Dear Fernley City Council Members:
Re: Fernley City Council Meeting of 1/20/2010

January 22, 2010 Hi all, yes, I am not a resident of Fernley, but I still care.  I truly do not desire to be a whiner, but enough is enough.  In the past I have sent you numerous positive letters for the better of the community, but today, I am mortified to say the least. Today I listened to Wednesday’s city council recording on FernleyNews.com and was shocked to hear the topic regarding the astronomical salary increases that some of your employees have recently received in light of the fact that it appears that you seem to be the only city in the nation that is NOT experiencing financial woes.  If you intended to send out a powerful message to all your employees and to all the residents and business owners of Fernley that you are definitely open for business and spending money up the whazooo, well then, Bravo for a job well-done!  What happened to the nestegg?  Even the City of Fernley should have one. If this is not an ethics violation, then surely it is a blatant intent to commit fraud and a violation of your policies you created last March.  It is a grave disappointment to the residents of Fernley not to mention a mental disappointment plus the financial damage your city manager has caused the other employees.  The way I see it – he was testing his authority and you let it go.  Yes, I know you are reviewing it – but it is more than that. Right now, I am convinced that your corporation concentrates more on salary increases rather than taking care of the residents who pay your salary, AND the business of budget monitoring in these very difficult times. Here it is Friday, and already the news is…..”Who do you have to sleep with to get a raise around here?”  That is the big question that you have created within your own corporation, with your employees and with the general public. I truly hope that someone completes a full investigation into the matter as this is unacceptable and unwarranted.  To give an employee a raise to do human resources work – when he/she has not proven his/her capabilities yet is just downright neglect and lack of respect for other fellow employees who may be more qualified.  I can’t believe this happened. Currently, at my place of business, our policy is to have an annual performance review during the same month for ALL employees along with the possibility of a salary increase during the same month, and if the employee is new (just a couple of months into the new job, or promoted – let’s say – three months AFTER the performance review period – then, he/she waits until the next performance review/salary increase period just like everyone else.  So the question is - When is your performance review and salary increase period performed?  Will you be compensating every employee the same way?  After all, they all worked just as hard as these few employees.  This is simply a total lack of ethics.  It was the biggest morale bust I have seen within your city government yet.  Your new city manager simply tested his authority and did what HE wanted to do instead of presenting the request to you – the city council – who makes the rules and runs the city.  It almost appeared to be a scheme. In the past your city regime has rewarded employees for dating the girls using company vehicles and so much more.  There have been sexual harassment allegations and charges filed (and dropped) and you still rewarded those same employee(s) who allegedly performed these acts. The next question to ask is - Where did all this new solvency of being “in the black” come from?   Room Tax dollars?  Gouging the customers?  We would all be very interested to see where it came from.  It’s only been a couple of years since you discovered the miscalculations in the city’s finances.  No offense, but how can one justify such a significant raise to ANY employee prior to proving oneself?   I have made it a point now to write to city council to make you aware of these things – simply because picking up the phone did not work and still does not work.  I do invite you to call me at (775) 846-0494.  I hope the city council will review the total lack of professionalism, much less regard for fellow employees, and failure to follow instructions.  Call it what you may – but the employees involved STOLE from your fellow employees’ future benefit packages, increased raises for them, morale, and so much more.  You are being sucked dry! If I had done such a thing, I promise you – I would have been placed on probation so fast; I would not receive any kind of raise during the next performance review cycle and I would be chastised daily as an idiot…or worse – even fired. I do want to make it known that I am NOT a member of ANY organization in Fernley.  I am not one of those “citizens4fernley” folks, and I only want good things for the city.  If only the minimal - you should terminate employment with Greg Evangelatos and the schemers. Thanks for reading this letter from a non-resident. Best regards, CJ Gueldner Resident of Dayton, NV Follower of Fernley, Nevada