Jerry Miles
It is the responsibility of the Town Council to establish policy.  It is the responsibility of the Town Staff, under the direction of the Town Manager, to implement that policy.   The Town Council is responsible to the voters, the town manager is not.

 Therefore, the new manager must understand that the role of the town manager is to implement the policy set by the council. Here is what I want to see:

He or she should be an experienced administrator, probably with governmental experience.

He or she must have strong “people skills.” Being able to motivate the town staff is a critical skill.

Strong financial credentials are a must.

Experience in land planning would be helpful, but not absolutely necessary. 

I would not hire someone who sees the Fountain Hills town manager position as a stepping stone to a higher position in the near future. 

And finally, I would ask the current Town Council not to be too hasty in selecting a new Town Manger.  After all, the new Town Manager will be working for the new Council.  The new members who will join the Council in June should have a significant say in the selection process.  In addition, the candidate for the job should know for whom he or she will be working.  Kate Zanon is doing a fine job.  There is no hurry.

Jay Schlum
I am confident that the plan we are following to find our next town manager is one that will succeed. The process and timeline being followed are proven, smart, realistic and measured. I look forward to the day our community welcomes our new town manager.

The public has had input into the qualities they are looking for in their next town manager and I desire many of the same qualities. I desire an intelligent manager that has a style that is inclusive, collaborative, respectful and successful. He or she will be focused on service to our community, will look to partner with our local organizations and will be an empowering leader to our Town staff. 

In Fountain Hills we follow a council-manager structure where the Town Council sets policy and goals and the town manager is responsible for implementation and attainment of the policy and goals in a timely fashion. The council will work actively with the new town manager to ensure a clear alignment on the council’s goals and objectives. As mayor I will work directly with our town manager as he or she leads our town staff in a cooperative winning direction that will move us forward.

Cassie Hansen
Finding the right person for this position is essential and the involvement/participation with the community he/she will serve is imperative.  I support a selection process similar to the model the town used for the first Community Center director and most recently, the school district superintendent. 

Involvement of all shareholders including the council, staff, boards and commissions, governing districts, volunteers, FHCCA, Chamber, etc. is essential.

If the current council is intent on hiring the new manager, it is very important that the town manager candidates have the opportunity to meet and interact with the mayor/council candidates so that he/she is exposed to all the individuals that could be on the next council.

It would be unfair to any potential manager candidate to not know who his/her new bosses could be. The entire community must feel comfortable and confident in this decision.

The new town manager should be an individual that: hires, retains and empowers employees to perform to their maximum potential for the benefit of the community; cultivates the philosophy of “how can we help you accomplish your goals”; embraces the community, its citizens, its history and values, and respects where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going in the future.

The individual should: be honest, fair, sincere, have impeccable integrity and creative problem solving skills, believe in an open door policy and transparent, accessible government.

The role of the town manager in the council/manager form of government is clearly defined in state statute and the town code. The manager serves at the pleasure of the council. Town Code states: “The town manager shall be responsible to the council for the proper administration of all affairs of the town under the specific direction and control of the council.”

Bottom line….the council makes policy and the manager implements that policy.

Kathie Kelly
I am in favor of the current Council’s selection process for the new town manager. This approach allows for the opportunity for the council, staff and the community to have input. The final selection, made by the council, should carefully consider all input from various constituencies to ensure a balanced selection process.

We, of course, should look for a manager who has a proven track record working with cities and towns that want quality over quantity. We need someone who understands and respects the political process, while remaining non-political in decision recommendations.

He/She needs to be ethical, a consensus builder and understand the role relationships between mayor/council/manager/staff.

The role of manager is one that can translate the goals and policies of the Council into action items. I would want someone who can help us build a positive community legacy, and who believes in a strong civic engagement process to arrive at the best policy alternatives.

I would want to see some examples of the applicant’s past performance in relation to respecting and working with council and staff, and their ability to follow through without micromanaging.

Keith McMahan
I have no problem with the present method of selection for the new town manager. I believe that Human Resources Administrator Joan McIntosh is doing a great job in recruiting across the country, and citizen involvement in the selection process is welcome.

What I would want in a town manager is a seasoned, capable administrator, successful in small town management and who understands the thinking of small town leaders, business owners and prominent residents, and can work well with them.

I would prefer a mature person, probably in the 50 - year decade, who has climbed his or her mountains, achieved their goals, and is now looking for a quiet career in a community that offers many challenges but in itself is maturing.

The role of the town manager, as I see it, is that of an administrator and executive employed to carry out the policies and wishes of the Town Council which is accountable to the residents.

The town manager should be responsible for running his departments and the council should not be micro-managing the manager in this regard.

But I do not want the town manager making major decisions without the “advice and consent” of the council, nor controlling what comes before the council. The present Town Code, in my opinion, gives too much power to the town manager and must be revised.

Michael Tyler
I believe that the process that has been developed will serve the town well. A sub committee of the council will develop a candidate list which will then be whittled down to a short list based on a series of interviews. The short list of candidates will be further interviewed by council members, staff and should also be interviewed by key stakeholder groups such as the business community, senior center representatives, members of the school board etc. In addition the public will have an opportunity to listen to and question the candidates in an open forum.

I would like to see a town manager that has the ability to develop and lead high performance teams; they definitely should be a team player, teaming with town staff, the Town Council and the citizens. They should be open to discussion and ideas and be an excellent communicator.

The role of the town manager is to implement the direction set by the citizens in the strategic plan, to implement the town policies and procedures, to operate the town work processes in the most efficient way and to develop and motivate staff to provide superior service to the citizens.

Lina Bellenir
Our Town Code specifically addresses the formal duties and the role of a town manager. Briefly, the town manager handles the day to day operations by implementing the policies passed by the council.

As a tool to assist in selecting a new town manager I would direct the committee empowered with the search to use our Town Code of Ethics as the framework for hiring.

The Fountain Hills Town Code of Ethics states that town employees:“…Shall obey the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, the Constitution and laws of Arizona and Fountain Hills.

“Be dedicated to the concepts of effective and democraticlocal government through democratic leadership. And shall honor and respect the principles and sprit of representative democracy and shall set a positive example of good citizenship by observing   the letter and spirit of laws, rules and regulations.

“Affirm the dignity and worth of the services rendered by the town government and maintain a deep sense of social responsibility as a trusted public servant.

“Be dedicated to the highest ideals of honor, ethics and integrity in all public and personal relationships, and shall conduct so as to maintain public confidence in town government and in the performance of the public trust.

“And shall conduct official and personal affairs in such a manner as to give a clear impression that we cannot be improperly influenced.  

“Recognize that the chief function of local government is at all times to serve the best interest of all the people…”

The above is a small excerpt but speaks volumes as to the caliber of individuals whom we should entrust with the operations of our    government.

I do believe that its use as a framework of guiding principles is of critical importance to our final selection.

Dennis Contino
Previously one of the guidelines for a town manager was a good “policy maker.” This is exactly what FH does not want. It’s the council and mayor who set the policy, the town manager implements those policies.

The new town manager must possess the highest administrative qualities and financial expertise. The new town manager must respond to public questions and the new council with honesty and forthrightness. The new town manager must foster this culture with the very capable staff we now have in town hall.  It is not and can not be the staff vs. the residents.

The new town manager will oversee spending. The new town manager must be fully aware of budgets, per-capita expenditures, revenues, grants, staff and so much more.  One basic item, monthly warrant registers, (payments by the town) should be reported to council.

A key to a successful town manager is a council and mayor who have the ability to manage and be aware of our town managers performance.

Where did the current council and mayor loose control with the former town manager? It is the next council not the current council who should make the choice of the most important administrative position in our town.