Self-Appointed Citizen Review Committee

At last night's Brooksville City Council meeting, the following information was presented during citizen's input by Paul Neuhann. The following information is self-explanatory:

Self-Appointed Citizen Review Committee
To review Applications for New
Brooksville City Manager

March 26, 2007

Brooksville City Council
201 Howell Avenue
Brooksville, FL 34601

Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:

As members of a self appointed citizen review committee, we respectfully request your consideration of our top choices for the new city manager position.

Committee members Gail Samples, Ernie Weaver, Anna Liisa Covell and myself, Paul Neuhann thoroughly reviewed all applicants for the new city manager position and we recommend the following top three “ranked” individuals for your consideration:

1. Lester B Baird, Sr.
2. Thomas F. Christie
3. James Patrick Gallagher


Our number one choice was Lester B. Baird, Sr. who had the unanimous approval of our committee based on his 32 years of experience as a government administrator. Mr. Baird was very open and honest in his application, emphasizing his strong points, as well as his weak points. His last job was ten years in duration as the administrator for Hendry County where he managed a budget of $60 million, with 200 full time employees.

Our second choice was Mr. Thomas F. Christie who had majority approval of our board. Mr. Christie was the city manager for Talladega, Alabama, with 225 full time employees. He was instrumental in the re-organization of departmental structures to improve efficiency and accountability. Mr. Christie upgraded the police department with improved technology and communications under his tenure as city manager.

Our third choice was James Patrick Gallagher who had majority approval of our committee. Mr. Gallagher has twelve years of government experience that included smart growth management, strategic planning and economic development. Mr. Gallagher participated in several urban research projects, studies and publications.

Our committee met several times to discuss at length all the applicants that had applied for the city manager position. There were seven other applicants seriously considered but none gained majority approval by our committee.

The members of our committee respectfully request the Honorable Mayor and City Council members seriously consider of the results of our city manager applicant review. As members of this self-appointed committee, we would like to encourage all others within the city of Brooksville to review the applicants for city manager and present them for city council consideration, too.

Respectfully Submitted,

Paul Neuhann
Gail Samples
Anna Liisa Covell
Ernie Weaver