By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE — A new high-ranking city position has been created and filled.
Director of Finance and Administration Todd Drysdale was named city administrator by the Mayor Joseph Peterson and the City Council at their Monday meeting.
The council voted to create the position following a recommendation by the mayor, who cited the need for it during his candidacy. In a 2004 Plante & Moran review of the city’s operations, the firm said the position would improve prioritization of the city’s vision. It also was outlined in the city’s 2010 to 2015 strategic plan.
“I just want to be able to help the city out,” Drysdale said Thursday. “If it is a positive direction for the organization, it’s fine with me. I do believe there’s a need for it in the city. If I can be a positive improvement to how we run, I’m all for it.”
The position will report to the City Council and mayor and coordinate the city’s day-to-day activities. Dysdale, who already had been performing many of the functions involved, will add the new tasks to his current workload. New duties will include advising the City Council on government matters, serving as the city’s labor negotiator and monitoring the enforcement of ordinances and resolutions. There will be no additional salary.
He said some of his financial duties may fall to finance staff over time.
“We’ll try to coordinate the workload so things get done timely and accurately,” he said.
Peterson said the new position will help the city run more smoothly.
“I truly believe that the operations of a local municipality have become so complex that the lack of this leadership position within the city is hindering our progress as an organization,” Peterson said in his letter of recommendation.
Drysdale has worked for the city for 15 years. The new position gives him the legal authority to help better complete many of the tasks he already was performing, Peterson said.
The mayor said he’d like to review the option for an increased salary when the city’s economic situation improves.
Council members spoke highly of Drysdale’s background and experience at the meeting.
“I like how he views our position,” Councilman Leonard Sabuda said. “I like his demeanor with respect to how it should get done, and I think he will do an excellent job for us.”
Councilman Todd Browning urged the council to lend their support to the new position.
“I hope that tonight is not just an exercise of either supporting this with a ‘yes’ or ‘no,’” he said. “I would ask that all elected officials that vote on this also be mindful of the support that this position deserves and requires.”