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Know roads and trash issues? There's a job for you in Boston

By adamg on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 5:59pm

The mayor's office just announced that Boston DPW and transportation chief Dennis Royer quit today, effective immediately, and is returning to his native Colorado.

That the announcement was made late on a Friday, a time typically reserved for announcements of bad news, is, no doubt, pure coincidence.

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Comments

By riggs not logged in on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 6:50pm.

It's Friday, official "Take Out the Trash Day" for government hacks everywhere.

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By fenwayguy on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 8:00pm.

So the bold experiment in hiring an out-of-sate hack has failed, proving to no one's surprise that we have to be faithful to our own local hacks.

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By Stevil on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:04pm.

I went to a community meeting a couple of years ago where Dennis spoke and this is too bad. It was pretty obvious to everyone there that Dennis was a very bright and competent person that had done an outstanding job in Denver. Unfortunately what happens in Denver seems to have stayed in Denver. I got a strong feeling early on though that his innovative, aggressive style might not sit well with the powers that be and unfortunately this is probably a loss for Boston.

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By anon on Sat, 01/09/2010 - 8:55am.

Stevil - "innovative and aggressive style"? I don't know how you came up with that one, other than it is another opportunity for you to bash Menino. Royer was a failed experiment and hopefully someone with an actual work ethic can seize the reins.

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By Stevil on Sat, 01/09/2010 - 1:05pm.

My only contact with Royer was at the meeting I attended and what I read in the newspapers (very little except for the South American telecommuting incident and my guess is there is more to that story than we got to hear) - although I worked with Kevin on his campaign, I only now vaguely recall him mentioning this conversation with Royer's wife. Sounds like the guy had a long and successful career in Denver which is why we hired him in the first place and flopped in Boston - hmmmm?

As for Menino bashing - everyone knows he's a micro-manager and doesn't tolerate anything done unless it's approved in advance and done his way - anyone with any management experience or training knows that's the fastest way to demotivate an otherwise accomplished employee (I often wonder how great this city could be if people like Ron Rakow and Lisa Signori and other talented people I've met that work for the city were allowed out from under the "umbrella"). Can't be sure that's what happened here - but seems a likely explanation for a problem with "work ethic".

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By Michael Pahre on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:48pm.

People don't usually quit, effective immediately, unless there's something else roaring down the Pike. Anybody got an idea?

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By adamg on Sat, 01/09/2010 - 11:10am.

From Kevin McCrea, who reports he ran into her while he was collecting signatures:

... "I am amazed at how Bostonians tolerate such a low level of services from their government." This from a woman who works for government agency and whose husband was head of DPW. I asked about how her husband found working here, and she specifically talked about the unions and Menino. She said her husband found that the city workers didn't care about the city and about trying to improve it, they just cared about their job and their perks. I asked if Menino would let him do his job and institute reforms, and she explained how Menino would let him do some things but not other things and that he absolutely micromanaged. He was frustrated with not being able to do what he wanted to improve things. ...

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By Michael Johnston on Mon, 01/11/2010 - 5:11pm.

First off, Kevin McCrea is a schmuck to print a personal conversation he had with Royer's wife. What an ass!

As for Royer's resignation, I am sorry to see him leave. Sadly another qualified professional is lost to the Mayor's micro-management: he does not let people do their jobs, is quick to take the credit, and quick to pass the blame. This is not a leader.

I think I and a lot of other people of sick of the conditions in Boston and looking to follow Royer's lead by moving out of Boston. There are some dedicated people in our city, but a majority of the leadership are spineless and lucky to have jobs, especially the politicians. Its really sickening. I love the place, but as a world class city we deserve better.

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