City of Destin May Rehire Greg Kisela
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City Manager Discussion
“We would not exceed his previous contract,” Dixon recommends of a pay and benefits package.
Some heads were shaking on the dais.
Councilwoman Prebble Ramswell said she would like to do some “due diligence,” as she’s never met Kisela.
“Despite my hesitance of never meeting him, I do have a good feeling about him,” she said. “He did say he would be most interesting in speaking with us.”
“I’d be willing to go as high as our current city manager’s package,” Ramswell said of the salary package.
Foreman suggests having Kisela “make the first move” on negotiations.
“I know we probably can’t pay him what he’s making where he’s at,” Dixon added.
Kisela is currently the city manager in Port Orange, Florida. Previously he spent time as the Walton County administrator.
Ponder said Kisela did have a “willingness” to come back to Destin, but talks were just very basic.
Jimmy Neilson says Kisela is a “great fit” and he’s not “scared.”
“He stated to me, ‘I would come back for what I left at, ‘” Neilson says.
The motion to pursue Kisela and enter negotiations is approved 6-0. Councilwoman Sandy Trammell is not in attendance.
“I will go out and try to negotiate with Mr. Kisela,” Ponder said.
With that said, this meeting is adjourned.
Thanks for following along. Have a good night.
Some heads were shaking on the dais.
Councilwoman Prebble Ramswell said she would like to do some “due diligence,” as she’s never met Kisela.
“Despite my hesitance of never meeting him, I do have a good feeling about him,” she said. “He did say he would be most interesting in speaking with us.”
“I’d be willing to go as high as our current city manager’s package,” Ramswell said of the salary package.
Foreman suggests having Kisela “make the first move” on negotiations.
“I know we probably can’t pay him what he’s making where he’s at,” Dixon added.
Kisela is currently the city manager in Port Orange, Florida. Previously he spent time as the Walton County administrator.
Ponder said Kisela did have a “willingness” to come back to Destin, but talks were just very basic.
Jimmy Neilson says Kisela is a “great fit” and he’s not “scared.”
“He stated to me, ‘I would come back for what I left at, ‘” Neilson says.
The motion to pursue Kisela and enter negotiations is approved 6-0. Councilwoman Sandy Trammell is not in attendance.
“I will go out and try to negotiate with Mr. Kisela,” Ponder said.
With that said, this meeting is adjourned.
Thanks for following along. Have a good night.
City Manager Discussion
If you use Twitter, please follow the hashtag #Destincouncil for updates.
Councilman Jim Foreman says this is an “unusual situation,” given that this is the time of year the city has to “get some things done,” such as the budget. He said he would prefer for the city to not go out to bid.
“We have an opportunity right now… to bring someone in who is already experienced,” he said. “He would be the idea candidate for this job.”
Councilman Jim Wood is seconding the motion made by Foreman to re-hire Kisela.
Kisela has previously stepped down to pursue an opportunity in Walton County. He served in Destin for about 7 years.
Councilman Tuffy Dixon says that Kisela would be a good choice, but as a city council they need to give the mayor some “parameters” for the negotiation process.
He said they need to determine a salary limit and benefit package ahead of time.
Councilman Jim Foreman says this is an “unusual situation,” given that this is the time of year the city has to “get some things done,” such as the budget. He said he would prefer for the city to not go out to bid.
“We have an opportunity right now… to bring someone in who is already experienced,” he said. “He would be the idea candidate for this job.”
Councilman Jim Wood is seconding the motion made by Foreman to re-hire Kisela.
Kisela has previously stepped down to pursue an opportunity in Walton County. He served in Destin for about 7 years.
Councilman Tuffy Dixon says that Kisela would be a good choice, but as a city council they need to give the mayor some “parameters” for the negotiation process.
He said they need to determine a salary limit and benefit package ahead of time.
City Manager Discussion
Tonight’s meeting is set to discuss the next step after City Manager Marynn Ustick’s resignation last week. She will serve the city until August.
Mayor Mel Ponder is giving the room and his colleagues an overview.
“I am very sad to see her go,” he said. “Thanks for sticking around and helping us for the next 60 days, we are going to need it.”
Ponder says the city is considering replacing “one great city manager with another,” as the way forward.
There are currently two contracts in front of the council. One is Ustick’s, while the other is that of former city manager Greg Kisela.
Mayor Mel Ponder is giving the room and his colleagues an overview.
“I am very sad to see her go,” he said. “Thanks for sticking around and helping us for the next 60 days, we are going to need it.”
Ponder says the city is considering replacing “one great city manager with another,” as the way forward.
There are currently two contracts in front of the council. One is Ustick’s, while the other is that of former city manager Greg Kisela.
Congrats to Mr. Kisela and best of luck. I’m not sure he was the right fit for Port Orange, and Port Orange the right fit for him. Seems like a good person. I would like to have seen if Mr. Kisela would have done a better job and been more successful had he not been so influenced by Mr. Green’s personal views and agendas.
Hopefully, the next City Manager hired will recognize the form of government we have in Port Orange and truly take policy direction and input from the entire council, not just the Mayor.
I hope the council sets the next CM straight on who is the boss right from the get go and that way they can set the mayor straight too. He needs to be brought down a few notches and taken off his high horse. Good Bye Mr. Kisela good luck on your trail of tears. Can I have my job back? Ha Ha
Will be sorry to see Mr. Kisela leave. He obviously has the knowhow and experience to manage a city such as port Orange. He inherited a total mess which has got worse not better. Some of his department head appointments are very questionable – particularly Mr. Saunders, the financial guru. If you recall, Mr Saunders was actually a finalist for the City Manager position. We will be back at square one now.
We do seem to have level heads on the council at present but the Mayor has gone way overboard and feels like a dictator. His treatment of citizens and council members should not be tolerated. He is in fact clueless and a large part of the lengthy history of issues. He feels untouchable and his arrogant attitude needs to be addressed.
To all that have suffered under his administration lets celebrate the potential of a new and better day in the City of Port Orange.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Youtube+Celebration&qpvt=Youtube+Celebration&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=E5FDD051F2BE3C825704E5FDD051F2BE3C825704
Port Orange manager in talks with old city
By Lacey McLaughlin
lacey.mclaughlin@news-jrnl.com
Published: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 5:06 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 11:14 p.m.
PORT ORANGE — City Manager Greg Kisela is pursuing a position with the Panhandle city of Destin, where he previously served as manager.
His potential departure comes a week after two Port Orange officials resigned following the discovery of an error that led to $411,510 in unauthorized water meter purchases.
Kisela, who was Destin’s manager from 2004-2011, said he was approached by Destin council members over the weekend after their city manager resigned last Friday. When Destin council members voted Wednesday to move forward on contract negotiations with Kisela, he contacted Port Orange council members and confirmed his interest in pursuing the position.
Kisela said the contract overruns are not a factor in his decision.
“Port Orange is a great community,” Kisela said. “This is where I planned to spend the rest of my career and this is a very difficult decision for me.”
Kisela began with Port Orange in March 2013, replacing Ken Parker, who retired after 29 years as city manager.
“If this wasn’t the best fit for him and he wants to go back to Destin, I respect that,” said Councilman Drew Bastian. “Port Orange isn’t used to this. We had a city manager for nearly three decades and now we are having turnover.”
Councilman Bob Ford said Kisela “inherited” challenges such as inconsistent personnel policies, labor disputes and financial strains. He applauded Kisela for getting the Riverwalk development on track after stalling for more than a decade but said he was disappointed in the manager for taking several weeks to reveal the water-meter contract error to council members.
“When he was hired, a number of people said he wouldn’t last for more than a year,” Ford said. “He came to the city with a full plate and it’s a hard road.”
Kisela and council members were often at odds about the city’s daily operations and that added to the challenges.
“The politics aren’t great, but every local government has that,” Kisela said. “Whether I stay or leave, I think the City Council needs to decide how they want to govern Port Orange. There is way too much conflict and that’s not good for anyone.”
Kisela said the contract negotiations should come to a close July 7. If he decides to leave, his contract requires him to provide 60 days notice.
Bye bye Lifesaver, maybe Tiny and Coronel Saunders will follow you to Destin and you will have your Three Amigos MIT management team.
http://newsdaytonabeach.com/port-orange-city-manager-may-be-returning-to-destin/
Flocki:
You are correct, unfortunately he surrounded himself with some poor choices as department heads.
Asst. City Manager Shannon Lewis – possible interim candidate or too raw ?
She manages to steer clear of the limelight.
Well she does make a pleasant appearance and likes to get up at the podium with a scripted speech. She is actually a recycled P.I.O. and is used to take the sharp edges off of difficult things. I think her most difficult decisions that she is able to make independently is which color nail polish she should use this week. This will give you an idea how suitable she would be for an interim city manager.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Youtube+Women+Getting+Their+Nails+Done&qpvt=Youtube+Women+Getting+Their+Nails+Done&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=9C0F99C141C27C77E01D9C0F99C141C27C77E01D
Hey mayor Allen Green do you think your paradigm is imploding? I think its time for a new paradigm and a new mayor.
Looks like you were deflecting on Tuesday night when you said Tuff Turf walked off the job. You were really stewing in your juices because you knew at that time that your back door boy was breaking up with you. It looks like another one bites the dust. LOL.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Ytoutube+Another+One+Bites+The+Dus&qpvt=Ytoutube+Another+One+Bites+The+Dus&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=4082FA90B46E7CB9B0634082FA90B46E7CB9B063
Elgin Jones and Greg Kisela friends to the end.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Images+Of+Elgin+Jones&id=9F2875404EC87D7A1DECE55870B42B0DB124597F&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=9F2875404EC87D7A1DECE55870B42B0DB124597F&selectedIndex=0
https://www.google.com/search?q=Images+of+Greg+Kisela&rlz=1T4TSND_enUS437US438&tbm=isch&imgil=7snKLtLYerKNjM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcTltxopwJm2Ko8GIDmXN8hGqdJ8nyEj-yNEd0lCJaG3d94HdxODnQ%253B445%253B334%253BUMFoOazUfL_pkM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.thedestinlog.com%25252Fnews%25252Fcatching-up-with-kisela-former-city-manager-shares-life-after-destin-1.44466&source=iu&usg=__zB-Ekv7Ar2yZ-BNf-I9qGkGG7g8%3D&sa=X&ei=hViuU-XOGpKkyASqiIHYBw&ved=0CCEQ9QEwAA&biw=1093&bih=471#facrc=_&imgrc=7snKLtLYerKNjM%253A%3BUMFoOazUfL_pkM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.thedestinlog.com%252Fpolopoly_fs%252F1.44475.1352236627!%252FfileImage%252FhttpImage%252Fimage.jpg_gen%252Fderivatives%252Flandscape_445%252Fgreg-kisela.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.thedestinlog.com%252Fnews%252Fcatching-up-with-kisela-former-city-manager-shares-life-after-destin-1.44466%3B445%3B334
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/4594351.html
Does Greg Kisela have an obsession with cemeteries and burial plots?
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-02-17/news/0102170300_1_assistant-city-manager-bulletproof-vest-allegations