Port puts applicants through their paces

The Port Washington Common Council met in closed session Wednesday morning, March 4, with the four finalists for city administrator to conduct interviews, test and potentially offer the job to one of the candidates.

The four were expected to be interviewed by aldermen, participate in informal talks with city staff members and go through an emotional intelligence assessment and writing exercise during Wednesday’s session, according to Kevin Brunner, president of the consulting firm Public Administration Associates.

If the council votes to offer the job to one of the four Wednesday, Brunner said, a contract with the candidate and background check would need to be done before the appointment would be finalized.

The finalists — Whitefish Bay Assistant Village Manager Timothy Blakeslee, Town of Buchanan Administrator Anthony Brown, Town of Greenville Administrator Joel Gregozeski and Butler Village Administrator and Clerk Kayla Thorpe — took part in what Brunner called “our version of speed dating” Tuesday during a meet-and-greet with about 40 officials and community members at the Niederkorn Library.

The candidates circulated among four tables of officials and residents, offering information about themselves and answering questions during the almost 90-minute session. 

Blakeslee said tax incremental financing, a controversial tool in Port, is the primary economic development tool available to communities, adding he is in favor of using them “as long as your TIFs are well intentioned and well thought out.”

Pay-as-you-go TIFs are the best way to go because they reduce the risk to the community, he added.

When asked how to give developers a clear direction, Blakeslee said Whitefish Bay created new design guidelines that tell developers what they can and can’t do.

He said he has used an e-newsletter as well as a monthly publication to communicate with residents.

Brown said that he “would be a functional, hands-on servant leader.” 

He said he has used a citizen survey to find out what services residents value most and used the information to set priorities for the next three to five years.

Paying for services is a challenge everywhere, Brown said, noting that in Buchanen  he implemented a transportation utility fee to help pay for street and road improvements.

“You have to look at what’s available,” he said. 

Brown said the city should have a conversation about what the community wants to look like, adding that form-based zoning instead of the use-based zoning may be something to consider.

Thorpe said her “pet projects are financial management and budgeting.” 

She said she wants to take a long-term approach to budgeting, noting in addition to the typical five-year capital plan she also creates a 10-year budget plan that takes into account levy limits.

The best way to sell the plan and the compromises that it will entail is to have honest conversations with the community about the cost of doing business, she added.

When asked, Thorpe said that there’s a need to strengthen the city’s industrial base, but said it’s something that must be part of a regional approach.

Thorpe said she uses a biweekly e-newsletter and quarterly newsletter as well as informal meet-and-greets and door-to-door meetings with people living in street construction areas to communicate with residents.

Gregozeski, a Port native and 1995 graduate of Port Washington High School, said he has a passion for the city. He said he’s a good communicator and collaborator.

He said he would merge the variety of plans created by city departments into a five-year plan for the community.

“It gives us direction and purpose,” he said. “It builds consistency.”

If hired, Gregozeski said, he would immediately begin working on the budget, a process he starts in spring in Greenville.

When asked, he said he believes in the city’s conservative approach to TIF districts and would emphasize development of affordable housing.