"This was a personal vendetta," says county administrator

City Manager RTRs & Job Board (8/18/2024)

A recently hired county administrator in Maine is shockingly facing termination after putting a department head on a performance improvement plan.

Richard "Lance" Govang in Knox County was just hired in May.

Govang said the effort to get him to leave was led by Commissioner Sharyn Pohlman of Rockport. He said Pohlman had contacted him earlier in the month and talked for 48 minutes about his decision to place a county department head on a professional improvement plan.

The administrator said Pohlman told him to take his time and observe. Govang contended, however, that when he sees bad management, he responds for the betterment of the department head, the people working around that person and the county.

"I'm looking for accountability," Govang said. "This was a personal vendetta."

MA: Lenox loosens town manager residency restrictions

By a large voice vote on Tuesday, August 13, Lenox citizens approved amending a 1991 town bylaw to allow county residents to be selected for its open town manager position as opposed to mandating that those applicants live in Lenox or reside in the town within a year of employment.

This still needs to be approved by the state legislature which appears to be nothing more than a formality at this point.

MA: Lakeville continues search for next Town Administrator

After receiving only two viable applicants for the position of Lakeville’s Town Administrator, the Town Administrator Search Committee reinitiated search efforts.

Two. Just 2!

RTRs for Week of August 18, 2024

City/County Managers

1. CA: Chris Constantin leaving San Dimas to take top spot in Los Gatos
2. CA: Seal Beach City Manager Jill Ingram will resign no later than October 31st
3. CT: Berlin Bids Adieu To Its Town Manager Arosha Jayawickrema
4. FL: Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown announces his retirement
5. FL: Trenton City Manager Lyle Wilkerson will step down next month after eight years in the position
6. MA: Northborough Town Administrator Tim McInerney has submitted his letter of resignation
7. ME: Gardiner city manager stepping down to take role with Waterville schools
8. ME: Knox County commissioners move to fire administrator
9. MS: Oktibbeha County administrator Delois Farmer resigns
10. NC: Asheboro city manager John Ogburn announces retirement
11. NC: Hertford's Janice Cole will be stepping down as town manager Oct. 31
12. TN: Roy Haislip fired on controversial, split 3-2 vote in Lewisburg
13. TX: Hale Center City Manager Mike Cypert announces retirement
14. TX: Kilgore city manager Josh Selleck announces retirement
15. TX: La Joya City Manager Leo Olivares plans to resign after almost three years at the city’s helm
16. TX: Amanda Hill tenders resignation in Rusk; accepts top spot in Mason

ACM/DCM/Others

1. CA: Bakersfield ACM Scott Andrews appears New Mexico bound to lead Dona Ana County
2. CO: Todd Hollenbeck promoted to top spot in Mesa County
3. GA: Peachtree City ACM Justin Strickland promoted to top spot; appears that city clerk will be promoted to ACM role
4. GA: Savannah ACM Heath Lloyd tapped to lead Pooler
5. IA: City Of Mexico Assistant City Manager Amy O’Brien Selected As CEO Of Greater Burlington Partnership In Burlington, Iowa
6. KS: In Topeka, Public Works Director Braxton Copley promoted to ACM position
7. MI: Ann Arbor Deputy City Administrator John Fournier tapped to lead Allegheny County in PA
8. MN: Jenna Tuma, Owatonna's Parks & Rec Director promoted to ACM role
9. NC: Pinehurst Village Names Assistant Manager Doug Willardson to Top Job
10. TX: Fort Worth Bids Farewell to Visionary Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa as he announces retirement

WATCH LIST

1. FL: Fort Pierce city manager arrested on corruption charges
2. NC: Keith Rogers on leave in Rocky Mount; numerous articles suggest he has resigned

Job Board Postings

If you are a government agency doing an in-house recruitment you can include your executive or senior level job posting in this weekly newsletter for just $100.

It will also be posted to the job board over at City Manager News. Just fill out this simple form.

COMING SOON

• NC: Durham - Director of Operations for a non-profit | Dev Assoc
• NC: Fayetteville - Chief Financial Officer | Dev Assoc
• NC: Mebane - City Manager | Dev Assoc
• TX: Sweeny - Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent | Clear Career

ACM/DCMs

• TX: Corpus Christi - Assistant City Manager (Until Filled) | in-house

City/County Manager Recruitments

• FL: Lake Park - Town Manager (8/31/2024) | Mercer Group (Florida)
• KS: Fredonia - City Administrator (9/4/2024) | in-house
• MN: Andover - City Administrator (8/28/2024) | in-house
• TX: Meadowlakes - City Manager (8/23/2024) | Clear Career
• UT: Eagle Mountain - City Manager (9/6/2024) | CB-Assoc

Economic Development

• n/a

Finance/Budgeting

• GA: Bartow County - Chief Financial Officer (8/20/2024) | Mercer Group
• GA: Sandersville - Finance Director (First Review 8/19/2024) | Sumter Consulting
• GA: Thomson - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Mercer Group
• OK: Purcell - CFO/Treasurer (Until filled) in-house
• TX: Blanco - Finance/HR Director (Until Filled) | in-house

Human Resources

• FL: St. Johns County - Human Resources Director (8/30/2024) | CB-Assoc

Other/Misc

• FL: Deltona - City Attorney (9/13/2024) | CB-Assoc
• GA: Columbus - Director of Engineering (Until Filled) | Mercer Group
• GA: East Point - IT Director (Until Filled) | in-house
• NC: Winston-Salem - City Attorney (8/29/2024) | Dev Assoc

Parks & Recreation

• n/a

Planning & Community Development

• n/a

Public Safety

• MN: Mankato - Director of Public Safety (8/20/2024) | Mercer Group
• NC: Lexington - Fire Chief (9/9/2024) | Dev Assoc
• NC: Wendell - Police Captain (8/29/2024) | Dev Assoc

Public Works & Utilities

• GA: East Point - Assistant Director (Water & Wastewater) (Until Filled) | in-house
• PA: Cranberry Township - Director of Utilities (Until Filled) | in-house

Recent City Manager Unfiltered Podcast Episodes

Ep. 66: How do we attract more women and minorities to the profession with Amy Farkas

Ep. 65: Michael Penny believes the AAME can help city managers with performance evaluations

Ep. 64: Why does the ICMA credential exist & does it measure competency?