SPLIT DECISION? Close City Commission Vote Seen on Hiring Richard Finn

March 2, 2014
By: Dave Rogers

Richard Finn, 61, has been around city government long enough to learn to become a great negotiator. The deal he has proposed to the City of Bay City proves that fact.

The city opened its talks with the potential new manager six weeks ago with an offer of $105,000, some $15,000 above that paid to the last manager, Robert Belleman who took a $5,000 voluntary cut to $90,000 a year in recognition of city financial straits.

As reported Sunday in The Bay City Times, Finn's bottom line with the city is $120,000 a year, with a chance to go to $124,800 after six months if his performance measures up to commission standards.

Some commissioners expressed to The Times a desire to more closely scrutinize the final deal brought to the table by the city's negotiating team of Commissioner Lori Dufresne, the commission president; Commissioner Lynn Stamiris, vice president; and Commissioner Jim Irving, sergeant at arms; along with Mayor Chris Shannon.

However, if hired Monday, Finn may prove to be a bargain.

Negotiating skills with employee groups are a strong point with any administrator, and Finn appears to have those skills.

He could save the city lots of money by taking a hard line on salaries and benefits for city unions, which should please taxpayers.

Perhaps Finn can use his skills to get a better deal than the $500,000 Senator Mike Green is working on with the state for maintenance of two bridges on state trunk lines that run through the city. That funding would allow the city to restore its street maintenance budget that has been decimated because of other budgetary demands.

While Finn has announced intentions to seek a home in the city, his contract proposal provides that he may live up to 20 miles away if he chooses.

He would have 26 sick days and 20 days of vacation, totaling about nine weeks away from the job each year if he chooses to use them.

Finn's background includes management of several cities that some commissioners asserted were comparable in size to Bay City but actually most are smaller than Bay City's population of 34,512 (2012 estimate).

His background, furnished to city officials as part of his job application, follows:

Education

Master of Public Administration - 1977, Northern Illinois University;

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Psychology - 1974, University of New York State College at Brockport;

Summary of Related Experience

2009 - 2011 CITY OF PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK, Population 25,000, City Manager:

1999 - 2005 CITY OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND, Population 19,000, City Manager

1993 - 1998 CITY OF SANDUSKY, OHIO, Population 30,000, City Manager;

1984 - 1993 CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE, WISCONSIN, Population 17,000, City Administrator;

1976 - 1984 VILLAGE OF ELK GROVE, ILLINOIS, Population 35,000, 1979 - 1984 Personnel Director; 1977 - 1979 Administrative Assistant, Economic Development; 1976 - 1977 Administrative Intern-Manager

Based on comments in The Times, it appears the commission is split on the hiring of Finn under the proposed contract terms. A close vote appears in the offing for Monday night.

The proposed contract for Mr. Finn is available for public viewing on the city's website, www.baycitymi.org, under the city commission agenda. ###