In Illinois, Freeport City Manager Rob Boyer recently faced down a citizen's petition to move away from the council-manager form of government and revert back to the strong mayor form.

Reeling from mismanagement and economic decline, Freeport abandoned the strong mayor form of government about a decade ago. Since that time, Rob and his two predecessors have done great work to turn the community around. In this episode, we discuss many of his and their accomplishments and how the residents and taxpayers are better off today.

But, a recent effort that appears to be tinged with political motivations sought to undo this progress and return Freeport back to the "old way" of doing business and rewarding political allies. Never underestimate the machinations that may take place behind the scenes when someone sees an avenue to create a full-time six figure job for themselves...

SHOW NOTES

Founding members of the AAME have exclusive, first priority rights to sign up for the first annual conference until February 14th. Seating is extremely limited with only 150 seats available.

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.

Maintaining your roads is one of the most difficult tasks for any city government. The good news is the secret to making it easier is only 3 letters: H-A-5.

HA5 extends the life of roads and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers. HA5 is an innovative pavement preservation treatment trusted by over 300 public agencies. It keeps good roads in good condition, reducing repair costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.

Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

City managers deserve to have a professional association that will fight for them and help communicate their narrative in an environment where the deck is usually stacked against them. 

In this week's episode I wanted to unpack some various advocacy efforts the American Association of Municipal Executives is currently engaged in on behalf of city managers. Not only are we engaged in direct advocacy on behalf of individuals, but we are also working to educate the public so that they have a better understanding of the perspectives and concerns city managers must weigh when determining whether to apply for a position.

SHOW NOTES

Founding members of the AAME have exclusive, first priority rights to sign up for the first annual conference until February 14th. Seating is extremely limited with only 150 seats available.

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.

Maintaining your roads is one of the most difficult tasks for any city government. The good news is the secret to making it easier is only 3 letters: H-A-5.

HA5 extends the life of roads and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers. HA5 is an innovative pavement preservation treatment trusted by over 300 public agencies. It keeps good roads in good condition, reducing repair costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.

Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Last September after mounting pressure, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) finally capitulated and settled the James Freed lawsuit a month before it was scheduled to go to trial. In this episode, we catch up with the Port Huron, Michigan city manager and see what life is like after his huge victory.

Hint: Lots of vacations with the wife. ROTFLMAO!

We also discuss the failures of his state association, the Michigan Municipal Executives, and discuss the feelings of abandonment and gaslighting he endured throughout this process. He shares how his faith and a supportive wife got him through the dark days and the numerous battles he has faced over the last seven years.

We also talk about the state of the city management profession and the challenges facing managers in Michigan.

SHOW NOTES

Link to James Freed's LinkedIn page and his municipal consulting company, Pivot Group Municipal Services

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.

Maintaining your roads is one of the most difficult tasks for any city government. The good news is the secret to making it easier is only 3 letters: H-A-5.

HA5 extends the life of roads and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers. HA5 is an innovative pavement preservation treatment trusted by over 300 public agencies. It keeps good roads in good condition, reducing repair costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.

Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When Jeff Cantrell uprooted his family and relocated for a city manager job in central Kansas, he never dreamed it would all come to an end two short years later. He was leaving Chanute (pop. 10,000), a Southeast Kansas town, for Hutchinson (pop. of 40,000) and replacing a well-respected manager who was retiring after holding the seat for 17 years. 

It seemed like a no-brainer next step in the progression of Jeff's career.

In this interview, we talk about how his poorly constructed contract allowed him to get blindsided by his separation. And we talk about how it is difficult to jump back on the horse and find a new gig when you have a child in high school.

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.

Maintaining your roads is one of the most difficult tasks for any city government. The good news is the secret to making it easier is only 3 letters: H-A-5.

HA5 extends the life of roads and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers. HA5 is an innovative pavement preservation treatment trusted by over 300 public agencies. It keeps good roads in good condition, reducing repair costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.

Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

City Manager Kevin Phelps and his team in Glendale, Arizona have put on a clinic when it comes to leveraging economic development. Since his arrival in 2016, the city has figuratively backed up the Brinks truck and filled their bank accounts with cash.

Residents pay lower property taxes per unit of valuation today than they did when he took over. And the number of employees in Glendale today is lower than a decade or so ago.

In this episode, we talk about Kevin's philosophical and practical approach to economic development and how his team has become so dominant in their ability to attract businesses seeking to relocate.

SHOW NOTES:

Kevin Phelp's LinkedIn page

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.

Maintaining your roads is one of the most difficult tasks for any city government. The good news is the secret to making it easier is only 3 letters: H-A-5.

HA5 extends the life of roads and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers. HA5 is an innovative pavement preservation treatment trusted by over 300 public agencies. It keeps good roads in good condition, reducing repair costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.

Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Join Gavin Baum-Blake, Co-founder and CEO of City Detect, on City Manager Unfiltered, where he discusses how AI and computer vision technology are revolutionizing urban management.

With a background as a US Army veteran, an attorney, and an entrepreneur, Gavin brings a unique perspective to the ethical application of cutting-edge technology in tackling urban challenges like blight, housing decay, and illegal dumping.

Discover how his leadership is shaping smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities. Tune in to learn how local leaders can harness data-driven insights to transform their communities. #sponsored

SHOW NOTES:

City Detect website: https://citydetect.com/

Gavin Baum-Blake: LinkedIn Page

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Disclaimer: Promotional consideration was paid by City Detect to appear on this podcast. 

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Yucaipa City Manager Chris Mann invited yours truly, and Calimesa City Manager Will Kolbow, to sit down for an interview on the Yucaipa 360 podcast.

The three of us discussed a variety of issues and subjects related to the city management profession and local government.

This episode is a rebroadcast of that interview for my audience of listeners.

Chris and his team in Yucaipa are really raising the bar  when it comes to local government communications and the dissemination of information through the podcast and YouTube channel. If you have been thinking about starting a podcast or something similar for your community, I would invite you to check out what Yucaipa is doing to draw some inspiration and to get those competitive juices flowing.

Note that Will also produces a podcast for his community and you can find links to both below.

SHOW NOTES:

Chris Mann's LinkedIn Page

Link to the Yucaipa 360 podcast's YouTube page

Will Kolbow's LinkedIn Page

Link to Calimesa Insider podcast

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Three small towns in Connecticut are seeking to share an administrator -- the first time that something like this has ever been attempted according to the organization conducting the recruitment.

Joining me on the podcast to discuss this innovative approach is Alex Torpey from the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

This shared administrator will be tasked with helping the cities of Canterbury, Chaplin, and Pomfret while technically being employed by the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (NECCOG).

As the demand for public services exceeds revenues and the complexity of local government increases, is it inevitable that consolidation will become more common as jurisdictions seek to walk the financial tightrope?

We explore this fascinating recruitment in this episode.

SHOW NOTES:

Alex Torpey's LinkedIn Page and email address: [email protected]

Link to Recruitment Brochure and email address for the Edward J. Collins Center: [email protected]

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.

Maintaining your roads is one of the most difficult tasks for any city government. The good news is the secret to making it easier is only 3 letters: H-A-5.

HA5 extends the life of roads and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers. HA5 is an innovative pavement preservation treatment trusted by over 300 public agencies. It keeps good roads in good condition, reducing repair costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.

Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Stale, boring recruitment brochures are played out and offer little value for candidates seeking their next city or county manager opportunity. Many of them contain boiler plate language or rehash text used in a previous announcement for a different community.

Isn't it time we re-imagine what a public sector executive recruitment should look like?

City managers are in an incredibly risky and volatile line of work. Resignations and terminations hurt their spouse and children.They can be financially devastating and destroy a person's confidence.

Isn't it time we start thinking more about the candidates and try to provide them with actionable information so that they can do a better job of ascertaining whether they believe they are a good fit for that community and governing body?

I want to introduce you to a new series of podcast episodes called: "City Manager Wanted"

This is where I interview key individuals involved in the recruitment process with the goal of providing a more detailed and comprehensive examination of the opportunity. City management is a "people business."

So, doesn't it make sense to try and get a better understanding of the people these candidates will work with?

In this episode, we examine the opportunity in beautiful Columbia Falls, Montana. I spoke with the following people:

I hope you enjoy it and find the conversation beneficial to your job search.

SHOW NOTES:

Recruitment conducted by Michael Boese of Clear Career Professionals

COMING SOON - Link to job listing: https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities/

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Public sector human resources can be an incredibly challenging environment to operate in for even the most seasoned director. It is another level of difficult when your previous experience in HR was at Amazon, one of the largest and fastest growing companies in the world.

When Andrew Patton left Amazon and became the human resources director for La Vergne, he did not have a network of peers to call upon for advice and counsel. He was on an island and soon found himself at the center of a story that rocked his community and literally created international headlines.

In this episode, we examine how Andrew stumbled upon a networking hack that allowed him to rapidly ascend the learning curve and become a thought leader in his region virtually overnight within the field of human resources.

And the beauty of this hack is that literally every single person listening to this podcast can implement it and start enjoying the immediate benefits.

SHOW NOTES:

Andrew Patton's LinkedIn page

EPISODE SPONSOR:

This episode is sponsored by Holbrook Asphalt.

Maintaining your roads is one of the most difficult tasks for any city government. The good news is the secret to making it easier is only 3 letters: H-A-5.

HA5 extends the life of roads and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers. HA5 is an innovative pavement preservation treatment trusted by over 300 public agencies. It keeps good roads in good condition, reducing repair costs and saving taxpayer dollars.

Join the hundreds of other cities making the smart choice. Choose HA5 for longer-lasting roads and a healthier budget.

Learn more at holbrookasphalt.com/city.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.