The lack of accountability in vetting Stephen Jellie before hiring him as Palmer’s city manager is so pronounced as to almost induce laughter, but for the angst and expense to taxpayers resulting from the failure.
There are claims that rules and people prevented local political officials from obtaining sufficient information about Jellie’s prior employment, But a simple Google search with Jellie’s name would have yielded sufficient details about his prior experience to trigger awareness that more pre-employment inquiry was warranted. Try it.
While terms of a severance agreement may limit release of some details about Jellie’s Palmer tenure, it’s clear that simple Google searches by prospective future employers will yield enough ADN article information to trigger more probing pre-employment inquiry. Media reports alone may not reveal full or even accurate pictures for hiring decisions, but they serve as a valuable research resource. Every school boy or girl knows how to use the tool.
— Mike Fetzer
Clarkston, Michigan
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