Mayor Miro Weinberger unveiled his list of city appointments on Monday, along with a reorganization plan for the mayor’s office. In a letter to the City Council, he described the proposals as a balance of continuity and change.
At the latest in a series of budget work sessions with the council, which must approve appointments and reappointments, Weinberger explained his desire to add a new assistant to the mayor by reshaping jobs in his office and that of the clerk/treasurer. According to an analysis by Human Resources Director Susan Leonard, the combination of eliminating one position, reclassifying another and creating the new job will result in no additional staff and a budget saving of $564.
In a letter to the council released late Monday afternoon, Weinberger meanwhile announced the decision to replace Parks and Recreation Director Mari Steinbach, while continuing to search for new directors of the Fletcher Free Library, Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO), Burlington International Airport, and the Office of the City Attorney. The current heads of those units will continue to serve until successors have been approved.
The council will begin to formally discuss confirmation of Weinberger’s proposed appointments and reappointments at its June 18 meeting, and must reach its decisions by the end of the month.
Carina Driscoll and Mike Kanarick will become permanent key assistants. Driscoll, a former state representative and city council member, was recently appointed to fill a vacant position in the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office as an assistant to Interim Chief Administrative Officer Paul Sisson. Weinberger actually wants her in the newly created position of Assistant to the Mayor for Open Government, Innovation and Mayoral Initiatives.
Kanarick, who was communications and finance director during Weinberger’s campaign, managed his transition team, and already works as his executive assistant would become his permanent assistant for operations and communications. At the budget session there was little dispute over Kanarick’s credentials or the mayor’s right to assemble the team of his choice. Some councilors questioned the proposed pay, however.
The replacement of Steinbach reflects a more recent decision to take Parks and Recreation “in a new direction,” wrote the mayor in his appointments memo.
Republican Paul Decelles called it a $10,000 raise. Democrat Joan Shannon replied that such a description was not fair since the amount being requested is similar to what Joe Reinert received as assistant to Mayor Bob Kiss. Weinberger argued that Kanarick is highly qualified and would have expanded operational duties under the reorganization.
“I’m troubled,” added the mayor, and noted that he had “nothing to do with the analysis of his resume. It would be a shame to lose him.”
“This is not about Mike,” explained Finance Board member Sharon Bushor. “It’s about where we place him in our step placement system.” Kanarick’s revised job involves a reclassification to step 10, in this case meaning a salary of $65,610.
“We guard that classification pretty carefully,” Bushor said. “I need time to consider.” Independent Karen Paul expressed the general feeling that “you should have who you want, assuming they are qualified.”
Weinberger reluctantly agreed to a one-week postponement of action on Kanarick’s pay, until more information about options could be reviewed. The position of executive secretary, currently held by Jennifer Kaulius on a temporary basis, would be reclassified under the reorganization plan as an office assistant.
In some cases Weinberger’s list of appointments coincides conveniently with decisions to retire or depart. City Attorney Ken Schatz announced his decision to leave months ago. The intention to replace Larry Kupferman as director of CEDO, which handles federal funds and manages a wide range of development projects, was made clear by both Weinberger and Republican Kurt Wright during the mayoral race.
The replacement of Steinbach reflects a more recent decision to take Parks and Recreation “in a new direction,” wrote the mayor in his appointments memo. Steinbach faced criticism last year during the debate over use of Penny for Parks money for a new waterfront skate park. She also came under fire for not seeking sufficient public input on a merger of after-school and enrichment programs.
Weinberger recommended the reappointment of six key people in the administration: Burlington Electric Department General Manager Barbara Grimes, who explained her proposed $52.3 million budget at the Monday work session; Police Chief Michael Schirling and Fire Chief Seth Lasker; Public Workers Director Steve Goodkind; Church Street Marketplace Director Ron Redmond; and City Arts Director Doreen Kraft.
HR Director Leonard and City Assessor John Vickery, appointed to two-year terms last year by Mayor Kiss, will continue in their posts for another year at least.
The future of five assistant city attorneys remains uncertain, however. Ian Carleton, Weinberger’s first choice for the top job, withdrew his name after criticism of a request for a higher salary. Weinberger is still looking for a replacement and wants to give whomever he chooses “latitude to evaluate and shape the City Attorney’s Office and advise me.” He therefore is not reappointing assistants Eugene Bergman, Nikki Fuller, Richard Haesler Jr., Gregg Meyer and Kimberlee Sturtevant. That means their jobs are secure only if the eventual city attorney wants them.
The search also continues for a permanent chief administrative officer. In the meantime Weinberger is asking the council to extend the appointment of Interim CAO Sisson until Sept. 30, although he hopes to complete a promised national search earlier.
After the retirement of library co-director Amber Collins at the end of June, Robert Resnick and Robert Coleburn will share management responsibility. But Weinberger agrees with a recommendation from the Library Commission “that the library will be best served by a single director.” He is working with the commission on a new job description and a search.
