Rocky Top begins search for city manager
Nearly a roomful of people showed up for last Thursday night’s Rocky Top City Council meeting at City Hall. (photo:G Chambers Williams III )
The council authorized the city to post an advertisement for the position, and listed May 12 as the deadline to apply.
Mayor Kerry Templin said the job would be posted on the city’s website, as well as on the website of the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service – also known as MTAS.
According to the posting, a qualifying candidate must live “within five miles of the Rocky Top community.”
That is a new requirement, as Foster lived in Clinton during his nearly seven years in the position.
“Minimum qualifications” for the job are “a bachelor’s degree in business administration, political science, public administration, or closely related subject area; knowledge of general municipal government operations.
“Experience in government administration and accounting software used by local government agencies is preferred.”
Ten-plus years of experience “will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree,” the posting also notes.
It also said that “No relocation expenses will be considered.”
Resumes must be ‘hand delivered to City Hall at 195 S. Main Street, Rocky Top, TN 37769” or by U.S. mail to P.O. Box 66, Rocky Top, TN 37769.
No mention was made of benefits that might be provided to the new city manager, including medical insurance, vacation, sick leave, or vehicle expenses.
Foster’s five-year contract that was approved last September by the previous mayor and City Council gave him a list of benefits, including a $500-a-month car allowance.
Former Anderson County High School teacher and coach Michael Ellis was appointed interim city manager as of April 1, after Foster’s resignation took effect March 31.
Foster, who had served in the position since 2016 when the city charter was changed to a city manager form of municipal government, had been working under increasing negativity from the new mayor and council majority since they took office in December.
Templin and the council approved a “severance agreement” with Foster during the February meeting that ensured he would get paid “a lump sum equal to four months aggregate salary, accrued leave, and benefits,” including the car allowance that his employment contract dictated.
The city also agreed to maintain existing health insurance coverage for Foster through July 31.
Templin also announced during the Thursday, April 20, regular council meeting that Anthony Braden had been promoted to fire chief from his previous position as assistant chief.
In other business on Thursday, April 20, the council:
• Delayed appointing a new councilmember to replace Richard Dawson, who resigned from the position effective April 19. The delay was because only three of the four remaining councilmembers were present for the meeting, and Templin said all four would have to be there to vote on the replacement.
Templin has recommended that Stacy Phillips be appointed to the position, which Dawson had held only since November, when he was appointed by the previous council to replace Justin Job, who also had resigned.
Dawson had run unsuccessfully for a seat on the City Council during last November’s municipal election.
• Appointed Deborah Shaw to serve as Rocky Top’s representative on the Anderson County Library Board.
• Approved a resolution submitted by Main Street Baptist Church pastor Wayne Phillips for the city to allow a National Day of Prayer observance at City Hall at 9 a.m. May 4.
• Set a City Council budget workshop meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, to discuss the city’s budget for the coming 2023-24 fiscal year.