I say yes

I have already voted earlier (So please don't count my vote again.) Now I want to post a comment, and had to vote again to have my comment accepted by the computer.

First: I really appreciate Bill Wright's taking the trouble to raise this issue in this venue, and to summarize the pros and cons so cogently.

Second: My personal experience with having a non-police matter being dealt with in an offensive and inappropriate fashion by a past police Chief strongly influences me to prefer a separate City Manager.

Third: To me the solutions which Mr. Wright and Richard Mueller have proposed to address the added cost of having a separate City Manager seem to me quite cogent and plausible. Moreover, with all the talent and committment available in our energetic community, I believe it would be feasible to find a capable half-time City Manager at a modest salary -- or perhaps even pro bono-- from within our own community. And perhaps a half-time position would be quite adequate.

I say yes

One person should serve as Chief of Police and General Manager. If Chief of Police is made a separate position, then I believe we will be taking the first step on the road to contracting for Kensington police services with El Cerrito or some other agency. I can easily envision some future KPPCSD board performing an analysis that "clearly demonstrates" the cost-effectiveness of outsourcing police services.

Kensington residents are aware that personnel issues have arisen in the district over the past year or so. But these issues appear to be related to staffing decisions, management practices within the police department, and board oversight. The combined chief/GM role is not part of the problem.

A local police force is vitally important to preserving the Kensington way of life and the KPPCSD board should not consider any decision that could threaten it.

I say yes

I voted yes for a number of reasons.

1. This pole is skewed by being limited to people who are computer literate and readers of the West County Times! I couldn't find it in the December Outlook.

2. Includes people living with in 50 miles of Kensington!!! Why should this concern them?

3. Where as a police chief may not be best suited for managing the district, no mention has been made of how a separte position would be paid. Higher taxes may not phase newer residents, but many long time residents worked in years of much lower salaries and bought their homes at a small fraction of todays prices.

I say yes

Kensington is too small for 2 high level executives. Need great police chief with good managment skills and good budget support staff.

I say yes

Without all the facts, it is difficult to make informed decisions. Those people who have studied the current situation have stated that the current approach is good for Kensington. I assume they have good facts to come to this conclusion.

Based on the few facts I know, I currently agree with this opinion. My observation is that our crime is low and that the various activities that are required of a city manager are few. I would think that our recently elected board would take on responsibility for many "city manager" functions rather than act as just a supervisor to the police chief.

The cost of a new "city Manager" position would need to be cost justified for the savings it would bring to the community. The past expenditures regarding our recent police chief we have incurred I believe are unusual and not a potential future savings if we have a new city manager.

In order to have a more complete dicussion on this topic, it would be helpful to describe in more detail what functions we would envision the city manager to own and how the community would be different.

I say yes

The Kensington community does not have enough high level business to hire a General Manager; cost and compatibility of officials may become important factors.
In addition, it is my opinion that the KCSD board did not provide sufficient oversight of the Chief. It is NOT micromanaging to ask for the Board's (its) mail! I shudder to think of two "geniuses" filtering the information received by the Board.
The Board must insist on protocals that allow a proper oversight of the incoming Chief and if necessary its employees.

I say yes

I say yes

I say yes

I say yes