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2 seek interim Port Richey job

One manager candidate turned down a Dade City post. The other left Brooksville.

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 11, 2007

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PORT RICHEY - One was a frontrunner for city manager in Dade City, but turned down the job when he couldn't agree on a contract with city officials.

The other is a former city manager in Brooksville who was sued for sexual harassment by three city secretaries. Later, he resigned amid allegations that he mishandled turmoil at City Hall.

What do Richard Reade and Richard Anderson have in common?

Both are candidates for the interim city manager position in Port Richey. The two will face the City Council for interviews during tonight's 7:30 meeting at City Hall, 6333 Ridge Road.

"That way, we can meet them face to face and say hello," said Mayor Richard Rober. "And other city department heads will be there, so we can get their input, too."

Both men have offered to fill in temporarily until the city finds a permanent replacement for former City Manager Jerry Calhoun, who decided last month to take an administrative job advising local governments in Iraq.

The City Council tapped City Attorney James Mathieu two weeks ago to begin working double duty as interim city manager upon Calhoun's departure last Friday. But the council also asked Range Riders, a statewide group that finds retired city managers for short-term jobs, to find someone to take over for Mathieu until they found a permanent city manager.

Range Riders put out a notice seeking interested people. Last week, they recommended that Reade and Anderson be considered for the job.

Range Riders also said Reade, 36, the former city manager in Davenport, would also like to apply for the post permanently, and is being considered for similar jobs in other municipalities.

So far, the city has received 18 applications for the city manager's job. The deadline is Sept. 28.

City officials haven't decided how much the interim or permanent city manager would be paid. Calhoun earned a base salary of $70,000 plus $20,000 to serve as the city's utilities and finance director.

But it is unclear whether the interim city manager would be responsible for the utilities or finance departments, which are being overseen by other city employees for the time being.

Although Reade and the Dade City Commission reached an impasse in June over his proposed $85,000 salary with benefits, Reade said he isn't concerned that the Port Richey job could require more work for about the same pay.

"I would have to talk to the commission," he said Monday. "I haven't had a chance to speak with anyone in regards to salary."

Reade, who now has his own consulting firm, also said he is applying for an assistant city manager position in Bartow, in addition to assistant and city manager jobs in other states.

"I don't have to come back to government, but I miss it," he said. "That's the reason I am applying."

Anderson helped secure grants to improve Brooksville's water and sewer systems during his 11-year tenure.

But the city's insurance carrier also settled three sexual harassment claims against him, paying out a total of $205,000.

In January, Anderson resigned amid council members' frustrations regarding his handling of a long-standing feud between two police officials and the city's human resources director.

On Monday, Anderson, 68, said he was attracted to the interim job in Port Richey because he has family in the area and enjoys working with city governments.

"I decided some time ago that I was interested in pursuing my career further," he said. "I wasn't anxious to move out of the area ... I have a son who lives in Odessa, so I am in and out of the area. It's a beautiful place."

Camille C. Spencer can be reached at cspencer@sptimes.com or 727 869-6229.

[Last modified September 10, 2007, 21:47:31]