If the finalist for city manager accepts, he could begin the job in early November. He would need to hire some top assistants.
By MELIA BOWIE
Published October 6, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - For the first time in almost 15 years, New Port Richey is poised to welcome a new city manager.
City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a contract that will now be offered to finalist J. Scott Miller, 54, of College Park, Ga.
The agreement would pay Miller $100,000 a year plus benefits to oversee New Port Richey as the city battles budget woes and pursues large-scale redevelopment initiatives.
"We need to be moving forward full-steam ahead," council member Tom Finn said at Tuesday night's meeting.
Miller, who earns $113,050 a year to lead a similarly sized city of 20,000 in the Atlanta suburb of College Park, has experience in redevelopment and during his interview said he places a strong emphasis on team-building.
The latter skill will be put to the test immediately if he accepts the job in New Port Richey. In recent months, the city has seen the exodus of key officials: assistant city manager Gerald Paradise last month, director of development services Fred Metcalf in June and chief building official Gary Breevort in April.
The men earned some of the city's top salaries and had tenures ranging from four years to almost 10.
It will be the new city manager's job to hire replacements.
City staff and elected leaders anticipate Miller could begin as soon as Nov. 8 or Nov. 15 after the council's approval of a contract and his anticipated acceptance.
Although negotiations were ongoing Monday, city personnel director Jeff Sutton said then that Miller "was thrilled" with the opportunity to come to New Port Richey.
And interim City Manager Philip Deaton said he is ready to return to retirement in Citrus County.
"I've had a wonderful time here and now I think it's best that I go before I mess things up," he said with a laugh.
Miller said earlier this week that he first learned of the city's intent to offer him the position last week and was excited.
After about nine years serving College Park, it would be a return to Florida for the city manager, who served in similar roles in Boynton Beach, Oakland Park and Wilton Manors, as well as Des Plaines, Ill., and Eastpointe, Mich.
Melia Bowie covers business in Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6229. Her e-mail address is bowie@sptimes.com
