Sean C. Morgan
Following a three-part evaluation process, the Sweet Home City Council gave City Manager Ray Towry a positive evaluation, with a final overall score of 3.67 on a scale of 1 to 5.
“I’m appreciative of the evaluation,” Towry said. “I think it’s fair. You always strive for perfect scores, and I will continue to strive for perfect scores.”
He said his first six months involved primarily absorbing information, understanding the history of the community and projects, and getting a feel for the councilors, then “working with them as a cohesive unit for everybody to understand roles and responsibilities.”
Towry also has had to learn the council’s expectations of him, his expectations of the council, the public’s expectations “and communicate how a well-run government functions and operates,” he said.
“It was challenging doing all of that” after losing a Public Works director and not having a full-time planner and community development director in position.
In Sweet Home, the City Council hires a city manager to administer the day-to-day operations of the city. The city manager hires and supervises employees. The council includes seven members, who are elected at large by Sweet Home residents. The council elects a mayor to lead meetings and set the council’s agenda.
Towry has been city manager since November.
The overall score is a summary of ratings in four different areas, ranging from unsatisfactory, needs improvement, meets the standards of the job, exceeds the standards to outstanding.
According to the evaluation process, a rating of 3, the employee’s work performance consistently meets the standards of the position, while at a rating of 4, the employee’s work performance is frequently or consistently above the standard level of a satisfactory employee but has not achieved an overall level of outstanding performance.
The city released final individual scores for each section of the evaluation along with comments. No rating was below 3. Two councilors rated Towry at 5 – and the council at 4 overall – for his ability to identify challenges.
Under the overall performance rating, three councilors rated Towry’s job performance at 4, and three rated it at 3.
The council rated the city manager for his relationship with the City Council and performance related to the job description prior to the round-table discussion. Afterward the council rated the city manager on performance related to city goals and a fourth section on his ability to identify challenges, progress and improvements.
The evaluation approved last week by the council included three comments in the overall summary that were not attributed to specific councilors:
n “While I believe there is always room for some improvement, I believe the city manager is doing a very good job at this point. Having said that, I am a very impatient person and would like to see some things move faster, but I do realize that some take more time than others. Overall, I am pleased with his progress so far.
n “I think I have said all there is to be said. You are doing a great job. I look forward to more progress now that you have a full staff. Keep communications open.
n “Ray’s style of leadership is an asset to Sweet Home City Hall. His vision for excellence in policy and council would like to be further along with all issues are city is facing, but time is needed because Ray is a new city manager. Overall, Ray is doing a good job so far.”
Among comments elsewhere on the form, a councilor needed “more information on progress and improvements. Where are we in the new City Hall construction? The Sankey Park development. We have paid citizens’ money for these projects, but we do not get updates unless we ask.”
Another said: “You definitely have identified the challenges in running the administrative side of the city. There are many, and it is often hard to prioritize what we do next I am sure. You do a good job of sticking to our goals and using them as guideposts.”
“With staff in place, these goals will be more within reality,” said another. “It is hard to implement a lot of the issues without a Public Works director or planner-economic development person. Looking forward to those additions and the progress next year.”
“Ray has integrity in his leadership and interactions with officials, media and public,” said another.
According to additional comments, “cronyism” is being addressed, personnel issues are being clarified and the public is complimentary of Towry’s strength, consistency and communication.
The council voted 5-0 to approve the evaluation during its regular meeting on Sept. 26. Present and voting to approve were Susan Coleman, Lisa Gourley, Dave Trask, James Goble and Diane Gerson. Mayor Greg Mahler was absent.