Atkinson loses another administrator

from the Eagle Tribune;

August 19, 2011
Atkinson loses another administrator
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — After less than two years on the job, Town Administrator Phil Smith is returning to police work.

Smith gave his notice to selectmen Tuesday.

"I got another opportunity in Roswell, N.M.," Smith said yesterday. "I will be the deputy chief of the police department."

His last day in Atkinson is Sept. 15.

He's just the latest in a long list of relatively short-term administrators. And selectmen haven't always had an easy time filling the job.

Before Smith was hired in September 2009, the town went seven months without an administrator.

But short-term administrators are the norm for a town this size, Selectman Fred Childs said.

"I hope the next town manager will last long," Childs said. "It's a small town, so it's a stepping stone for people. If they can make more money someplace else, they do. That's what happens."

For Smith, who served as police chief in Alton before taking the Atkinson job, it's a chance to move to a warmer climate and return to police work.

"I realized I just really love being in law enforcement. I'm getting back to a field I'm more comfortable with and what I love to do, but it's no knock on Atkinson," he said. "Atkinson was right next door to my hometown and I've learned a lot of new skills being here. It's going to make my police work much more effective and efficient."

Selectmen have begun to search for his replacement.

"We are starting to search for a new town manager today," Childs said yesterday. "It depends on who applies, how long it takes. Sometimes it takes a long time, sometimes it doesn't, depends on the candidates you get."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said he understands why Smith decided to leave.

"He's got a better job and a better income," he said. "I get it."

The town hasn't yet decided whether to hire a consulting company to help with the search, selectmen said.

It's likely the town will be without an administrator for a few months, but administrative assistant Barbara Snicer will fill in, something she's done before.

In fact, Childs pointed out, Snicer has filled in the last two times the town was without an administrator.

Atkinson has gone through a few short-term town managers in the past few years.

The longest someone has stayed on the job in recent memory was Russell McCallister's three-and-a-half-year stint that ended in January 2008. Then came interim administrator Craig Kleman for about four months. He was followed by Steven Angelo, who lasted less than five months, leaving in January 2009.

Smith will be moving to a much larger community when he heads to Roswell. It has about 50,000 residents and a 96-person police department.

"It's a fantastic opportunity career-wise and a lot of us policemen who live in the snowier areas like to make our second bids toward warmer climates," he said. "There's a lot going on in that city. I'm looking very much forward to the challenge."

But he said he's going to miss the people he's worked with in Atkinson.

"I've had the privilege and honor of working with some wonderful people here in Town Hall," Smith said. "That was the most refreshing thing coming out of law enforcement, finding this level of quality people that provide service the community."