Another can of worms
Apparently, whenever I look for information at City Hall is like opening a can of worms. I was checking on whether Franklin Miguel was working or on vacation because there’s doubt is he has worked a whole month in less than a year since his hiring. He is the Capital Assets Project Manager earning over $85,000 and I was also trying to find out what that job consists of – in other words, why we are paying him that salary.
It’s not complicated coming to the conclusion that he is barely there. Just by looking at his Facebook page, it is clear that he goes to the Dominican Republic much too often. His pictures include another city employee and city councilors who meet there as if they form a social club.
You will also find on Facebook notes about his recent appointment as Director of Youth Activities from the Dominican Republic Consulate in Toronto, Canada. I wonder if he has completed the federal government paperwork to work as an agent of a foreign country and report his $4,500 monthly salary to the IRS.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is a United States law passed in 1938 requiring that agents representing the interests of foreign powers in a “political or quasi-political capacity” disclose their relationship with the foreign government and information about related activities and finances with the US Government
I was shocked to find out that Franklin Miguel uses his overtime or comp time for his travels. Yes, I was under the impression that salaried employees are at the mercy of their bosses working long hours for the same pay but not in his case. The response I received from DPW Director Carlos Jaquez and Personnel Director Frank Bonet was that, “a job posting that was approved by a job description (at City Council) which indicates that the position is Non-Union, Non-Exempt. Non-exempt from the overtime requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act and as ordinance by the City Council.”
OK, so it’s legal but, how overworked is he that requires compensation for putting extra hours at work?
In trying to find out, they mentioned that he was in charge of replacing the floor at the Central Fire Station, replacing the elevator in the library and the roofs on some schools. Besides doing paperwork, did he have to get on his knees to get the work done?
He has gone a long way since his days working for the State. Here is the money he earned before he left for a job with a shorter commute, followed by his base pay. Almost 1/3 of his salary was overtime: Total pay – $40,217 – Base Pay – $26,986. If you break down his overtime, it is like he worked 2 or 3 hours extra every day.
Hung up on titles
There have been some changes with titles at City Hall and they seem to be changing with no explanation. I’ve told you about Eileen O’Connor, the chief of staff became Special Assistant City Attorney; and Kate Reilly uses two titles: Special Assistant to the Mayor and also Deputy Chief of Staff.
I wonder if the Personnel Department wrote new job descriptions for them or if they were approved by the City Council (as they are supposed to), but I believe they were excuses to give those employees a raise in salary.
Another title change
A few days ago, Theodoro Rosario fell down three steps on a stair and has been screaming in pain ever since.
That’s why I suspect that he is taking a page of Andrea Traficanti legacy to become disabled for life.
Many of the city employees that were laid off by Mayor Dan Rivera could not find employment for two years, just because their names appeared on newspaper articles, accused of wrongdoings when it was really a political vendetta. In Theodoro’s case, the publicity he received had to do with moral issues and who would want to hire him? He must find a new way to earn a living.
Modern technology has advanced to a point making it very difficult to fake pain. We’ll see if it works for him.
