Bruce Haddock and other mid and North Pinellas employees are nominees for Florida League of Cities honors.
By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published April 24, 2004
OLDSMAR - Bruce Haddock became Oldsmar's fifth city manager in as many years when he took a job that many considered second-rate in 1986.
Back then, some city roads were still unpaved. Mapmakers neglected the sleepy town of about 5,000 on state and local maps.
Residents even complained that the phone system was so antiquated that connecting two paper cups with string would work better.
But a lot has changed in Oldsmar since then.
And the Florida League of Cities has noticed.
Haddock, in his 18th year with the city, has been named one of the state's four finalists for city manager of the year, along with the city managers of Palm Bay, Palm Coast and Miami Beach.
The award, which is in its first year, recognizes integrity, initiative and innovation, among other things, said Lynn Tipton, the league's director of membership development.
Haddock is one of three city employees from mid and North Pinellas named as a finalist for a league award. Clearwater city clerk Cyndie Goudeau and Largo management services director Kim Adams are finalists in their respective categories.
"I was hopeful," Haddock said. "Oldsmar is an attractive community that people enjoy living and working in. Compared to what it was like (in 1986), it really is night and day."
During Haddock's tenure, the city has more than doubled in size and erased most of its historical stigmas.
There's now a new City Hall, fire station and municipal services building. Plans are in the works to construct a new recreation center and a new library. A new cultural arts center isn't far off, either, Haddock said.
"There's been improvements in every department," Haddock said. "It's made working here very rewarding."
Goudeau, Clearwater city clerk since 1985, is one of four finalists for the city clerk of the year award. Joining her are the city clerks of Sarasota and Greenacres, as well as Beverly Brown, Seminole city clerk.
In her nomination, Goudeau was credited with coordinating an electronic document management system that has made more than 12,000 public documents available on the city's Web site.
"Soon a courier will no longer have to deliver agenda packets to commission members' homes," Goudeau's nomination read. "Instead, they will receive their packets on their laptop computers."
Adams, Largo's longtime finance director, is a finalist for city finance officer of the year along with Seminole finance director Harry Kyne and Venice's Michael T. McPhail.
"There's a lot of excellent finance people out there, so this really is an honor," Adams said. "Literally, there are hundreds of people I could nominate myself."
Adams said more than a dozen Largo residents included letters of support along with Adams' nomination. Still, he was surprised to hear he was among the final three.
"Most of my work is behind the scenes, and that's how I like it," Adams said. "We're working so everybody else can do their jobs."
The Florida Cities of Excellence Awards were the brainchild of league president and Seminole Mayor Dottie Reeder, said Tipton.
"Her goal was to try and create more positive experiences for our cities," Tipton said. "For elected city officials, it was time to recognize their leadership and their dedication. For city staff, it is an opportunity to salute longtime and new city employees who have made a difference."
Other Pinellas County excellence award finalists are: city of excellence, St. Petersburg; city spirit award, Belleair, Dunedin and St. Petersburg; and city attorney of the year, John C. Wolfe, St. Petersburg.
The winners will be named at an awards banquet June 26 in Orlando.
