The Hollister City Council unanimously approved the appointment
of Public Works Director Clint Quilter as interim city manager
Monday after more than two hours of debate behind closed doors.
The Hollister City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Public Works Director Clint Quilter as interim city manager Monday after more than two hours of debate behind closed doors.
By hiring Quilter to succeed City Manager Dale Shaddox, officials will save the steep cost of paying an interim manager from outside city ranks, along with Shaddox’s $130,000 salary. Shaddox’s resignation is effective May 11.
When the city hired Ed Kreins as an interim manager after former City Manager George Lewis retired in January 2003, Kreins made $13,000 a month plus housing and vehicle costs.
Quilter has agreed to maintain his current salary. That precise amount was unknown as of press time, but Mayor Tony Bruscia said Quilter makes about $110,000 a year.
A specific timeline for his appointment as city manager was not set at Monday’s closed session meeting. But he will likely remain in that position until after the election in November, according to Councilman Tony LoBue. Council members remained cognizant, he said, of possible turnover on the Council with three members’ seats up for reelection.
“There’s no indication from this Council that we are going to begin a search for the new city manager until the new Council is put in place,” LoBue said.
The decision Monday night came after more than two hours behind closed doors, plus a 30-minute break. Councilman Robert Scattini indicated there had been some contention among Council members regarding the selection.
Scattini had “major concerns” about hiring Quilter, namely the possibility of “burning him out” in the demanding role, along with the city’s dire financial situation, he said.
Council members indicated they plan to keep a close eye on city management as the 2004-05 budget unfolds in the next couple of months. Hollister is facing a projected $4 million shortfall.
Quilter’s background with wastewater and other public works issues – as opposed to strictly finances – wasn’t a deterrent, Council members said. As a department head and before that an engineer, they pointed out, Quilter has experience with number crunching.
“I think Clint is good with numbers,” Bruscia said. “And I think with good scrutiny by the Council, we’ll be fine.”
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia cited Quilter’s history as a reason for the appointment. Scattini agreed with that contention.
Plus, Scattini got the impression, after speaking with him about the role, that Quilter was dedicated to the city for the right reasons.
“His quote to me was, that he lived here for 15 or 16 years, and he calls this home,” Scattini said, recalling his conversation. “And he said he wants to do what he can for the city.”
Councilman Brian Conroy pointed out Quilter’s solid relationship with other county officials, particularly the Board of Supervisors and the San Benito County Water District. City and county officials have been mending long-standing fences over the past year, and Quilter, heading up efforts to build a new wastewater plant, has been at the forefront.
“That’s, in my mind, a very strong attribute,” Conroy said, “because he does have the ability to work with the other agencies and regions.”
Quilter could not be reached for comment after Monday’s late meeting. He had previously indicated he was not interested in the post. That, however, was before his appointment became public. And Scattini cleared up any confusion after the meeting and confirmed that Quilter has pushed for the role.
The city manager’s shoes aren’t an envious pair to fill – neither from a standpoint of the post’s hefty workload, nor the lowering morale among city employees.
The change of leadership, Scattini said, won’t change the city’s standing on laying off employees to help make up the budget gap, he said. There’s still no choice, he said, “because there’s no money.”
Number two in command at the Public Works Department, Steve Wittry, will likely fill much of Quilter’s role as the director, according to officials.
When the city does recruit to permanently fill the position, Scattini acknowledged that attracting quality candidates, considering the city’s problems, will be difficult.
First, he said, officials should be up front with whomever shows interest.
“Then,” Scattini said, “maybe send him to a psychiatrist to have him checked over if he really still wants to come.”
