Timnath initiates search for new administrator

By Dan MacArthur
Fossil Creek Current

Timnath will take its time hiring its next town administrator after losing the first two in as many years.

"We're not going to do anything for a while," said Mayor Donna Benson. She said town engineer Becky Davidson would act as administrator until a new one is selected through a formal search process, and the three remaining town employees also will take on additional duties.

Administrator Guy Patterson, who started the job in January, resigned in October after receiving a critical performance review. The town's first administrator, Joe Racine, was asked to resign last year. A conflict with the trustees also led to former town attorney Kathy Haddock's resignation earlier this year.

"I think all three of them thought they were doing a good job," said trustee Tim Gaines, who has frequently criticized the board for what he characterized as its covert actions.

"They seem to delight in doing things behind the scenes," said Gaines. "I like doing things out in the open as much as possible."

Gaines said he discussed the performance appraisal with Patterson and hoped he would address the board's concerns and stay. "I was hoping to keep him because we need to demonstrate some stability here," Gaines said. "I thought Guy had the ability to grow into the job."

But, Gaines said, Patterson "did not like the way it looked at all. He looked at the overall review and said, 'I'm out of here.'"

Gaines declined to discuss the board's concerns other than to say there were some deficiencies in Patterson's performance and "other members of the board had problems with him." But, he said, Patterson's resignation "reflects equally on the board as well as Guy."

"I don't know why he quit," said Benson.

Patterson could not be contacted for comment.

The town has budgeted $8,000 to conduct the administrator search, part of which will be used to retain a recruiter to solicit and screen candidates. "We don't have the time or expertise to do it within the town," Benson said.

Also, Benson said, a professional search firm could better recruit the quality candidates the town is seeking. "We're looking for a someone with a level of sophistication that's pretty high," she said. "We're looking for someone with a lot of experience."

Benson said the town probably will need to offer a salary greater than the $60,000 a year Patterson was earning to attract a quality administrator.

Gaines said he is concerned that the search had not started immediately and feared that the town's track record will make it difficult to attract such talent.

"If I was an administrator," he said. "I'd wonder what happened to the last two."