Commission plans search strategy

By Robin Hartill
| 4:00 a.m. September 21, 2011

Longboat Key
News

It’s been 14 years since Longboat Key was without a permanent town manager. And after Town Manager Bruce St. Denis left his seat at the dais alongside the Longboat Key Town Commission at Monday’s special meeting, Mayor Jim Brown acknowledged that he, along with other commissioners, are in an unfamiliar position.

“I’m in uncharted waters,” he said.

The commission reached a consensus to move forward with a search for the new leader, although the town will have to wait to hire a permanent replacement for St. Denis.

The commission agreed to appoint Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle as acting town manager to serve for the next few days or weeks.

The commission will then appoint an interim town manager to serve for six to eight months while it undertakes a national search for a permanent town manager.

Brown told the Longboat Observer that he recommended the three-phase approach after consulting with other municipalities and groups such as the Florida League of Cities, which advised that the approach is common unless an assistant town manager position exists.

Brown laid out his suggestions in a Sept. 16 letter to commissioners, which he attached to St. Denis’ resignation offer.

“I do not want merely a caretaker while we search for a permanent town manager,” Brown wrote. “We have many matters pending. Waiting for a permanent town manager before we address these pending issues is, in my opinion, a mistake.”

Brown told the commission that he is currently consulting the National Association of City and Town Managers, which offers contacts for local individuals with the experience to take on the role temporarily.

Commissioners polled by the Longboat Observer said that they would be open to considering town manager candidates from inside and outside of the town.

Commissioner Phill Younger said that the town has “outstanding employees” but declined to identify individuals he thought could fill the role.

“I would rather let the search process come out,” he said. “I’m not inclined to champion any particular person.”

Commissioner Lynn Larson expressed a willingness to consider any candidate, although she noted that salaries for the position should be lower than the more than $177,000 a year that St. Denis received.

“From the research I’ve done, salaries for a population of this size would be significantly lower,” she said.
Commissioner Jack Duncan said that he would prefer the interim manager to come from outside the town, although he thought that all potential long-term candidates should be considered.

“I think it’s incumbent on all commissioners to be fair and balanced on this,” he said. “Now is not the time to make endorsements. Let’s make sure we do an exhaustive search. I encourage all commissioners to do the same.”

But, in the short term, Hogle will be running both the town and the police department. He said Monday afternoon that he was in the process of meeting with department heads and will, for now, primarily work out of Town Hall. And in the long term?

Hogle doesn’t rule himself out as a potential town manager candidate.

“I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t consider it,” he said.

SALARY SPECS
Town Manager Bruce St. Denis’ salary increases since his date of hire in October 1996.

Date Salary
October 1996 $77,937.60
July 1997 $84,510.40
July 1998 $92,955.20
July 1999 $99,923.20
October 1999 $105,913.20
October 2000 $108,929.60
October 2001 $114,379.20
October 2002 $117,249.60
October 2003 $134,846.40
October 2004 $134,846.40
October 2005 $141,588.72
October 2006 $152,505.60
October 2007 $177,505

MAN on the STREET

Residents react: St. Denis’ service

We asked residents to share their thoughts after the special meeting Monday, Sept. 19, during which the Longboat Key Town Commission accepted Town Manager Bruce St. Denis’ resignation.

“I don’t agree with the decision. I think that this commission could have worked a little harder to work out their differences with our town manager. All you have to do is drive down Gulf of Mexico Drive and you know that the beauty of it didn’t happen without Bruce St. Denis.”
— Phyllis Black

“I’m glad that it was handled in a professional way. The commission must have felt that 15 years was a long enough time on this job. In private industry, you have turnover.”
— Shannon Gault

“I’m very sad to see Bruce leave. I think he’s done an admirable job.”
— Kip O’Neill

“He’s been a very good friend to the citizens of Longboat Key. When there have been problems, he’s been there, and he’s showed his personal concern for citizens.”
— Beverly Shapiro