Commission confident Bullock isn’t leaving town

 Longboat Key town commissioners are pretty sure Town Manager Dave Bullock isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And commissioners are hopeful they can work together with Bullock, 65, on a plan for life without him before he retires. 

All seven commissioners spoke to the Longboat Observer last week and said they believe there’s enough work going on to keep Bullock busy. Each commissioner also believes that Bullock, who began his fourth year as town manager Oct. 31, 2014, will allow an amendment to contract that automatically extends his the agreement by an additional three years to take effect. 

Bullock won’t release a timetable for his eventual departure date but told the Longboat Observer two weeks ago he “spends absolutely no time thinking about his contract” and “I came here to do stuff, and the next 12 months are extremely busy.” 

Bullock has said he won’t formulate a succession plan for the commission unless asked to do so in a public meeting by commissioners. 

The Longboat Observer gathered each commissioner’s take on Bullock and how the town should handle succession planning. 

 JIM BROWN 

MAYOR 

“I’m aware there are concerns about a succession plan. I think people are concerned Dave’s assistant is not the person to replace him. I’m not sure Anne (Ross) has the personality it takes to handle a commission, but I could be wrong. I’ve seen a lot of positive change in Anne since she started in this position. 

“It’s unfortunate when someone decides to leave and you have to find someone, like when Bruce St. Denis resigned. I have a good relationship with Dave, and I get the sense he’s in no rush to leave. He said he would give us five years. 

“I think he’s excited about the projects we have going on. He doesn’t have a term limit. It’s the commission’s job to find a replacement, and they’ll do it when it needs to be done.” 

JACK DUNCAN 

VICE MAYOR 

“It’s not Dave Bullock’s responsibility to find his replacement. We make that hire. 

“But my view is, yes, he should be working with us to 

 begin to formulate a process and a plan to see who we want to evaluate and how should we evaluate. I plan on bringing the suggestion up for a workshop agenda. 

“It’s the most important position in the town, and we ought to be better prepared to have talent in place. I don’t want Bullock to ever leave, but I know he’s going to go eventually.” 

TERRY GANS 

COMMISSIONER 

“I’m not concerned. Dave Bullock committed to his original timetable, and I’m anticipating in September his contract will be extended another three years. 

“Longboat Key is a serious enterprise, but it’s not a major business. The current assistant town manager is in a good position of doing what’s asked of her and learning and growing. It’s a question that can be addressed when the matter comes up, like most towns do. There’s a search, and you find the person who’s right for you at that time. 

“There is effort being devoted to make sure all departments are as strong as they can be. We have a well-functioning team in place. I’m more concerned about energies being devoted to the town instead of spending energies trying to groom someone.” 

 LYNN LARSON 

COMMISSIONER 

“We absolutely need a succession plan in place. We don’t want to be left in the lurch and have another disaster like we did when we went through four town managers when Bruce St. Denis left.

“It’s never a bad idea to plan for the future. I think Dave Bullock should help us create a succession plan for his eventual replacement. Anne Ross might be better served as an eventual replacement for Juan Florensa as the Public Works director with her background. But Dave can help us decide what’s best, and he should be a part of the process.” 

 IRWIN PASTOR 

COMMISSIONER 

“I haven’t had a discussion with him on a successor, but in his mind, he’s starting to calculate that, I believe. We’re not going to ask him to do anything. Discussions will come into play at the appropriate time when he decides to leave. It’s premature to discuss it any earlier. I think Town Hall is in good shape with a lot of talent. Someone internally may be able to fill that gap when the time comes.” 

 PHILL YOUNGER 

COMMISSIONER 

“It’s always good to have plans. I can’t tell you where we will be going when he leaves. It’s not bad to have a succession plan. It’s an evolving situation. It’s a manager’s prerogative. When it gets to the end for Dave, it is still going to be the commission's choice as to whom we put in as a manager. If he has a succession plan, then you’re way ahead of the game. Ultimately we are responsible for making sure we have the best management to run the town.” 

 PAT ZUNZ 

COMMISSIONER 

“I don’t think it’s (succession planning) a bad thing. It doesn’t mean the commission has to accept his choice. But it’s wise to plan for a successor. Whomever he picks, we should consider. But it’s not written in stone that (person) has to be the new town manager. Dave is not likely to leave us in the lurch and run out the door on us. He enjoys what he does. It’s not a chore to him, and he has a lot of projects on his plate. 

“But it’s realistic he’s not going to be doing this forever. He is always looking to see where strengths are. He’s been using Anne Ross more and she has considerable ability, and is becoming more comfortable with projects handed to her. I’m comfortable with the way Dave’s going about it.”