it comes to things that have to be cut, we'll start at the bottom of the list.”
One of the cuts, though not made for financial reasons, was to a popular summer music series. Palesh, with support from the police department, opted not to renew the permit for local bar Spirits to hold outdoor concerts on State Street. The reason Palesh gave was because alcohol would have been served outdoors.
More recently, the city accused a local video store of violating a municipal code by renting adult videos. Palesh was vocal about his disapproval of the store, stating that he would like to see the code changed if the eventual court decision goes against the city.
Palesh said he can see how people would interpret such decisions as being based on his personal moral beliefs. But worst-case scenarios seem to happen when those types of decisions are not made, he said.
“It is the ... effect of not adhering to moral issues that causes problems,” Palesh said.
City Councilor William Graney said he thinks Palesh lets his personal beliefs weigh in on some of his decisions.
“I feel Mark (Palesh) has been doing a good job,” Graney said. “He is a little bit stubborn on some issues. ... But not being from this area, he doesn't know the flavor of the community. That is where we come in.”
Councilor Matt Smith, the lone Republican on the five-person board, said he is pleased with Palesh's job so far, noting that the manager does not make decisions based on political pressure.
“We've had a number of disagreements, but that is OK,” Smith said. “The bottom line is he makes decisions based on what he feels is best for the city, not on what the most popular political whim may be.”
Palesh said he has been working to build better communication between himself and the city council, something which he feels has improved since he started. But when making a decision, he would still rather ask forgiveness than permission.
“I am not going to bring anything to the council that I can handle myself,” Palesh said. “That's what they pay me to do. And if I am not making the right decisions, they will replace me.”
Council Thomas McNabb, who criticized Palesh in the summer over communication issues, said this week that Palesh overall is doing good work, but McNabb declined to answer detailed questions because the council still must complete Palesh's formal review.
Palesh said he feels that he works well with the council, not against them. After all, if the people who pay his salary do not know what he is doing, there is a big problem, he said.
“The elected officials know the city better than I ever will,” said Palesh, who added that he brings a manager's point of view to any decision, while the councilors bring the voice of the people.
“We have to work as a team on things. This is not a dictatorship.”
Graney said that things are running smoothly since Palesh started, and he has handled recent changes, like a new mayor and a new councilor, very well.
“The year before, we were looking at an 8 percent tax increase, a layoff of(city employees), and we had a serious problem with the water,” Graney said. “We have done a lot in the past year to right this ship.”
Councilor Gilda Brower, who started her first term in January, said she has appreciated the accessibility of Palesh and the department heads. There have not been major disputes between councilors and the manager since she came on, she said.
“So far, I like what I see in terms of his interaction with all of us and with the mayor,” Brower said. “Everyone has a very logical approach to things.”
As he begins his second year and approaches a new budget, Palesh said he needs to continue to work with city officials to make sure that the right decisions are made, and they are implemented in the right way.
Over the next year, Palesh said he would like to see the city build a better relationship with the county, especially as regionalization of services and public safety departments becomes more of an issue.
He also expects to work with city residents as Auburn puts together a new master plan.
“We have an opportunity to re-invent ourselves as a city,” Palesh said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
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karl L wrote on Mar 3, 2008 10:00 AM:
The non-renewal of Spirits' outdoor music license was just one more nail in the coffin for the youth of this town--and people actually sit there scratching their heads about why the kids keep leaving Auburn? "
AJ wrote on Mar 3, 2008 3:43 AM:
james_13021 wrote on Mar 2, 2008 8:57 PM:
not exactly the words I would have chosen, but they'll do.
Nothing like a PR compain trying to make himself look good in front of the personal attacks he's been makng at the expense of Family Video.
Open you eyes to the whole story, not just Mr. Palesh's point of view. We need to expand our minds not close it off to the world.
Tolerance, Compassion, and Understanding of your fellow human being PLEASE!!! "
stevedallas wrote on Mar 2, 2008 7:19 AM: