Did you know that City Manager Brenton Lewis was Insubordinate and Insolent in his Appraisal Stunt at City Council Meeting?

Breton Lewis' behavior at the end of the last City Council Meeting was audacious, disrespectful, and insubordinate. Both the law and his contract clearly show that Brenton Lewis works for the Council, yet that could not be discerned from his stunt at the meeting.  

Brenton Lewis ambushed and purposefully embarrassed the City Council and he established himself as the leader of City Government. He knew, before the agenda was published, that a serious issue with his past behavior was to be discussed. He could have, and should have, properly set the agenda to reflect his desire for an open evaluation at least 72 hours before the meeting. Instead, he prepared his ambush and denied Council and Llano citizens the right to prepare. Council - ALL members - were humiliated and appeared foolish and incompetent. Brenton Lewis had his friends prepared to praise, applaud, and interrupt. The City Secretary was prepared with nonsense about HR, with the sole intent to interrupt and disrupt the discussion. Mikel Virdell even piped in with his collusion accusation. Actually, it is Mikel Virdel's secret contract amendment that has put Council in a more difficult position.   

Council should be outraged at this behavior. No experienced manager would ignore this incident and let it slide. If not addressed quickly, Brenton Lewis will be even more empowered. Would any of you ambush and embarrass your manager at a public meeting?  

This was a bold, insolent move by Brenton Lewis and clearly exposes his true character as one capable of cheating and disrespect. This stunt will only work once, but his history shows that there will be more. His go-to excuse is that “Council approved it” and, when his termination comes up, he relies on fear and false emergencies (it is budget time... the sewer plant negotiations would fall apart).  

City Council was incorrect in saying that Brenton Lewis' appraisal wasn't due until September. His contract requires a salary review by September 15th, not an appraisal or counseling. Bad behavior must be addressed, documented, and coached as it occurs. This is basic management and is required by Brenton Lewis' contract. Managing employees is a manager's first responsibility. No employee is indispensable, and if a manager finds himself in that position, he has failed. The City is a small business, accountable to the citizens through their elected officials, and any good manager could take over city management quickly.   Brenton Lewis is an employee and Council is his manager. It is time to reclaim the manager-employee roles and actively manage Brenton Lewis, which is Council's primary responsibility.  

This insubordination and insolence are an immediate concern. Delay would just solidify the flipped manager-employee roles.  

Gross insubordination is an employee's deliberate defiance of manager's authority. He breaches a basic duty to be compliant and refuses to follow reasonable instructions. He intentionally challenges your authority and makes continued employment unbearable.

And an employee is insolent when he fails to show respect.

Insubordination is one of the most serious industrial offences, as it affects the employer's right to manage. The right to order employees to carry out work without extended debate and without a loss of respect is central to the role of management

If the conduct is a deliberate challenge to the employer’s authority, cause for termination is established.

 

BACK