Regan to be next City Manager

On a motion made by Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline and approved by unanimous vote, Historic City News reporters watched as the City Commission accepted the resignation of 25-year employee and 12-year City Manager Bill Harriss, and, in the same moment decided to begin contract negotiation to replace him with the city’s current Chief Operations Officer, John Regan.

At tonight’s regular meeting, Sikes-Kline read praise for Regan from a prepared statement while making her motion — followed by praise from each of the other commissioners; commenting on Regan’s fresh approach to problem solving, willingness to work through tough issues, accessibility to the commissioners as well as the public and his positive attitude.

In public comment earlier in the evening, Theresa Segal spoke against any action to replace Harriss without a national search. “This is not an indictment of anyone,” Segal said. “You don’t have to be a local to carry out the commission’s directions.”

Edward Adelbert Slavin, Jr., no stranger to the podium, spent the majority of his allotted three minutes extolling the necessity of a national search to replace his nemesis, Bill Harriss. Slavin, who only gives his out-of-the-city address as two Internet websites and a post office box, says that the commission has “a duty to advertise and post” the opening created by Harriss’ retirement because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and that the city must “create a search committee to interview and vet the candidates for the job.” Slavin directed that the commission should consider “experience outside of government service” in choosing Harriss’ successor and to find someone who shares his “compassion for environment issues” — a subject Slavin often refers to as “environmental racism” when ranting about the decisions of the current city manager.

However, just before 7:30 p.m., Commissioner Crichlow had the last word in the discussion regarding a search for a new city manager; making the observation,”it is absolutely essential that the city manager have a love of the city of St. Augustine — you could not bring somebody in and make them love the city.”

“We are going to be criticized for making this decision tonight and not going out and holding a national search, ” Crichlow said. “But, if we did go out and spend the money and all that’s involved to have a search, we would be criticized for that — you’re not going to win.”

It was decided that the Mayor and City Attorney enter into preliminary contract negotiations with Regan and to report back to the full commission on their progress at the next regular commission meeting. The position of City Manager is one of two staff positions that are actually made by the commission; the other is the city attorney. Once appointed, the city manager selects all other department heads, including the Chief of Police.