nothin Union Chief Questions James Appointment | New Haven Independent

Union Chief Questions James Appointment

Paul Bass Photos

Jackie James’ new job title — deputy community services administrator — was up on the door of her new City Hall office Friday. The office itself was empty, as Mayor Toni Harp and the city’s management union disagreed about whether James in fact has the job.

The confusing turn of events occurred two days after Harp, at her inauguration, confirmed that she had chosen James to serve as her deputy for community services, which oversees health, youth, and other city programs for the needy. (Read about that here.)

She is working in acting” capacity and reporting to Ron Manning, who previously held the deputy job; Manning is now serving as acting community services chief while Harp seeks a permanent hire.

As a result, James resigned her position as Ward 3 alder, dropped out of the race for the open 10th State Senate District seat, and announced she will not seek reelection as Democratic Town Committee chairwoman. She attended an emergency storm briefing Thursday, identifying herself as the community-services deputy when officials took turns introducing themselves. (She’s pictured at left in the top photo, at that meeting.)

Cherlyn Poindexter, president of the AFSCME Local 3144, which represents management employees, subsequently raised objections with the administration. She said under the union contract she needs to sign off on any appointments to the community services deputy job, which is a civil-service position that needs to be tested.

On Friday, Mayor Harp told the Independent all the problems had been ironed out. She said that James will begin working Monday in the position, in the acting” capacity. Harp said that her understanding is that she doesn’t technically need the union’s sign-off. But she said she chose to seek it anyway, to act in good faith.

It can happen without the sign-off. But would I want to do it without her support? No. I want to support her,” said Harp, who before becoming an elected official helped organize Local 3144 as a city employee in the 1980s. She said her understanding was that Poindexter had met Thursday with Ron Manning and ironed out any objections.

Not true,” Poindexter responded when contacted by the Independent. She complained that, since she hadn’t signed off” on it, James’ hiring shouldn’t have been reported as a fact. But she refused to clarify what wasn’t true or to offer any comment about her position on James’ hiring.

Ron Manning said Friday that he and Poindexter did settle the matter Thursday night. He said Poindexter’s main concern was what will happen to Manning himself when a new permanent community services chief comes in. Manning reassured her that James is serving in an acting capacity as well, and that Manning can return to the slot if he wishes. I’ve already done this three or four times before,” Manning said of serving as a transitional acting chief when someone has left the permanent position.

Contacted Friday, James said she had the day off and plans to return to work on Monday.

Paul Bass Photo

Working on the issue is the city’s new labor relations director, Mendi Blue (at right in photo, at the city’s Emergency Operations Center Thursday). Harp confirmed Friday that she has named Blue, a New Haven native who earned a law degree as well as a Harvard MBA, to the position. She also confirmed that Rebecca Bombero is serving as acting director of the parks department.

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