By Philip Haldiman
The Republic | azcentral.com
The Cave Creek Town Council has appointed a former Tucson city councilman and candidate for U.S. Senate as acting town manager.
Rodney Glassman was appointed to the post by a 5-2 vote Monday, with his service to begin immediately and end no later than Jan 8. He will be paid at a rate equivalent to no more than $112,000 annually.
Councilmen Ernie Bunch and Thomas McGuire voted for acting Town Manager and Clerk Carrie Dyrek.
Glassman’s responsibilities, aside from carrying out day-to-day duties, will include conducting an audit of the town’s finances and overseeing the process of selecting a permanent town manager.
Glassman said he will work with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and other entities to find a long-term town manager.
“I’m here because I’m excited about Cave Creek,” Glassman said. “First we need to figure out the type of person we want for town manager.”
The three-hour session included a number of comments from the public as well as interviews with questions directed from residents and council members to five candidates who applied more than a week ago.
Applicants included: Glassman, Enrique Ochoa, David Richert, Tami Ryall and Patricia Sorensen. Clark Smithson removed himself from the running early Monday.
Early on, it appeared the Town Council might have a difficult time making a decision, because, as one resident said, “There’s a lot of talent in this rodeo tonight.”
Complicating matters, in a last-minute development, McGuire nominated Dyrek to remain as acting town manager, despite the fact that she wasn’t interested in the position. The nomination increased the field to six candidates, with at least four votes for one individual ending the appointment process.
“I think we have fine applicants here, but I will leave it in your (council’s) hands,” Dyrek said. “Frankly it’s impossible to do two full-time jobs, but I’m here to serve the community and if appointed I will work day to day and week to week.”
As a vote neared and public comment came to a close, it became clearer as to where residents stood. Those who spoke were largely of two beliefs — that a decision on an acting town manager must happen Monday night and that they supported Glassman.
Eileen Wright, a candidate in this year’s run for Town Council, said she emailed Glassman on Friday about his intentions for the job. She said she sent the note around 4 a.m. and Glassman replied around 5 a.m., stating that he wants to bring the town together, among other things.
“I am one hundred percent sure Glassman will leave the town better than he found it,” Wright said.
As part of the incoming Town Council’s first order of business on June 10, they voted to fire former Town Manager Usama Abujbarah, 4-3.
Abujbarah had served in the post since 1999.
Rose Law Group attorney and Cave Creek Vice Mayor Adam Trenk says, “I am pleased with the Town’s decision to appoint Rodney Glassman as interim town manager. His wide range of experiences in the private sector and in government leave him uniquely qualified to run Cave Creek until a permanent replacement can be identified. I look forward to working with him.”
