Genoa debates hiring new manager

Whether Genoa hires a new town manager won't be decided for at least another month after a meeting Wednesday where more than 40 townspeople discussed what happened to the last one.

Genoans asked the county to prepare an agreement to provide administrative services while also preparing a job description for a new town manager.

Douglas County Manager Dan Holler sat in the town manager's seat for the meeting to present the idea that the county prepare an agreement to provide management services.

Town Board Chairman Bill Donohoe pointed out that Genoa has only had a manager for the last five or six years.

"Before that we didn't have a town manager, we had a town secretary," he said.

Town Manager Tom Peters resigned effective Sept. 29. Peters is the third town manager including Paul Williams, who resigned April 2005 and Mike Brown who left in January.

Resident Greg Pace said he felt the difficulty for the town managers has been defining how they communicate with town board members.

Town board member Jack Petit agreed.

"I think that's exactly right," Petit said. "We hire incredibly qualified people and then we don't let them work. Part of that is how they interact with the board. Bill here is the chair of the board and he feels like he is boss. There needs to be a clear chain of command."

Resident Bill Brooks observed that the town managers felt they couldn't carry out the town board's policies without being hamstrung.

"The whole point of the town is to provide services," he said. "The Town Manager's salary is at minimum half of the town's budget. This guy needs to be concerned about Candy Dance because his salary is the biggest cost in the budget."

The town manager makes $41,405-$55,155 with a benefit package that could cost $15,000.

Brooks said the county should rewrite the ordinance establishing Genoa to reduce the number of services listed, most of which the town does not offer, and perhaps expand the town's boundaries.

Brooks cited Nevada Revised Statutes 269.579, which requires board members undergo annual training.

Resident Les Kynett asked that town residents be part of the interview process for a new town manager.

"We want to see Genoa maintain its history and its character," Kynett said. "We need to find someone in the area who has a sense of the heartbeat and the pulse for our town."

He and resident Ron Funk were proponents of hiring another town manager to maintain its independence from the county.

Holler said if the town wanted to hire a new town manager, his office would begin work immediately.

"The county has a hands-off approach toward the towns," he said. "We're not trying to take over Genoa. But the county has an interest in maintaining the town's events and Candy Dance has a high priority. We have as much interest in making Candy Dance a success as the town and maybe even more."

Holler pitched the idea of having a person who was either a contractor or employee who could deal with county events. That person would help with events such as Candy Dance.

"We've had requests from various groups for a person and don't have anyone to spare," he said.