St. Denis: a history

In summer 1997, the Longboat Key Town Commission faced a choice: Launch a national search for a town manager or promote Bruce St. Denis, the assistant town manager who had been serving as acting town manager since the retirement of Griff Roberts that July.

The issue at first divided the commission. Three commissioners favored St. Denis’ appointment, three supported a national search, and one was out of town — they were at an impasse.

But, by Sept. 8, 1997, things had changed.

The commission took a vote. It was 6-0, in favor of St. Denis.

Commissioner Ken Legler made the motion to appoint St. Denis to the role. After the unanimous vote, a beaming St. Denis said that he liked Longboat Key because the smaller setting allowed him to have a close relationship with its citizens.

Resident Jeremy Whatmough, who later served as a commissioner and mayor, spoke at that Sept. 8 meeting.

“Bruce is excellent,” he told the commission, “and you have done your job and saved thousands of dollars.”

St. Denis’ appointment came less than one year into his tenure on Longboat Key. In 1996, the commission approved the creation of an assistant town manager position to help Town Manager Griff Roberts, who was in a two-year battle with cancer.

Roberts chose St. Denis, who was 43 at the time and had served for 10 years as director of facility management in Pinellas County, citing his “excellent background in government — both at the county and municipal levels.”

Roberts retired in July 1997, and St. Denis took over the town manager role on an acting basis before the commission appointed him to the position two months later. Two-and-a-half weeks after the commission appointed him, the new town manager negotiated the terms of his contract with the commission. The end result: a base salary of $84,500 and 18% of his salary in deferred compensation, among other benefits. The commission also agreed to change a charter rule that required the town manager to live on the island.

Commissioners praised St. Denis for his accomplishments during his first year on the job. They wrote in the annual town manager evaluation that his presentation of the 1998-99 budget and leadership of town staff were impressive. But commissioners also had criticisms: They said that St. Denis sometimes focused too much on managing the outcome of commission decisions and that he needed to take a position when asked by the commission. Still, St. Denis got high marks on the evaluation, with scores from commissioners ranging from a low of 95 to two perfect 125s.

By October 1999, the town was in the throes of three major projects in which St. Denis played a key role: beach renourishment, canal dredging and facilities improvement. Legally, the commission wasn’t permitted to prevent St. Denis from seeking other employment opportunities, but commissioners wanted to make any potential job offers less attractive. So, that month the commission voted on a contract that included a 7.5% salary increase along with other improvements in benefits in exchange for a “gentleman’s agreement” from St. Denis that he would remain town manager for another four years.

Former Mayor Ron Johnson said that he was impressed with St. Denis’ role in the development of town facilities, including new police-department and public works facilities and a renovated Town Hall — a project for which voters approved a $3.9 million bond issue in March 1999.

“He could argue things through and was very skilled,” Johnson said. “He’s very good at working with people.”

John Redgrave, who served on the commission beginning in 1997, said that he was impressed by St. Denis’ handling of the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center. Redgrave said that the facility drew controversy, especially from some residents who worried that a large oak tree would be destroyed, but under St. Denis, the facility was built around the tree.

“You had that big old tree in the middle of a tennis center,” Redgrave said.

Former Mayor Joan Webster credited St. Denis with bringing the town into the 21st century, leading the town through the formation of an IT department, eliminating “outrageous” building fees and securing open space for parks.

At a 2006 commission meeting, Webster praised St. Denis’ accomplishments during the prior year, including a beach-renourishment project and canal dredging, along with the revamped building fees. At that meeting, before voting to raise St. Denis’ pay by 5%, commissioners worried about what would happen if St. Denis left the town.

“Not a good outcome for Longboat Key,” Johnson said.

But in September 2007, St. Denis confirmed that leaving Longboat was a possibility: The town manager told employees in an email that he was a candidate for the Naples city manager position. He later withdrew his name for consideration after receiving a $25,000 raise from the commission.

The following year was the final year that St. Denis received an evaluation from the commission. And although the remarks were favorable, some commissioner remarks indicated the beginnings of frustrations.

“The town manager often seems reluctant to recognize the changing world,” Commissioner George Spoll wrote.

“Recent events, e.g. reduction in property values, serious pension difficulties, union negotiation, town clerk operation and employee litigation all point to less-than-expected performance and potential to deal with tough times ahead,” Commissioner Peter O’Connor wrote.

After Monday’s meeting, Mayor Jim Brown said that St. Denis served through many commissions during his tenure and that the current commission was ultimately headed in a different direction. But Brown also praised St. Denis for his service during the past 14 years.

“I think he was one of the best ambassadors to the town that I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Career Chronology
Oct. 2, 1996 — Bruce St. Denis reports for his first day as assistant town manager.
July 1997 — St. Denis assumes the role of acting town manager after the retirement of Griff Roberts.
Sept. 8, 1997 — The commission unanimously approves St. Denis as town manager.
Sept. 25, 1997 — St. Denis works out the final details of his contract, including an annual salary of $84,510. The commission agrees to change a charter rule that required the town manager to live on the Key.
June 1998 — St. Denis receives high marks on his first evaluation, with two perfect scores of 125.
July 1998 — After one year on the job, St. Denis becomes the highest-paid manager in town history with an annual salary of $92,961.
October 1999 — The commission approves a four-year contract with St. Denis.
October 2004 — For the first time in St. Denis’ history with the town, he doesn’t get an annual raise, although commissioners increase his benefits, allowing for one year’s severance pay if the town manager is terminated without cause.
September 2007 — St. Denis confirms that he is a candidate for a Naples city manager position.
October 2007 — St. Denis withdraws his name for the Naples position after receiving a $25,000 raise.
December 2008 — St. Denis receives his final evaluation from the commission.
Sept. 16, 2011 — St. Denis resigns because mounting criticism from the commission.

Former mayors react to St. Denis’ resignation

Former Longboat Key mayors express their thoughts on the town manager’s resignation and more than 14 years of service to the town. 









“I think people can stay on a job too long … I think he was worn out by year 10. I wish him well, and I’m sure that if he wants to, he’ll find ample opportunity, and I hope that when he reflects on his years on Longboat Key, he will have good thoughts.”
 — Jeremy Whatmough









“I think Bruce is an outstanding manager who knows more about things relevant to   the town, including beach management and operating Town Hall in an effective way, than anyone.

 “I think the Town Commission rushed to judgment … There’s always, in any municipality, some conflict between the manager and the commission because you’re dealing with bright, experienced individuals who think for themselves.”
  — Lee Rothenberg









“Bruce will be missed by all of us. He took this town into the 21st century. I think he did a lot of creative things for which he may not have gotten credit. He took care to hire, train and pay for the best staff, pay for a fire and police department, develop a water contract with Manatee County … He was an expert on beach renourishment and parks …

“I think he was the consummate ethical leader. I wish Bruce St. Denis the best, and I wish the commission the best in their search.”
— Joan Webster









“He did one of the most outstanding jobs I’ve ever seen during my career. When we needed new facilities, he understood what was needed and helped with the design. He was skilled at presenting things and good at working with people.”
— Ron Johnson









“We had controversies over the years, but he really had the picture of what Longboat Key was better than anyone who had come along.

“It’s going to be very hard to replace him. I think the commission is different from anyone I’ve ever seen or served on. It’s a disappointment to me that they’re perching in that area.

“He was a great asset for the 14 years he was there. You can look around at all the beautification projects and Gulf of Mexico Drive the way it looked then and the way it looks now and see that it’s because of him.”
— John Redgrave

More St. Denis coverage:
1. http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Front-Page/0921201114191/Commission-plans-search-strategy 

2. http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Front-Page/0921201114193/Bruce-St-Denis-final-bow