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²Lake Worth city manager contract up for vote

By NICOLE JANOK
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

LAKE WORTH — After a failed nationwide city manager search, city commissioners will discuss keeping interim City Manager Robert Baldwin on the job for eight more months at a special meeting tonight.

Commissioners will have to decide between two contract options.

LAKE WORTH — After a failed nationwide city manager search, city commissioners will discuss keeping interim City Manager Robert Baldwin on the job for eight more months at a special meeting tonight.

Commissioners will have to decide between two contract options.

One option gives Baldwin a salary of $156,912 with a $600 car allowance, a year's severance pay and a required performance evaluation if employment continues after one year.

Once the eight-month contract ends, the commission can renew the contract for three years.

Another option gives Baldwin a salary of $152,307 with a $600 car allowance but no severance pay, and it can be renewed on a month-to-month basis once the initial eight-month term has ended.

The long-awaited contract decision comes almost seven months after Baldwin joined the city to replace former City Manager Paul Boyer, who was asked to resign in January over ineffective communication and project management.

Baldwin, who was city manager of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea at the time, was contracted for a 10-week stint and asked to provide an assessment of the city departments.

Once he began his tenure, Baldwin faced a slew of city problems, including a $300,000 unauthorized spending error in the Public Works department and the abrupt retirement of former Public Works Director Mike Frey and Finance Director Anne Costello.

Baldwin has since drafted the city's 2007-2008 budget, which includes a multi-department reorganization, implementation of a new code enforcement program and the elimination of 44 positions.

He hired interim Finance Director Mark Bates and has overseen an internal audit, which is expected to be released next month.

"I think he's walked into an exceedingly difficult situation and handled it very well," Mayor Jeff Clemens said.

Clemens initially requested that Baldwin sign on with the city for a longer term and said he thinks Baldwin is willing to make the necessary and potentially unpopular changes to help the city operate more efficiently.

"He understands we have very difficult internal issues to deal with," Clemens said. "And I think he's the right person to help lead us out of those situations."

Baldwin's contract comes nearly five months after commissioners couldn't agree upon a city manager candidate after a three-month search. Almost immediately after the search ended, commissioners pursued Baldwin, who had declined the position, citing personal reasons.

Baldwin, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, said at the time it would be difficult to move his family. He went on to apply for other city manager positions in Broward County but did not accept an offer.

 

² Palm Beach Post

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