Call me naive but I think I see the hand of a strong mayor acting at city council.
Recently we have seen:
Abandoning the plan to close 8 more railroad crossings
Making the fire department go out to bid for supplies instead of using a buy board
The mayor stating in front of the camera that “there will be no discussion for extensions” of the city manager’s contract. A national, regional, and local search will be conducted in time to notify the city manager before the 120 day window in her contract triggers an automatic extension.
This has all been done quietly and evidently methodically.
Yes, he has continued some of the city policies that I have disagreed with. I am hoping that he is doing this because his most important job is to protect the taxpayers. There might be things where it is better for us if he lets them proceed under strong management.
Yes, he voted to raise taxes. That bothers me. But higher taxes will not be so bad if we at least have competent management of our money. I hope that next year he will know more about the inner workings of the city and will be able to somehow help us avoid the tax cliff that prior councils committed us to.
I hope that he comes to understand that many of the senior managers at the city cannot be trusted to tell the whole truth. My theory is that some of them are afraid of the city manager and some are just jerks.
A good friend of mine says that Quality of Leadership is necessary for quality of life.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
I’m pretty sure the city manager said herself that she’s done when her contract is up – she’s retiring. I don’t know how this is news. Can you guys explain to me why this is a surprise? I mean, when she didn’t take the Florida job it was all laid out there that she’d stay on until her contract expired and then leave.
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David,
A citizen asked the question during a city council meeting.
The mayor responded.
I agree with you, the issue seems to be closed now.
Brutus
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A city manager is not the problem…he/she is led by our elected officials…which unfortunately we elect…they have agendas.
Haiduc
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A lot of people say they will leave a job or retire on a certain date, but stay on for another year or two — especially when they are making about $300,000 a year by the time you include salary, car allowance, benefits, etc. That’s not an inferred criticism of her comp package — just a statement regarding how lucrative one more year or a partial year can be.
What’s “news” or simply new information is that the Mayor took a position that he plans for the City to not be in a position where it has to beg Ms. Wilson to stay past the end of her contract, which would of course put her in the position of being able to ask for premium during that extension period. Saying you’ll leave is often a negotiating strategy. I’m not saying that was the case, but you never know.
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