The town of Century may see a new face in town hall starting July 29 following the council's approval July 15 to hire former Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buzz” Eddy and three others part-time to help the town get its utilities and finances back in the black.
Eddy and each of three people he will bring will be paid $35 an hour for 20 to 25 hours a week initially, and could become more or less time, depending on the success or failure of his work. He suggested the council put two ceilings in place. One ceiling is that he is working for the town at will, without a contract, so that if the town wants to terminate him, it can. The second ceiling is that the council ask for an update, so that up to $5,000, the council can evaluate if Century is getting what it is paying for. Eddy suggested around $200 a month for gas to drive to Century when he needs to.
Eddy told the council he thought the town needed administrative assistance, which should be done immediately and done in a manner which is consistent with the town charter.
“We are willing to come help out,” said Eddy. “Local government is my passion. I've been doing it since 1983. I'm not doing this to make a lot of money, I am doing it to fulfill a need I have to stay involved in local government.”
Eddy said the critical part a city administrator needs to do for the town of Century is to make life easier and more efficient for the city staff. He said he thought he could help knock down some of the obstacles to help the town's operations become more efficient.
“Government's municipal corporation, needs to operate in the black,” said Eddy. “The money that comes in needs to be equal to the money going out. And you're obligated to provide certain services, like gas or garbage, or water and sewer, and they ought to be the places where we start. Let's turn those around so that they are operating at break even or better.”
Eddy said day-to-day evaluation and improvement will help the town start to see a better bottom line. He said he has contacts who can help after working 25 years in this area and through the state association and the Florida League of Cities.
The council had a workshop recently with Eddy presenting ideas and resources to assist the town. Energy Systems is one company he mentioned that will evaluate the town's systems to come up with a proposal to improve them for more efficient systems, but he wasn't sure if Century's size and usage would attract them. Even if Energy Systems did not agree to work with the town, he and his resources could recommend a contractor who could come in and assist. The money saved would pay the company or contractor's bill so it would not cost the town any more money.
Eddy told the council he and the others he has in mind to bring on board with the town could evaluate staff inefficiencies, budget and finance issues, as well as providing information to the council to make better decisions.
Eddy said he would have an agenda package for council members at each council meetings and would work to improve inefficiencies in each department. He cited the problem of Century Correctional Institute's frequent clogging and that is pulls water superintendent Heath Burkette off of other important jobs, like replacing water meters, could be handled by an outside source, freeing up Burkette to install new water meters and help make the water systems for the town more efficient.
Eddy suggested the town attorney draft a resolution if it considers hiring a permanent city manager or an interim administrator, consistent with the town charter.
Councilman Luis Gomez asked where the funds to pay for Eddy's and the others' assistance would come from.
“We have far exceeded receiving from Capital Trust Agency what we've budgeted this year,” said Brooks.
Council members agreed the money will come from CTA revenue, upwards of $41,000 this year.
Councilman Ben Boutwell said Eddy's experience impressed him and that he learned a lot at the recent workshop after listening to Eddy's suggestions and what he would do to assist the town.
Eddy said he would work with town employees, answer directly to the mayor and provide regular communication and interaction with the town council. He said he would also help the town find a permanent city manager, if that is what the town decided on in the future.
In a motion to bring Eddy on as a consultant at $35 an hour and three others who will be paid hourly as Eddy needs them to work, starting July 29 with a cap of $5,000 in place, was made by Councilman James Smith which was seconded by Gomez, the motion carried.
FDOT Beautification Grant
Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles told the council Monday night that she spoke with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) landscape project manager about the $1,000,000 FDOT Beautification Grant Program, and they would probably only be awarding 10 grants of $100,000 each given across the state. Nickles said she thought the town would probably have a hard time competing because it is a statewide program and other large cities, like Miami and Jacksonville, will be competing.
Nickles said that there is an alternative, a joint participation agreement, where the town and FDOT work together once FDOT has some funding available. The FDOT will have a list of communities that want to participate in the joint participation project where the FDOT will design the landscaping that would be done and the town would maintain it.
“By going with the joint participation agreement, there would be no cost to the town, as far as having someone to come in to design the actual landscaping,” said Nickles. “The FDOT does not have money now, but they will have money and when they get to the town's name on their list, they'll be glad to enter into that contract as long as the town is willing to uphold their end of the bargain by agreeing to maintain what is planted and designed. I recommend the town ask for a joint participation agreement instead of applying for the actual beautification grant.”
She said the next step is for the town to submit a letter to FDOT requesting a place on the joint participation agreement list and she offered to draft the letter if the council approved.
Councilman James Smith made a motion which was seconded by Councilman Luis Gomez and the motion carried unanimously.
Charter review committee
Eight applications from Century citizens who are interested in being on a charter review committee to update the Century Town Charter have been submitted so far. The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, July 25. Applications are available at Century Town Hall. Applicants must be a citizen of Century.
