Once upon a time in my former life I was a city manager. A City Manager is (or should be) professionally trained (not elected) to govern a community. He/she is appointed by the elected city council – and mayor, if there is one. I was “lucky” enough to manage two communities in Pennsylvania, four in New Jersey, one in West Virginia and Minnesota, and the last two in Florida.
My reason for mentioning the subject at this particular time is that I received an announcement from New Jersey that they are having the annual dinner to honor past presidents of the New Jersey Municipal Management Association – or at least that is what it was called when I was there. I am assuming that the title is still politically correct, although one never knows. The point is that I have been invited since, believe it or not, I was once President of this august organization. It is true, and I even have a little plaque around that verifies the fact.
However, I was last a city manager in New Jersey slightly over twenty-five years ago, which is when I left for the glorious responsibility of managing a Florida city. When I moved, I found out that it was considerably warmer in Florida than New Jersey in various and sundry ways. Most of the “sundry” ways were not improvements. The “various” ways quite obviously varied. However, that has nothing to do with the invitation. The problem is that if I were to go into a New Jersey City Manager function today, they would most likely think that I was an escapee from a nearby assisted living facility or perhaps a maintenance man needed to bring in another table.
It should be noted that if they did think that, I would threaten them with either my golf club or softball bat. I would endeavor to show them that there is life after city management. Truth be told, some (including me) would say that it is an improved life. On one hand you could attend a city council meeting where everyone, including your bosses, is able to reflect on your ancestry. This especially happens if you are presenting a budget that contains the things that you bosses (The City Council) wanted, but who did not realize that the added items would cause a tax increase. The circumstance that it does raise taxes, naturally is blamed on the dauntless city manager,
On the other hand you could spend your evening reflecting on the magnificence of your golf game that day – or perhaps the double you hit that brought in the winning run. Obviously, most well thinking people would choose what is delineated in the first sentence of this paragraph. The problem with this thought is that many of the men and women who will be attending the above mentioned dinner are still working. They are so dedicated and engrossed in being a city manager (township manager or administrator as they are mostly called in New Jersey) that they have no idea of what awaits them out in the free world.
Remembering my days as a fiery, hardworking city manager, I do believe that most of them have some nebulous idea of what exists beyond what is occurring in their city-state. I know that I did, but it seemed vague and beyond reach. Besides I was having too much fun with politicians who wanted me to fire the custodian since he was related to a political foe. Then there was the case of the mayor who told me that if I did not fire the personnel director, she would make my life a living hell. She did, but this tale probably does not count in this article as it happened in another state not New Jersey. Just in case, you want to know, she was mad at the personnel director because she had the temerity to design a course to instruct employees on proper personnel decisions, rather than hire a consultant. That was the Mayor’s “official” reason – even that made no sense. However, the real reason was that the mayor, a woman, did not like any other women who had any authority in the city government.
Now let me note at this point that there really was much good involved in that in which I was involved – and many fun times. I had some excellent staffs, and we accomplished some good works for the communities I served – some of which is reflected even today. In addition, I made a slew of friends who were dedicated professionals. Many of them were and are in New Jersey as well as in the other states where I served. It would be great if some of them would retire to The Villages.
Sadly, I will not be able to attend the past presidents dinner, but I will raise a glass of root beer in their honor. Then I will go out and play some more golf!
Barry Evans writes about Life in The Villages for Villages-News.com
