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To the Editor:

Posted 8/31/21

Few issues have elicited more concern and engagement from the community than the Council’s recent decision to forego hiring a new City Administrator. To be sure, I believe that a visionary City …

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To the Editor:

Posted

Few issues have elicited more concern and engagement from the community than the Council’s recent decision to forego hiring a new City Administrator. To be sure, I believe that a visionary City Administrator-the right individual-should bring to the table the ability and motivation that will move Fayette forward. Certainly, that was the goal of the city when the previous City Administrator was hired. Unfortunately, the hire turned out to be an unsuccessful match for the city. 

The council learned over the course of the hiring process that experience and salary considerations can vary widely from candidate to candidate. We interviewed candidates with salary requirements ranging from $70,000 to over $90,000 a year. Figures that would have placed inordinate pressure on the city's administration budget. What the city urgently needs now, in my view, are individuals who are capable, qualified, and can demonstrate deep competence in the day-to-day business operations of the city while mastering those tasks that are a statutory requirement. 

Many Fourth-Class cities the size of Fayette do not employ a City Administrator, or City Manager. Functions that might be handled by a City Administrator are instead handled by the City Clerk and his/her staff. With the personnel changes made recently it was the intention of the Council to create a hybrid City Clerk/Deputy Clerk model that can successfully carry out the day-to-day business of the city and, most importantly, keep state statutory requirements current. Further, this new arrangement will require greater participation and oversight by the Mayor and Council, as well it should. An initial three-month, six-month, and one-year personnel performance evaluation are built into the creation of these new positions. The council is in the final draft stages of writing new job descriptions and has afforded itself the flexibility to make changes it sees fit in the event this new personnel arrangement does not best suit the needs of the city, even if that means ultimately hiring another City Administrator. 

Sincerely, 

Grafton H. Cook 

Alderman, Southwest Ward and Board President 

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