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Former Gulf Breeze City Manager Hired To Turn Century Around
July 16, 2019
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to hire former Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy as a consultant to help the turn the town around.
He will be paid $35 an hour an independent contractor, not an employee, and receive a $200 mileage reimbursement. He will also bill for services provided by additional consultants not yet named.
The council has allotted up to $5,000 for his Eddy’s services. His first day will be July 29 after he completes previously planned personal travel. Eddy will answer to Mayor Henry Hawkins and the town council under an “at will” arrangement.
“Local government is my passion,” Eddy said. “I’m not doing this to make a lot of money.”
He said his first goals will be to get the town on track in the budget making process and work to improve the bottom line in the gas department, which has consistently lost money for several years.
Council members have expressed concern that the town purchased new gas meters months ago in an effort to increase billing accuracy and revenue, but very few of those meters have actually been installed.
Eddy said the meter installations should be another priority, even if the town hires a contractor to complete the work because their gas department does not have the time or resources.
Eddy made the unsolicited consultant offer after reading a report by independent financial consultant Bob Inzer, whose services were provided to the town by the Florida League of Cities following a scathing grand jury findings. Inzer repeatedly told the town council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
Pictured: Edwin “Buz” Eddy addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
21 Responses to “Former Gulf Breeze City Manager Hired To Turn Century Around”
I’m with Gman…If the gas department is not installing the new meters and they obviously aren’t reading the old ones what are they doing???
I’m glad they hired Eddy to help them out. Sometimes you get the best results from an outsider. I hope they listen to his advice.
I don’t believe it is a matter of Mr Eddy identifying problems and identifying resolutions.
It will be more a test of his will to get Mayor and Council to work with him.
But a good step for now.
Thank goodness. I believe this is a step in the right direction for Century. The Town has had a consultant in the past and the budget was always on time and taxes were paid on time. I do hope the Mayor and Council will let this man do his job and take advice they might just learn something. The Town employees need to do their jobs and if you dont know how to do something please ask for help and take pride in what you do.
HE BETTERHOPE HE IS AT THE HEAD OF THE PAYLINE CAUSE THERE AIN’T NO MONEY IN CE NTURT
if i was qualified I would do it for free for a period of time to prove that I can do what I say and then get paid. nothing wrong with volunteer work. also almost all cities including Pensacola have a mayor. THEN THEY HAVE A CITY MANAGER TO DO THE REAL WORK. Never could quite figure that out.
We do believe this is good news.
More of our tax money thrown down a hole. It’s not rocket science. How much does the town make on taxes and fees? Spend less than that amount.
Mr. Eddy can not cure crooked and stupid. The best remedy is to dissolve our Century government and turn the governing duties to our county.
REGARDING:
“yet he wants to be paid 4 what most people in century makes an hour.”
He must be a Communist. No, wait, That would be a non Communist, wanting to be paid for what he does.
He has knowledge which may or may not be able to save Century from the fact that it has been run by one who lacks that knowledge.
If someone with similar skills had offered to do the job for free, they might not need to consider paying for the services rendered.Nobody did.
David for workmen worthy of their hire
35.00 an hour with a 5000.00 cap is not making a lot of money. And no he should not volunteer his time free, no one should. I am a tech consultant and I guarantee you if their systems needed support I would not volunteer my time and I am a resident, they would pay me and pay me well for providing that service, after all I spent a lot of money to get the education to provide such services. Century government has gotten themselves into this mess, and its time they stepped up to the plate and acknowledged that and took steps in the right direction to fix it. Sounds like they may have finally taken their heads out of the sand and are doing just that. Guess we shall see!!!
Why are these city officials elected and serving if they can not do their job? Now you are hiring somebody else to show them what to do? This is a mess. What are they going to do in 6 months when the next issues arise and they cant figure that out as well.
@Southern Girl
Educated minds cost money. The people already in charge apparently aren’t capable of running the town, so no choice but to bring in an outsider.
I do not agree that he should donate his time and knowledge for free. I think he is about the last saving grace for Century. This 5,000 is a small price to pay if he can clean up this train wreck.
The County gave free advice that was not followed is paid advice better?
@Southern girl
Are you serious?? $35 an hour for the experience and expertise Mr. Eddy will bring is a steal!
To Southern Girl, most independent Coulsants get around $100.00 per hour, just saying.
$35/hr is cheap for a Professional Consultant. If he knows what he’s doing, he could make much more elsewhere.
“Local government is my passion,” Eddy said. “I’m not doing this to make a lot of money.”
yet he wants to be paid 4 what most people in century makes an hour. If he loves local government so much maybe he should volunteer his time.
If the gas department does not have the time or resources to install meters what are they working on?
Best of luck, Mr. Eddy! I honestly hope you can turn Century around and get them back on their feet and moving in the right direction!
IMHO, this is HUGE step is the right direction for Century. One big hurdle is getting the Mayor and the town council to listen to the advice and follow-thru with the recommendations and allow Eddy to make the needed changes. Its going to be sorta like eating a 1000 pound moose without leaving the table for anything. You just gotta take it one small bite at a time.