Last spring, I posted a letter from islander George Beavis asking that the City give hiring preference to veterans (you can read his letter here). Beavis says he initially got the brushoff from City Hall (see his letter and comments he posted to it). Undeterred, he found applicable Washington law setting forth a veterans’ preference in public employment, as well as a sympathetic ear in the state’s Department of Veteran Affairs. His hard work has paid off.
In a letter dated July 2 to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, City Administrator Mark Dombroski described the City’s recent efforts to revise its veterans’ hiring policy to better recruit and hire veterans. In the letter, he mentioned citizen concern as one of his reasons for the changes.
Among the improvements are changes to employment applications and the Employee Manual to more clearly state veterans’ opportunities to claim a preference. You can read Dombroski’s letter here: veteransletter
Dombroski deserves credit for working with the state to give better support to our veterans. And George Beavis has earned a shout out for his advocacy and persistance.
Congratulations to George for getting this accomplished. A victory in getting City Hall to listen. And thanks to Mark Dombroski for responding, and changing policy. It may be the law, and it may be what the state requires, but he’s giving us a lot more than we’ve gotten from Darlene or Paul McMurray.
This isn’t a policy change … it’s just an Employment manual update and more specific information on the application form.
Good news story from all perspectives. George Beavis was listened to by the city, and they took appropriate action.
Mission accomplished.
Hello Everybody. Today, I am here for spin control. Our next lesson is complicated. OVERSIGHT.
This will be on the exam. A special case of OVERSIGHT is CITIZEN OVERSIGHT. While Mr. Beavis may have been viewed as a divisive distraction, his CITIZEN OVERSIGHT has brought us a better community.
Until next time, enjoy your Oversight.
Spin Control, SA
Here in Navels we start to run short of water this time of year. There is a giant public cistern for emergencies. It fills from the gutters of the buildings around the Piazza del Plebiscito.
Drinking run-off from dirty rooftops is better than not drinking at all. The cistern is hundreds of years old. Sustainable. I love the Italians. That’s why we drink so much Chianti.
Ezra says he might let me buy COBI munies again. He says, “It’s six of one, half-dozen of the other. Reward them for stupid financial planning, or sound human resources policy. Poor execution of either can be equally costly.”
Ezra writes for the government. Ezra says it is the American way to “assimilate everything”. That’s why I love the Italians. They are so historical.
Ezra says Mr. Beavis is very creative. Ezra says he possibly has style. Ezra writes for the government.
Ciao from Navels. Penny & Ezzie
I would like to second Rod Stevens’ remarks about Mr. Dombroski. I think he was being given bad information initially by some of his employees, but he did get there and that is what counts.
So my thanks to Mr. Dombroski for fighting the battle on his end.
Our island city may still be a laughingstock, but at least it doesn’t have to be a disgrace. Thanks to all who made this policy change happen.
Hello Everyone. Today, I am here for spin control. Today’s lesson is easy. OPEN.
The door is OPEN, if the door doesn’t hit you on the way out. Or, “We have been OPEN in so many ways on so many days,” Peters said. OPEN.
It is great to be Open to you all. Until next time, enjoy your Openness.
Spin Control, SA
George, Ezra Pound Foolish has asked if there is a published revision of COBI veterans’ policies.
You may not remember that Ezzie writes for the Italian government, and we have a few surviving veterans here, too.
We were discussing the value of hiring veterans – you know how broken up people get from a war. But the Italian military always looks ‘ready for anything’ in their Dolce Gabana uniforms.
Ezzie asks if the VA hands out Joseph Abboud for returning veterans who mix with the civilian public?
Ciao from Navels. Penny and Ezzie