Newberry City Commission selects Mayor Jordan Marlowe as next City Manager, discusses plans to pave SW 15th Avenue
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
NEWBERRY, Fla. – At their February 10 Regular Meeting, the Newberry City Commission honored City Manager Mike New, who recently resigned, for his 10 years of service; agreed to hire Mayor Jordan Marlowe as the next City Manager; approved a CDD for the Highland Park subdivision; and discussed a proposed plan to pave SW 15th Avenue and a few connecting roads using funds from transportation impact fees and other sources.
Honoring outgoing City Manager Mike New
Mayor Jordan Marlowe began the meeting by issuing a proclamation: “Gary Mike New has faithfully served as Newberry City Manager since July 2014 and is now turning a chapter to pursue new opportunities… During his tenure, Mike led the City of Newberry through numerous challenges including multiple historic hurricanes, always demonstrating resilience and steady leadership… I, Mayor Jordan Marlowe, on behalf of the City Commission, citizens, and employees of the City of Newberry do hereby issue this proclamation to Mike New in recognition of his many achievements. And we extend our gratitude and appreciation to Mike for his many years of exemplary service as our City Manager. We congratulate him for a job well done and wish him continued success and happiness.”
After some group photographs, City Manager Mike New spoke at the podium: “I appreciate the kind words in the proclamation. I appreciate the support from the City Commission. I see we have one of the initial City Commissioners that hired me in the audience, and I think I am fortunate that there were six elected officials that are responsible for hiring me. So if the citizens of Newberry want to be angry at someone, four of them still sit on the dais, and I’m really proud of that. I think that having that type of consistency and tenure, with 67% of the elected officials outlasting a 10-year sitting City Manager, I think that’s pretty unheard of… It has been a great adventure… There’s only one accomplishment that really stands out for me, and that’s the friends and the colleagues and the group that I’ve gotten to work with. I didn’t anticipate that when I came, that this group of people that I come to work with every day is way beyond the most meaningful experience I’ve ever had in an employment situation, and I’m no spring chicken. I’ve been doing this for 40-something years, and everywhere I worked I really enjoyed my teammates. But here it’s at a whole new level, and I think this team is unparalleled… These people mean the world to me, deeply, and I’m going to maintain that relationship, that friendship.”
New said he plans to try working in the private sector. Members of the public spoke and shared their memories and warm feelings for New, including former City employees. Commissioner Tony Mazon thanked New for taking him under his wing and helping him when first started as a Commissioner. Marlowe concluded by saying, “We’re going to miss you, Mike. It’s been a great 10 years.”
New Deputy Fire Chief and brush truck
Fire Chief Mike Vogel introduced newly-hired Deputy Chief Jason Lyman, formerly of the Islamorada Fire Department in the Florida Keys. Lyman said, “My family and I are excited to get settled in the area, and I’m eager to contribute to the Department’s success. Thank you again for your trust and support, and I look forward to getting right to work.”
Vogel gave a presentation on the Department’s recent purchase of a large off-road 4×4 brush truck with heavy-duty tires and a winch. He encouraged everyone to stop by the station and see it, where it is parked in front.
CDD for Highland Park
City Attorney Scott Walker introduced the first reading of an ordinance establishing a CDD (Community Development District) for the Highland Park Planned Development on approximately 104 acres. Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez said staff recommended approval, and, if approved, the second reading will be held on February 24. Perez said the development consists of 350 single family homes, it is located across from the new Publix, and the CDD budget is approximately $25.2 million.
Commissioner Tim Marden said he would be voting “No” because CDDs require the involvement of too many governmental agencies, including the Supervisor of Elections for their elected boards.
Commissioner Monty Farnsworth made a motion to approve the CDD on first reading, and Commissioner Mazon seconded the motion. It passed 4-1 during a roll call vote, with Marden in dissent.
Paving SW 15th Avenue
City Manager New introduced a proposal to improve SW 15th Avenue. New said, “This section of 15th that I’m referring to is a 5-mile-long segment. The eastern mile and a half of it is already paved, but the balance is chip sealed. The City paid for that chip sealing somewhere after 2010 and before 2014… The City maintains the road through an interlocal agreement with the County, but it is a County road… Anybody that’s been on there, they know that the chip seal is failing, at least in portions.”
New said 15th Avenue will be used more and more as the nearby developments under construction are completed. He said his proposed plan includes the utilization of transportation impact fees on new construction, and he explained how the project is broken into four road segments with a different strategy for each. New said the City would end up paying about 31% of the cost, the County would pay about 31%, and the developments utilizing the road would pay about 38%. He added that the County will turn over control of the roads to the City upon completion.
New showed a slide depicting the project with costs and funding sources, including the connecting roads that also require paving (see slide below).
New showed another slide breaking down the impact fees proposed for each of three developments (see slide below).
New said he hasn’t yet met with the developers one-on-one, but he hasn’t received any negative feedback from them and they are aware of the proposed plan.
Commissioner Farnsworth asked if it would be better to include water and sewer improvements while the road is being repaired. New said he intends to add more fine details, probably including water and sewer, and there are other funding sources available to cover those costs.
After hearing no objections from the Commission, New said staff will come back with more details and begin to form a partnership with the County regarding the project.
Hiring a new City Manager
Marlowe said he had a few meetings with former Director of Parks & Facilities Travis Parker (who is now working for Alachua County) about taking the job as Newberry City Manager, but Parker and his family ultimately decided against it.
Commissioner Rick Coleman stopped Marlowe and said, “I’ve got a two-part motion… first is, let’s authorize Mayor Pro Tem [Mark] Clark to negotiate and execute a three-year employment agreement with you, Mr. Jordan Marlowe, to serve as our City Manager, with all terms and conditions remaining consistent with the current City Manager contract. Number two, appointment of the Interim City Manager. Authorize Mayor Jordan Marlowe to negotiate and execute an employment contract with Dallas Lee to serve as our Interim City Manager.”
Marlowe: “I have to be able to finish the school year.”
Before proceeding, Marlowe asked if anyone was willing to second the motion, and Mazon seconded it. Marlowe said, “Thank you. I appreciate the confidence that that shows. I really do, from the bottom of my heart. I think that Newberry is on a fantastic trajectory. I don’t want that to change. I don’t want to see that change. I want to keep us moving in the direction that we have set, that Mr. New has created. So I would say that I am willing to enter into those negotiations with the Mayor Pro Tem. I would have a couple of caveats. I have to be able to finish the school year. I need to be able to get my kids ready. I don’t mean this to sound bragging, but there really is no single teacher who can come in and get kids ready for four or five different college level exams. That wouldn’t be fair to the kids. It wouldn’t be fair to my principal… I’m deeply aware of the budgetary challenges that we face, and so I would be willing to do this for a lot less because I think our residents appreciate it. I’m humbled, and I’d be glad to have those conversations with Mark.”
Marden said the idea had also occurred to him, especially if it’s only for a couple of years. He said, “I think it probably is the best thing that we can do for the citizens right now.”
Farnsworth asked, “Will you be serving as both a Mayor and as a City Manager?” Marlowe answered, “Our charter does not allow that anymore. So if I accept this and we work that out, then I would not run for the Mayor this time around.” Farnsworth said, “That’s disappointing.”
During public comments, Brandy Oldman said she thought Marlowe “should step off the dais and go to City Manager.”
Travis Adair said, “You guys have come up with yet another scheme done behind closed doors. Commissioner Marden recently publicly said that the process for picking a new City Manager doesn’t need to be transparent. I don’t quite fully understand why you wouldn’t want to be transparent unless you had nothing to hide, but thank you for making clear what it was that you were hiding. It is repugnant to me that you would choose a process for City Manager when I know for sure your backup or your information in your packets has multiple different options on how you can go through, including staffing agencies and various different things, and you’re just going to say, ‘No, we’re not going to do any of that or bring in any outside experts to help us make a good decision’… It is disgusting.”
Joy Glanzer said she has been coming to Commission meetings for about 50 years, and she can only recall two times when public discussions were held about hiring City Managers. She added, “The citizens have nothing to say about who you hire.”
Jason McGehee said he opposed the idea because “it doesn’t feel right.” He said he likes Marlowe but not the process.
Planning & Zoning Board member Naim Erched said, “I want to acknowledge that the candidate before us is extremely knowledgeable and could very well be the best person for this position in our town. His experience and qualifications are evident, and we recognize the value they bring to the table. At the same time, it is our responsibility to ensure that we approach this process with fairness and transparency even though it is your legal right to not. But I believe that means taking the time to explore all options, considering a full range of candidates, and making a decision that reflects a thorough and thoughtful evaluation.”
Rob Baker said, “I just want to say that I think that there is a value in having a public process when selecting a leader of this nature. I would turn all of your attention to something that I know that you’re familiar with. Look at the mess we have created at the School Board by not having a transparent process in selecting our last two Superintendents… We need a manager who is going to have public buy-in… I believe there ought to be an application process.”
Commissioner Clark said, “We went after someone. They did not accept it after weeks of negotiation. We came back and asked you to do it, and now we’re hearing the public to discuss that in front of everyone.” Clark pointed out the cost savings from simplifying the process.
Looking at Marlowe, Marden said, “As far as public buy-in, if memory serves me, you have been unopposed nearly every time that you’ve run. You have a virtually completely public life, like I do, that is extremely transparent.” Marden said there would be risk associated with hiring an unknown person from out of town.
The motion to hire Marlowe as City Manager after he has finished the school year and hire Dallas Lee to be the Interim City Manager passed unanimously.
Special exception approved for farm-to-table café
During the last 30 minutes of the meeting, Commissioners heard and unanimously approved a special exception to allow a small-scale rural event area within an Agricultural zoning district. The owners have a small “natural” farm and an International Market store in Gainesville. They will be allowed to operate a farm-to-table café on weekends, only during daylight hours and with other restrictions.
Totally unqualified.
The fire department bought a wench? I thought that went out in the 1800s?
Sometimes you don’t need a big search. What you need is in your backyard. Congratulations Jordan Marlowe
Was there a search?
This is the ultimate SWAMPY move. Hypocrisy all around for all those so called conservatives in Newberry.
What a terrible idea to hire the mayor as a city manager. Very disappointing.
Hahahaaa….says the guy from New York!!!
You people baffle me. YOU literally elected city commissioners to make these kinds of decisions, and then get upset when they do so. That’s their job. You don’t get a say in every. single. thing. You want to change things? Run for city commission! Get out and sell yourself and win an elected position and then you can help institute the change you get on your soap box about. Until then? STFU.
The city of Newberry is adopting every bad practice that the city of Alachua has done for the past 50 years. And Alachua is a fustercluck.
Alachua started as a one square mile city. Like Newberry. Then the city fathers, getting tired of not making any money as farmers, decided to plat their farms and grow houses. First major project was Turkey Creek in the 70’s. Problem: was it was 7 miles outside of the city limits. At the time the County Commission was more responsible and did not do bad spot zoning for subdivisions out in the middle of nowhere. So Alachua went on an annexation binge and extended the city limits down 441 until Turkey Creek was in city limits and TC was approved. The city also annexed westward for the IBM Property, which is now the industrial Waco warehouse district. Once land was annexed into the city, the “pro growth” city commission would 5-0 rubber stamp any and all developments, no matter how bad they were.
High Springs and then Newberry adopted this massive annexation policy so the local commission would control zoning. Small cities with small populations and tax base now had to try to provide urban services and police and fire service to huge areas in a sprawling non compact area. The expense is causing them financial problems.
Current city areas
Gainesville 64.54 square miles.
Newberry 59.9 square miles
Alachua 36.56 square miles
High Springs 21.97 square miles
A city with most of the land zoned agriculture is not a city, it is a mini county and needs to be run like a county, not a city with an urban core.
Alachua is famous for backroom deals and lack of transparency. City leaders and real estate quick buck developers meet in private and make all decisions. City commission meetings are just legally required rubber stamp events. The local pretend newspaper, run by the family of the city manager, covered nothing about the city, especially anything negative. Suspicions of financial mismanagement with public funds abound.
There is one big problem with this system. All the people in city hall have to be “in” on the secret grand plan. Locally it is called “they know where the bodies are buried” and “they know about the city’s safe deposit box at the local bank with stacks of cash and bearer bonds.” It is almost impossible to bring in an outsider, who might be honest and incorruptible for any amount of money to “join the good ole boys club.”
Thus hiring a new outsider city manager is extremely problematic.
Doing a national search for an experienced manager, with knowledge of how to run a government, cannot be risked.
In cattle raising, a small closed herd runs into the problem of inbreeding, which stunts the herd. Occasionally a new herd bull from outside is brought in to bring new genetics.
The last outside city manager in Alachua was Jarboe in 2002. He would not play ball, so they ran him off. Since then it has been “promote from within” or inbreeding. Watson was a local cop from Merrelwood. Cain was hired as a file clerk, then promoted to manager. Boukari was hired as Watson’s flunky clerk, then wormed his way up to manager. Current manager was hired as Boukari’s flunky assistant, then installed as manager. See a pattern here?
Most of these people had no degrees or credentials or experience in government at any city other than Alachua, showing that a city manager does not need a college degree. Many had the taxpayers spend tens of thousands of dollars for mail order or actual degrees AFTER they were hired and supposedly qualified on day one with no degrees. Showing five to twenty years of being a clerk qualified as much as a masters degree in government management. At least in Alachua.
As in cattle breeding, twenty years of constant inbreeding has greatly diminished the quality of the city managers in Alachua. Only three things mattered, loyalty, omerta, and total devotion to real estate sprawl development. Alachua government and the city is worse off as a result.
All experienced people in the Alachua planning department just quit. Why? And results of the FDLE raid on the cartel office on Main Street have not been released. When will that happen? Negative things are happening.
Now Newberry, bent on copying every bad thing about the city of Alachua, has hired their Mayor Marlowe to be the next city manager. Inhouse inbreeding again. Lowering standards and competence. The taxpayers of Newberry will pay the price. Sprawl development will create traffic gridlock in Newberry. Quality of life of existing residents is being trashed for the quick profits of out of town real estate developer interests.
“If it is Bad for Alachua, it must be Good for Newberry”
Wow, never thought of it that way but you bring up several excellent points. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Is it time for Springs County now?
Yes Mr. Peabody, it is.
Newberry, run by an unqualified manager, will take over the public schools from the woke Alachua County and run their Evangelical madrassas to raise good conservative Christian jihadists. Every bubba already has an AR15.
Springs County no doubt has a backroom deal in place to hire secession Leader Tim Marden to be county manager at a cool $300,000 per year salary. It is what the whole Springs County movement is all about.
And Lil Timmy will SHOW the woke libs in Gainesville how to run a government with no taxes as the ultra rapid Newberry city growth runs public services and roads into the ground.
Secede soon Lil Timmy, or admit the whole Springs County thing was a con job to get you a $300,000 job as county dictator manager for life. Just a Republican con man.
LOL… at this point, I’d trust Tim over the current SBAC
Please someone explain to me how a local high school teacher is qualified to be a city manager? Even a po-dunk city such as Newberry should be looking for someone more qualified with all the growth they are experiencing.
Sounds to me like some backroom deals were made with the commissioners. I know at least two of them are kin.
Absolutely NOT an example of government in the sunshine. Almost as bad as GRUA firing Cunningham and pushing back in Bielarski. At least Bielarski has professional experience. Marlowe has zero experience as a City Manager. Being a Mayor does not even come close to qualifying him for that role. It’s so obvious it was a planned, inside job and it is a slap in the face to the community who deserve to have a qualified, experienced City Manager – especially with all the unchecked growth exploding there. Marlowe should stick to what he knows, teaching. Oh, and to say how he’ll do it for way less, come on people! The citizens of Newberry need to rise up and demand a professional search and hiring process be followed, not a backroom appointment.