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| Turnover at City Hall prompts early retirement By MATT KAPKO Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 4:52 PM PDT Half Moon Bay Review Dottie Robbins resigned Friday after 14 years as city clerk. She was grateful for the opportunity to work in such a unique community, but fed up with turmoil at City Hall. "I have worked with a lot of great councilmembers and I've certainly enjoyed working with so many wonderful residents of this community," she said. "I now find that I can no longer continue to serve the city. In the past 14 years, I have served 11 city managers and endured frequent turnover in department heads. I find that this constant turnover is emotionally draining," Robbins wrote in her letter of resignation to City Manager Debra Ryan, who's been on the job less than half a year. Robbins is proud of city staff but said management and the city council have been trying at times. "I think it's a combination between the City Council and management through the years," she explained. The council has a "lack of appreciation" for staff, she said, hinting at problems with the ongoing labor negotiations. "With all the turnovers we've had, they're the ones that have kept the doors open and continue to do good work," Robbins said of her colleagues. "It's been a constant turnover," she said. "What have we had - three (city managers) in two years?" When asked why other city employees continue to work here for so long, Robbins said it's because Half Moon Bay is a good town and many employees have already put in years toward their careers. "The turmoil in day-to-day dealings with department heads, low morale among city employees and the apparent lack of appreciation from the city council has also taken its toll," Robbins wrote in her letter of resignation. "I don't know when this is going to end," she said. Mayor Mike Ferreira declined to comment on Robbins' letter, but said she's "served through thick and thin." City Manager Debra Ryan also declined to comment on Robbins' letter. Following her last day of work on Aug. 6, Robbins began moving to Seal Beach where her husband has been preparing the couple's new home. "I realize it's time for me to move on," she said, adding that although this is earlier than she anticipated, she considers this her retirement. "But you know what, after working all of my life I'll probably find something to do." |