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Campbell named town manager

Eric Cravey
Posted 8/16/17

ORANGE PARK – Eight days after Jim Hanson announced he would resign as town manager after budget season is over in September, town council voted unanimously to promote Sarah Campbell to fill his …

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Campbell named town manager


Posted

ORANGE PARK – Eight days after Jim Hanson announced he would resign as town manager after budget season is over in September, town council voted unanimously to promote Sarah Campbell to fill his post.

“She’s worked hard, she deserves it, she’s put a lot of time and effort into becoming the town manager,” said Mayor Scott Land after the Aug. 9 called meeting.

“She’s dedicated a ton of time to the town. During Fall Festival and all that, who would you see out there – Sarah. And yes, she did have the confidence of the council and we didn’t even think about going out [in our search].”

Campbell, who had served the dual role of town clerk and assistant town manager, had been one of the three finalists for the city manager position in Atlantic Beach, a job to which she applied in March. She had also served as interim town manager on two other occasions and Hanson had been training Campbell for his job since he came on board with the town.

“Jim didn’t have to retire now. This wasn’t what his original plan was. Jim made a professional decision in the best interests of the town to step down now so that Sarah would have this opportunity and the town would have the benefit of the continuity of chain of command to where we’re not going to lose a step,” said Council Member Alan Watt.

Campbell came on board with the town in 2008 where she answered phones and worked through the ranks to become town clerk in March 2009. She was named assistant town manager in November 2015.

“The day Jim walks out the door, the town will still be in great shape and we’ll still be moving forward because Sarah knows pretty much everything Jim knows, so a lot of credit should go to Jim for what he did. I mean, he stepped up and made a kind of a personal sacrifice if you will for the benefit of the town to allow this to happen and for us to maintain the continuity of leadership and, to me, that’s a pretty high mark,” Watt said.

Campbell will make $110,000 per year, which is the same starting salary Hanson began with when he took the helm in April 2016. The town will also contribute $11,000 per year to a 401(k) retirement plan for Campbell, who had previously been in the town’s pension plan or defined benefit plan.

The recommendation to shift Campbell into a retirement plan that is separate from town employees came from Town Attorney Sam Garrison. He said having Campbell in a separate plan allows the town to “have separation” in the event Campbell must make future recommendations to town council on how to manage the town’s pension plan. He indicated it would minimize a perception of a conflict of interest.

“As it’s written, it’s a contribution and that’s how it’s going to remain unless you change it,” Garrison said.

In further stating his point, Garrison said the previous two town managers had separate 401(k) or defined contribution plans like Campbell will have.

Campbell has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Florida and a bachelor’s degree in architectural studies from the University of Nebraska. In April 2012, the International Institute for Municipal Clerks designated her as a certified municipal clerk and she is a member of the Florida Association of City Clerks and the Florida City and County Management Association.

Campbell’s appointment is being welcomed by town residents as well. Barbara Davidson, who has been called “the sixth city council member” by previous mayors, said Campbell’s appointment

“I want to commend you for making your selection in giving what appears to be a very dedicated and capable town employee and opportunity to advance,” she said.

When Hanson was hired in 2014, Campbell had been the council’s second choice. In 2015, she was also in the running for city manager in Keystone Heights.