Employees, City Look Ahead Following Public Criticism

Despite critical comments directed at Glendora’s top administrator in a recently released city employee survey, employees and representatives from the Glendora Municipal Employees Association said they were hopeful the relationship between the city and its employees would improve.

Glendora city officials released results of an employee survey conducted in late December and early January, which revealed a 73.2 percent overall satisfaction rating among city employees, but low scores in city relationship, performance evaluation and employee developments, and wages, benefits and recognition.

All three categories scored below the 70 percent benchmark, according to deputy city manager Brenda Fischer.

Mistrust manifested itself during Tuesday’s city council meeting, where city employees and members of the public spoke of dwindling morale in their city’s leadership, especially with city manager Chris Jeffers.

The release of the survey results came the day before city council mulled increasing  Jeffers’ contract term from three years to four and a half.

A tense public comment period during the meeting unleashed critical statements against Jeffers, focusing on the length of the proposed contract extension, as well as his described “poor” relationship with city employees.

The council voted to

Jeffers’ relationship with the GMEA has been strained since negotiations with the association stalled last year.

The city wanted the employees to pay the their full share of their CalPERS pension, among other scaled back benefits – terms the association was hesitant to agree upon. Still, the city imposed a new contract on employees reflecting the changes in pension benefits.

Attorney Wendell Phillips represents the GMEA, and questioned Jeffers’ honesty during the negotiations process.

Still, GMEA representative Marisol Rilloraza called the council decision on Jeffers’ contract “a win” for city employees.

“I would have wanted the council to have waited on their decision so that the new council can decide,” Rilloraza said. “But I feel like, regardless of what decision they came to, it was a win. It felt like they actually listened to us, and took into account what we had to say. That was real democracy.”

Rilloraza said she was optimistic, although much would have to change.

“Perhaps this is a learning experience,” Rilloraza said.

Phillips echoed the sentiment.

“I think the employee survey shows that Glendora city employees love their city, and they will do what it takes to help this city out,” said Phillips. “But they’re not going to rally behind someone they don’t trust. Maybe this is something [Jeffers] can learn from. I believe that any relationship can improve, and perhaps we can move on from this.”

Council member Gene Murabito said he expected the strong criticisms in the employee survey, especially after a long and difficult negotiation process.

“I thing [the employees] are happy working for this city,” said Murabito. “If we don’t do anything with this material, we have wasted everyone’s time and money. The facts are what they are and we need to address them.”