Poor management

The search for a new Watertown city manager to replace Mary Corriveau is shrouded in uncertainty.

Finding a successor to Mrs. Corriveau can be a time-consuming process. It should not be hurried to ensure a smooth transition during a deliberative search that could take months. It is a process that should begin as soon as possible. However, the City Council has no idea of how it intends to hire a successor to Mrs. Corriveau, who was told her contract will not be renewed when it expires April 30.

Some council members have expressed hope that Mrs. Corriveau would continue to work with the city despite the manner in which she was treated by a three-member council majority that voted to dismiss the 27-year veteran of city government, the last nine of which were spent in her present post.

Council members have speculated about an interim manager to work with the council on the 2012-13 budget and provide day-to-day oversight and leadership in city operations until a permanent city manager can be appointed. From what Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith has said, council members already have some unidentified people in mind to step into an interim post should Mrs. Corriveau choose not to stay on or even leave before her contract expires.

Some decisions could be made Monday night when the council expects to begin addressing issues such as salary, job description, qualifications, advertising and a hiring timeline.

However, little has been heard from city leaders on the Corriveau matter in the past two weeks. That reticence prevents an understanding of why they dismissed the city manager and what they intend to do to replace her. It is an inept way to manage.

Now that Mrs. Corriveau has been declared a lame duck, it is obvious the City Council is staggering around in a vacuum, proving that they just may be incapable of leadership.