One Hollister leader packed his belongings and walked down the
steps of City Hall for the last time Friday. And his temporary
successor started a new job that all but promises a rigorous road
ahead.
One Hollister leader packed his belongings and walked down the steps of City Hall for the last time Friday. And his temporary successor started a new job that all but promises a rigorous road ahead.
City Manager Dale Shaddox hauled away 30 years of municipal government experience late last week and one year of uncovering financial miscues as he departed the arduous post. Today is his official last day, but Shaddox took advantage of accrued vacation time and said his goodbyes Thursday instead.
Interim City Manager Clint Quilter, also Hollister’s Public Works Director, moved into his new City Hall office Friday.
The official changing of the guard came 10 days after the City Council voted unanimously to appoint Quilter as the interim manager. It came four weeks after Shaddox’s sudden announcement that he was resigning.
Quilter is expected to hold the role until at least after the November election, when a new council may be in office. Three members are up for reelection this fall.
Shaddox and Quilter have been meeting over the past week to foster a smooth transition, both said. The big issue on Quilter’s plate is the budget, planning for which the council will discuss during its annual May hearings.
The city is facing at least a $4 million budget gap, and the council has already approved 36 layoffs to pare the deficit down.
“Everybody was awfully conservative this year,” Quilter said. “Everybody (among department heads) stayed well within the box.”
Mayor Tony Bruscia expressed confidence in Quilter’s leadership, and said he was sad to see Shaddox leave.
“I’ve had my comments with (Shaddox) and let him know how much we appreciate him,” Bruscia said.
Shaddox, 53, is moving to Oregon and has not decided on his professional future. He most previously worked as a city manager in Cotati and before that was city manager of Yreka.
He spent most of his time in Hollister since May 2003 uncovering debts owed to the city and a previously unknown decline of the general fund. Shaddox succeeded former City Manager George Lewis, whose tenure has since been the subject of widespread criticism because of Hollister’s current financial woes.
Shaddox could not be reached for comment.
