At a recent workshop, Milford City Council reviewed an offer from retiring City Manager Mark Whitfield to act as interim manager until Chris Coleman, his newly hired replacement who will begin August 4. Whitfield would work no more than 20 hours per week at $150 an hour, a standard fee for a consultant with his experience. Milford’s charter requires that an interim or full-time city manager be in place.
“The charter requires that there be a city manager, someone has to be the interim city manager or remain city manager,” Whitfield stated. “There are some things in place, particularly with the finance system, that someone has to be the final sign off. We talked about doing this with [department heads] on a rotating basis, but that will be extremely cumbersome, adding six or seven different individuals to be final sign off on any financial matter that comes through our system. Having one person do that is advantageous.”
Whitfield continued, explaining that he was not looking to work more than 20 hours a week and that he hoped to do much less as he wanted to retire, but he was willing to be there for the directors and other staff. Councilwoman Nadia Zychal commented that on March 10 there was a discussion about retaining Whitfield on a contractual basis until the new city manager comes on board. On that date, council voted unanimously to extend Whitfield’s contract until June 20, but Mayor Todd Culotta questioned whether it would be better to have Whitfield act as a consultant rather than extend the contract.
“For those of you that don’t know me very well, sometimes I look at things and I sit and nitpick at things and it’s not because I like to stir the pot, I don’t,” Councilwoman Madula Kalesis said. “I was not born in this country; I came here when I was 18. I failed math twice while I was in high school. I came to this country and didn’t speak English; I didn’t read it and I didn’t write it. So, learning to first speak, then write English, I paid very close attention to words and the meaning of words. If I didn’t know the meaning, I would either ask or look it up in an encyclopedia.”
Kalesis stated that when it came to a $60 million budget for the city, she dissects it. She also questioned the need for the new city manager to have consultation as Whitfield didn’t have any assistance when he came on the job, as she understood it. Whitfield explained that he did reach out to other city managers and Kalesis commented that he did not have anyone “in-house” that helped him.
“I did have the opportunity, prior to becoming the city manager, to work with the outgoing city manager for a month and a half,” Whitfield said. “Before I was interim, I worked as a department head with Mr. Norenberg and then worked with him as interim for almost two months before he left, so I did have the opportunity to work with him.”
Kalesis continued questioning the need for a consultant.
“Regardless, we have Mr. Coleman coming in with a total of 27 years’ experience in town management alone,” Kalesis said. “Mr. Coleman will be making $93 an hour and Mr. Whitfield is currently making $90 an hour, so $150 an hour is almost double the pay he is getting right now. From what I have seen, every department head will be covering Monday through Friday or the next five weeks, so unless it was voted and a motion passed when I was not present, I think we definitely need to take into consideration that we have a very conservative budget and if we need an interim city manager, we reach out within.”
Councilman Michael Stewart also asked why department heads could not just step in and handle the position.
“They will serve the day-to-day when I am not in the office, but since I’ve been here, I was always available by phone and would often get phone calls,” Whitfield said. “I would also check and forward emails. I went into the finance system to make sure bills were paid. I did that when I was on vacation, even as interim. The other side of this is I was on call 24/7 and when I took the position as city manager, I knew that. Actually, even when I took the position as public works director.”
Councilman Dan Marabello believed council had already approved Whitfield acting as a consultant and that this was just to determine a dollar amount, but Culotta stated there was no approval, that council simply talked about it as an alternative to extending the contract.
“I mean, we kind of forced his hand to be city manager, he took some convincing and he’s done a good job since then,” Culotta said. “We have very capable department heads, they’re all seasoned and experienced. If we need to get one single person that trumps others to make the decisions and sign something, it’s just a process. The fact of the matter is, I appreciate what Mark has done for the city and I wish him the best in retirement, but I think we can handle this in-house. We have three people that report to council, the manager, police chief and city clerk. It is not unreasonable to ask the chief to fill in during that time.”
Marabello commented that he ran the numbers and even at the highest number of hours proposed by Whitfield, the cost would be $18,000, far less than having someone on full time for the next five weeks. Marabello felt that it was critical to have continuity.
“I think that calculation only includes the time we are waiting for our new city manager, but this also includes time for our new city manager to consult with him as well,” Councilwoman Lori Connor said. “I don’t see a limit on here, so who is going to oversee this? Who is going to keep track of the hours used once Mr. Coleman is here? I guess I am going to come at this as a middle of the road approach here. I think $150 is incredibly high considering what our new city manager is going to be making per hour and what our current city manager is making per hour.”
Connor felt that the cost could come down to $100 an hour.
“I also think it is kind of sad that none of our department heads want to step up to that position because it gives them that experience and they are all very capable,” Connor continued. “I guess I feel like it’s a little, well, not financially responsible to say we’re going to spend $150 an hour for 20 hours and also have these people taking turns each week doing the job as well, so we are kind of double paying for the same job. I think it could be more like five or ten hours.”
Whitfield stated he was perfectly happy working less than 20 hours, even ten hours as he was ready to retire. He explained 20 hours was a maximum but there was no minimum and if it was five hours, he was fine with that, but if he had to be on call, it needs to be worthwhile for him to be on call after he leaves the city. Councilman Danny Perez asked if the department heads would receive additional pay for the time they spent as interim manager and Whitfield said they would not. Perez again commented that Whitfield did not have a transition period with the former manager.
“I did have a transition period. I had the opportunity to work with Eric Norenberg for two months before he left,” Whitfield said. “I’m not looking to work every day. Any time I spent with Mr. Coleman would be at his request. Once he starts, he is the city manager at that point and if he needs me, he can call me, but I am not looking to work for 40 hours.”
Perez felt that although the department heads were capable, a transition period was very important for a new person coming into a job.
“There is always that experience, that exchange of experience, and to know the details, to meet the people, so in my opinion, you will be more than valuable during that transition period. Getting back to Lori’s comment, we do have department heads who have been there for quite a few years and are very capable. I don’t question the fee as it is very reasonable. But when the new person comes on, you will be available for two weeks, maybe a month. It would be walking him through contracts, the budget.”
Perez stated that although Coleman had 27 years’ experience and would likely pick things up quickly, there is always a transition period. His only question was whether it was necessary to have someone in place other than the department heads during the six-week period before Coleman began. He asked if there were any emergencies Whitfield anticipated during that time.
“If I did, it would not be an emergency, we would plan for it,” Whitfield said. “There are emergencies that come up all the time and what I mostly get calls for are history. What did we do the last time this happened. Willis [Shafer, Public Works Director] is constantly asking me about projects and to provide history and direction.”
Kalesis asked what the process would be if something happened to the city manager and there was no one to train a new manager. She felt that if department heads could fill in then, they could do so during this transition. Kalesis felt with a tight budget, council could simply tell one of the department heads to be the interim city manager.
“I think we need to look at the larger picture here and be dollar wise instead of scrutinizing pennies, because at the end of the day, Mark has taken his fiduciary responsibility to the people very seriously and he is filling in on an as-needed basis,” Zychal said. “It is not a 40-hour a week position, it’s on call. And being on call is like being on overtime. A person needs to be compensated appropriately for that. He’s graciously offered this time after he was planning on being out of here in order to create a smooth, easy, even transition.”
Councilwoman Katrina Wilson was visibly angry when she spoke on her opinion of the discussion.
“This is just a mess. Per the charter, we are supposed to have a manager or interim city manager, and I don’t see individuals jumping up and down and saying they want to have the experience or sit in that seat and the first thing that comes to my mind is “gee, I wonder why?” but I know the answer” Wilson said. “It’s the leadership here. The way they have been thrown under the bus, the way this has gone on. It has been a fight for everything that has come before us. I mean, I like to tell the truth, and the truth of the matter is that these individuals in great positions they love working in do not want to be scrutinized the way that has been done the last few weeks.”
Wilson continued.
“That’s the why, I can’t say it loud enough, that’s the why,” Wilson said. “Therefore, I don’t know what the answer is. Mark is our city manager and is supposed to have left, but he is still offering his services and he’s still being scrutinized. So, what do you do? I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed of all of you. I’m not proud to be on this council with you guys. Everything is a fight, it is unbelievable. On past councils, there have been fights, but now everything is questioned whether it is a big dollar amount or a little dollar, integrity or sneaky slidy or this person passing an item through that wasn’t acknowledged by another person.”
Wilson continued, saying she prayed for the council and the city.
“It’s a shame, you guys, and I am saddened by it,” Wilson said. “I pray for this council that we will be able to have continuity and know that we will not always vote the same, but that we have continuity and vote with a good vision for our city, but lately that never happens. It is just a fight. Mark, I am grateful to you, grateful for what you have done up to this point, but I know what you’ve been faced with and I hope you are able to help our new city manager.”
Kalesis pushed back against Wilson’s statement.
“We were elected to sit in these chairs because the public was sick and tired of it, that’s why,” Kalesis said. “I am going to quote what you said back on January 27. You said, “The good ol boy days are done.” You are correct, they are done, ma’am.”
Wilson replied that she had never been part of the “good ol boys” as it was starting to fade when she came on council but that she fought against it when it did exist.
“I am very proud to be part of this council and have no doubt Mr. Whitfield has earned a well-deserved rest,” Perez said. “I think this transition period is important. It is hurricane season and what if there is one that comes right up the coast. So, during that period, when we do not have a sitting city manager in place, we would want Mark to come in and guide our department heads. In any company, even the military, there is a transition period. So, I think this is important.”
Marabello pointed out that the new city manager contract required time with Whitfield at the start of his tenure with Milford.
“I am concerned with our lack of harmony,” Marabello said. “How is this going to impact us? I would have liked to have the department heads make a comment about this. If it is true that they don’t want to step up because of leadership, we are in a lot of trouble. A lot of these people could go anywhere and get good jobs so do we want to jeopardize the quality of staff?”
Connor stated that she respected everyone on council, whether she agreed or disagreed with a decision.
“I just wanted to say I respect everybody here, whether I agree with you or I don’t agree with you, that telling each other names or saying things in this room about each other or to each other. I can disagree with you today and I still like you tomorrow. There’s I don’t it’s not personal. As far as you know, fighting or being disagreeing, and I’m only speaking for myself here. My first year was a lot, it’s there’s a lot, a lot of learning. And when you start to learn and know better, you do start to pay attention to certain things,” Connor said. “So I’m not ever just fighting just to fight, or being disagreeable, just to be disagreeable. I do try to find like the middle ground in most of these situations. So I don’t know if I’m one of the people that it’s portrayed that I’m disagreeable or fighting just to fight, but I’m just speaking from my perspective.”
Connor continued, giving an example as explanation.
“For instance, the park. I’m not against recreation. I think Brad does a great job. I value and appreciate him. I appreciate his staff, but I also value my constituents and who I represent. And if I’m getting that feedback from some of them, they don’t think this is a good financial decision, that’s it’s my job to vote that way,” Connor said. “There’s been times I voted for things that weren’t in line with my personal beliefs, because that’s what I was elected to do. So I don’t really know why there is so much yes, you do back and forth, but when people disagree, it’s not because they have any personal feelings about anyone. It’s just that they’re in one way and other people have different values and different opinions or different thoughts, and that’s okay. We can all still be respectful of each other on this floor.”
Of the constituents who routinely spoke out against Deep Branch Park at council meetings, only two live in Ward 2, but not near the land where the park will be constructed. In addition, Zychal, who also represents Ward 2, has commented that constituents she spoke to were overwhelmingly in favor of the park.
“I believe that for the sake of continuity, doing an interim agreement with the current city manager is best for the city,” Councilman Jason James said. “It doesn’t have to be 20 hours per week as council has the power to speak to that. We don’t have to deliberate about that or accept that. We can make it more or less, but a transition period to do the sign offs and be available on call would be the best thing for the department heads and the flow of the city. I think everyone should see that a transition period is required and the best thing for the city. Mark has retired, so we don’t have to worry that he is going to stay or not stay. He is retired. The continuity of the city and the kind of flow of the operations requires this transition.”
Zychal pointed out that it was important for everyone to respect the talents of those who provided council with information.
“I sit here in this chair a few hours a week, representing the people of my ward and of my city to the best of my ability with the experience that I have, as does everyone else who occupies these chairs,” Zychal said. “I hope that we can all come here with a little bit of humility, with the understanding that we all come with our own experiences, backgrounds and expertise, but we sit here only a couple hours a week while our good people, department heads, work for this city. They show up 60 to 80 hours a week. They are on call 24/7 and they have very specific expertise and experiences. I think we need to honor and respect that and remember that when we speak and make decisions here from these chairs that we occupy only a few hours a week.”
Because the discussion was during a workshop, council could not vote on the contract request. It will be on the June 23 agenda for a vote.
