When he’s not overseeing Hollister’s $30 million overhaul to its
wastewater operations as public works director, newly hired interim
City Manager Clint Quilter will have to plug a widening $4 million
budget gap.
When he’s not overseeing Hollister’s $30 million overhaul to its wastewater operations as public works director, newly hired interim City Manager Clint Quilter will have to plug a widening $4 million budget gap.
And even though it’s his first city management role, Quilter is willing to accept the unenviable job of bearing the city’s many troubles on his shoulders.
Hollister’s financial outlook has gradually worsened since mid-2003, when newly hired City Manager Dale Shaddox revealed previously undisclosed, and growing, annual deficits. The Council responded by slashing this year’s budget.
And more cuts, including layoffs, are on the way in 2004-05. That’s on top of a stringent, state-mandated building moratorium imposed after a 15-million gallon sewer spill in May of 2002.
The man the City Council chose to lead Hollister following Shaddox’s departure has worked with the city for 15 years. Quilter, 40, graduated from Utah State University with an engineering license, and has steadily worked his way through the city’s ranks.
He was hired as an engineering inspector in 1989, was promoted to associate engineer and then became the public works director when George Lewis was hired as city manager in 1997. That experience was important to the Council, which unanimously approved Quilter as the interim manager Tuesday.
Quilter is a brawny figure with a succinct, but assertive, speaking style. He’s a somewhat private person who would rather not discuss his personal life. When it comes to managing, he’s not a “dictatorial kind of guy,” Quilter said, and he believes in everyone participating in solving the city’s problems.
“I think it’s important that the Council, employees and citizens work together to solve those problems,” he said.
Stepping in as the interim manager, Quilter’s focus will be to maintain stability within the city organization.
“I think having somebody in-house doing it on an interim basis really gives the Council some breathing room to decide what happens in the long term,” Quilter said Wednesday, a day after the City Council unanimously approved him as Shaddox’s temporary successor.
Shaddox announced his resignation April 12 that will take effect May 11. Shaddox, 52, is leaving the financially troubled city one year after his arrival. Since then, he has uncovered several fiscal miscues, such as millions in debts owed and a General Fund reserve dwindling faster than previous disclosures by the Finance Department and former management.
Shaddox complimented Quilter on Wednesday for his willingness to accept a difficult position at a challenging time for the city.
“Even in the face of all that,” Shaddox said, “Clint is willing to step up to the plate and provide this level of service.”
Shaddox, known for his often candid assessments of city finances, believes Quilter will bring a similar honesty to the table. Quilter, Shaddox said, has proven to be forthcoming in his regular reports to the Council on the city’s attempt to build a new sewer plant by late 2005.
“I expect him to provide the same level of disclosure to the Council on many other issues,” Shaddox said.
And he will bring some fiscal relief to the strained city budget. Quilter has agreed to maintain his current salary of $117,000. Aside from saving Hollister money by doing so, the city will also save thousands a month by not hiring an interim manager through an outside recruitment.
The last interim manager, Ed Kreins in early 2003, earned $13,000 per month plus housing and travel costs.
Quilter plans to maintain primary responsibility over wastewater management while overseeing a $35 million Hollister budget. He’s not intimidated by finances, he said, considering his experience overseeing Public Works’ hefty slate of expenses.
“The budgets I deal with right now are pretty complicated,” Quilter said.
Shaddox also mentioned Quilter’s regular role as a negotiator representing Hollister for talks on contract renewals within the city’s 175-person workforce – which, if plans remain intact, will lose 36 laid off employees June 30.
Shaddox was also pleased with Monday’s decision because it allows the two to meet over the next two weeks for a smooth transition in leadership.
