| Consultant Wants Over $2,000 To Appear Before Council Assistant City Manager's Aversion To Public Speaking May Cost Taxpayer's Additional $2,000 In Fees |
| Loveland Director of Public Works, Keith Reester, addresses Loveland City Council (June 2010) without receiving $2,000 bonus |
Loveland - June 24, 2010
Consultant Robert S. Tipton is reported to have demanded an additional $2,000 in consulting fees from the City of Loveland in
order to appear before the City Council during an upcoming public meeting scheduled for July 20, 2010.
Tipton recently conducted a study at the hourly rate of $200 per hour (see contract) to provide "Process Mapping and
Recommendations" for improving the city's planning and development process. Tipton's online biography provides no reference
to any formal education yet his friendship with City Manager Don Williams after leaving employment with the city some years ago
has resulted in a number of very lucrative contracts with the city.
Tipton is now an up and coming self-help guru who recently wrote a book that uses some anecdotal information from his
consulting contracts with Loveland that praise Don William's management style. Tipton's website describes the book as,
"JUMP! brings together the principles of quantum physics, ancient philosopy spiritual practices and sound leadership
in a two part book." Tipton is described by staff in city hall as a "poor man's Tony Robbins."
At issue for some in city hall, who spoke with LovelandPolitics confidentially, is the city providing additional compensation for
performing work Tipton already agreed to in his original contract with the city. According to an Exhibit of Tipton's existing
contract,
"The consultant is expected to present his findings at the end of the assignment to an appropriate audience (of the
city's choosing)."
Tipton, for his part, is demanding more than the $200 hourly fee Loveland paid for the study if he appears in public. Evidenced
by Tipton's steep nearly $5,000 fee for facilitating the council retreat last January, Tipton may feel his cameo appearance at a
Loveland council meeting for perhaps an hour long review of his study merits ten times the compensation provided for his work
preparing the study. Given Tipton's new 'celebrity' status as an author and motivational speaker, he likely feels the extra
compensation is justified.
Often, a city staff member presents the results of an outside consultant or internal review process before council. Loveland
Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing, however, is said to be reluctant to appear before council in fear of taking the blame for
any controversial expenditures and instead prefers paying extra money to consultants to appear at council meetings in case the
information is not well received. Normally, this isn't an issue for consultants as most do not consider themselves celebrities whose
appearance in public must be generously compensated.
After being paid a total of $23,950 in his current consulting contract for a 6 week effort plus one extension (that extended it to
April 15), Tipton was unwilling to present the results of his new study before council unless he was paid an additional $2,000,
according to confidential sources. Whether that payment is represented in the ambiguous April 22, Amendment for $2,350 or
will appear in another ambiguous amendment to his current consulting contract is unclear. According to confidential
LovelandPolitics sources, another contract amendment to compensate Tipton an additional $2,000 to appear before council was
being processed by Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing last week.
Loveland's City Council were unaware of the amendments to Tipton's agreement and at least one councilor horrified to learn he
was demanding such a steep fee to appear at their meeting. City Manager Don Williams appears to have approved the original
contract and modification(s).
Tipton created controversy last January when he charged Loveland nearly $5,000 to facilitate the annual one and a half day
Council Retreat (see sidebar about Tipton and his book). Then candidate for city council Donna Rice, who attended the retreat
as a member of the public, told LovelandPolitics she believed the fee was excessive for the role she saw him play as facilitator
during the council's annual retreat.
Didn't The City Already Pay Tipton to Fix the Same Problem Once?
Tipton was originally hired by City Manager Don Williams as a consultant in 2005 to provide a similar study and
recommendations following the filing of a lawsuit by the Klen Brothers (still ongoing) alleging gross discrimination in a largely
subjective planning process. Tipton was reported to have received some $80,000 following his 2005 observations to improve
the process after preparing the following report.
Titpon Received Retroactive Amendment Increasing His Fee
On April 22, 2010, Tipton was provided an amendment to the consulting contract that raised his total compensation to $23,950
from the original contract value of $21,600.
The April 22, amendment bumping his compensation by $2,350 fails to provide any detail regarding the work scope to be
performed. Instead, the amendment only states the term is extended until April 15, which had already passed by the time the
amendment was executed. The amendment was signed by Loveland's Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing who is said to be
preparing the additional amendment in anticipation of Tipton's cameo appearance at the July 20, council meeting.
Wensing - Candidate for City Manager
Thought by some to be the heir apparent of Don Williams, Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing is considered among the top
two or three candidates in city hall to replace Williams if council picks from among the existing staff. Unlike Assistant City
Manager Rene Wheeler and Public Works Director Keith Reester, two other potential contenders for the top job, Wensing
avoids the limelight and refuses to present information before Loveland's City Council.
Nonetheless, Wensing is said to curry favor among various factions on the city council through his private interactions.
Councilman Daryle Klassen's publicly expressed preference for "promoting from within" to find the current city manager
expressed during a recent council meeting was seen by many in city hall as Klassen's implicit endorsement of Wensing. One
rumor floating around city hall claims Public Works Director, Keith Resster has cut a deal with Wensing not to seek the top
position if Wensing appoints Reester as Assistant City Manager once becoming city manager.
Wensing came to Loveland after serving as the Town Manager of Windsow. He left the top position in Windsor at an annual pay
of $120,000 to become Loveland Assistant City Manager for only $3,000 more a year than what he was paid in Windsor.
Loveland political pundits have speculated the move was in anticipation of replacing the aging current city manager while others
contend troubles growing in Windsor necessitated the move. Since moving to Loveland, Wensing has become the quiet power
behind the thrown of the largely autocratic current city manager, Don Williams. This has not earned Wensing points among many
professional staff looking for a more open and professional style of management.
If indeed Wensing is serious about ascending to the post of city manager, his deference to Rene Wheeler and other staff of any
speaking role before council may not serve him well nor his apparent agreement to compensate Tipton another $2,000 to avoid
the same.
Consultant Robert S. Tipton is reported to have demanded an additional $2,000 in consulting fees from the City of Loveland in
order to appear before the City Council during an upcoming public meeting scheduled for July 20, 2010.
Tipton recently conducted a study at the hourly rate of $200 per hour (see contract) to provide "Process Mapping and
Recommendations" for improving the city's planning and development process. Tipton's online biography provides no reference
to any formal education yet his friendship with City Manager Don Williams after leaving employment with the city some years ago
has resulted in a number of very lucrative contracts with the city.
Tipton is now an up and coming self-help guru who recently wrote a book that uses some anecdotal information from his
consulting contracts with Loveland that praise Don William's management style. Tipton's website describes the book as,
"JUMP! brings together the principles of quantum physics, ancient philosopy spiritual practices and sound leadership
in a two part book." Tipton is described by staff in city hall as a "poor man's Tony Robbins."
At issue for some in city hall, who spoke with LovelandPolitics confidentially, is the city providing additional compensation for
performing work Tipton already agreed to in his original contract with the city. According to an Exhibit of Tipton's existing
contract,
"The consultant is expected to present his findings at the end of the assignment to an appropriate audience (of the
city's choosing)."
Tipton, for his part, is demanding more than the $200 hourly fee Loveland paid for the study if he appears in public. Evidenced
by Tipton's steep nearly $5,000 fee for facilitating the council retreat last January, Tipton may feel his cameo appearance at a
Loveland council meeting for perhaps an hour long review of his study merits ten times the compensation provided for his work
preparing the study. Given Tipton's new 'celebrity' status as an author and motivational speaker, he likely feels the extra
compensation is justified.
Often, a city staff member presents the results of an outside consultant or internal review process before council. Loveland
Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing, however, is said to be reluctant to appear before council in fear of taking the blame for
any controversial expenditures and instead prefers paying extra money to consultants to appear at council meetings in case the
information is not well received. Normally, this isn't an issue for consultants as most do not consider themselves celebrities whose
appearance in public must be generously compensated.
After being paid a total of $23,950 in his current consulting contract for a 6 week effort plus one extension (that extended it to
April 15), Tipton was unwilling to present the results of his new study before council unless he was paid an additional $2,000,
according to confidential sources. Whether that payment is represented in the ambiguous April 22, Amendment for $2,350 or
will appear in another ambiguous amendment to his current consulting contract is unclear. According to confidential
LovelandPolitics sources, another contract amendment to compensate Tipton an additional $2,000 to appear before council was
being processed by Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing last week.
Loveland's City Council were unaware of the amendments to Tipton's agreement and at least one councilor horrified to learn he
was demanding such a steep fee to appear at their meeting. City Manager Don Williams appears to have approved the original
contract and modification(s).
Tipton created controversy last January when he charged Loveland nearly $5,000 to facilitate the annual one and a half day
Council Retreat (see sidebar about Tipton and his book). Then candidate for city council Donna Rice, who attended the retreat
as a member of the public, told LovelandPolitics she believed the fee was excessive for the role she saw him play as facilitator
during the council's annual retreat.
Didn't The City Already Pay Tipton to Fix the Same Problem Once?
Tipton was originally hired by City Manager Don Williams as a consultant in 2005 to provide a similar study and
recommendations following the filing of a lawsuit by the Klen Brothers (still ongoing) alleging gross discrimination in a largely
subjective planning process. Tipton was reported to have received some $80,000 following his 2005 observations to improve
the process after preparing the following report.
Titpon Received Retroactive Amendment Increasing His Fee
On April 22, 2010, Tipton was provided an amendment to the consulting contract that raised his total compensation to $23,950
from the original contract value of $21,600.
The April 22, amendment bumping his compensation by $2,350 fails to provide any detail regarding the work scope to be
performed. Instead, the amendment only states the term is extended until April 15, which had already passed by the time the
amendment was executed. The amendment was signed by Loveland's Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing who is said to be
preparing the additional amendment in anticipation of Tipton's cameo appearance at the July 20, council meeting.
Wensing - Candidate for City Manager
Thought by some to be the heir apparent of Don Williams, Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing is considered among the top
two or three candidates in city hall to replace Williams if council picks from among the existing staff. Unlike Assistant City
Manager Rene Wheeler and Public Works Director Keith Reester, two other potential contenders for the top job, Wensing
avoids the limelight and refuses to present information before Loveland's City Council.
Nonetheless, Wensing is said to curry favor among various factions on the city council through his private interactions.
Councilman Daryle Klassen's publicly expressed preference for "promoting from within" to find the current city manager
expressed during a recent council meeting was seen by many in city hall as Klassen's implicit endorsement of Wensing. One
rumor floating around city hall claims Public Works Director, Keith Resster has cut a deal with Wensing not to seek the top
position if Wensing appoints Reester as Assistant City Manager once becoming city manager.
Wensing came to Loveland after serving as the Town Manager of Windsow. He left the top position in Windsor at an annual pay
of $120,000 to become Loveland Assistant City Manager for only $3,000 more a year than what he was paid in Windsor.
Loveland political pundits have speculated the move was in anticipation of replacing the aging current city manager while others
contend troubles growing in Windsor necessitated the move. Since moving to Loveland, Wensing has become the quiet power
behind the thrown of the largely autocratic current city manager, Don Williams. This has not earned Wensing points among many
professional staff looking for a more open and professional style of management.
If indeed Wensing is serious about ascending to the post of city manager, his deference to Rene Wheeler and other staff of any
speaking role before council may not serve him well nor his apparent agreement to compensate Tipton another $2,000 to avoid
the same.
Loveland - July 17, 2010 Update of original story below picture
After reading the LovelandPolitics story regarding plans to compensate a self-help guru and city consultant more than $2,000 just to appear before council,
Loveland Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing amended the contract increase to only $500 instead of the original $2,500 (our story didn't state the exact
amount in order to avoid indicating we had his original draft). In the meantime, Wensing initiated an aggressive internal witch-hunt to discover the sources
for LovelandPolitics' stories within city hall. This is unfortunate as spending decisions regarding public tax dollars are not supposed to be secret.
The new contract amendment (see attached) fails to reveal the true reason for the supplemental funds but instead simply extends the date of the original
contract while increasing the total compensation. The consultant is expected to deliver his report to council later this month or now in early August but at a fee
more agreeable to members of the city council.
After reading the LovelandPolitics story regarding plans to compensate a self-help guru and city consultant more than $2,000 just to appear before council,
Loveland Assistant City Manager Rod Wensing amended the contract increase to only $500 instead of the original $2,500 (our story didn't state the exact
amount in order to avoid indicating we had his original draft). In the meantime, Wensing initiated an aggressive internal witch-hunt to discover the sources
for LovelandPolitics' stories within city hall. This is unfortunate as spending decisions regarding public tax dollars are not supposed to be secret.
The new contract amendment (see attached) fails to reveal the true reason for the supplemental funds but instead simply extends the date of the original
contract while increasing the total compensation. The consultant is expected to deliver his report to council later this month or now in early August but at a fee
more agreeable to members of the city council.