Megan Stewart
The Sweet Home City Council provided City Manager Raymond Towry with positive marks on his annual evaluation.
Councilors unanimously approved the evaluation during their meeting on Tuesday, May 12. On a scale from 1-5, five meaning outstanding and one meaning unsatisfactory, Towry’s average score is approximately 4.13 out of 5, calculated from five different sections. Council members provided feedback underneath each section, signing comments with their initials.
City Council Relationships: The council assessed Towry in three areas: his ability to effectively implement the council’s approved policies and programs, assist the council in establishing long range goals, and keep the council updated on administration and governmental changes. He received approximated scores of 4.14, 4.57, and 4.29, respectively.
Council President Pro-Tem Diane Gerson praised Towry’s “professionalism” and “clear understanding of pitfalls and success,” demonstrated in his leadership of councilors and staff members during training sessions. Councilor Susan Coleman said Towry “has the ability to synthesize the council’s ideas into measurable and attainable goals.” However, both council members noted communication between Towry and the council could improve next year.
Performance Related to Job Description: The council assessed Towry in six areas: fulfilling his described duties, consistently adhering to city policies, recommending programs and policies to maintain an effective and modern city government, developing professionally through training and professional organizational membership, controlling expenditures within budgetary limitations, and supervising city personnel. He received approximated scores of 4.28, 4.14, 4.28, 4.14, 4.17, 4.43, and 4.43, respectively.
Gerson described Towry as “an effective manager of his personnel,” lauding “his ability to supervise but not micro manage,” which frees up staff to solve problems in creative ways” and “also allows all the staff the freedom to voice solutions and recognize their voice is valued.”
However, when discussing his supervising score, Gerson said her “one concern is sometimes in reaching decisions, which he needs to do, Ray forgets to be empathetic with the needs and personalities of those in lower positions.”
Evaluation Based on Council Goals: Council members listed four goals and evaluated Towry based on how well the city met them.
First, the council sought to develop steps for implementing infrastructure in the water, sewer, streets, parks and property divisions.
The second goal was to become an effective and efficient government.
The third focused on essential services, such as access to healthcare services, improving community safety, and fostering relationships between regional services and appropriate members of the public.
Finally, the council emphasized strengthening the economy, which meant implementing a business vitalization program, supporting future economic development efforts within City Hall, and develop economic opportunities with regional partners. Towry received scores of 4, 4.14, 3.57, and 3.71, respectively.
“I have seen improvements in processes, communication, financial practices and technology,” Coleman said, regarding the second goal.
However, councilors Cortney Nash, Dave Trask, Coleman and Gerson all noted the need for improvement in some area.
Gerson described the fourth goal as a “weak spot in Ray’s leadership.” While she acknowledged he isn’t solely responsible, she said that goal “has been a top priority of the council” and she doesn’t “feel it has been given that position on Ray’s list.”
Summary Rating of City Manager: The council gave Towry a 4.14 in identifying challenges, a 3.86 in identifying progress, and a 3.86 in identifying improvements.
“These last three years, Ray has led the city well,” said Coleman. She noted his success in training councilors, engaging in goal-setting conversations, hiring quality staff to execute those goals, sticking to the budget, and problem-solving.
“I would love to see a “state-of-the-city” address sometime, where he can identify to the public the improvements the city has made in recent years,” Coleman said.
Summary Rating: Overall, council member gave Towry a 4.14 overall score.
“The results over the last three years has shown a high level of progress,” said Trask. “Of course there is room for improvement. Personally, I am happy with the results so far. He has chosen personnel that helps the success going forward.”