Trial set for man accused of stalking Abilene City Manager

An unhinged stalker who likes to protest outside of city managers' homes with semi-automatic rifles is facing trial this week. And a Massachusetts town manager and his governing body had a vigorous discussion about his ability to periodically work remotely.

All that and more in this week's news roundup. But first, this week's edition of the City Manager News & Job Board Newsletter is sponsored by Town Web and KUDO .

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Stalker in Abilene

Eddie Pugh is on trial this week for stalking Abilene city manager Robert Hanna.

According to court documents, Pugh went to the Hanna residence more than once.

The first instance happened on November 12, 2023, when Pugh stood in front of the home with a bullhorn. Officers could hear Pugh from several blocks away. He was also shining a green light in front of the house but left when officers arrived. He was given a citation for a noise violation.

Days later, Pugh returned to the Hanna residence with an AR-type rifle in the bed of his truck pointed at the house. He also posted a video and a photo of this on social media.

The linked video shows the rifle in the bed of his truck and pointed in different directions. Yet, Pugh testified at an earlier court hearing that he never actually picked up the firearm during the protest.

You can read more about the story here .

Remote Work Discussion for Massachusetts Town Manager

In Truro, there was some discussion about what sort of notification the town manager must give to the governing body in order to work remotely.

Town Manager Darrin Tangeman told the Independent he rarely uses the “flex time” his contract allows. Instead, he prefers to work remotely once or twice per month when he exceeds his hours, he said. “It doesn’t force me to give my tasks to my assistant town manager or other staff who are already overworked,” he wrote in an email.

The select board voted unanimously to make it a requirement that Tangeman inform the board each time he plans to work remotely for two or more consecutive business days.

Residency requirement dropped for California city manager

Carlsbad’s city manager no longer will have to live in Carlsbad, though the city has not enforced its residency requirement for more than a decade.

The City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to allow their top employee to reside anywhere within a 40-mile radius of City Hall. The initial proposal was to set the limit at 60 miles, but a resident pointed out, and council members agreed, that 60 miles would allow someone to live across the international border in Mexico.

RTRs for Week of November 19, 2024

City/County Managers

1. AZ: Troy Smith, Payson's town manager, leaving after four years
2. GA: County Administrator Michael McCoy steps down from position in Terrell County
3. IL: ‘Big shoes to fill’: Champaign City Manager Dorothy Ann David plans to retire next month
4. KS: Harvey County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber resigns
5. KY: Mike Graese is resigning as Ashland’s city manager
6. MA: Dracut selects Lancaster's Kate Hodges to be next town manager
7. ME: Pittsfield town manager Jacob Gran to leave post for a position in Bucksport
8. MO: Clay County Administrator Dianna Wright retiring in 2025
9. NV: Henderson City Manager Richard Derrick will be retiring
10. PA: Canton fires Amy Seeley, borough manager, after 24 years of service
11. SC: Johnsonville community deals with issues after sudden resignation of city administrator Holly Swann
12. SD: Amanda Mack, Watertown's First City Manager Resigns, Accepts New Role in Harrisburg
13. TX: Odessa city manager John Beckmeyer resigns -- may get a $700,000 severance payout
14. VA: Wytheville Town Manager Brian Freeman leaving position after three years
15. VT: Jonathan DeLaBruere terminated in Newport
16. WI: Chippewa County Administrator Randy Scholz announces retirement

ACM/DCM/Others

1. CA: ‘Up for the challenge’: Cloverdale’s assistant city manager Kevin Thompson promoted to top job
2. CA: Murrieta ACM Justin Clifton tapped to take helm
3. MA: Christopher Dunne promoted to town administrator in Deerfield
4. NM: ACM Renee Hayoz promoted to top spot in Tucumcari
5. NV: Human Resources Director Wendy Lang has been named assistant county manager in Douglas
6. NY: Watertown assistant city manager Logan Eddy is leaving
7. OR: Crook County community development director Will Van Vactor elevated to top position
8. TX: McKinney ACM Kimberly Flom returning to De Pere, WI to be city manager

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

• AK: Nome - City Manager | CB-Assoc
• FL: Sarasota - City Manager | CB-Assoc

ACM/DCMs

• NC: Jacksonville - Assistant City Manager (11/15/2024) | CB-Assoc
• PA: Monroeville - Assistant City Manager (12/2/2024) | in-house

City/County Manager Recruitments

• CA: Seaside - City Manager (Until Filled) | CB-Assoc
• GA: Guyton - City Manager (12/6/2024) | Sumter Consulting
• IL: Wheaton - City Manager (11/8/2024) | in-house
• NC: Waxhaw - Town Manager (11/27/2024) | Dev Assoc
• NC: Weaverville - Town Manager (11/27/2024) | Dev Assoc
• TX: Aransas Pass - City Manager (12/13/2024) | Clear Career
• TX: Liberty - City Manager (12/4/2024) | Clear Career
• WA: Longview - City Manager (11/22/2024) | CB-Assoc

Economic Development

• n/a

Finance/Budgeting

• GA: College Park - Finance Director (11/8/2024) | Sumter Consulting
• GA: Sandersville - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Sumter Consulting
• VA: Blacksburg - Chief Financial Officer/Director of Financial Services (11/18/2024) | Dev Assoc

Human Resources

• n/a

Other/Misc.

• GA: East Point - IT Director (Until Filled) | Sumter Consulting
• IL: Mattoon - Grant Writer (11/15/2024) | in-house
• IL: Moline - City Attorney (Until Filled) | CB-Assoc
• NC: Jacksonville - City Attorney (11/22/2024) | Mercer Group
• NC: Wake Forest - Town Clear (12/8/2024) | Dev Assoc
• SC: Spartanburg County - Transportation Engineer (12/6/2024) | Sumter Consulting
• TX: Aransas Pass - City Attorney/Prosecutor (12/13/2024) | Clear Career

Parks & Recreation

• n/a

Planning & Community Development

• n/a

Public Safety

• TX: Levelland - Fire Chief (11/20/2024) | Clear Career

Public Works & Utilities

• GA: Sandersville - Public Works Director (Until Filled) | Sumter Consulting
• TX: Bonham - Public Works Director/Engineer (12/30/2024) | Clear Career

Recent City Manager Unfiltered Podcast Episodes

Ep. 80: Radical Mental Health Transparency with Todd Hopwood

Ep. 79: Work-Life Balance is Bullshit with Seth Winterhalter

Ep. 78: SHS: Using Leverage & Real Estate to Create Wealth with Noel Bernal

Ep. 77: Jorge Garcia Methodically Prepared for First City Manager Post in Pismo Beach