Despite assurances  to the public by County Manager Peggy Busacca and County Commissioners that  the County is seeking to cut government "waste"  by not hiring new government workers, a longtime friend and crony of County Commisioner Chuck Nelson was recently hired for a major "management position" in the County Parks Department by Bussacca without the normal procedures used to fill such positions.

Those employment procedures include advertising the job's availability to other county personnel and the public.

But Jack Masson, a longtime friend of Chuck Nelson, was "appointed" to the position of "The Interim Area Manager for the Central Area Parks and Recreation" by Busacca at the request of current Parks Director Don Lusk.

According to a September 6, 2007 memo by Lusk, Masson DEMANDED a salary a  30% above the minimum level of the budgeted position.  Masson's  salary is $77,872.

MASSON HAD RETIRED WHEN NELSON WAS DEMOTED
 
Incredibly, Masson  was an unemployed former county parks employee who had retired with full benefits when he demanded the 30%.  He had retired from his position as Assistant to Nelson when the commissioner was demoted as Parks Director.

Masson had presumably received all the financial benefits he was entitled to after 35 years of  experience with the county.

Since Busacca and the County Commission are claiming that "attrition" through retirement of county employees is a  way the county is eliminating  "waste," some may wonder if this is an example of what they are talking about.

Luask's request to hire Masson is as follows: