Dan O'Leary, Keller City Manager, Fires Himself In Crazy Downsizing

As districts across the country tighten the purse strings and cut back on jobs in a tough economy, one Texas city employee is taking matters into his own hands, and sacrificing his own career.

After 32 years of public service, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported 57-year-old Keller City Manager Dan O'Leary's has just one month left on the job. But O'Leary's tenure isn't up and he hasn't been voted out. He's been fired -- by himself.

According to the Associated Press, the town of 40,000 employed O'Leary as city manager with two assistant city managers also on the payroll. The town doesn't need three managers, he concluded, and doesn't need to pay him $176,000 a year to continue on.

O'Leary resigned at the March 20 city council meeting, saying the city should look to trim costs wherever possible, starting with eliminating his own administrative position, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

"It's a little unusual for a city of our size to have three city managers," O'Leary said after the council meeting, referring to assistant city managers Steve Polasek and Chris Fuller, according to the Star-Telegram. "There was a time that was needed, but at this point in time, I don't think we need three city managers."

The paper reported that O'Leary took other steps to reduce the town's spending during his tenure, including cutting down the workforce and merging services with other local areas, ultimately helping to secure the town's spot at No. 7 on a recent CNN/Money magazine list of the top 100 small towns in which to live.

O'Leary has no plans to fully retire, the AP reported, though he is eligible for the state's municipal retirement system due to the length of his service. According to a press release from the city of Keller, O'Leary is looking for a job with another city in the area. His last day will be April 20.

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Comments

[Clarity22]

11:25 PM on 03/24/2012

What a class act!

[Ray Russelburg]

10:36 AM on 03/27/2012

I agree. Now if we could just get our congress to think like that.

[Ayesha Khan]

04:01 PM on 03/24/2012

This is a magnificent gesture and what he did is certainly commendable. It is very difficult to find such considerate people now a days---Great job!!!!!!!!!!!!

[the taoist]

01:00 PM on 03/24/2012

Wow...................a bureaucrat with a functioning brain and a conscience...this ranks up
there with that time I saw Bigfoot...............

[ebanks84]

08:34 AM on 03/24/2012

That's original if nothing else.

[eyeforeye42]

04:14 AM on 03/24/2012

I love it. I have an uncle that was in charge of reorganizing his business. As number 2 he did all the work and his boss took all the praise so in front of a the board overseeing the reorganization he addresses his plan to great review and approval. After the meeting someone came up and said that they didn't see his name on the organization chart. In front of his boss and the crowd he told them they didn't need him and a boss that would be impossible to move to that position due to age and tenure similarities that left him a junior so there was no sense one doing all the work and the other getting the praise when the one getting the praise can now do the work too. His going away party was magnificent. Takes guts to do these things.

[ebanks84]

08:35 AM on 03/24/2012

I agree.

[California Beach Bum]

02:27 AM on 03/24/2012

This City Manager will get my support and vote.

[dionkraft]

02:25 AM on 03/24/2012

Lets tell it like it is: This guy is bringing in 175K a year and so he is not hurting by any means. Not only that he has his city pension which more than likely he can live on if he has not stacked credit card charges to the max. He did a good thing but it is not the same as laying off workers when fired would be really scrambling for a job to meet their financial obligations. I therefore give a half salute to thee.

[kennyfasugbe]

10:57 PM on 03/23/2012

I can't believe this could happen in Texas. "Can anything good come out of Nazareth" biblical cliche comes to mind. Good story.

[OhManOhMan]

06:35 PM on 03/23/2012

If we can trust 535 federal elected officials do the same and every city/county/state do the same.

That'll be the day

[Popopnano]

06:17 PM on 03/23/2012

Finally, a man at the top with a conscience, bravo!

[stlbrz]

05:55 PM on 03/23/2012

Are you watching Boener?

[artism1]

04:37 PM on 03/23/2012

Just applaud this guy and move on. Why does everything have to become a bash-fest here?

[urbisoler]

04:08 PM on 03/23/2012

Attention all Liberals!!!! This is what Liberals do. They love Government jobs so they can create empires like this one on the tax-payer's dime.. Three City managers? Town of 40,000! $176,000!! What a racket!! Do they also have a mayor with a half dozen assistants? When do you suppose the voting public will ever wise up? The most overbloated organizations on earth are governments. Think limited government for a change. See how it works.

[beezelbob1]

04:36 PM on 03/23/2012

Sure. Conservatives didn't have anything to do with it. All liberal's fault. In Texas. The most conserrvative state in the nation. But it's libruls. Had to have been.

During the good times three city managers were required. Now the town does not require three and one of them is stepping down volentarily. What's so hard to understand? And why all the exclamation points? Take your pills.

[stlbrz]

05:56 PM on 03/23/2012

Jeez, if you had a brain you'd be dangerous. Spin and a miss CONSTER!

[Montcalms Revenge]

01:17 PM on 03/23/2012

Did he have himself escorted from the building?... ;-)

[kevmi16]

01:02 PM on 03/23/2012

I hope Obama will take note of this.

[stlbrz]

05:57 PM on 03/23/2012

Boner!