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Experience plenty among city manager candidates

Of the 50 resumes, 33 cite previous experience in government management.

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published January 28, 2007

One local resident, a former county parks director and two men with experience managing Belleair and Belleair Beach are among the applicants for city manager.

City commissioners were to spend the weekend poring over 50 resumes for the position left vacant when Ralph Stone resigned in December. They planned to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 120 108th Ave., to consider possible candidates.

"They are a very diverse and talented group," personnel director Fred Turner said of the applicants. "Some have city management experience, some have military or police backgrounds, and I think there is a lot of potential there."

Treasure Island resident Ruthie Starkey of Lagoon Lane has submitted her resume. A member of the city's Planning and Zoning Board, Starkey retired in 1999 from a 30-year career in the telecommunications business.

Stephen Cottrell, who managed Belleair for nine years, also has applied for the job, as has Belleair Beach City Manager Reid Silverboard, husband of Madeira Beach City Manager Jill Silverboard.

Reid Silverboard was a finalist for the Treasure Island job in 2004 when Stone was hired.

Another applicant, Diana Colburn Kyle, was the parks director for Pinellas County from 1998 to 2001 and also was a parks manager for St. Petersburg.

Of the applicants, Turner said, 33 have government management experience, and 18 of them have held government jobs in Florida.

Turner said commissioners probably will narrow the list of candidates Tuesday so he can complete some background checks before scheduling personal interviews.

Stone, who was hired in August 2004, reportedly has accepted a job with Broward County, closer to Fort Lauderdale, where his wife, Julie Taylor, manages a law firm.

When he left at the beginning of the month, Stone was receiving an annual salary of $106,362. He replaced Chuck Coward, who served as city manager from 1997 to 2004.

Meanwhile, fire Chief Charlie Fant is serving as acting city manager.

[Last modified January 27, 2007, 21:48:52]