By Pauline Masson –
In the six months since two city administrators voluntarily resigned from the post aldermen have been remarkably quiet about a prolonged search for someone to manage the city.
In response to a question about the search, Mayor Heather Filley said 38 candidates have applied for the job. Most have been rejected but a few remain to be interviewed.
Previous city administrator Steve Roth resigned August 11, 2023 after nine years in the top city job. Interim and former city administrator Harold Selby, who offered to manage the city while aldermen searched for a replacement, resigned the post April 2 after six months. His last day was May 2.
Mr. Roth, always a guarded communicator, did not give a public reason for leaving the post. The always talkative Mr. Selby said he was leaving the job he previously held for seven years, because the current board of aldermen (BOA), “seems to want to go in a different direction.”
Mr. Selby told aldermen that he believed there would be numerous candidates who would want the job. The 38 applicants shows how accurate that prediction was.
One applicant for the post, who is still seeking a new post and did not want to be identified, said the main reason for indecision appears to be lack of job security.
He said he and arguably other candidates were wary that the job may not last for the long term.
““There is no guarantee of job security,” he said. “You would have to move your family here. There is a contract but no guarantee that after six months the board wouldn’t say they wanted a change.”
Anyone who attends or watches the board of aldermen meetings can see agreement is hard to come by among the present board.
The authority of the Mayor and the Board of Adjustment recently came under public assault that demonstrated lack of regard for the American concept of Separation of Powers.
Aldermen seem to be caught up in the idea that only their opinions can drive city action. All other opinions, especially views of anyone remotely connected to previous administrations, are disqualified.
Citizens who talk to me about city government said they “get it.” They can see little or no connection among the local board to the residents. This appears to be an overreach of power.
“I don’t hear any talk about the city,” one perturbed citizen said. “I keep hearing how they are going to run things. It’s not pretty. I don’t think I’d want to be the city administrator in this environment.”
As much as any of their action, their rejection of former city leaders to serve on citizen committees reveals their intention to wrest influence from other thinkers.
Former alderman and now restaurant owner Andrew Nemeth was refused a seat on the Tourism Commission, even though he clearly qualifies, was appointed by the mayor and supported by Tourism Commission members.
Mr. Nemeth, a technology guru, provided valuable insight as the city progressed into the technology of online bill pay and screening city meetings. He launched an extended campaign to improve pedestrian safety on Viaduct Street north of I-44, and was finally successful when the city marshaled through a series of guard rails, signs, painted street guides that alert motorists to watch for walkers in that traffic congested area.
Ten-year Park Board member and president Stephen Flannery III, scion of one of the city’s oldest families, was refused a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
As a city parks and population growth advocate Mr. Flannery was an active participant in crafting the city’s comprehensive plan, oversaw the creation of a children’s play area, dog park, basketball half courts and improved tennis courts in the city park and a strong advocate of growth to sustain the city’s economy. As a realtor he had the fatal flaw of supporting a controversial subdivision that Aldermen James Cleeve, Scott Lesh and Carla Stewart opposed.
Long time alderman and P&Z member Jerry Eversmeyer was refused another term on P&Z.
A stalwart member and officer of the community behemoth, the Pacific Eagles, Mr. Eversmeyer has spent eight years on the Board of Aldermen and P&Z Commission where he weighed the merits of citizen complaints and requests. He resigned his Ward 2 seat in 2013 to go to Alaska for two years to reside with grandchildren while his son was deployed overseas. As an aldermen he campaigned vigorously for disciplined spending and more sidewalks, especially on feeder streets.
Regardless of whether you agree with one or all of these three city activists, they were denied the opportunity to continue to serve for one reason. Their voices represent past administrations. The current board will not listen to or work with anyone who does not fit their definition of change.
Unwillingness to work with someone who disagrees with them is the greatest barometer of their intention to limit city business to a narrow lane of authority. They will have change and only change.
This quest for change seems to have infected the city administrator search. Aldermen have looked at 38 individuals who would like to be Pacific’s city administrator. Since all personnel matters are confidential the citizens are not privy to the qualifications, skills or management skills that are being rejected. This leaves citizens at a loss to figure out what is wrong with our city that no individual that the current board deems qualified wants the job.
Now, right now, as we enter the political season, it’s time to think about what kind of city we want to be. This is not only the political season. It is the citizen’s season. It’s time to listen and weigh the skills, community connectedness and political savvy of our neighbors who want to be part of city government.
Think.
