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Corning city manager review: Evaluation process called ‘flawed'

Posted November 08, 2007 10:00 pm

Jeffery Smith

Some members of the City Council may have used the recent evaluation of City Manager Mark Ryckman as a tool to lodge attacks against Corning's top administrator.

Councilman Dan Kane, chairman of the City Manager Evaluation Committee, called the evaluation system "flawed."

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The method numerically ranks Ryckman on various aspects of his job and allows councilmen to include written comments on the city manager's performance.

Kane said the recent evaluation included derogatory comments made by a couple of members of the council that were not specific, supported by facts or consistent with the numerical ratings.

Ryckman's evaluation is confidential, so which City Council members made the comments cannot be disclosed.

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Overall, the manager received a commendable rating, and a 4 percent raise.

Kane said the negative comments did not list examples or guidance on what Ryckman needed to do to improve his job performance.

Kane said the derogatory comments will not be included in Ryckman's personal employment record.

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"Mark does a great job, we're lucky to have him," said Councilman Tony Sofia, R-8, a committee member. "The complaints have no basis and that's why they were taken out."

The City Council has formed a five-member committee to overhaul the process used to gauge the city manager's job performance.

Sundae Grimes-Yates, D-2, and Hilda Lando, D-3 - both members of the newly formed committee - plan to schedule a meeting with Ryckman to discuss changes proposed by the committee.

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Under the city manager's contract, Ryckman has the authority to accept or reject any recommendation made by the City Council.

During his 10 years on the job, Ryckman has routinely scored high on the current evaluation form.

Ryckman called the matter a personnel issue and declined to comment.

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