Murfreesboro city manager applicants offer their letter grades for current jobholder

Murfreesboro City Council member Jami Averwater asked candidates who applied to replace City Manager Craig Tindall to give Tindall a letter grade.

Chosen applicant Darren Gore, currently an assistant city manager, gave Tindall less than an honor-roll grade and suggested it has been hard to get the city manager to communicate with staff at times.

"I know that Craig has been detached from the executive leadership team," said Gore, who will continue to serve as an assistant city manager until he succeeds Tindall by July. "It’s been hard to get him engaged in some areas. I would probably give him a C-plus with staff."

Tindall recently announced he wanted to move into a new role with city as a special counsel attorney starting in July. He previously served for more than two years as the city attorney before accepting a promotion to city manager in 2018.

Tindall will continue to oversee crafting of the city's budget plans with the council and staff for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, before shifting to his new role.

Fellow applicant Sam Huddleston, who's also an assistant city manager, said he'd give Tindall an A, citing the city manager's open dialogue to work out issues and opportunities with staff, the mayor and council.

Council member Averwater said she'd give Tindall a B-minus. She also said she hopes Huddleston will stay with the city to team with Gore.

"We need both of them," Averwater said.

Gore after the meeting described Tindall as being the best city manager he's worked with out of four during his 19 years with the city.

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Council member asks applicants how they'd 'cut the head off that snake'

In addition to the letter grade question, both city manager applicants responded to Council member Shawn Wright's concerns about a former city employee, whom he did not name, that he said attempted to influence staff on development. Wright asked Gore and Huddleston what they'd do to "cut the head off that snake."

Gore responded by saying the city should focus on a data-driven approach to decision making and avoid any self-serving influences that lead to a "good old boy" perception that would deteriorate trust.

"It will hurt the city's reputation," Gore said.

Huddleston said he respects former employees who still have an interest in the welfare of the city.

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Council votes 6-1 to offer city manager job to Gore

The council voted 6-1 in favor of offering the job to Gore. Prior to the vote, Mayor Shane McFarland described Gore as the best applicant to succeed Tindall.

"In my opinion, the choice is pretty clear on who we need," McFarland said. "I think that’s Darren."

Fellow council members Averwater, Wright, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell and Vice Mayor Bill Shacklett agreed with the mayor, joining the majority vote to offer the city manager job to Gore.

Only Council member Kirt Wade opposed, saying the city had two good candidates for the city manager job.

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Gore: 'I want staff to know we trust them'

Gore has served as an assistant city manager since 2018, including overseeing solid waste services. He has overseen the city's water and sewer services since 2012 and suggested he'll appoint a new director over the utility.

Gore is also an engineer who graduated from Georgia Tech and Smyrna High School.

Prior to answering questions, Gore told the council his goal is to create an acceptable work culture and a humble organization.

Building trust will help the city plan and operate better, Gore said.

"In order to lead, you have to be a servant," Gore said.

Gore said he wants the city employees to know that he cares about their careers and families.

"I want what's best for them," he said. "I want to do what's right."

Another goal is to ensure employees are trained to be as efficient as possible in keeping up with the city's growth and not allow roads, parks and other public property to fall into disrepair, Gore said.

"We need to know we are on the right track," Gore said. "I want accountability. I want transparency. I want clearly defined objectives."

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Gore wants city to craft economic development plan

Gore also suggested the city needs a plan for economic development.

"I don’t think we have a plan right now," Gore said. "We have put titles and people into position, and then expected them to hit some undefined goal."

Gore compared the current economic development approach to putting people into a boat without any sails and a map.

"We have to create a strategic road map for that," Gore said.

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce should be a partner in economic development while balancing confidentiality of interested businesses with the city's responsibility to be transparent, Gore suggested.

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Gore: 'I want staff to know we trust them'

When asked how he'd respond to complaints about government services, including from developers, Gore said he'd talk to city staff before responding.

"There’s always two sides to the story," Gore said. "I want staff to know we trust them."

Gore said he'd follow the process on complaints and support the staff.

"But if I can see a creative solution, I can maybe prompt staff to look at that," Gore said.

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Mayor calls Tindall one of best city managers this century

McFarland didn't offer a letter grade but described Tindall as one of the best city managers out of four he has worked with since winning a council seat in 2006. McFarland won his mayor's eat in 2014.

After the meeting, Gore described Tindall as the best city manager of the four he'd worked with during his 19 years with the city.

Gore and McFarland have worked with Roger Haley and Rob Lyons, as well as Jim Crumley, a former assistant city manager who served as interim before retiring after Tindall accepted the top job in 2018.

McFarland said he always knew where he stood with Haley, who died in 2021 of COVID-19 complications long after his retirement in 2009. Haley served as city manager for 20 years.

"As a council member, I got called into the principal's office several times," McFarland said.

The mayor described Lyons, who became city manager after Haley, as the right fit at the right time. Lyons impressed the council by overseeing the city's response to the tornado on Good Friday 2009. The disaster led to the deaths of a mother and baby and caused dozens of injuries as well as significant property damage to homes and businesses.

Lyons agreed to resign by December 2017 with little public discussion from the council. Prior to the resignation agreement, the elected officials met four times in private executive sessions for legal counsel from Tindall, the city attorney at the time.

At least three of people Lyons hired from outside to lead city departments ended up leaving, including Human Resources Director Glen Godwin, who was fired. Two others ended up resigning: former Police Chief Karl Durr and former Fire Rescue Chief Mark Foulks.

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Mayor: Tindall built strong upper management team

McFarland praised Tindall for building an upper management team and delegating authority to the executive directors to allow the city manager to focus on being a chief executive officer for the government.

"Craig has not gotten everything right, and no city manager ever will, but he has put this team in place," McFarland said.

The mayor also said Tindall did a good job communicating with the council.

"I think 95% of the things we have issues with inside the city all relate back with communication," McFarland said.

After the meeting, the mayor said it's imperative that the city manager focus on providing service delivery strategically and efficiently and avoid focusing on politics.

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This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Murfreesboro city manager candidates grade current leader