Cenzano speaks out after dismissal as County EM director
March 7, 2012 at 1:27 pm in Worthington Daily Globe
WORTHINGTON Nearly a week after Nobles County Emergency Management Director Emily Cenzano was escorted out of the Government Center by County Administrator Mel Ruppert, she’s speaking out about the treatment she says she endured and the possible case she has against the board of commissioners, Ruppert and Deputy County Administrator Sue Luing. Continue Reading
Mel, Mel, Mel… I got a sneaking suspicion your days as a County Administrator are numbered. And, dare I say a resignation may be in order to save any face that may remain.
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Buford…not a chance. Haven’t we all learned by now?? I compliment Julie on her story, but really…as far as the staff go; it’s not worth saying anything because he’s untouchable, nothing phases him, he’s like teflon…nothing sticks…no matter how loud the outcry. This incident will only cement into the employees minds that you should not say anything or do anything to cross him…the long term employees have learned their lessons…that’s why they’re still there…they say nothing to nobody, because it does no good…
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I believe every word she says…in fact, deja vu kept popping into my head…I kept going “yep, yep, yep” throughout the story…the 4 complainants never had a chance. It’s only a matter of time before 3 more casualties are handed down…you don’t double cross him without retaliation and pay backs. It sounds like the investigation was a farce from the get go…
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Let me point out the obvious here folks. It’s time to vote out ALL of these elected commissioners when they are up for re-election. The buck stops with them, they have the power to give Ruppert his walking papers and obviously they are afraid of him for some odd reason. Anyone running on the platform that they would “clean up the administration mess” would win in a landslide.
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What are the chances Mel will come forward to respond? Anybody believe he’d have the guts to refute these allegations? Remember that a county spokesperson said he’s “out of town until March 12″, therefore no immediate comment. He should be back soon! (I doubt he ever left.) But notice that he WAS in the office the day she left to walk her out the door!
I agree with everyone here. The administration needs a major overhaul. It’s a circus right now.
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We elected them to do a job. Which they are not doing if they let Mel run everything. Plus I wouldn’t be surprised if these ladies are planning on suing the county for a lot of money. I would if I was put through what seems like a very harsh environment. We need to demand that Mel step down from his position. I don’t know him personally but from what I have read and heard in talking with people in the community not very many people like him or think highly of him.
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What a soap opera….
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I’m going to do something I said I’d never do but I think it’s time that I say something about this topic publicly. I was Nobles County Emergency Management Director for 4 ½ years until January 2011 when I decided to end my employment with the County due to the position being cut to 24 hours a week.
I went through many of the same experiences Emily Cenzano has said she’s went through, enough to know that her version of the events is quite credible. I worked with Brad Meyer long enough to know he has a couple of stories of his own experiences that frankly beat us all. Simply put, we’ve all been there.
My approach in working for Nobles County Government was very simple. I wanted to simply make the best of a pretty bad situation, and move on to something better when the time came. In the process I met dozens of wonderful, thoughtful public servants and emergency responders who are simply trying to make their piece of Nobles County a much nicer place to live and work. These are the folks I felt I really worked for. I still miss them to this day.
This post isn’t about sour grapes, because frankly I’ve moved on. I don’t have an axe to grind, because I’ll never pay taxes or vote in Nobles County again.
This isn’t about me, or how exceedingly poor Mel’s management skills are… I’ve had bad bosses before and truthfully it comes with the turf. I’ve really tried hard to keep this from being personal.
This is about something much bigger than all of this. There’s something else going on here that I’ve seen for the better part of six years now that either seems to get downplayed or not addressed at all. It’s not about a bad boss, but about bad government.
For decades now the Nobles County Board of Commissioners has enabled Mel Ruppert to be the way he is, plain and simple.
I would go so far as to say that the decisions made and the actions taken most likely go against the will of the people. Despite this being a body voted into office by the people, they most likely have ignored the people’s best interest, and to me that’s when it stops being a democracy. Add to that Mel’s inappropriate and undue influence over them, and it stopped being a democracy a long time ago. This is what really disturbs me about this situation.
This situation stops when a majority of County Board members decide to make it stop, plain and simple. How that majority is achieved is the next step, and in the hands of the people. Please, start paying attention… ask questions…. Hold your elected officials accountable. Put people on the ballot who are dedicated to changing this and vote for them. You quite literally are the 99%.
Nobles County has lost the opportunity to be a part of a regionalized dispatch, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Nobles County has tainted a relationship with a neighboring county in its process to dissolve its mutual public health agency, and gaining what in return? Nobles County fired its Emergency Management Director and the Deputy Director won’t be back to work until March 12. Who’s minding the store?
There, I’ve said it. My First Amendment Right has been satisfactorily exercised. Thanks for reading.
Dan Anderson
Plymouth, MN
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Well said Dan…we certainly do have some stories, don’t we?
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It appears that when Mel is threatened by staff who are more educated then he is he attackes them. My question is WHY?? What is going on with government by the people for the people? Nobles County doesn’t follow Open Meeting Laws, doesn’t post meetings, doesn’t follow Fair Employment Law, harbors a hostile work envirnment, uses funds unwisely or misappropriates funds. I personally know several of the County Commissioners and I am compeletly amazed at what they allow. It takes broad shoulders to do the right thing but you were elected so you need to face the music and take the high road for once.
Mel will be just fine with his Golden Buy Out! Mel must go
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