By Kristine Thomas
Mount Angel City administrator candidates Mark Kunkler, Susan Muir and David Weiser had a busy schedule during their visit Feb. 19 and 20.
They toured the town, visited with staff and council members, and attended a reception where they met about 40 community members and business owners. Each part of the process was a test, interim City Administrator Pete Wall said, designed to see how they interacted in varying circumstances.
The candidates were interviewed in executive session by the city council Feb. 20. Wall said Feb. 24 that the city was engaged in a dialogue with the frontrunner. The council has said it would like the new administrator to begin work by April 1. The council meets at 7 p.m. March 1 in the Mount Angel Library.
Our Town sent questions via email to the candidates, asking for a response by noon Feb. 24. Only Kunkler met the deadline.
Weiser explained Feb. 19 he would be away from home. “These questions are too complex to answer quickly so I will answer them when I return home on the 1st,” he wrote.
Weiser interviewed for the Mount Angel city administrator job in 2007 when the council chose Jim Hunt. Hunt was fired without cause in February 2009. Weiser was terminated from his West Richland, Wash. city administrator position in January because the newly elected mayor made her job a full-time paid position and took over executive duties.
Muir, the planning and development director for the city of Eugene, did not respond to the email.
In his email, Kunkler said he was impressed with Mount Angel’s old-world Bavarian downtown, exemplary neighborhoods, civic pride, working relationships between the community and the council and the mayor and the city council.
“It was apparent to me that city elected and appointed officials place the welfare of the City of Mount Angel as top priority.” Kunkler wrote. “There is a strong sense of cooperation among Council members. There is also a strong cohesion and good working relationship among staff. Council and staff are proud of their community – and it shows.”
Here are excerpts from former Yakima, Wash. City Attorney Mark Kunkler’s answers to Our Town’s questions:
Our Town: Why do you want to be city administrator?
Mark Kunkler: I have studied the community and its past history, and I am aware of issues that face the community. I enjoy working with people, and I enjoy bringing creativity to the problem-solving process. I believe I am a good fit for the community.”
OT: In what areas does the city need improvement
and what must the next city administrator do to address them?
MK: To consider one example, there are necessary maintenance services for the city of Mount Angel’s sewer lagoons mandated by the state. We will certainly explore all available funding options through grants and other similar sources to meet these needs. The City recently approved a three percent (3%) sewer rate increase to help offset costs of the utility. Many times it is very useful to consider formulation and adoption of a multi-year comprehensive plan for maintenance and necessary growth of city utilities to meet future demands.
OT: What are the strengths you bring to the position?
MK: I enjoy problem solving. I enjoy working with people. I believe in free and open dialogue, and I value creativity. I have worked through and presented balanced city budgets where it was necessary to make deep cuts, but where we maintained essential city services.
OT: You’ve seen cities address controversial issues.
Does city staff play a role in setting the tone for the discussion?
MK: [The] city staff ‘facilitates’ the discussion of controversial issues by working with Council to establish timely and sufficient opportunities for the community to present its views and explore solutions. This may take the form of Council meetings, special meetings, community workshops, or other forms.
OT: What is the role of the council – and the role of the city administrator –
in determining the day-to day operations of the city?
MK: The city administrator works in two directions: first, he or she directs staff to the accomplishment of the projects, programs and policies determined by the Council. Second, he or she works with Council to provide information, ideas and recommendations to assist Council in development of policy and Council decisions. The city administrator is vested with the day-to-day administration of staff to accomplish the work of the city. The city administrator is responsible to administer the budget as approved by the Council. I have found that open communication between Council and its administrator, and between the administrator and staff, is crucial. Council has a vital interest in maintaining the health, safety and welfare of its community. The administrator must hear from Council, and must be able to clearly communicate with staff. Lack of communication at either point will result in harm to the working relationship, leading to diminished returns for the general health, safety and welfare of the community.
