Town Marshal and Human Resources Director Dave Smith has another hat to wear after the Camp Verde Town Council last week appointed him to serve as interim town manager.
It’s the second time in three years that Smith has had to take on the job. The first was in 2007 after former Town Manager Bill Lee left the position. This time, Smith is filling in for former Town Manager Michael Scannell, who resigned to take the manager’s job in Chino Valley.
The council decided to look in-house for an interim manager after finding out how much it would cost to use the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to help fill the temporary position, and because the league wouldn’t be able to find a suitable candidate until after the coming critical budgeting process for the next fiscal year.
Smith originally wasn’t planning to take the job, but decided to throw his hat in the ring after the town decided to look internally.
The council voted 5-2 to appoint Smith, with Councilman Pete Roulette and Councilwoman Carol German voting against.
Matt Morris, the town’s special projects administrator, was also interested in the job, but in the end, a majority of the council was more comfortable appointing Smith, who has done the job before.
Morris also served as the town’s housing director until the town eliminated the housing department in a cost-saving measure.
“I have a vested interest in Camp Verde,” Morris said. “I want to help [the council] achieve its goals.”
German said she thought Morris deserved “a chance to show us he can do the job.”
There was some concern that Smith might have to be out of commission next month for medical reasons, but Smith assured the council he wouldn’t be going anywhere and that he would just physically be “taking it easy” for three or four weeks.
Councilwoman Norma Garrison said it was Smith’s experience that led her to vote for him.
The council also approved changes to town code that would automatically make the town marshal the acting town manager when the manager is gone, followed by the town clerk.
German said she was opposed to having the town clerk in line for the position at this time, because Town Clerk Debbie Barber is related to Councilwoman Jackie Baker.
Her vote was no reflection on Barber, German said, but she felt the town should avoid any negative appearances should such a situation ever arise where Barber had to take over as manager.
The Town Council is still relying on the league to find a suitable candidate to take the job on a permanent basis.
Mark Lineberger can be reached at 567-3341 or e-mail CVEditor@larsonnewspapers.com
