What qualities would residents like to see in Middletown’s next city manager? Depends who you ask.
It seems there are several opinions on what skills the person needs, but everyone seems to agree on one thing: the new city manager must be a leader willing to work as a team to continue the city’s positive direction.
For the past six years, Judy Gilleland, who makes $127,654 a year, has served as city manager. She’s retiring in June, and a search firm has been hired to find her replacement. Resumes are being accepted through April 25, and once the field is narrowed, there will be interviews with city staff and community members, with a replacement expected to be
named in early June.
Some say this may be the most important hire in the city’s recent history because Middletown is showing signs of improving, and the next city manager must continue the momentum.
Don Vermillion, who the city paid $12,000 to conduct the search, sent out a questionnaire to city leaders, seeking their input in the areas of education, experience, professional style and personal characteristics. In his letter, Vermillion wrote that the process of identifying the “key criteria” is very helpful to the public body as they review
potential candidates.
Those who were sent the questionnaire were asked to rate certain items in each of the categories, from 1 to 5. Their replies, Vermillion said, will be held in “strict confidence.”
Rick Pearce, president of the Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, said a “mix of skills” are needed, such as public relations, innovator, dynamic personality, and team builder.
T. Duane Gordon, executive director of the Middletown Community Foundation, said Gilleland’s replacement must possess “bold and innovative ideas” because the community seems to be at a crossroads.
“There are signs of improvement and things appear to be turning around to the good, but it will take someone willing to think creatively and try new things to sustain that direction and improve on where we’re headed,” Gordon said. “It also needs to be someone interested in collaboration, as we do so much more working together than individually — and I’m
referring to seeking out partners both in Middletown as well as in the neighboring communities, a regional approach.”
The city and the school district recently showed that collaboration when the district moved its administrative offices from Girard Avenue to the City Building. Sam Ison, Middletown superintendent, likes the arrangement because it’s more convenient for him to communicate with Gilleland and David VanArsdale, the city’s police chief.
Ison said for Middletown to be successful, the city and the school system have to work together because one can’t prosper without the other.
When asked about the next city manager’s work experience, and if it mattered if the person had been a city manager before, Ison said a qualified leader will draw from all of their experiences. Regardless of the person’s experience, Ison said, they must be a leader and not leave the rest of the community “isolated.”
“Cooperation is key,” Ison said following a recent City Council meeting where he talked about the district’s upcoming bond issue. “That person has to be a doer; someone who completes the job.”
Doug Boyd, president of Middletown Area Junior Achievement, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, hopes the city hires “a visionary;” someone also maintains a sense of history. He’d also like the manager to continue improving the downtown and develop the city’s riverfront, what he called “an
untapped resource.” Under Gilleland’s leadership, Boyd noted, numerous abandoned homes and buildings in the city have be demolished, and he hopes her replacement continues removing “the blight in the area.”
Adriane Scherrer, CEO of We Can Business Incubator Inc., which is located downtown, is critical of Gilleland because she never understood or listened to her constituents, she said.
“She always tried to make us something we aren’t,” Scherrer said. “We are not West Chester.”
What should the next city manager do first? Scherrer believes the person should hold town meetings throughout the city, so that a diverse group of people could explain their concerns.
“The manager has to know who they are representing,” Scherrer said. “If you don’t know your constituents, how can you lead?”
Gilleland will be remembered, Scherrer said, for reducing the amount of Section 8, or subsidized housing, in the city. Instead, Scherrer said, creating jobs would be a better legacy.
“The best way to get rid of poverty is to change the economy,” Scherrer said. “People have come in here and talked to me about opening another mission. I tell them, ‘You are wasting your time and effort.’ Once we turn this around, and create more businesses and jobs, there won’t be a need for another mission. We need to focus on changing the economy and less on how to get people to go away.”
One of those impacted by the reduction in Section 8 housing is Dan Tracy, a Middletown landlord. He said the city has been portrayed poorly by the news media.
“Our problems are not Section 8,” said Tracy, who owns five Section 8 properties. “We can not wish them away. They are human beings, just like people with money.”
He said the next city manager needs to assure Middletown becomes “more business friendly.” Right now, he said, the city puts up too many road blocks for potential businesses.
Also, he said, the city should concentrate its development efforts in the East End.
“I’m all for downtown,” he said. “But the biggest prize we have is the East End.”
And what would be the most important trait of the next city manager?
“We are not here to teach somebody,” Tracy said. “We need someone to teach us and build Middletown.”