And it’s all over John Walczak’s decision to hire the former Development Coordinator back. The one who left in 2011 and happens to be close pals with the outgoing Development Director. She’s on the Friends of the Zoo board. Left for Hosparus. Now wants to return for some sweet cash.
Just days before the outgoing Director gave notice, Walczak met with the individual at the request of that Director. And he ignored the three Zoo employees who were not only qualified but well-experienced. Human Resources and others in charge are looking the other way.
Operations have gotten so heated of late that during this week’s managers’ meeting, staff were no less than pissy with Walczak, questioning his decision, expressing outrage.
Walczak is keen on criticizing Greg Fischer for not having a clue how the Zoo operates. He’s spot-on with that. Because all Greg wants is private tours for his friends. But he’s pretty clueless himself if he only deals with Sadiqa Reynolds and Steve Rowland.
If the Zoo is short-staffed and can’t bare cuts, why is Walczak trying to build a 52-seat Spongebob ride that costs $300,000?
Keepers are retiring and jumping ship left and right because of privatization talks and because of conditions at the zoo. But everything is puppies and rainbows.
Metro can build a $26 million polar bear exhibit but the rest of the Zoo is largely being ignored.
And we wonder why the joint is a financial difficulty as far as Metro assets go.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Anyonesurprised? // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:41 pm
LMAS, MSD, EMS, Parks and now the Zoo? Wave3 had a report on the 6 o’clock news that the Zoo sold faulty trains? WTF? Who sell trains that didn’t work properly? Was that disclosed in the sale? Who in the hell buys trains that don’t work ? Good grief! What the hell is in the water in city government? It sounds as if the Mayor is in over his head and needs Metro Council to step-in. What a mess. Maybe the Zoo’s Director needs to go. MSD’s leader finally “retired” then the LMAS dude went off to start an adult business venture, Parks Director found another bar. Can we trade up for Lexington’s Mayor? Sounds like that guy is off to a much better start. I don’t see articles in the H-L that their guy gives nearly a million-dollars to a company to move a few blocks just for a handful of jobs.
2 apassionatapooperpickerupper // Feb 27, 2012 at 6:10 pm
The Zoo is ruined by folks like John Walczak. He’s just another short-sighted “yes man” that is scared of his own shadow. The Zoo needs additional keepers but Johnny boy would rather play favorites and add another glorified party planner. He’s a joke and needs to be replaced. He could not manage his way out of a Subway wrapper.
3 jake // Feb 27, 2012 at 6:12 pm
The Zoo isn’t ruined by John or his colleagues.
The Zoo is ruined by members on the board who have no clue what’s going on. And even if they were alerted to what was going on, they wouldn’t comprehend it. Majority of folks are there just to raise money and think it’s some puppies & rainbows fun times event for kids.
4 apassionatapooperpickerupper // Feb 27, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Jacob is right about the board but if the Zoo had strong day-t0-day leadership; the board would primarily be just a bunch of mayoral ass-kissers.Weak day-to-day leadership and a clueless board has led to a new low and over time, the Zoo rocketed into the red due to continuing poor decision making by both parties. Walczak doesn’t care or is so clueless he can’t figure out that no one wants a recycled wannabe that had to have their bff fix the search process. Sick and tired of the guy getting a free pass.
5 businessasusual // Feb 28, 2012 at 11:00 pm
JW is not a bad guy, he just can’t say “no” and usually has select few telling him what to do. The guy use to be a keeper and has a different approach to handling business decisions. Like most city directors, he lacks actual business experience outside of city government and refuses to listen to the “little” people by ignoring the majority of the staff. People are upset at the process and sneaky nature of it. He could have said “I’m hiring back….get over it or he could have included others in the process and avoided the perception of playing favorites card. People aren’t upset with other people. It’s the process many are mad about. Its always the same and it is always perceived to be shady and it only benefits a select few.
6 favortismisnormalforthezoo // Feb 29, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Walczak has his head so far up the development directors ass that this little stunt surprises no one. She jetted off every Friday for 3-day weekends, serve as John’s social director, is severely over-paid, spent thousands on failed ideas and consultants, snubbed keepers and gave her friends free tours while giving little notice to short-staffed and overworked keepers. She was Sadiqa before there was Sadiqa. She was allowed to give her notice, then go on maternity leave, come back and fix the hiring process for her unqualified buddy. Any of the animals could do a better job then she did.
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