Ever since former High Point City Manager Greg Demko resigned suddenly late last week, a lot of people have been talking about the event, however, the High Point City Council members who were in the closed room where the decision was made haven’t been saying much at all.
And they’re still not saying much.
On Tuesday, May 26, High Point Mayor Jay Wagner did release a statement regarding the controversial affair – however, anyone who hoped for an explanation of what really went on only found in the mayor’s statement a thank you to Demko for his service and a recounting of what’s already publically known.
Wagner’s statement started with the bare facts: “On Friday, May 22, 2020, City Manager Greg Demko resigned as City Manager of High Point. The High Point City Council accepted that resignation effective immediately.”
The vote to accept the resignation was 6 to 3, with Wagner being one of the yes votes. A brief moment of leaked audio from the closed session revealed the High Point City Attorney saying, “Oh My God, what a cluster….” But, needless to say, Wagner’s statement didn’t go into the details as to why the meeting was “a cluster….”
“Manager Demko led our city during a time of increased focus on strategic priorities designed to boost and stabilize our property tax base,” Wagner stated. “These strategic priorities have resulted in the prioritization of blight reduction and new downtown quality of life amenities such as BB&T Point, the High Point Rockers, and over $200 million in accompanying investment. The City thanks Mr. Demko for his service to the organization and our community and wishes him well in his future endeavors.”
A lot of people – including Wagner in this current statement – have said very positive things about the job Demko did, however, that only raises more questions as to why, given the praise, a majority of the High Point City Council wanted him gone.
Wagner’s release goes on to state that, in the very near future, the City Council will begin to start looking for a new manager. Also, Wagner noted that the City Council had named Deputy City Manager Randy McCaslin as the Interim city manager and stated that the councilmembers appreciated “his willingness to serve our city again in this capacity.”
With some military experience, I may have heard a term similar to, likely, heard of, remembered; but usually forgotten, dismembered, or refulgent to, a term vaguely reflected of “cluster….”. But I’m not sure, as I evoke the memory of being involved (mas o menos) in one. Or not.
Your earlier report was more candid and forhcoming. Demko refused to prostrate himself before a militant African-American employee who had received a poor performance grade, and once he’d incurred to wrath of the Black Mafia he was fired. Demko had principles and a spine, which is more than can be said of the High Point City Council.
100% correct!
This mess has the smell of a skunk all over it. The citizens of High Point deserve to know what “forced” a great manager to resign. The manager had received nothing but praise until the “new boys on the block” took over last election. If the city attorney is in such a tizzy, we should know that this was a farcical situation.
Our elected officials are supposedly representing the will of the people yet reveal none of the details of the execution of that will.
Why was this man removed and on what basis?
Was it performance-based or politically-motivated?
The lack of transparency from our local ‘leaders’ is just another example of the smoke and mirrors show we call Government.
Are you Kidding?! This is the best thing that could happen to High Point. Demko had issues with a lot of people, and he finally got caught by the “demon” HR Director. That Director is selective in her support or lack thereof, complaints that hit her office. She has worked diligently on perfecting the Bang! we got you now! and you are done because I have talked to so many people and they all corroborate my investigation. Demko is not a casualty, he was an instrument for the HR Director to get rid of higher profile employees before she went after him. He is a victim of his own making, and he should have dealt with that incompetent HR Director long ago. My advice to the Council and Mayor is they should terminate the current HR Director, and begin culling other Directors who are under achievers. Seriously, this incident with Demko is nothing. The things that have happened at City Hall for decades is dumbfounding. It is a cesspool of filth, beginning with Women having sex in the Women’s bathrooms with each other, all the way to African Americans denigrating Anglo Saxons with racial slurs and epithets. The Black culture has been encouraged and emboldened by the Director of Human Resources with her lack of action; turning a blind eye and not doing her job. The Mayor and Council need to begin their own investigations into all the illegal, racist, and failures to separate Church and State. Yes, every Christmas, Ordained Ministers who work at the City say grace and blessing, invoking Jesus Christ, over the food festival. All these things are common knowledge Mayor, and City Council. Start doing your jobs by cleaning the top tiers, starting with that racist HR Director who is going to get the City in one heck of a lawsuit! Demko down, many to go! Oh, by the way, go way back in time when your Director of HR was at UCLA… there are folks who can give you very unambiguous details about the racism your Director practiced then, and is still practicing today!