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Is Dunedin manager right under their noses?

After talk of making the interim city manager the permanent one, commissioners vote to continue choosing from among three finalists.

By ASHLEE CLARK
Published June 13, 2006

DUNEDIN - City commissioners have spent six months, $10,000 and countless frustrations trying to find a qualified Dunedin city manager.

But Thursday night, the city attorney reminded the group of one fact:

Dunedin has had a city manager since January, and it will take a vote from four commissioners to get rid of her, City Attorney John Hubbard said.

Though Maureen Freaney has been referred to as the city's "acting" or "interim" city manager since being named to the post in January, Hubbard said she is technically the permanent city manager because there is no provision for the naming of an acting or interim city manager position in the city's charter.

"Picking another person is essentially firing Miss Freaney, unless she is hired," Hubbard said.

Freaney was named to the post to replace longtime City Manager John Lawrence, who retired in January.

Hubbard's reminder only fueled the debate about the status of the search and suggestions that the City Commission hire Freany permanently to the position.

A packed room full of upset and restless Dunedin residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the six-month-long selection process.

Mayor Bob Hackworth decided to call the meeting after another finalist, Reid Silverboard, Belleair Beach city manager, withdrew his candidacy for the position early this week.

That leaves three finalists and one alternate in the running for the post, and the dwindling number of qualified applicants concerned some commissioners, Hackworth said.

Commissioners spent nearly 21/2 hours Thursday fielding comments and debating whether there should be another intensive search to find more qualified candidates.

At the beginning of the meeting, consultant Colin Baenziger said his goal for searches like this is to have five candidates that commissioners are excited about.

"My sense is that the commission, at least from the comments at last week's meeting, is not excited about this pool," he said.

The remaining candidates are Freaney, who was previously assistant city manager; George Hunt, community manager of Barefoot Bay; and Susan Boyer, former city manager of Crystal River. Charles Saddler, a Lakeland resident who has taken a sabbatical from government since 2002 to be a stay-at-home father, is the alternate.

Baenziger outlined three possible options for the city manager selection: continuing the selection process with the remaining candidates, restarting the search with a 75-day deadline or taking four weeks to recruit more qualified applicants.

"My recommendation, frankly, is to go back and start over," he said, provoking a wave of groans from the gallery.

Vice Mayor Dave Eggers said at the beginning of the meeting that he wanted to recruit more applicants.

"For me, it's gotten to the point where I feel like we have three candidates I can get excited about," he said. "However, I feel like it doesn't stack up to the five we wanted."

Commissioner Julie Scales suggested a fourth option: bypassing interviews and selecting Freaney.

Commissioner Deborah Kynes revealed that Freaney was a finalist for Pinellas County director of human services. She said it would be a big mistake for Dunedin to let her go.

Kynes later made a motion to hire Freaney. Scales seconded the motion.

"It's time to fish or cut bait," Scales said. "The people in this community are sick of this process."

Eggers, Hackworth and Commissioner Julie Ward Bujalski all disagreed with the motion during discussion, reiterating the importance of completing the application and interview process for all candi dates.

Hackworth said the search has been "fatally flawed" since the beginning, when it was under the control of human resources.

"The search has been characterized as for Mo (Freaney) or against Mo, and it never should have been about Mo in the first place," he said.

When it was time to let those in attendance speak, some either voiced support for Freaney or frustration with the search.

"You have Fort Knox in Mo Freaney," Dunedin resident Pat Jennings said.

Some referred to the process as "disgusting" or "ridiculous."

"I think Mo would be crazy to take this job," Dunedin resident Ginger Francisco said.

Kynes withdrew her motion to hire Freaney and made a motion to proceed with the current process.

But Hackworth still wanted to see more candidates. Otherwise, he said, next week's interviewing and public social event with candidates will be "an exercise in futility."

He also said it seems like most people have made up their minds about who they want to select as city manager.

Kynes' motion to proceed with the current process passed unanimously.

The finalists will be brought in for a social with the public on June 16. Commissioners will publicly interview the candidates on June 17 and are scheduled to select a manager on June 19.

Ashlee Clark can be reached at 727 445-4158 or aclark@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 13, 2006, 02:17:20]