Dewey council begins search for town manager

With the creation of an ad hoc town manager search committee Nov. 11, Dewey town council has taken its first step toward replacing former Town Manager Marc Appelbaum.

“This is a very important committee, and I encourage everybody in the community to be involved in this committee,” said Mayor TJ Redefer. “Your input is going to be necessary to get this job done right.”

After more than five years on the job, including five months of revolt by some town employees, Appelbaum and the town agreed to a separation agreement during council’s Oct. 14 meeting. As part of the agreement, the town agreed to pay the remainder of Appelbaum’s contract, which was set to expired in March 2018, and pay an additional $100,000.

The committee will be chaired by Karen Kruger and will include property owner Lanie Odlum, former Commissioner Anna Legates, Starboard owner Steve Montgomery and property owner Dave Davis.

According to a document on the town’s website, the committee will investigate salary range and qualifications, and then make a recommendation to commissioners. The committee will also be responsible for finding a company to interview candidates. Town council will have the final say in the company that conducts the interviews and the selection of town manager.

As for an interim town manager, Redefer said five individuals have applied for the 90-day position, but not all the commissioners have reviewed them. He said until that position is filled, Assistant Town Manager Jim Dedes and Town Clerk Ashleigh Hudson will continue to fill the role of Appelbaum.

“This person may not be the person to get us to the next level, but this person needs to be strong enough to grab the bull by the horns and throw it down to the ground,” Redefer said.

Three more committees created

Council also created an Adopt-A-Dune Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, and an ad hoc Charter and Code Review Committee.

Commissioner Paul Bauer will serve as the commissioner liaison for the Adopt-A-Dune Committee. He said the town probably doesn’t want to leave any dune crossings out. The town installed a 140-foot-long mat across the dune at Dagsworthy Avenue earlier this year, at cost of about $7,500.

The challenge, Bauer said, is figuring out a way to pay for dune crossings. He said he will ask the business community and the town’s legislative representatives for help.

Commissioner Gary Persinger will serve as liaison for the Budget and Finance Committee. He said a committee helping the town figure out its budget is a practice used by many other towns, and it makes sense.

Commissioner Courtney Riordan will serve as liaison for the ad hoc Charter and Code Review Committee. The town code and charter are contradictory in some ways, he said, plus, the town should always review the code and charter for needed updates.

Town council also confirmed the need for five existing committees, including the audit committee, comprehensive development plan committee, infrastructure committee, investment committee and marketing committee.

One committee not discussed – but not disbanded – was the Trash and Recycling Committee, which was responsible for doing the legwork associated with the town implementing a town-wide residential trash service this past summer.

In a Nov. 15 email, Redefer said he thought the committee had completed what it was tasked to do, but he said he would check.