Lake Worth looks to new manager, city’s future
When Lake Worth Beach commissioners fired City Manager Carmen Davis in December by a narrow 3-2 vote, it prompted some key questions about the city’s future.
For one: Who will serve as the city’s next long-term leader?
Jamie Brown, Lake Worth Beach’s public works director, was named interim city manager until a search for a permanent manager is completed, and it’s unclear if he plans to apply for the position.
Brown has served Lake Worth Beach for more than a decade in the public works director role, overseeing waste management and the maintenance of city buildings, roads, sidewalks, parks and playgrounds.
He also worked recently as the interim assistant city manager, before the recent hiring of Troy Perry, who now holds the position.
“I’ve been here at the city almost 13 years now,” Brown said, addressing commissioners and accepting the interim city manager position. “Obviously, over the time, I’ve fallen in love with the city, the residents here, the business owners here.”
Brown’s interim city manager contract affords him an annual salary of $212,180 — the same salary as his predecessor.
Here are some other key questions to consider as the city transitions between managers:
How long before Lake Worth finds its next city manager?
Commissioners are expected to decide this month on whether to issue a request for proposal, or RFP, the first step toward hiring a search firm that can help the city identify a new longterm city manager.
The process is expected to take anywhere from five to eight months before the new city manager starts. That includes the time it takes to issue an RFP and accept responses from potential search firms before hiring one,