Top Official Expelled from City Hall by Police

[kernwatch]

This is another development in what appears to be a troubling pattern in the Brown administration.

Brown's first choice for "Technology" Deputy Mayor, a highly respected woman from Oakland, quickly left for "personal" reasons. Recently the only two other "imported" members of the Brown administration I am aware of, Tim Wanamaker & Leonard Matarese, have also resigned.

Ironically, I was alerted to this story by Keith Borders, the motorcyclist who was was injured by Brown's "spokesman" in a long covered-up DWI, hit-&-run late-night accident at Tupper & Delaware nearly 2 1/2 years ago. Cutler was arrested hiding under a car on Breckenridge after Cutler followed him around the westside, repeatedly calling 911.

Cutler now works behind police protection in a Mayor's Office no longer open to citizens, as the police chief seriously damaged his reputation attempting to cover-up the late night demolition derby by Byron Brown Jr. Then one of Byrons Jr's 'victims', respected civil service worker Betty Tryjankowski has been punished with a do-nothing job for criticizing her treatment by a Mayor who never even apologized.

And there is that dramatic suspension of Detective Delano, viewed as a hero by many . . .

Is there something unseemly going on in the Brown administration, too often facilitated, or covered-up, by cops?

http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/16765696.html

City Official Escorted out of City Hall by Police

Story Published: Mar 17, 2008 at 7:51 PM EDT

By Ginger Geoffery

Watch the story
It was late Friday afternoon when Buffalo police officers escorted the City's technology chief Robert Leach out of City Hall. Mayor Byron Brown's spokesperson says that's standard procedure when a high-ranking official is terminated, but others are concerned about the message it sends.

"I think there was more to this than meets the eye and I'd like to hear Mr. Leach's side of the story," says Buffalo Common Councilmember Michael LoCurto, D-Delaware District. LoCurto wants Leach to come before the Common Council to tell his side. Leach apparently fell out of favor with the mayor. Leach was hired after a nationwide search a year ago, and was making $135,000 a year overseeing the city's technology upgrades including a new phone system and new police cameras. Then, on Friday Leach found himself terminated and escorted out of City Hall by police officers.

"What does this say? That if you don't get along with the mayor, if you question the mayor publicly cops are going to come and remove you from the building?," asks LoCurto, "I don't think it's a very professional way to run a city."

Mayor Brown's spokesman though says it's no different than someone in the private sector being terminated and escorted out by security, and he points out this firing was not done by the mayor alone. Brown needed approval from another member of a three person review board. Brown, City Comptroller Andrew SanFilippo, and Common Council President David Franczyk make up that review board. Brown got the second vote needed to fire Leach from SanFilippo. "SanFilippo urged them to come together and resolve their differences but it became more clear as time went on that that wasn't going to happen," says SanFilippo's executive assistant Tony Farina. He says once it became clear their differences were not going to be resolved, SanFilippo decided to support the termination.

The Brown administration isn't saying why the relationship between Leach and the mayor deteriorated to the point of no return, but some say Leach won't be easy to replace. "You need somebody and you need somebody extremely qualified for that position, and he was," says LoCurto,
"It's hard enough to attract and retain top level talent without escorting them from the building with police officers."

LoCurto is part of the Common Council majority that lately tends to clash with the Brown administration on a number of issues.

Leach could not be reached for comment on Monday, and so far there's no date set for him to appear before the Common Council.

[citymouse]

That department has existed quite well for the last thirty years under it's civil service director. It also used to be under the comptroller. I think, under the new charter, it is now under the supervision of the 2nd floor. It was much less political under the comptroller.
They made the usual double speak about a national search for a competent, appointed ,non agreement Director. I heard that they created this $130,000.00 job for Robert Leach at the behest of Robert Wilmers of M%T Bank. (at least that's the rumor in city hall, everybody in a political position comes from somewhere) What his connection to Wilmers is I couldn't guess.
From the rank and file on the 12th floor comes word that the guy did nothing. He was dragging his feet on every task they gave him and did not care for Casey's management style or having to answer on citistat.
I also heard that the anti-administration faction in the council is using this to slap Brown. All that is politics. The fact that SanFlipo who is no friend or ally of the mayor has signed off on the guy too should speak volumes.
I heard that the guy was way out there and the city is better off for his departure.

[Linda_D]

That department has existed quite well for the last thirty years under it's civil service director. It also used to be under the comptroller. I think, under the new charter, it is now under the supervision of the 2nd floor. It was much less political under the comptroller.
They made the usual double speak about a national search for a competent, appointed ,non agreement Director. I heard that they created this $130,000.00 job for Robert Leach at the behest of Robert Wilmers of M%T Bank. (at least that's the rumor in city hall, everybody in a political position comes from somewhere) What his connection to Wilmers is I couldn't guess.
From the rank and file on the 12th floor comes word that the guy did nothing. He was dragging his feet on every task they gave him and did not care for Casey's management style or having to answer on citistat.
I also heard that the anti-administration faction in the council is using this to slap Brown. All that is politics. The fact that SanFlipo who is no friend or ally of the mayor has signed off on the guy too should speak volumes.
I heard that the guy was way out there and the city is better off for his departure.

High level IT people are frequently escorted from the building when they are fired because they frequently have powerful passwords that allow them tremendous access and privileges. They aren't allowed to hang around because they could do some nasty stuff to the business/government data or software while supposedly "cleaning out their offices". While this gentleman was being escorted from the building, you can bet that some techie or five were changing every high level password on the COB's computer systems. I bet that most department heads as well as other key IT users were also instructed to change their passwords.

Even when a high level IT manager leaves under the best of circumstances, such as for a better job or for retirement, there's a feverish rush to change all the key passwords. Most IT departments have learned bitter lessons about the greed/vindictiveness of some former employees.

[WNYresident]

High level IT people are frequently escorted from the building when they are fired because they frequently have powerful passwords that allow them tremendous access and privileges.

This is true. A lot of time the very high ups don't even know they are going to be let go until they are told on the spot.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

That department has existed quite well for the last thirty years under it's civil service director. It also used to be under the comptroller.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Technology changes by the hour. Plowing streets does not. A civil service director or a comptroller would have no clue on how to run current technology.

I think, under the new charter, it is now under the supervision of the 2nd floor. It was much less political under the comptroller.
They made the usual double speak about a national search for a competent, appointed ,non agreement Director. I heard that they created this $130,000.00 job for Robert Leach at the behest of Robert Wilmers of M%T Bank. (at least that's the rumor in city hall, everybody in a political position comes from somewhere) What his connection to Wilmers is I couldn't guess.

Yea you heard. I also heard a rumor that city workers are lazy sacks of crap. Are we both right?

From the rank and file on the 12th floor comes word that the guy did nothing. He was dragging his feet on every task they gave him and did not care for Casey's management style or having to answer on citistat.

I would not doubt this. It is common for the tech staff to be the smartest people in the room. It is often why a director level gets paid just as much as a C level in companies. He is also not a sheep, like some, so I am positive he did not get along with Mayor Casey.

I also heard that the anti-administration faction in the council is using this to slap Brown. All that is politics. The fact that SanFlipo who is no friend or ally of the mayor has signed off on the guy too should speak volumes.
I heard that the guy was way out there and the city is better off for his departure.

Yea, why invest in technology and that advanced stuff. Funnel money to the common man and remain in the stone ages.... Freakin tool!

[MERL J]

That department has existed quite well for the last thirty years under it's civil service director. It also used to be under the comptroller. I think, under the new charter, it is now under the supervision of the 2nd floor. It was much less political under the comptroller.
They made the usual double speak about a national search for a competent, appointed ,non agreement Director. I heard that they created this $130,000.00 job for Robert Leach at the behest of Robert Wilmers of M%T Bank. (at least that's the rumor in city hall, everybody in a political position comes from somewhere) What his connection to Wilmers is I couldn't guess.
From the rank and file on the 12th floor comes word that the guy did nothing. He was dragging his feet on every task they gave him and did not care for Casey's management style or having to answer on citistat.
I also heard that the anti-administration faction in the council is using this to slap Brown. All that is politics. The fact that SanFlipo who is no friend or ally of the mayor has signed off on the guy too should speak volumes.
I heard that the guy was way out there and the city is better off for his departure.

I watched him on a few CitiStat broadcasts - what a pompous blowhard - real attitude......................

[BFLOCOP]

How does this guy get fired and James Williams gets to keep his job? Is it because he was handpicked by the control board? Now he received a certified letter about sexual abuse against an autistic child, verified by his signature, and he dumps it off to a staffer and then fires her. Nice. Sodom and Gomorrah had safer schools.

[winfield31]

This is true. A lot of time the very high ups don't even know they are going to be let go until they are told on the spot.

Rez , this guy knew he was going , he signed the infamous resignation letter before they agreed to hire him . There was no need for the dramatics with the police escorting him from the building , this group is "acting" like the start of the "SS"..........

[winfield31]

This is another development in what appears to be a troubling pattern in the Brown administration.

Brown's first choice for "Technology" Deputy Mayor, a highly respected woman from Oakland, quickly left for "personal" reasons. Recently the only two other "imported" members of the Brown administration I am aware of, Tim Wanamaker & Leonard Matarese, have also resigned.

Ironically, I was alerted to this story by Keith Borders, the motorcyclist who was was injured by Brown's "spokesman" in a long covered-up DWI, hit-&-run late-night accident at Tupper & Delaware nearly 2 1/2 years ago. Cutler was arrested hiding under a car on Breckenridge after Cutler followed him around the westside, repeatedly calling 911.

Cutler now works behind police protection in a Mayor's Office no longer open to citizens, as the police chief seriously damaged his reputation attempting to cover-up the late night demolition derby by Byron Brown Jr. Then one of Byrons Jr's 'victims', respected civil service worker Betty Tryjankowski has been punished with a do-nothing job for criticizing her treatment by a Mayor who never even apologized.

And there is that dramatic suspension of Detective Delano, viewed as a hero by many . . .

Is there something unseemly going on in the Brown administration, too often facilitated, or covered-up, by cops?

Dick , instead of just cutting & pasting that post , why don't you elaborate on what & how it feels like to be escorted from a public building ? In your own words , must be humiliating...........

[WNYresident]

Rez , this guy knew he was going , he signed the infamous resignation letter before they agreed to hire him . There was no need for the dramatics with the police escorting him from the building , this group is "acting" like the start of the "SS"..........

You know what I heard. THey are very venditive. Thats a sign of simple mindedness. Can't expect much anymore can ya

[winfield31]

You know what I heard. THey are very venditive. Thats a sign of simple mindedness. Can't expect much anymore can ya

Funny rez , the county even keeps using the phrase "Six Sigma" , which initials of course are "SS".......... But the city is rampant in vindictiveness............this "Citi-stat" is just to throw off the public as to the top "rings" failings & blame the "little guy" for their lack of ideas & vision . The old saying "The buck stops here........." is banned from city hall as they are like Army Drill sargeants , trying to break-down the morale of the workers , then brain wash them to do their deeds & accept fault for the top brass's crassness (sic?) & ineptness..........

[unioncop]

How does this guy get fired and James Williams gets to keep his job? Is it because he was handpicked by the control board? Now he received a certified letter about sexual abuse against an autistic child, verified by his signature, and he dumps it off to a staffer and then fires her. Nice. Sodom and Gomorrah had safer schools.

I was thinking the same thing when watching the news today well its a good thing they extended his contract

[Deerhunter]

is really bad. I think he may be personally libel for anything that has happened to those kids since. It seems he screwed up , and bad. Wilmers will have to find another guy to fight with the Union. If I was that girl he fired I would hire an Atty, fast. Sue him personally, not through the Dept. He might then think twice about covering something up, then firing the subordinate. Thank God she has a Union, hate to see her lose her house, or her kids be denied something because this arrogant appointee is trying to cover something up. Rumore called for an investigation , so I'm guessing he's already got him by the balls.

[unioncop]

just another F up by the brown administration

[Linda_D]

just another F up by the brown administration

Sorry, but the Brown administration didn't hire Williams. The Buffalo BOE not only hired him but gave him an extension less than a year into his new position despite the fact that he wore out his welcome in his previous position as head of the schools in an Ohio city (Akron, maybe?).

Teachers, principals, staff in schools who suspect child abuse of any kind are required by NYS law to report it. It goes up the "chain of command" -- the teacher who witnesses or suspects abuse reports it to the building principal, etc -- and it gets reported to Child Protective Services. This has been a fact of life for NYS teachers for 20+ years, so this idea of "reminding" staff about the requirements is BS.

Williams gets $200,000 + to do what? Oh, yeah, give pep rallies warning Buffalo students not to cross principals like Crystal Barton and ignore certified letters he signed for.