Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Transition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and colleagues praise departing Fort Thomas staffer Chanda, critics urge council to rethink conduct
Summary
At a Fort Thomas Renaissance Board meeting, public commenters praised a departing staff member named Chanda for five years of service and urged the council to treat public servants with professionalism after several speakers said treatment of staff had been poor.
Residents and former colleagues used the Renaissance Board public-comment period to praise a departing staff member identified in the meeting as Chanda and to call on elected leaders to examine how they treat city employees.
"Public service deserves professionalism, respect, and basic courtesy," Pam Schultz told the board, naming both Chanda and another citizen, Elizabeth Allen Allegreni, and saying those standards were not met consistently. "I hope the council reflects deeply on this because the way they treat people says as much about our character as a city as any decision we make."
Debbie Buckley, who identified herself as the former Renaissance manager and economic-development director, echoed the praise and pressed the point more sharply: she said it was "unforgivable" for the council to allow perceived mistreatment of employees to continue. Several other commenters, including Chanda's former assistant Sam and business owner Raymond of Tickle Pickle, described Chanda's role in local events and volunteer efforts and said she will be missed.
In response to the comments, Chanda addressed the room directly, thanking volunteers and staff and saying the community has made her comfortable about moving on. "First of all y'all, I think every one of you have made my life here incredibly special," she said, and affirmed she intends to remain involved in the area after her move across the river to Bellevue.
Why it matters: multiple speakers tied personnel treatment to broader civic engagement, saying the way staff and volunteers are treated affects residents' willingness to participate. The board did not take any formal disciplinary or investigatory action during the meeting; comments were delivered during the public-comment portion and reflected personal observations and appeals to the council to consider behavior and professional norms.
The board continued with event planning and operational items after public comment; no vote or official finding on council conduct was recorded in the meeting minutes reviewed aloud during the session.
