Mayor wants new administrator at helm by Jan. 1

The Port Washington Common Council  was to meet Wednesday morning to determine a hiring strategy as aldermen begin the process of replacing outgoing City Administrator Tony Brown.

Brown, who has been the city’s administrator since 2020, announced last week he will become the administrator of the City of Waukesha. His last day in Port will be Nov. 10.

The job opening was posted online last week, and on Wednesday aldermen were to consider a proposal from Mayor Ted Neitzke, Common Council President Dan Benning and Emily Blakeslee, the assistant city administrator and human resources director, that would put the city in line to have a new administrator on board by Jan. 1, Neitzke said.

“It’s an aggressive timeline, but I think it’s very reasonable,” Neitzke said Tuesday. “I think the tradition is you take many months to fill this position, but I don’t think it has to take that long.”

The job posting calls for candidates with at least eight years of experience in an upper-level leadership position, preferably in municipal work. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, political science or a related field, and a master’s degree in public or business administration is preferred.

The salary range is listed as between $120,000 and $145,000 or more, depending on qualifications and experience.

The plan to be considered Wednesday calls for applications for the job to be due on Oct. 20, the mayor said.

Blakeslee would then review the applications and make recommendations based on criteria established by the council, Neitzke said.

The city’s Personnel Committee, along with Neitzke and Benning, would meet on Oct. 31 to review the applications and recommend five finalists to the Common Council.

The council would whittle the list down to three applicants on Nov. 7, Neitzke said, and interviews would be conducted during the week of Nov. 11.

The Common Council would then extend a contract offer to the candidate of its choice on Dec. 5, he said.

Aldermen were expected on Wednesday to decide whether to hold community interviews with the finalists, Neitzke said.

Neitzke said one comment he has heard a lot is that local people should be hired for the job.

“This is the most important paid job in the City of Port Washington,” he said.
“I want to look at a really great pool of applicants who are diverse and bring a breadth of experience.”

Neitzke said he will look for “somebody who understands growth, who is curious. Someone who is very balanced in their decision making where they honor traditions and recognize innovation, who is strategic and collaborative and can build teams to get strategies done.”

Brown, who is only the city’s third administrator and succeeded longtime Administrator Mark Grams, has left big shoes to fill, Neitzke said.

“We could not have asked for a better person than Tony Brown. He did a phenomenal job,” he said.

Benning said, “In his time in Port Washington, we have seen significant steps forward in how our city operates more efficiently and effectively. As an example, there have been significant advances in our operational procedures. We have seen the implementation of a strategic plan and updates to our parks and downtown plans. Tony has raised the bar on effective leadership in our city government.”

Brown is credited with initiatives that include completion of a five-year strategic plan, bolstering the city’s financial position, developing processes to modernize government and creating a capital improvement plan.

In announcing his decision to leave the city, Brown praised those he has worked with in the city, saying, “This community is highly engaged and has shown an unwavering commitment to address significant community decisions that will have generational impacts.”