Norris council votes to add assistant city manager post
Salary will be up to $75,000
Just about a month after the new Norris city manager started to work, the Norris City Council has decided to bring in an assistant city manager to help him with his duties, a first for the city.
During its monthly meeting Nov. 14, the City Council voted to create the position of assistant city manager, and gave new City Manager Adam Ledford the authority to advertise for and select the candidate for the position.
After making his selection, Ledford will bring an employment contract to the council for approval, but the council will vote only on the terms of the contract, not on the person Ledford has chosen for the job, according to rules the council set up at the Nov. 14 meeting.
The council set a salary range of $60,000-$75,000 annually for the assistant city manager.
With benefits added to that, the council expects to position to cost the city up to $100,000 a year.
With the city manager’s salary of $110,000 plus benefits already totaling around $130,000 annually, adding an assistant city manager would result in a total cost of about $141 per person each year for the city to employ both executives, based on the city’s 2020 population of 1,629.
But Norris Mayor Chris Mitchell said during the debate over approving the position that hiring the assistant “doesn’t involve a tax increase.”
“We do have additional revenue coming,” Mitchell said.
He said later that the city has other income besides property taxes – such as local sales tax revenue – and that adding an assistant city manager “will generate more revenue by allowing us to be more professional and give more attention to business growth, so businesses can prosper and we can prosper.”
He cited expected business growth along the Andersonville Highway (Tennessee 61) corridor as an example.
Still, Norris is facing expenditures upwards of $5 million for state-mandated upgrades to its sanitary sewer system. City officials have said that the money for that must come from grants and loans, with the loans being paid off by increased monthly sewer bills, rather than with property taxes. Tennessee law does not allow water or sewer system expenses to be paid for by property taxes, but only by user fees.
The city already has the highest water and sewer rates in the state, city officials have acknowledged.
Mitchell, who made the motion to begin the process to hire the assistant city manager, that he expects it to be a permanent position.
Ledford told the council that he sees the assistant city manager “dealing with more of the day-to-day operations” of the city, while the city manager deals with “emerging issues.” The city manager also has management duties connected with the Norris Water Commission, which operates the water and sewer systems.
According to an advertisement posted this week by the city, the assistant city manager also will serve as the city’s “primary code enforcement officer.”
The ad states:
“The Assistant City Manager assists the City Manager with day-to-day administrative duties; conducts independent research studies; makes recommendations on internal policies, complex administrative projects, and problems; and maintains inventory control of public-owned properties.
“In addition, the Assistant City Manager coordinates the activities of several administrative divisions. Directives, letters, memoranda, and reports are prepared regarding the promulgation and implementation of administrative rules and regulations. Frequent contact is made with local, state and federal officials to resolve problems and develop projects.
“The work is performed under the direction of the City Manager, with broad latitude for independent action and decisions. The Assistant City Manager acts for the City Manager, from time to time, when the City Manager is absent.”
Qualifications for the job include possession of “a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, or a field closely related to municipal management or one (1) year of progressively increasing city management experience, or any combination of education and municipal experience that demonstrates proficiency in managing a complex municipal corporation.
“Management experience, including managing staff, projects, and programs is plus,” the ad notes, adding that the “salary [is] depending on qualifications” and includes “a generous benefit package.”
According to the ad, the deadline for applications is 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16, and “Interested candidates should send their resumes, along with a cover letter to: Norris City Office, P.O. Box 1090, Norris, TN 37828” or by email to norriscitymanager@gmail.com.