<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2699">One of the biggest complaints I heard during John Coate's tenure as General Manager was the termination of programmers for no good reason. Whether that was done by John or by Mary Aigner, Program Director, there was no way to appeal those decisions. Now there is.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2559"><br></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2465">The MCPB/KZYX Board of Directors has reactivated its committee system of governance. There are several standing committees with specific responsibilities which will be detailed in a separate post. This post will focus on the Personnel Committee.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2521" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2551" dir="ltr">"This committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending personnel policies for the corporation, as well as establishing evaluation procedures for station staff. This committee will perform an annual evaluation of the General Manager. In addition, this committee will review staff employment contracts and benefit packages. The General Manager Hiring Committee will include at least one Board member from the Personnel Committee. <b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_3278">The Personnel Committee will hear and recommend action on personnel grievances that are not resolved at staff level.</b>" - Board of Directors Policies and Procedures Manual (emphasis added)<br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2552" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2634" dir="ltr">At this time any person who believes that they were wrongfully terminated from programming at MCPB/KZYX should write to the Personnel Committee and formally request a hearing. Currently, the only board member named to the committee is Benj Thomas. His email address is ukiahguy@yahoo.com (full board can be copied at bod@kzyx.org). Mr. Thomas was on the Ukiah city council for many years, and I expect he will do his best to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to fully address what happened.<br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2897" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2898" dir="ltr">Such a process is not only good for the station, but is of great benefit to the individual and the community. Although not as open as the Truth and Reconciliation commissions that some countries have used to address past wrongs, it will give each person an opportunity to be heard, and to share their story with others if they wish. Issues such as harassment, retaliation, and unsafe working conditions can be addressed, along with the general perception that current Program Director makes decisions that are arbitrary, capricious, and personally vindictive rather than in the best interests of the community.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_3151" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_3149" dir="ltr">These concerns have been raised by many, but so far there has been no focused action or institutional response. Now that can happen. I encourage anyone who has been wronged, either by losing their program or being denied one, to bring the matter before the Personnel Committee. At the very least, it will require the organization to make a final decision on each case and to address its personnel policies, both of which can then be appealed further if people are still dissatisfied. Conversely, if people choose not to be heard by the Personnel Committee, then the likelihood of essential change, of either policy or the Program Director, is greatly diminished.<br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2801" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_3256" dir="ltr">Membership on the board committees is open to any member. More on that next post.<br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_3257" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_3150" dir="ltr">Dennis O'Brien<br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436213828345_2389"><br></div></div></body></html>