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Superheroes Getting Laid

In Columns and Editorials, Comic book journalism on October 13, 2011 at 8:04 pm

By now, everyone in the comics blogosphere is more than familiar with the controversy that arose from the recent Catwoman #1. In case you don’t know, here’s a quick and dirty synopsis: Batman sneaks into Catwoman’s room, she pounces him, he initially resists but quickly gives in, they start making out, clothes start coming off, the end.

It is then suggested that these events were leading to a sexual encounter. The four pages of story at the end of this issue seemed to get a lot of people hot and bothered, with many bloggers weighing in on what kind of role, if any, that human sexuality should play in the lives of fictional super-heroes.

“This must be what nerds think feminism looks like,” said contributor Andrew Wheeler at Bleeding Cool about the scene between Batman and Catwoman. “The scene is dressed up as female empowerment, but it’s not there for female readers.”

According to Wheeler, writer Judd Winick and artist Guillem March made a book that intended to stir up its audience by waving sex in their face throughout the issue.

What others are choosing to see as depraved, misogynist or prurient, I see as honest. This is an honest representation of how these characters might interact in real life. It’s not a pretty one, but Catwoman isn’t exactly a hero, is she? She’s a self-centered prostitute/jewel thief. Let’s not forget that.

The thing people are leaving out is that there was, in fact, context surrounding the sex. Before the sex took place, Catwoman was feeling pretty down on herself. Then Batman showed up and she jumped all over him, pushing past his attempts to stop her. With that in mind, I’d like to offer an alternative to Wheeler’s conclusion: perhaps Catwoman just enjoys getting laid after a really bad day.

Maybe Batman is just the vulnerable weirdo in her life that she takes advantage of sexually when she needs her fix. It’s not very heroic, but it’s a pretty common thing, and it makes perfect sense for these two characters. Surely Catwoman should be allowed to act that way in an effort to portray her as a well-rounded character with flaws and foibles. Furthermore, it was a new development in the relationship of the two characters, and I was intrigued to see how it would impact their lives in the future.

In Wheeler’s post, he says that the scene at the end of the issue between Batman and Catwoman reduces years of sexual tension to “drunken Halloween sex.” Here Wheeler seems to imply that sexual tension is good and acceptable between the two characters while sexual release is bad. Perhaps some people would find that more relatable, as it seems to be what our society demands of us.

His statement also assumes that Winick has no other sort of tension planned to take the place of the tension that has been removed. I mean, the situation between the two people still seems pretty awkward. After all, Batman appeared pretty takenaback by the whole thing initially. It seems like the incident was mostly raw impulse, without the characters having come to any sort of arrangement beforehand on where they stand with each other romantically. So that could potentially lead to some drama.

It’s still a sexually charged comic, to be sure, but I don’t know why that in itself is bad (it’s also a pretty violent one, but fanboys don’t mind that, only sex). I mean, for years DC Comics has had a blond female super-hero character whose sole equivalent to a traditional super-hero emblem was a hole cut out of her shirt to show her cleavage. It seems strange now to grumble about a female character for being too sexy when she’s covered from head to toe in an all black costume.

According to my issue of Catwoman, this is a T+ rated book that we’re talking about. Something intended for slightly older readers, like a PG-13 rating in a movie, so ostensibly it contains nothing worse than anything you’d see in a James Bond movie.

So, we have a T+ rated story about a woman who dresses as a leather cat and steals things when she’s not trying to get a rise out of the Caped Crusader. She’s Batman’s femme fatale, after all, but like I said earlier, she’s also a former prostitute that takes to the streets in all leather and a whip. I didn’t go into the comic expecting subtlety and nuance.

While I certainly don’t think every super-hero comic needs to brazenly illustrate the characters’ sex lives, I would like to see it not be so ridiculously taboo. I’m a sexually active guy in my mid-twenties, and sometimes I like reading about characters that have the same weaknesses and impulses that I do. I just wish my fellow readers could be as brave and honest about sex as these fictional characters are.

Originally published online by Sequart.com.

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Abolish the Rochester Police Commission? Public will vote in November

In Municipal News, News on August 29, 2011 at 12:53 pm

ROCHESTER — City councilors during their special meeting on Tuesday night voted 9 to 4 in favor of adding a charter amendment to the ballot in November that would abolish the city’s police commission.

The amendment, if passed, will take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Before the vote, some councilors like Peter Lachapelle, voiced their dissatisfaction with the amendment and stated why they wouldn’t be voting in favor of it.

“When are you going to listen to what the voters want?” Lachapelle said. “I’m mind-boggled that we’re even discussing this again.”

Lachapelle said the police department is different from other city departments in that they have arresting power. He also said the council has enough work as it is without taking on the added responsibilities of managing the police department.

Councilor Chuck Grassie also said he is opposed to the amendment, as he feels the current two-year term limits of the commissioners makes them more responsive to the needs of the public.

Councilor John Larochelle reiterated his argument from the council’s Aug. 2 meeting that voters have spoken previously on the issue, and that he considers it dead.

Councilor Elaine Lauterborn also decided to vote against adding the amendment to the ballot.

Other members of the council, such as Mayor T.J. Jean, said the issue is not a matter of members of the council wanting to intervene in the managing of the department, as some members of the public think, but simply feels the commission is unnecessary under the city manager form of government.

“I know the police department is going to be just fine under the police chief and under the oversight of the city manager and the council,” said Jean.

Jean, as well as Councilor Raymond Varney, said the measure would help them to better handle the department’s budget and how it authorizes salary increases.

Councilor Alan Reed-Erickson said he would vote to put it on the budget to let the citizens have their say.

Before the discussion, the council held a public hearing on the matter and heard from members of the police commission, Chairman Lucien Levesque, Vice Chair Al Bemis and Commissioner James McManus, as well as Rochester Police Chief David Dubois.

Levesque reminded the council of the commission’s achievements, such as ward-based policing, a more friendly atmosphere in the police department’s lobby, and a more aggressive training program.

He said the goals of the commission are the goals of the people and he would rather see the two governing bodies work together for the good of making Rochester a better, safer community.

“Lets communicate with one another; lets stop trying to eliminate something because we don’t agree with it,” Levesque said.

Chief Dubois said the commission adds transparency, keeps the public better informed with what the department does, and holds them to a higher standard of accountability.

He said the rate of crime reduction, case closure rates and apprehension rates far exceed state and regional averages, and the police commission contributes to that record.

The council also heard from members of the public about their thoughts on the amendment from both sides of the argument.

“I, for one, am in favor of the police commission because they’ve helped me out one time,” said resident Richard Williams. “They’re very good people on that board and the public is smart for getting those people elected.”

Williams said he disagrees that City Manager Daniel Fitzpatrick should administer the police department as he does other municipal departments because there’s more power in numbers, and if the city manager took over, “it’s like the cashier cashing himself out.”

Kathleen Levesque, a resident related to the Police Commission chair, said the council serves as a firewall between the government and the department’s command force. She said having such checks and balances in place is good “Jeffersonian democracy.”

“What you’re doing here is removing one of those checks and balances,” said Kathleen Levesque.

She also said the police commission works 100 hours a year, a workload the city manager might not have time for, and if the council were to make any changes to the commission, it should change term limits to four years from the current limit of two.

Later in the meeting, Robert Gates, president of the Rochester Concerned Taxpayers Association, spoke in favor of putting the amendment on the ballot to let the members of the public who are both for and against the commission articulate their argument.

“Let’s have a public discussion about this. If this is import enough to have concern about their validity brought up, I’d would say it’s important enough to put on the ballot,” Gates said.

Originally published by Foster’s Daily Democrat.

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Perry makes Granite State stop in presidential bid

In News, Political News on August 29, 2011 at 12:49 pm

GREENLAND — Texas Gov. Rick Perry made his first New Hampshire campaign stop Saturday night to show his respect for the Granite State’s first-in-the-nation primary.

The stop came just hours after Perry made his official announcement in South Carolina that he’d be seeking the office of President of the United States in the 2012 election.

“I feel right at home among people whose motto is live free or die,” said Perry during his speech at the home of Deputy House Speaker Pam and John Tucker in Greenland.

Perry went on to say that Americans can’t live free if the federal government takes over one-sixth of the economy, if their children inherit a mountain of debt, or if they don’t have the dignity of having a job.

“We’re being told we’re in a recovery right now,” Perry said. “It sure doesn’t feel like a recovery to those 9 percent that don’t have a job.”

Perry said that the country is facing an economic disaster and that two dollars of every five get stacked on the future generations’ back as debt.

“How can the wealthiest nation on the earth fail miserably to pay its bills?” Perry asked.

He said that as governor of Texas he lead by four guiding principles, which included not spending all the state’s money, having a light tax burden on job creators, having fair regulations in place, and having a legal system that keeps frivolous lawsuits at bay.

He said that since June of 2009, Texas is responsible for 40 percent of all the new jobs created in the country.

“Now you know that the recipe I just talked about worked,” Perry said.

Perry also said that in addition to the “tax and spend and borrow agenda” of President Obama leading to a downgrade of America’s credit rating, Obama has also downgraded American jobs, financial stability and hope for America’s children.

“Our nation cannot and must not endure four more years of rising unemployment, rising taxes, rising debt, and rising energy dependence on nations that will truly do us harm if given the opportunity,” Perry said.

The former United States Air Force Captain said that as President he would work to keep the government out of peoples lives, and to repeal Obama’s “one-size-fits-all” health care plan.

After his speech, Perry was asked by an audience member how America can become more energy independent, which he replied to by saying that he’s an “all of the above energy guy,” with the exception of ethanol, and that he supports nuclear energy.

America’s position as “leading from behind” in Libya was also brought to Perry’s attention by an audience member, which Perry said he didn’t support. He also stated that he would make sure that America stands with its allies.

“Israel is not ever going to have to worry if I’m President,” Perry said.

Later in the night, Perry was asked when America would get to a balanced budget, which he promised, “as soon as we can,” and said that stopping Obamacare would be his first priority. He was also asked how to secure the border, which he said would come about by an increased presence of national guardsmen and law enforcement in the area, as well as unarmed predator drones to monitor the ground from the sky.

As Perry wrapped up his visit, he attacked Social Security, calling it a Ponzi scheme that won’t be there for his 27-year-old son Griffin when he’s older, and re-emphasized the importance of getting America back to work by freeing the country from its massive debt.

After the speech, JoAnn Actis-Grande, assistant vice President of O’Brien Energy Resources, a privately-owned Portsmouth-based company, said she appreciated what Perry had to say about energy.

“I believe him, he seems to be straight-forward,” Actis-Grande said.

She added that she likes that Perry knows how to govern a large state like Texas, but also understands the needs and values of smaller states as well.

Donna Slack of Seacoast Republican Women said that she thought Perry came off as very dynamic and gutsy.

“Maybe he’ll show some backbone that these other guys don’t have,” Slack said.

Originally published by Foster’s Daily Democrat.

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Huntsman discusses economy with La Festa patrons

In News, Political News on August 29, 2011 at 12:46 pm

DOVER — Seacoast republicans were greeted with handshakes and pizza on Saturday afternoon as presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman paid a visit to La Festa Brick and Brew in downtown Dover.

For many of the nearly a dozen people that attended the 1 p.m. event to meet him, it was their first chance at getting close to the former Utah governor.

“I’m on a fact-finding mission,” said Dover resident Randy Heller while enjoying some of La Festa’s pizza before Huntsman arrived.

Heller, a retired Navy commander who currently teaches middle school children in Dover, belongs to the Dover Republican Party and has already met republican candidates Herman Cain, Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann.

He said he was attending the event to learn more about Huntsman.

Dover resident David Thompson said that he was attending the event because he was pleased with Huntsman’s view that politicians from both sides should compromise to work out the country’s debt problems.

“I was impressed with his statement that both Democrats and Republicans should work to get the debt ceiling squared away,” Thompson said.

When Huntsman arrived, he greeted and shook hands with La Festa patrons before sitting down with a table of curious members of the public to outline his platform.

He began by stating his concerns about the “cancer” of debt that the county will be leaving behind for future generations, and spoke of his support for a balanced-budget amendment to make it unconstitutional.

Huntsman also said that neither party should have “sacred cows,” when it comes to cutting things from the budget, and that “entitlements must be on the table.”

“We don’t want to have a lost decade like they did in Japan,” Huntsman said.

He said that he believes the country needs an economic revolution through meaningful, competitive tax reform and that it needs to kick its “heroine-like” addiction to foreign oil.

Huntsman’s final point before taking questions was that the U.S. should avoid nation building. He said that he sees no definable goal in Libya and that the war on terror should be fought with counterterrorism and intelligence rather than troops.

“If our core isn’t rebuilt, we’re of no value to the rest of the world,” Huntsman said.

He then fielded questions from local citizens, at which time Heller asked what Huntsman thought of using the American military, specifically the National Guard, as a world police force.

“I’d rather use the national guard to secure the border,” Huntsman said.

Heller also asked Huntsman if he supported the movement to audit the Federal Reserve.

“I do,” Huntsman said, which pleased Heller.

Thompson later asked the former U.S. Ambassador to China what vehicle he might use to break the impasse between the two major parties in Washington. Huntsman said that combining good ideas on how America can “clean up our act financially” with getting the “stamp of approval” from the people during the 2012 election will motivate congress.

Huntsman also replied to questions about “Obamacare,” which he is in favor of repealing and letting the marketplace among various states decide how to fix health care.

When the event ended, Heller said that he admired Huntsman’s views on national defense and his economic approach. He said that while he still preferred Ron Paul, it wasn’t a definite choice.

“I can easily switch,” Heller said.

After thanking the event’s attendees, Huntsman made a short walk down Central Avenue to Central Paint & Coatings to shake hands and speak with Parker Humphrey, the store’s owner. The two talked about how people aren’t spending as much money anymore, and their hope that things will turn around economically for the country.

“Keep up the good work, I respect what you’re trying to do,” Huntsman said.

Originally published by Foster’s Daily Democrat.

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Make-A-Wish treat: Youngsters meet pilots, see planes before weekend’s air show

In Local News, News on August 29, 2011 at 12:43 pm

PORTSMOUTH — Teagan House had made neon yellow aliens and robots out of his earplugs Friday afternoon while sitting at his table under the Service Credit Union tent at Portsmouth International Airport, and was passing time by enacting an imaginary futuristic battle between the two forces.

“Mom, when are we going to meet them?” he asked.

His mother, Jessica Tufts, didn’t have the answer.

“Your guess is as good as mine, bud,” she said.

As soon as she said it, the crowd under the tent erupted into applause as the pilots of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration squadron entered and began to shake hands and take pictures with the children under the tent.

This year, Service Credit Union was able to give 100 children from the Make A Wish Foundation’s N.H. chapter, such as Teagan, as well as children who had suffered from brain injuries, a chance to meet the heroic stunt pilots.

The meeting came just after the pilots had completed a demonstration for Friday’s lead-in to this weekend’s Boston-Portsmouth Air Show. The air show marks the first time in 25 years that the Thunderbirds have performed in the Granite State.

“We’re happy that we can provide this experience to them,” said Service Credit Union Marketing Manager Lori Holmes. “The smiles on these kids’ faces are really the payback.”

Teagan, 11, of Rochester, suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. Thanks to the event, he was able to receive autographs from the pilots for his Thunderbirds poster and his T-shirt, and get his picture taken with them.

Maj. J.R. Williams, a solo pilot with the squadron, complimented Teagan on his camouflage war paint.

“Your face paint is pretty awesome,” Williams said.

As Teagan made his way around the tent to meet the pilots, sometimes the obstacles and people around him prevented him from getting close, something a Thunderbolts crew member quickly recognized and helped him to overcome.

“That I appreciated immensely. That’s not something that happens a lot for Teagan,” Tufts said after the event. “Being in a chair, he usually gets left behind.”

According to Tufts, Teagan has a fascination with the military, and one Halloween their family even dressed his wheelchair up as a tank with him being the soldier inside it.

“He loves the military,” Tufts said, adding Teagan is surrounded by it as a result of several family members having served in or currently serving in various branches of the armed forces.

After the event, Tufts said she appreciated the Thunderbirds taking the time to meet the children.

“Here they are protecting the country, and they took the time out of their day to make sure these kids feel special,” Tufts said.

Maj. John Gallemore, who serves as the squadron’s right wing, said during the event that he admires seeing the tenacity that the children display despite what they have gone through.

“This is my favorite thing that we do,” Gallemore said. “It’s awe inspiring.”

In 2007, Teagan was named the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Hampshire’s Goodwill Ambassador for that year. While serving as ambassador, he and local firefighters helped raise money for the association by participating in boot drives.

Teagan also appeared on the local Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in Manchester. The following year he earned a special commendation from Gov. John Lynch for his work.

He currently serves as a local goodwill ambassador.

Originally published by Foster’s Daily Democrat.

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Former Rochester manager named town administrator in Barrington

In Local News, Municipal News, News, Political News on June 12, 2011 at 6:01 pm

BARRINGTON — Former Rochester City Manager John Scruton, who was asked by the Rochester City Council to resign from the position in January, has been appointed by the Barrington Board of Selectmen to serve as the new town administrator there.

Scruton was appointed on May 17, and will officially begin as town administrator on June 1.

“We are very pleased and excited to have John on board,” said Barrington Selectmen Chairman Keith Pratt in a news release that went out on Thursday. “The depth of experience and knowledge of municipal issues in New Hampshire allows him to hit the ground running.”

Scruton was asked publicly to resign as Rochester city manager during an Oct. 5 City Council meeting by Ward 4 Councilor Dave Walker. Walker had been displeased by constant delays and cost overruns pertaining to the North Main Street bridge project.

Seven members of the Rochester City Council voted for Scruton to resign in a nonpublic meeting on Jan. 5. Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean cast the deciding vote, saying that he did so to break gridlock within the council.

“He’s probably the most honest person I know,” Jean said of Scruton in January following the council’s decision.

Scruton said that his resignation was a result of his desire to go in a different direction from that which the council wanted.

“I had five good years in Rochester, and I did a lot of good things,” Scruton said, adding he wishes the Rochester city councilors well.

While serving as Barrington’s town administrator, Scruton said his first objective as town administrator is to reach out to the town’s residents.

“My first goal is to get to meet people, to understand better what the issues are,” Scruton said.

In addition to being Rochester’s city manager, Scruton has also served as president of the New Hampshire Municipal Management Association. Scruton is currently serving as president of the New Hampshire Certified Public Managers Association.

Scruton said that through his experiences he has learned that techniques for working with people and solving problems are essentially universal, and hopes to apply what he has learned to Barrington.

Members of the local Board of Selectmen are optimistic about Scruton’s appointment.

“As a selectman and as an individual, I’m very pleased,” said Selectman Dawn Hatch, adding that she could see nothing negative in appointing Scruton.

“It was a hard job making that decision, but John gave us exactly what we wanted and needed,” Hatch said.

Scruton started to work for the town May 18, meeting with staff and working on various projects. He will officially begin as town administrator following the effective date of current Town Administrator Carol Reilly’s resignation June 1.

The board thanked those community members who helped in the interview process to narrow the field to three finalists who were interviewed by the members of the Board of Selectmen.

The board especially thanked Carol Reilly for her many years of dedicated service to the town, including more than 10 years as town administrator.

Keith Pratt noted on behalf of the entire Board, “She will be missed and we wish her the best of luck.”

Originally published by Foster’s Daily Democrat.

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Former New Mexico governor visits seacoast

In News, Political News on June 12, 2011 at 5:56 pm

PORTSMOUTH — Two-term former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson visited downtown Portsmouth Saturday afternoon as part of his U.S. presidential campaign.

Johnson, who announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in April at the New Hampshire State House in Concord, stopped in at Runner’s Alley on Congress Street to meet with patrons and talk to store employees.

Johnson said he finds Granite Staters are more inclined to interact with politicians and, in some cases, feel that they have a responsibility to do so.

“The difference here is that people are really engaged,” he said. “They have a general obligation to vet political candidates.”

A 10-time visitor to the state, he said he believes candidates should not be given special treatment when meeting the public, such as cutting in line at a store to shake hands with the owner.

“That’s not my idea of communication,” said Johnson, who served two back-to-back terms as governor of New Mexico beginning in 1995. “My idea is a conversation.”

He said 60 percent of Americans describe themselves as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, and feels he is the candidate who best represents that demographic.

“I’m arguably the most fiscally conservative governor that’s ever served,” said Johnson, adding that he also believes social issues such as gay marriage and abortion should be decided by the people and not the government.

Johnson said he supports abolishing the Federal Department of Education in favor of letting individual states control and compete over education and to free them from having to take federal funding.

“The Federal Department of Education gives each state 11 cents for every school dollar that each state spends, but it comes with 16 cents worth of strings attached,” Johnson said.

Johnson also said he would not raise the debt ceiling and would submit a balanced budget by 2013, which he views as the only way to avoid an economic catastrophe.

He said although both parties are to blame for the country’s current economic situation, he believes the problem only can be solved if Republicans control both the executive and legislative branches.

He also said he thinks Republicans should repeal President Barack Obama’s health care plan because the nation can’t afford it, and that the party could also gain a lot of credibility by repealing Medicare Part D, passed when Republicans were in control of the House, Senate and White House.

Recently it was announced Johnson would excluded from the Republican Party’s first presidential primary debate in New Hampshire, set for June 13 at St. Anselm College.

Johnson said he feels he might be being excluded for being too socially liberal. He added that although CNN maintains he does not the debate’s criteria of polling above 2 percent nationally, he feels simply being on the poll’s list is proof that he is well-known enough to be allowed to debate.

“I’m not a fringe candidate,” he said. “I’m the candidate that everybody’s writing articles about, the one they wish would run.”

Johnson, who has competed in the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii four times and climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest in 2003, took time to discuss running and biking in Portsmouth.

Stephanie Carignan, manager of Runner’s Alley, said she didn’t know about Johnson before his visit, but she feels more inclined to research his campaign after meeting him.

“I’m definitely more inclined to look up information on him because it’s a fresh face,” she said. “I’m not really excited about the candidates that are out there right now.”

In addition to Runner’s Alley, Johnson also visited Federal Cigar and Maine-ly New Hampshire in Portsmouth as well as Cafe on the Corner and Harvey’s Bakery and Coffee Shop in Dover. On Saturday morning Johnson attended the Leadership Institute Grassroots Activist Training Seminar in Bedford.

Originally published by Foster’s Daily Democrat.

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Fitzpatrick sworn in as Rochester city manager

In Local News, Municipal News, News, Political News on June 12, 2011 at 5:49 pm

ROCHESTER — The Lilac City welcomed its new city manager on Tuesday night as Interim City Manager Bob Steele formally resigned, passing the torch to Daniel Fitzpatrick during a special meeting of the Rochester City Council.

“He’s a seasoned veteran,” Steele said of his successor, who had been serving as city manager to Englewood, N.J. since 2008.

Steele said that prior to the meeting, he and Fitzpatrick had spent the day reviewing issues that Steele had been working on, but had not yet completed. They also met with various department heads and staff.

Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean said that he anticipates that the transition from Steele to Fitzpatrick will be a smooth one.

“Out of the approximately 40 candidates we interviewed, he had by far the most experience and the strongest qualifications for the job,” Jean said. “I’m sure he’ll be hitting the ground running starting tomorrow morning.”

Jean added that he is optimistic about the knowledge and proficiency that Fitzpatrick will bring to the city.

“We’re definitely looking forward to having him evaluate the city in terms of areas for improved efficiencies and to get his insight and experience on how we might do things better for the citizens of Rochester,” Jean said.

After the meeting, Fitzpatrick said that he is looking forward to being part of a city with as much social capital as Rochester.

“It’s an exciting place at an exciting time, and I’m glad to be a part of that,” Fitzpatrick said.

The city council decided unanimously to allow Jean to enter into an employment agreement with Fitzpatrick during a special meeting on April 19.

At the meeting, Jean said that Fitzpatrick possessed two important characteristics: overall experience and a history of managing cities comparable in size to Rochester. Both Rochester and Englewood have a population of about 30,000, Jean said.

“Rochester is on the cusp of some pretty significant growth,” Fitzpatrick said at the April 19 meeting. “I think my experience will serve the city well in taking it to its next level.”

Fitzpatrick has held a city manager position in various states since 1979. Prior to serving in Englewood, he was also city manager in Peekskill, N.Y., Ocean Park, Mich., Augusta, Maine; Ogdensburg, N.Y. and Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

The new city manager has also served as vice president and chief financial officer at an environmental consulting firm in Syracuse, N.Y., and as a regional vice president of an industrial building services company in Poughkeepsie.

Fitzpatrick replaces Former Rochester City Manager John Scruton, who was asked publicly to resign during an Oct. 5 city council meeting. The resignation followed a dispute with members of the council regarding constant delays and cost overruns pertaining to the North Main Street Bridge.

Bob Steele, who has twice previously served as Rochester’s city manager and once as Dover’s city manager, has been serving as interim city manager since Jan. 7.

Jean said that working with Steele taught him a great deal in the previous months about working in government and how to approach various issues.

“I have the utmost respect for Bob Steele,” Jean said. “He is a first class individual and someone who I have tremendous respect for. He’ll be greatly missed.”

Steele, whose formal resignation was met with a standing ovation by all in attendance, said that returning to Rochester gave him the chance to settle unfinished business.

“I had been a little bit disappointed to find that some of the things I thought I’d completed when I left here really didn’t quite get wrapped up, and I’ve been able to do that and finish them off,” Steele said.

Steele added that while he honors his experience in the Lilac City, he is ready to step down from the position.

“I won’t say it’s always been enjoyable, but it’s a pleasure to work in Rochester,” Steele said. “To some extent I will miss it, but I am tired. I turned 71 in this position. I’ve done my duty.”

Originally published by Foster’s Daily Democrat.

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