Former Interim City Manager Randy Sullivan now holds the title of Holbrook City Manager, with the decision coming on a split vote of four to three from the city council, with several councilmen still believing that Holbrook should move in a different direction.
The item was placed back on the agenda of the April 25 meeting by Councilman Earl Kester, who explained that when the item was brought up at the previous meeting he felt there was a great deal of confusion in the way it was presented and as a result, he voted against appointing Sullivan as city manager when he was in support of the matter.
He then moved to appoint Sullivan to the position of city manager with a one-year contract, a motion that was seconded by Councilwoman Francie Payne.
Councilman Tim Dixon spoke up stating that he felt the council was “treading on dangerous ground” by reintroducing an item that had already been voted upon. “When we have a meeting and vote on something on the agenda, what’s to prevent us from bringing up any historical item and re-voting on that?” he asked.
City Clerk Cher Reyes interjected to state that if a council member votes no on an item they are allowed to place it back on the agenda, noting that it was an issue that has occurred on previous items.
“That’s a common parliamentary procedure,” agreed Vice Mayor Carlisle. Councilman Richard Peterson also agreed, calling it a motion to reconsider.
Kester continued by saying that he’d rather put any money the city may have into advertising and getting more people into the city than a search for a new manager.
Peterson said that he had also been approached by a number of residents asking why the council is seeking another manager when there is somebody that is already doing the job who will likely stay in Holbrook. “I trust the people of Holbrook with what they want or don’t want,” he concluded.
Carlisle stated he would vote against the motion if it included a one-year contract. “We’re going to set some goals and some directions, and set goals and expectations of the city manager that we are going to set out in the contract, so I want to go month to month,” he said, adding that he didn’t mind having Sullivan appointed manager as long as he’s doing the job.
“I’m fine with just going month to month. If you guys don’t want me and want to go in a different direction, then I’m fine with that. If you want to go month to month until you guys work out your differences and come to an agreement, then let’s just move in that direction,” said Sullivan, who had submitted a letter of interest for the position of city manager.
The council has noted numerous times that if they should decide at a future date to hire a city manager other than Sullivan, he would fall back to his position as finance director, a position he continues to hold, along with the positions of airport manager, public works director and now city manager.
“I’m a lifelong resident. My kids are growing up here and I want them to graduate from Holbrook High School. As long as I have that safety net, then that’s all that matters to me,” said Sullivan.
Kester then modified his motion to state that Sullivan’s contract would run month to month until the council decides there is someone else they want to put in.
“At some point we need to sit down and decide as a city council what we want to do,” said Peterson. “If he performs, then we’re happy; if not, we can begin the process of finding somebody else.”
Carlisle agreed, saying, “Once we get our act together then we can hold his feet to a fire that has actually been kindled.”
The council agreed at the last meeting that a work session with a moderator will be held to set definitive goals for the city once Reyes finds a moderator to assist with the meeting.
Dixon still had concerns, asking Sullivan for detailed accounting of the time he spends each day as the head of each department and said that he wanted separate contracts for each position he held, a request which appeared to have no support from the council. “I have an issue with any city manager doing all these other things. I understand budget constraints and that we don’t have money for all these other positions, but I think it is part of the reason for the rut that we’re in,” he said, adding that he wanted a city manager who would go out and establish relationships with other entities such as Arizona Department of Transportation, partners outside of Arizona and other government entities to bring business and people into Holbrook. “That’s what I’m interested in, not a city manager that’s out there pouring concrete. I want our city manager to be focused outward rather than what’s right in front of him,” he said.
Payne said that some of what Councilman Dixon was asking for was already being done. “Perhaps where we’ve dropped the ball is not having a report on it to the council,” she said, noting that she has inquired about economic development and knows that much of that work has been turned over to Community Events Coordinator Kathleen Smith, who has reached out and meets regularly with the Assistant County Manager Paul Watson regarding opportunities for the area that Holbrook would fit with, as well as the Department of Commerce and other entities.
“Kathleen is a good ambassador for us and she works well with people and has a lot of good contacts throughout the state, so some of that is being taken care of now,” said Payne. “There are a lot of companies we won’t have until we just flat meet the demographics they’re looking for or we have better infrastructure, and I think a lot of strides are being made in that area. But we can always encourage local investments in Holbrook,” she said.
Councilman CJ Wischmann said he would like to see a new contract in writing that has been approved by the city’s lawyer before moving forward.
Carlisle and Peterson expressed their agreement, although it was not made clear why a new contract would be needed as the current contract will revert to a month-to-month contract by the end of May with the only change being that of Sullivan’s position and the wording that accompanies that change.
Concerning Sullivan, Carlisle said, “We don’t have very many city managers that have this many hats to wear, but Randy has to wear them all. If he has to get down and pour concrete, then he pours concrete and then he has to get back here, and take a shower and put on a suit and go to a meeting with ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation), he has to put on a suit. Yes, you’re wearing lots of hats, but that’s the position we’re paying you for and if you can’t make that meeting you make sure that someone else is,” he said, adding that with more funds he anticipates that those demands would change.
Following those remarks Payne withdrew her second to Kester’s motion, followed by Kester’s withdrawl of his motion.
Peterson then moved that Sullivan be named manager under the conditions of the current interim city manager agreement, then negotiate contract with him in May.
That motion was seconded by Carlisle and also supported by Payne and Kester, with Dixon, Wischmann and Mayor Bobby Tyler voting in opposition.
With the position changed from interim to city manager, Sullivan’s pay will remain the same at $113,282. It is expected that a new contract would be considered at the June 13 meeting.
