I don’t know about you, but in most of the jobs I’ve held, you only get so many screw ups before you’re gone. Al Lott has got to be getting close to that magic number, wouldn’t you think? Lott’s track record has been less than exemplary after all.
Let’s ignore the gross nature of his refusal to respond in a timely manner to “interrogatories”, despite the Georgia Open Records Act that kind of says he has to answer them. Let’s also ignore that he’s told subordinates to not respond to “interrogatories” from media sources, stating that no good can come from being open with the media. That’s sort of irrelevant at this point, if you can believe that.
September 29 was a banner day for Lott’s decision making abilities, something a City Manager should be pretty good at. Instead, we see all kinds of extremely poor decisions coming home to roost.
To start with, we have arena football…or do we? The Wildcats aren’t a sure thing, with the new Arena League being announced with no mention of the South Georgia team. Now, I don’t blame Lott for the Wildcats not signing the lease agreement. However, I do blame him for not looking at other proposals sooner. Now, he’s telling WALB that it “might be to late” for the upcoming season.
This is despite a proposal from Peter Studl that’s been on the table for some time. He’s gotten rights for an AIFA team to be hosted here in Albany, and no movement. Now there are multiple teams, which gives the city options. Now, I like competition, but I like football too. For there to be a vibrant downtown like the city claims it wants, arena football is a key ingredient. Lott’s dragging the city’s feet may mean no football this coming season.
And that’s the least of his mistakes. How’s that for scary?
Lott is also responsible for bringing in good old Don Buie. Buie, as has been noted, has now been investigated by the GBI. The results of that investigation has been turned over the the DA’s office. Lott, of course, eventually fired Buie. However, sources have told us that Lott has a habit of never checking references, telling one person that he had never made a mistake in hiring someone. I guess that record is shattered all to hell and back, ain’t it?
Lott also opted to keep Rod Jolivette on the city payroll. He was rewarded for that trust by Jolivette getting indicted in Chattahoochee County for impersonating a police officer. Now, he had ample grounds to fire Jolivette. He believed Fire Chief James Carswell over Jolivette and his cheerleaders. And yet, he retained Jolivette…who’s now indicted and will be arraigned in the next few weeks.
Lott has been less than impressive in his ability as City Manager. It’s past time for him to go. And yet, he’s still around. Hopefully, that’s only a temporary condition and soon he’ll be joining Buie in the unemployment line.
The football contract situation is a good example of what will happen when leadership is absent. With the clock ticking down on signing up a team, the city let the clock run down by agreeing to extensions. IMHO, the Wildcats purposely requested extensions to keep anyone else from being able to timely step in. Was this motivated by sour grapes or to buy more time to regroup?
Either way, it’s looking like the outcome for Albany is a fumble. A real leader; whether mayor, city mgr, or commissioner would have grabbed the bull by the horns; sorted it out; and gotten it done. With our checkered history with professional sports teams, we may never be able to court another one.
Maybe our city leaders did have a strategy. Maybe they feel that we simply can’t support a sports team. Maybe they wanted to stem the squandered outflow of taxpayer money. Maybe they had a reason not to do business with Studl. Whatever, they should explain their reasons, to avoid the appearance of standing at the helm of a rudderless ship.
am traveling, but know that there will be a deal on the table and someone will be playing indoor football in the civic center come spring. city delay is problematic, and served no purpose imaginable unless to keep my group out. it’s scarier to me if tgey actually believed the wildcats management’s bs. The big cost is the momentum the city lost for us…just like in the downtown redevelopment…three years of waiting for a buie to arrive and then to get gone. these folks are making all this too complicated and are killing any prospects for this town. and where will they be wheb the crap from the coal plant comes this way…yep, employers will want to locate here in Albany.
It’s been four weeks since i jumped into the football fray and more than 3 since i brought a deal to the table. they are spooking investors and killing season ticket sales and sponsorships….for no good reason. spending a week in chicago restores some business sanity.
btw Cartman, ur analysis is most insightful and pretty much dead on.
The biggest missing link in city government is an effective mayor. Even Mr. Lott could be more effective as an administrator if he had good clear and smart policy guidance. I think you expect too much from a fellow who is hired to administer. I do not pretend to defend, but if he had appropriate professional guidance, his issues might not be spread all over the place. Albany needs inspired and experienced leadership at the “political” helm. The present composition is fatal. Not individually bad people and some would add great value, but there is no effective team leader who has stepped and if someone tries, the big man throws a block. figure two and a half more years of decay, at best.
I really don’t want to speak about the person, but that’s what politics and leadership are about…the person and his or her policies. This town needs a change bad. 6 years ago, a very experienced and savvy pol warned me about what was ahead with this mayor…I didn’t buy in at first…but now i think his insight was remarkable.
You’re texting and driving, aren’t you Peter? Don’t have a wreck dude.
thanks for the concern, but this time my wife has been driving. i asked her to pretend that she was my valet, driver and bodyguard, but she threatened to leave me at the curb, so i texted instead. maybe i should have asked her to dress like a police captian instead.
I have been here only a few years but Adams doesn’t seem to be a leader and lack vision. Which are the two most important things to have in a mayor.