In an article written about Green Cove Springs garbage service on May 25, 2007, Beth Reese Cravey stated that the City Manager (Don Bowles) recently fired the City Public Works Director (Bob Gamble) for, among other things, incompetence.

As an elected City Councilman in Green Cove Springs, I have an obligation to support the City Manager’s authority to hire and fire personnel as he deem fit within the limits of the City’s Personnel Policies and Procedures.    However, I am under no obligation to ascribe to the wisdom and judiciousness of the personnel action in question.

Everybody knows that Bob Gamble and I have been friends for years.  Bob succeeded me to the leadership of the Public Works Department.  I have always said that City public works improved greatly when I left and Bob took over.    In a way, I am kind of an expert in Public Works Directors—I work with Public Works Directors throughout northeast Florida every single day.  I can state factually that Bob Gamble was one on the best Public Works directors in this part of Florida.

To say that Gamble was “incompetent” is, well, for lack of a better word, incompetent.

Under Gamble’s leadership, things got done in Green Cove Springs: 

Ø      The safety of our drinking water was improved through replacement of 40,000 feet of ancient water piping using grant money from DEP.

Ø      A reclaimed water system was constructed to greatly reduce pollution discharge to the St. Johns River from the City wastewater treatment plant.

Ø      All the dirt roads in the City (except for one) were paved

Ø      New stormwater treatment facilities were constructed to bring the City toward compliance with SJRMWD regulation.

Ø      The City’s infrastructure was finally mapped properly

Ø      The City obtained grants to improve Palmetto Avenue

Ø      The City obtained grants for upcoming improvements to Center Street

Gamble was a star performer.  Unlike certain other City employees, the vast majority of Gamble’s projects were delivered on time and under budget. 

If this standard of performance of duty defines “incompetence” under our City’s policies and procedures, there are many other employees, including the City Manager, who perform to a lesser standard and who should be fired as well.