Date: Fri 29-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-management-styles

Full Text:

Candidates Describe Their Management Styles

BY STEVE BIGHAM

How would each candidate manage town employees if elected to be the town's

next first selectman?

The candidates, Republican Russ Melita and Democrats Herb Rosenthal and Gary

Fetzer, each have their own unique ideas for how they would lead the town,

with the end result being better service to the customer - the residents of

Newtown.

Russ Melita said he would choose to take a "management by exception" approach

in supervising town employees. It's a collaborative approach, which gives

people space to do their jobs.

"It allows people to look at what has to be done and then come up with a

course of action. Once they buy into it, then they are responsible for

completing the task. I only get involved if things aren't going the right

way," he said.

Mr Fetzer believes you need to create an atmosphere that will foster the

creative talents of the employees. He's learned that there are often a number

of ways to achieve the same results. He believes his approach would help

self-motivate those who work for the town.

"Just because they have not been told to do something shouldn't mean they

should be afraid to do it with the fear of repercussions," Mr Fetzer said.

Mr Fetzer said he doesn't agree with the management approach in the current

administration where everything is controlled under a centralized figure.

"It's very hierarchical," he said.

Herb Rosenthal's experience on the Board of Education has taught him that the

management model often used in the schools can be very effective. Everyone

needs to have the same objective, he said, adding that an employee's

motivation has to come from within.

"People need to know they're valued as employees. They also need to know that

the customer is number one. We're in a service-oriented business. It's got to

be a cooperative endeavor," he said.

Mr Rosenthal said town employees need to work under reasonable conditions,

unlike the "deplorable" conditions some town employees have had to work under

in recent years.

Mr Rosenthal believes many town employees do not feel they are appreciated

under the current administration.