Islamorada council members enter the new year with a decision as to who will become the village’s next permanent manager.
On Jan. 8, the village will welcome its fourth interim manager in five months with the arrival of Kimberly Matthews, county senior director of strategic planning and libraries. Her 60-day stint is similar to previous agreements between Monroe County and the village which lent Bryan Cook, human resources director, and Ed Koconis, county permitting director between August and December. Finance Director Maria Bassett stepped in as interim manager once Koconis departed Dec. 6. The moves came following a 3-2 vote not to renew the employment contract of then-village manager Ted Yates.
Council members conducted virtual interviews with various candidates on Nov. 14. Last month, the council whittled the list to three finalists: Douglas Maxeiner, David Couch and Robert Cole. The three will arrive in Islamorada on Jan. 17-18 for a tour of the village, a meet-and-greet with the public and one-on-one interviews. Council members will convene at Founders Park Community Center on Jan. 22 to select the next manager.
Maxeiner is a former administrator in Illinois who received requests for interviews by all council members. Couch is a business administrator for the city of Virginia Beach’s planning and community development department. Cole is the former village manager of Scarsdale, New York.
Contract negotiations would follow the manager selection. At a December meeting, the council reviewed a first draft of a contract, which was prepared by John Quick, village attorney. Language was added to the contract detailing an evaluation of the manager in written form. The evaluation can also be conducted through discussions between a council member and the member in private. The human resources department would notify the village attorney and council of the need for a performance evaluation 60 days before the manager’s anniversary date.
A salary and housing allowance are among the items up for negotiation. Yates received a $200,000 salary and a $48,000 housing allowance.
