Longtime Coral Gables Public Relations Manager Maria Rose Higgins-Fallon was unceremoniously
transferred to the city’s police department in what seems like a retaliatory move by one or more of the administrators left behind by former City Manager Pat Salerno.
Bumped down from the job she’s been doing for 11 years, down from Public Relations Manager citywide to Public Information Manager at the police department, a newly-invented parallel but inferior position, getting paid the same $76K salary while the job she had for 11 years until the other day is advertised on the city website for more.
Is this even proper considering that a new city manager will be at City Hall soon to make those kinds of decisions? Or does this smack of a rushed smack down while the interim administration — known as the Salernoites — can still inflict pain? Of retaliation against yet one more employee from the old regime who is ultimately exiled from City Hall?
Interim Assistant City Manager Cindy Birdsill told Ladra that the move was made at the request of the police department due to an increase in demand for public information services. But that is complete bull and she knows it. And, lucky for us but bad for Cindy, everybody else knows it, too.
Read related story: Pat Salerno gives parting raises to his Coral Gables faves
Several inside sources tell Ladra that simply is not true. They say that while Interim Police Chief Ed Hudak had indicated a desire to do more aggressive social media — using twitter, principally, to send out alerts and information on crime and public safety events — that job could be easily filled by a college intern for less than $35,000 a year. Instead the Salernoites, in their infinite wisdom, are having a $76,410.88-a-year employee do it.
And where does that salary come from now? The police department budget? At a time when the Gables needs more officers, have the Salernoites invented a non police civilian position that is duplicate and unnecessary just for payback?
And, get this, they posted a job listing on the city website Monday for the Communications Director position — with a salary between $80,000 and $110,000 a year.
You mean, the job that M.R. Higgins Fallon had the day before yesterday for $76,500?
What is this really all about? Because it hardly makes any sense. In fact, someone should get fired.
Several sources told Ladra that the move was purely retaliatory because “M. R.,” as she is known, has had some confrontations with the Salernoites, which also includes raising questions about the unscheduled, two-in-a-row raises that Salerno gave an employee she supervises, Belkys Perez, without her input.
For hurting one of their own (Perez is a Salernoite) Higgins was issued a warning in August that said a bunch of blah blah blah that could be and sound like desperately trumped up charges. She used the card to buy cheap IKEA office furniture without permission. Says them. She used her time on a project without authorization. Really? She intended to use the city manager’s office? Doesn’t everyone? Shouldn’t they be welcome to?
Anyway, Higgins-Fallon issued her own response saying blah blah blah, because it doesn’t matter because the claims were bogus. They were made up after Higgins asked for a 5% raise for herself in her budget, and raised the issue of the Belkys raise again to justify it.
When the old chief resigned under pressure and the crime issue became a hot topic, the Salernoites saw their opportunity to ship her off to the police department on Salzedo Street, another hanger-on from the old regime, clinging to City Hall despite their best efforts. The written warning was issued in August. Last week, the warning was rescinded after a meeting between the administration and Higgins Fallon and her attorney. It was around the same time she was transferred.
And they hope to make it permanent before the new city manager comes in. Why are they advertising the Communications Director position rather than the significantly less important and lower budget position that they transferred the communications director to?
It’s clear that Mayor Jim Cason won’t act because the whole thing stinks of Salerno. But are commissioners going to sit by and let this happen?
If so, then nobody’s job is safe. Unless you are one of them.
Gables transfer stinks of political payback via Salernoites added by Ladra on
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Geez, I sure wish Salerno would have moved. He has applied for numerous managerial positions with other cities throughout Florida, but never seems to make that final cut anymore. If he did leave, what would his “gang” at the Gables admin. do now instead of running over to his Gables’ residence for his brilliant advice? Must be payback for all those raises he handed out to his loyal followers as he was leaving the City S****y………
These labels about stinking Salernoites are an annoying attempt to give readers poorly sourced, tabloid drama. Coral Gables is making faster progress under the alleged “Salerno stench” than during the previous six months with Salerno himself at the helm. The man moved on. How about we all catch up and move on as well!!
http://hollywoodgazette.com/FL/index.php/home/k2/item/162-city-manager-cathy-swanson-rivenbark-faces-an-investigation
guess this is how they used to do things at the City of Miami, where the Salerno gang came from. If you are not part of the mismanagement that now runs the City S****y, (look out Ms. Swanson), then they have no need for you. Salerno controlled what was released through the Communications Office, while having Ms Belkys Perez sit in his lap taking dictation…………….
this MR character buys furniture without permission, does things on a project without authorization, gets disciplined, all while doing a poor job with the city image……. the mistake is that still has a job at all!
Just wait till the political dirt arises with the crooked commision and the “interim” chief of police. Why did commissioner Lago want Hudak so bad to be the chief?? Hmmm…politics 101 people!!! Someone needs to dig deep into the chiefs backround
Settle down there Sam, Hudak is a good man. I believe he is the right man for the job! I wonder what’s your story! What evil affiliations or agendas are in your background! That’s pretty crappy of you to infer in any way that Hudak has something to hide. If you know something factual, I mean all the facts and first hand knowledge then step up to the plate and take a swing. Otherwise keep your inferences to yourself and get off the mound and let Hudak bat!!!
To Concerned,
Relax, the facts about Hudaks past will surface…examples of which I have already heard from a few decent sources formerly connected to the department are bringing a gun on a plane on chartered University of Miami Football Team flights whilenot in commission of his duties (TSA Investigated), a former felony arrest prior to getting hired as a cop (cant confirm just yet, but still “at bat” on this one), numerous removals from assigned units in the department due to incompetency, a botched IA invesitgation where he was the IA Commander where several kilos of cocaine were burned illegally in an officers backyard with zero documentation (who knows if the kilos were even burned)….still getting more everytime I have a talk with my sources. Someone should look into this guy, he is connected to the County leadership by marriage and that is an attractive relationship for young ambitious and egotistical politicians like the couple we have in our own commission. So, relax and just sit back as the crap starts to hit the proverbial fan. I’m pinch hitting for Hudak, he is batting .000 and I need someone at the plate who can hit.
Well, well, “No Jones” that is a wonderful dissertation of information based on your so-called sources. Safe to assume you have absolutely no personal knowledge of any of your remarks. So, I reitterate the same to you as I did to Sam and I’m assuming Sam was a previous CG employee. What administration are you or were a part of? If in fact your sources are correct. I would be looking into the first line supervisors more then anything else. It is my understanding that police departments have a chain of command and if it doesn’t flow up action can’t be taken. Nevertheless, I digress let’s see what time will tell us……..
To Concerned,
Thank you for your compliment on my factual dissertation on Mr Ed Hudaks past. I use this forum to educate my fellow citizens and tax payers. I want to see the best candidate in office. I do not support any particular administration, I simply will not support a “Chief” with a checkered past like Hudak’s. You sound like your a Hudak supporter and are clearly biased. My question to you regarding uour chain of command is What does chain of command have to do with Ed Hudak taking a loaded firearm in an airplane while moonlighting for the University of Miami? TSA investigated and found him in violation. What does chain of command have to do with Ed Hudak botching an investigation regarding the burning of several kilos of confiscated powder cocaine in an officers backyard? Chain of command brought the case to Ed Hudak to investigate and no discipline was issued! All officers involved walked away scott-free thanks to Ed Hudak and the case was brushed inder the rug. Who knows if the kilos were even burned. Sounds like a cover-up to me and I wont stand for crooked cops. Time will tell my friend….
Coral Gables hit a rough patch in the press recently, and residents deserve someone in City Hall who is a real public relations professional. Former N.Y. Times correspondent George Volsky (http://georgevolsky.com/) has repeatedly written about the problems in Ms. Higgins-Fallon’s Communications Division. He described it as “professionally pre-historic,” reported the widely known fact that it is “unproductive and redundant,” and observed that the “dearth of information” about the city was the Division’s “fault”. Looks like Ms. Higgins-Fallon is a troubled employee. It is comforting to see management take action, look out for the needs of citizens, and not let a bad apple sit idle as Coral Gables’ image is tarnished.
This is the only the second blog post of yours I have ever read, but I thought it was a little insensitive to give somebody’s salary to the penny and then refer to them as a “$76,410.88-a-year employee”. You could have just said more than double the salary. You seem to be on Maria Rosa’s side but I’m cringing at how cavalierly you broadcast all this.
I’m not so worried about the author of this article reporting exact salaries…I’m more concerned about the transfer of her salary, along with her salary, to the Police Department which is severely under-staffed. I question why Mr Hudak requested the transfer to his department knowing the crisis the Police Department is in right now. Crime is rappant throughout the City Beautiful and we are allowing high-paid media personnel to transfer its salary to a depleted police force upon the request of its new Chief Ed Hudak? To me, that salary should be going to another police officer who will help clean this city of its criminal presence. It seems like everywhere I look now, Mr. Hudak is more concerned with social media and the blasting of his smug face instead of fighting crime. Maybe he has something going on the side with Ms Higgins-Fallon? With all the in-fighting going on about Salerno (good riddance) it seems Mr Hudak is sheltering Ms Higgins-Fallon from something worse. I smell an affair!