HERE’S THE SCOOP….. TIMING THE TOWN MANAGER POSITION…. IN 2021-2022
October 9, 2021 by Barbara
IT MATTERS WHO OCCUPIES THE TOWN MANAGER OFFICE….
Dear Readers…
Below is a copy of the email sent to our LBTS Commission in advance of the Town Commission October 12,2021 Old Business Agenda item 12.a Town Manager Position….
Please make your comments known to those who represent you before they act on this all- important issue which impacts every resident and business in our town!….
Mayor, Commissioners-
The most important, transparent duty you have to represent your constituents and our town is who you hire as our Town Manager in our Commission- Town Manager form of government.
We know this from previous blunders and successes prior to 2010 , 2010 and in 2018 and the impact on our town with these commission elevated or hired Town Managers.
I have always been about the process and the right process has always benefitted this Town.
There were red flags from the start with former Town Manager candidate Bill Vance which you can find and refresh your memories with watching our Town Commission archived videos.
Unfortunately these issues were cast aside even though they were front and center right up to his hiring according to former Town Manager Bud Bentley.
As a result we were severely impacted by his hiring for almost 2 years.
The Commission elevated former Director of Development Linda Conners as Interim Town Manager.
From the start of elevating Linda Conners I was for the process being fair and fully executed.
I was probably the first resident to email her as she was installed to wish her well in her endeavor.
I was also immediate in voicing my disdain and criticism concerning a special meeting to accommodate and decide if former mayor Scot Sasser should be fast tracked for the Town Manager position because it thwarted the process!
To his credit former Mayor Sasser decided it was not the right way to go and respectfully asked to cancel it.
I walked with Linda Conners on El Mar Drive at the start of her interim position which we all thought was just that knowing she would be a candidate for Town Manager.
Unfortunately due to misinformation cast out as fact you chose to extend her interim position based on Ken Parker’s dictum which was counter to our past process.
With the exception of Mayor Vincent who tried to remind the dais of the importance of the process in the Zoom meeting that delayed it the commission chose to revisit it in October.
The agenda for Oct. 12,2021 under Old Business now has it on to address.
This is again thwarting the process in its placement on a regular agenda with the options it includes-
1. Negotiate a contract with Linda Connors to fill the Town Manager position.
2. Extend the Interim term for Linda Connors.
3. Direct Staff to Hire FCCMA or a consultant to conduct a search and assist as necessary in the Town Manager recruitment.
We are 4 meetings away from January 2022 and candidates filing to run for 3 seats on the dais in March.
It is customary in our town to defer such impacting decisions to the incoming new commission.
By taking Ken Parker’s advice and holding off the search you should not proceed in either hiring or starting a search which will tie the hands of the next commission due to either lack of process or the time the process will take which coincides with our municipal election.
This means keeping the status quo until the new commission is in place which is really the only fair and transparent option.
Sadly, if a majority on this commission choose to disregard our history of deference to a new commission so close to an election,
the Town Manager position requires a Special Meeting as well as signs, banners and alerts for public participation as a Round Table or a project that impacts our town!
Those you represent now and in the future will be watching and depending on this commission to adhere to your responsibility to make our next Town Manager a success starting with a fair and transparent process based on history, process and doing the right thing!
Thank you,
Barbara Cole
| Christopher Vincent | Mayor | 954-612-8606 | [email protected] |
| Buz Oldaker | Vice Mayor | 954-530-5279 | [email protected] |
| Elliott Sokolow | Commissioner | 954-599-5800 | [email protected] |
| Edmund Malkoon | Commissioner | 954-802-3403 | [email protected] |
| Randy Strauss | Commissioner | 954-566-5297 | [email protected] |
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