A huge mistake, at taxpayers' expense, of course

Newly rehired Communication Chief Jason Cole

The taxpayers of Rochester deserve some answers after the city was forced to rehire Communications Director Jason Cole this week and pay his backpay for the six months during which he had been terminated from the employ of the city.

If anyone is familiar with how it usually works when government and unions get together over an employee dispute, you don’t get those answers; they’re a “personnel” matter.

We understand the privacy issue. 

However, it appears the city misjudged the merits in the case of Cole’s firing, and that comes at great expense to taxpayers who will enjoy less of their hard-earned pay to pay for Mr. Cole to get six months off with full pay and benefits.

Now the city can rightfully say that to go into detail about the case could likely show Mr. Cole in a negative light. Unless, of course, you think they fired him so they could give him a nice six-month vacation with full pay and benefits? We doubt that.

Therefore there would likely have to be some negative conduct there to talk about, which, especially since they lost the case, would be highly inappropriate, if not foolhardy in a litigious sense.

So we understand why people are running like rats from this announcement. It’s an embarrassment. Problem is, as usual, it’s the taxpayers taking it on the chin.

However, while the city can’t bring back that $30,000 it wasted on Cole’s backpay, nor the extra thousands they spent to keep the Communications Center functioning, please just do us one favor, no make that two.

First, whoever decided to fire Cole, step up to the plate and admit you made a mistake.

Second, take steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Oh, and by the way, the fact that the city didn’t have to pay for Cole’s legal fees shouldn’t be considered any type of victory. The attorney representing him was a union lawyer.

Paid for with union dues. 

Paid out of Cole’s salary.

Paid by the taxpayers of Rochester.

                                                                                                                                                      - HT