Deputy Mayor Drops Bid for City Manager Job

It looks like Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips won’t be able to apply to be New Port Richey’s city manager anytime soon.

Phillips, who announced his intention to seek the job Sept. 24, said there’s a provision in the city charter that has discouraged him  from seeking the position.

“I am disappointed, but it’s in the charter,” he said,

The city’s code of ordinances says: “Except where authorized by law, no city council member shall hold any other elected public office or city employment during the term for which such city council member was elected to the city council.  No former city council member shall hold any compensated appointed city office or employment until one year after the expiration of the term for which such city council member was elected to the city council.”

New Port Richey embarked on a search for a new manager this year to replace John Schneiger, who left last October after saying he felt he lost the support of the council at that time. Library director Susan Dillinger has been serving as interim city manager since Schneiger’s departure.

When presented last week with the short list of candidates for city manager, Phillips expressed disappointment. The only names he liked on there were Peter Altman, a former mayor of New Port Richey and former Pasco County commissioner, and Ron Rabun, a former administrator for Seminole and Manatee counties. He dropped out of the running.

City Council members decided that week to throw out the candidate pool and start the search from scratch.

Phillips announced his intent to apply for city manager Sept. 23. He said he wouldn’t have announced interest if he’d known the charter prohibited a run.

Phillips’ current term as a councilmember lasts into 2015, and he said he isn’t giving up his seat.

“I have a term to complete,” he said.
 
The city has some other important positions to fill in addition to the city manager job. Dillinger fired New Port Richey's finance director a human resources director last week and has remained mum on why.