To the extent she is remembered at all, part of Carolyn Colvin's legacy will be that she moved capable people out of their jobs in favor of her cronies, who were not necessarily as capable.
Cronies? Definition: A longtime close friend or companion.
Unlike prior COSS's who did play favorites (why did Dale Sopper stay for forever, and others who needed to go were allowed to leave gracefully instead of in handcuffs) and who punished people they didn't like with banishment or worse, it's hard to make sense of the comment above because who is the crony and who is the competent person? She came back after being away over a decade, few people remembered her, let alone worked for her. She's ancient! These SESers are 20 or more years younger, and most have had equal access to her. Yes she moves people a lot, but her philosophy simply doesn't support letting people stay in place decades as has been past practice. Good and bad that practice is.
A/COSS Colvin just appointed someone who is not qualified for the position of DCDAR. The DCDAR is also the Chairperson of the Appeals Council. To have that position, the individual MUST be an attorney. Theresa Bruber is NOT an attorney. Therefore, Colvin is once again showing her incompetence by putting someone in a position they are not qualified to perform.
Unbelievable moves. What message is sent to the staff who have constant change . No wonder competent people don't want SES positions. She needs better advisors not the current ones she has surrounded herself with. Let's focus on the work and the people SSA serves.
Acting Commissioner Colvin is exercising her preference to select African-American individuals, especially women, to fill some of the top SES positions. The Deputy Commissioner of ODAR, the recent General Counsel appointment, her Chief of Staff, her Executive Secretary, and her Chief Strategic Officer. Actions that are not truly reflective of a diverse and inclusive culture.
This is a good move to bring fresh leadership to ODAR. Didn't Sklar authorize the hiring of hundreds of new attorneys in the Appeals Council, as well as triple the number of AAJ promotions in the Appeals Council - all while letting the backlog in the hearing offices grow to over a million cases? Why did he bulk up at headquarters in metro DC and Baltimore and leave skeletal staffing in the hearing offices that are swamped with cases throughout the country?
Does the agency really benefit from having 3 to 5 lawyers to do a single remand order in the Appeals Council? These cases rarely involve complex legal issues. How is that a good use of the public trust?
Not only is Colvin hiding behind succession planning to rout executives out unless one is the right demograhic, perhaps someone should look at the cronies getting un-competed appointments, not to mention an incompetent inner circle of 'advisors' and incompetent 'staff' that includes one known to get away with an illicit affair with a former executive and then harass the person brave enough to come forward.
It's very concerning that everyone believes A/COMM Colvin is selecting people because of the color of their skin. There was more cronyism with Astrue and the older SES members; I didn't hear people discussing Astrue selecting people because of their gender or because they were white.
Anonymous at 11:30 - the part about the affair was an SES individual who was placed in his position by Astrue who couldn't see the SES individuals true nature.
10:26, you're joking, right? Astrue brought a few cronies in, yes. But he was also the guy who told folks he didn't want to keep loading the ranks of the SES with old white guys, and if you look at who got picked up for SES during his tenure, he was true to his word.
To the extent she is remembered at all, part of Carolyn Colvin's legacy will be that she moved capable people out of their jobs in favor of her cronies, who were not necessarily as capable.
ReplyDeleteCronies? Definition: A longtime close friend or companion.
ReplyDeleteUnlike prior COSS's who did play favorites (why did Dale Sopper stay for forever, and others who needed to go were allowed to leave gracefully instead of in handcuffs) and who punished people they didn't like with banishment or worse, it's hard to make sense of the comment above because who is the crony and who is the competent person? She came back after being away over a decade, few people remembered her, let alone worked for her. She's ancient! These SESers are 20 or more years younger, and most have had equal access to her. Yes she moves people a lot, but her philosophy simply doesn't support letting people stay in place decades as has been past practice. Good and bad that practice is.
A/COSS Colvin just appointed someone who is not qualified for the position of DCDAR. The DCDAR is also the Chairperson of the Appeals Council. To have that position, the individual MUST be an attorney. Theresa Bruber is NOT an attorney. Therefore, Colvin is once again showing her incompetence by putting someone in a position they are not qualified to perform.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable moves. What message is sent to the staff who have constant change . No wonder competent people don't want SES positions. She needs better advisors not the current ones she has surrounded herself with. Let's focus on the work and the people SSA serves.
ReplyDeleteActing Commissioner Colvin is exercising her preference to select African-American individuals, especially women, to fill some of the top SES positions. The Deputy Commissioner of ODAR, the recent General Counsel appointment, her Chief of Staff, her Executive Secretary, and her Chief Strategic Officer. Actions that are not truly reflective of a diverse and inclusive culture.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good move to bring fresh leadership to ODAR. Didn't Sklar authorize the hiring of hundreds of new attorneys in the Appeals Council, as well as triple the number of AAJ promotions in the Appeals Council - all while letting the backlog in the hearing offices grow to over a million cases? Why did he bulk up at headquarters in metro DC and Baltimore and leave skeletal staffing in the hearing offices that are swamped with cases throughout the country?
ReplyDeleteDoes the agency really benefit from having 3 to 5 lawyers to do a single remand order in the Appeals Council? These cases rarely involve complex legal issues. How is that a good use of the public trust?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/07/23/at-social-security-office-with-a-million-person-backlog-theres-a-new-chief/?wpisrc=nl_fed&wpmm=1
ReplyDeleteNot only is Colvin hiding behind succession planning to rout executives out unless one is the right demograhic, perhaps someone should look at the cronies getting un-competed appointments, not to mention an incompetent inner circle of 'advisors' and incompetent 'staff' that includes one known to get away with an illicit affair with a former executive and then harass the person brave enough to come forward.
ReplyDeleteIt's very concerning that everyone believes A/COMM Colvin is selecting people because of the color of their skin. There was more cronyism with Astrue and the older SES members; I didn't hear people discussing Astrue selecting people because of their gender or because they were white.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous at 11:30 - the part about the affair was an SES individual who was placed in his position by Astrue who couldn't see the SES individuals true nature.
10:26, you're joking, right? Astrue brought a few cronies in, yes. But he was also the guy who told folks he didn't want to keep loading the ranks of the SES with old white guys, and if you look at who got picked up for SES during his tenure, he was true to his word.
ReplyDelete