Dear Blog Visitors:
2014 will be a major year for transformations in Rochester. At the secular level, we will have a new mayor and administrators in City Hall. At the religious level, we will have a new Roman Catholic Bishop.
Concerning City Hall, I spent 23 years there, retiring in 2011 as supervisor of the City's accounts payable operations. I got to see much, in terms of day-to-day operations. My initial hope was that incoming mayor Lovely Warren would retain at least some of the talente...d department heads that were put into place by her immediate predecessors. While some positions were retained, there were multiple replacements as well. In retrospect, Lovely Warren had a good transition team, and I am impressed with choices she made. At the same time, I hope those not retained will be able to find employment soon, since they are extremely talented individuals.
I was happy to see that Charles Benincasa is being elevated from his position as City Treasurer to Finance Director. I worked closely with Charlie, and he will do a fantastic job in his new position. I am also pleased that Tassie Demps will keep her job as director of Human Resources. I worked closely with her when she and I were in the Purchasing Bureau, and her move to Human Resources a few years ago proved to be wise and beneficial to City employees.
Since I have worn two hats in recent years (my role in City Hall and my role as a married priest), I feel I must make a comment about the upcoming installation of Salvatore Matano as Rochester's new bishop. I wish him well, and I hope he will take a cue from Pope Francis, and work toward more inclusivity. I am not sure Matano's installation is the right way to begin in that direction, since the only persons invited are priests and deacons, which essentially excludes the women religious (nuns) and laity.
I will approach 2014 with an open mind and hope for the best of all possibilities.
Concerning City Hall, I spent 23 years there, retiring in 2011 as supervisor of the City's accounts payable operations. I got to see much, in terms of day-to-day operations. My initial hope was that incoming mayor Lovely Warren would retain at least some of the talente...d department heads that were put into place by her immediate predecessors. While some positions were retained, there were multiple replacements as well. In retrospect, Lovely Warren had a good transition team, and I am impressed with choices she made. At the same time, I hope those not retained will be able to find employment soon, since they are extremely talented individuals.
I was happy to see that Charles Benincasa is being elevated from his position as City Treasurer to Finance Director. I worked closely with Charlie, and he will do a fantastic job in his new position. I am also pleased that Tassie Demps will keep her job as director of Human Resources. I worked closely with her when she and I were in the Purchasing Bureau, and her move to Human Resources a few years ago proved to be wise and beneficial to City employees.
Since I have worn two hats in recent years (my role in City Hall and my role as a married priest), I feel I must make a comment about the upcoming installation of Salvatore Matano as Rochester's new bishop. I wish him well, and I hope he will take a cue from Pope Francis, and work toward more inclusivity. I am not sure Matano's installation is the right way to begin in that direction, since the only persons invited are priests and deacons, which essentially excludes the women religious (nuns) and laity.
I will approach 2014 with an open mind and hope for the best of all possibilities.
Peace to all,
Ray
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