Per this week\’s Gloucester City News, they are now hiring someone to fill some of the duties of the Confidential Assistant to the Mayor. This person will do less than the Assistant and get paid close to as much.
How do I know? Because I was the Confidential Assistant to the Mayor. Not only did I do the duties listed in that ad, but I was at every Council Meeting taking minutes, the Finance Committee meetings taking minutes and helping with the budget, and a member of the Celebrations Committee. I also assisted the Mayor and Council with follow-up information from these meetings.
I helped Public Works run the Marina including all the paperwork and advertisement. I was also the Administrator\’s assistant and was the back up to the City Clerk\’s office. I supported the computer network in the Municipal Building, built and up kept the web content on the City website, and sent the e-letters for events and meetings of the City. I also created and kept updated a web calendar of community events.
I planned events for the city and helped the Community Development/UEZ Director whenever possible. I was an outreach person to community organizations and businesses.
I had even been recently appointed as the Planning Board Secretary. All for less than $40,000. Now they are going to hire someone to do a small portion of this for $30,000. What is wrong with this picture? I had a bad title that didn\’t even begin to describe what I did at the City. The new Mayor and the new Council didn\’t even take the time to meet with me to find out what I did before eliminating my position. Mr. Marchese wrote in the Gloucester City News that your job shouldn\’t be affected by who you vote for. I do believe that mine was.
Theresa Ritchie
Previous Confidential Assistant to the Mayor
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