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4th Time May Be Charm In Manager's Search

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By JO-ANN JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2007

DADE CITY - City commissioners again deferred hiring a city manager Monday, triggering a fourth search for a top administrator.

Commissioners decided that instead of choosing between the two candidates they interviewed last week, they would advertise the position again, giving applicants until Jan. 11 to respond.

Monday's move doesn't mean the finalists who came to Dade City last week for interviews, Bruce C. Behrens of Clermont and Robert T. Mearns of Fernandina Beach, are out of the running.

Behrens told commissioners last week he's talking to other prospective employers and might have to take another offer if he didn't hear from Dade City this week, Mayor Hutch Brock reminded fellow commissioners Monday.

Although Commissioner Scott Black voiced support for Behrens, commissioners voted unanimously to support a motion by Commissioner Steve Van Gorden to reopen the search.

Van Gorden said the move was prompted by information given to commissioners Monday. The information appeared to relate to Mearns, though none of the commissioners specified what the information was.
Mearns twice has been sentenced to probation and fines for driving under the influence, according to records. The arrests date back to 1999 and 2000, in Okaloosa and Leon counties.
Mearns had made a good impression during his interview, commissioners said during Monday's meeting, and Brock said he liked the initiative he showed. Commissioner Camille Hernandez said she initially had leaned toward hiring Mearns.

All of them seemed to want more time to think about the matter, and the opportunity to look at other candidates, to find someone they all would favor.

New city managers typically want to come into a position with the full or majority support of those hiring them. That's especially true when a commission has seats coming up for election, because it means a manager could quickly get a different set of bosses. Three of Dade City's five commission seats come up for election in April.

Meanwhile, Jim Class said he would continue to fill in as the interim city manager , while also working as city finance director and city clerk. He has been handling the three jobs since July 1, when Harold Sample retired.
Dade City has about 7,200 residents and has been working its way back from a financial crisis three years ago that cost the municipality its fire department.

Reporter Jo-Ann Johnston can be reached at (352) 521-3062 or jfjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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