One of the twelve last great places in the Western Hemisphere The Nature Conservancy The Town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island BLOCK ISLAND is seeking a TOWN MANAGER
Block Island Block Island is located in the Atlantic Ocean 13 miles south of mainland Rhode Island. Just under 10 square miles in size, Block Island is known as a special place where its breathtaking natural environment blends with a community of historic and traditional homes and businesses nestled within the island s picturesque landscape. The island has a population of approximately 1,000 permanent residents. Block Island showcases preserved and protected opens spaces that make up approximately 47% of the island s land mass, unparalleled ocean views and sunsets, 365 fresh water ponds, two man-made harbors, 30 miles of meandering trails and bike paths and access to over 17 miles of pristine coastal beaches. There are numerous National and Historic Landmarks on Block Island, in addition to a National Wildlife Refuge. The charming Old Harbor Historic District was declared a National Register Historic District in 1974. The community culture on Block Island is family-oriented, offering residents and visitors a serene natural environment and lifestyle. Leisure activities such as bicycling, hiking, jogging, kayaking, sailing, and fishing are traditional activities enjoyed throughout much of the year. The island s citizens are attentive to preserving the heritage and culture of this unique setting through the dedicated oversight of many active Town Boards and Commissions, the Block Island Historical Society, the Block Island Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy, which is dedicated to conserving the island s lands and species. The Nature Conservancy, celebrating its 25 th year on the island, has included Block Island on its exclusive list of The Last Great Places in the Western Hemisphere. The Block Island Medical Center is the sole provider of health care on the island and exists solely to ensure the health, safety and well being of residents and the large influx of visitors that arrive during the summer season. Seasonal tourism on the island is an important economic resource for maintaining town infrastructure and quality of life. Block Island is readily accessible by year-round air service, traditional and high-speed ferry services from the mainland and private boats. Travelers may utilize ferry service to transport their motor vehicles to the island. Ferry services function year-round from Point Judith, Rhode Island; and seasonally from New London, Connecticut; Montauk, New York; and Newport, Rhode Island. The K-12 Block Island School, built in 1933, is considered a community asset and is the center of many activities. The Island Free Library, established in 1875, offers many library services and activities for its users year round.
The Town of New Shoreham The Town of New Shoreham, named after Shoreham in Sussex County, England, was established in 1664 and was incorporated by Home Rule Charter in 1672. The municipality of the Town of New Shoreham encompasses the entire geographic area of Block Island. The Town government operates under a Charter amended by voters in 2010 and provides residents and visitors a full range of municipal services that include: Police Fire & Rescue (volunteer operation) Public Works Recreation Facilities Manager Library Finance Building, Zoning, Land Use and Planning Water Wastewater Management Harbors GIS/IT Tax Assessment & Collections The Town Council is comprised of a First Warden, Second Warden and three Town Councilors, each elected at large from the Town for a two year term on each even numbered year. A Town Moderator and Assistant Town Moderator are elected biennially at the general election, each serving a two year term. The Town Moderator or Assistant Town Moderator preside at all financial town meetings, regular or special, which are called annually. The Town Council appoints and may remove the Town Manager pursuant to the Town Charter, and the next general election will take place in November, 2016. The Town of New Shoreham has a total General Fund budget of $13.4 million for Fiscal Year 2017, including school expenditures, which are $4.7 million. Total debt service represents 16% of the total budget and a number of major projects must be funded by bonds and/or grants in the next 1 to 3 years. 8.8% of the budget is devoted to Police and Fire/Rescue services; Public Works expenditures make up 10% of the Town budget. The current Town Capital Improvement budget is $344,000. The Town maintains a reserve balance of $1.4 million. The Town s Comprehensive Plan is currently under revision and may be viewed on the Town s website at: new-shoreham.com
The Position The vacancy is due to the departure of the current Town Manager after 16 years of service in the position. The New Shoreham Town Council is seeking a seasoned Town Manager with extensive knowledge, skills and abilities in municipal operations to assist them in leading the organization and community into the future. The Town Manager will serve as a mentor and provide leadership to a staff of 47 part and full-time employees, in addition to approximately 36 seasonal employees. The availability of the Town Manager to the Town Councilors, staff, Boards and Commissions and the Block Island community is important and residency on the island is a requirement for this position. The desirability of living on Block Island is reflected in the cost of real estate, where the median price of a single family home excedes $1 million. While current policy does not allow the Town Council to provide a housing subsidy, it will assist the Town Manager in finding a suitable housing option. Opportunities and Challenges for the New Town Manager National Grid recently completed installation of a new 30-megawatt sea2shore undersea cable to Block Island. The cable is an integral part of the Deepwater Wind Farm project located off the eastern side of the island. When it becomes operational in fall of 2016, the system will deliver energy to both the island and mainland ratepayers. The sea2shore line also carries fiber optic cables in anticipation of enhanced broadband and internet capability for island residents and visitors in the future The Town is considering acquisition of the Block Island Power Company through an obligation bond or other means. Voter approval of a bond would be required Creative solutions are needed to address and implement affordable housing options and strategies for the island for the benefit of residents, employers, employees and volunteers Visitation to the island during the popular peak summer season continues to put demands on the town s roads, services and resources
The Ideal Town Manager for Block Island The Town Council/Town Manager relationship on Block Island can best be described as a partnership and the Council desires to retain that type of relationship. The desired Town Manger will understand the workings of a seasonal resort town of New Shoreham s size and infrastructure and will support the long-held values and characteristics of the community. Minimum Qualifications of the Town Manager The successful candidate for the position of Town Manager will at a minimum possess a Bachelor s degree in public administration, business administration or a related field from an accredited college or university. A Masters Degree in a related field is preferred, but not required. At a minimum, candidates should be able to demonstrate at least five years of executive-level management and intergovernmental experience as chief administrative officer for a municipal government of similar size and complexity (with 50 or more employees); or an equivalent combination of experience and training. Previous experience serving an island/shoreline, tourist-based, highly seasonal community is a plus. The successful candidate will be able to draw upon well developed management and leadership qualities to effectively deal with concurrent, complex issues and a participatory community with diverse backgrounds and expertise. The ideal candidate should be a seasoned, mature municipal executive and manager, well-grounded in the technical areas of town government, particularly finance, public safety, public works, planning, and information technology. Previous experience with an electric utility would be a plus. Additionally, the ideal Town Manager would be a person who: Will develop, nurture and model a municipal culture of openness, transparency, high ethical standards, civility, quality customer service, responsiveness and best practices Has a strong sense and support of the community s environmental and quality of life concerns Has a participatory style that concludes with clear and concise direction to staff, and is followed up by establishing goals/timelines. Will be active and effective in multi-agency joint programs and issues
Reasons to Consider the Block Island Opportunity There are numerous reasons, personal and professional, to consider the Block Island Town Manager position. They include: The Town Manager can make an immediate difference in New Shoreham because the Town and organization are small enough that he/she can have an impact It is an exciting time to live and work in Block Island with numerous interesting and important projects on the horizon for completion and implementation, such as Deepwater Wind s Wind Farm project and the recent connection of the National Grid s sea2shore cable from the mainland to the island A talented, motivated staff will offer every assistance towards helping the new Town Manager to be successful Block Island s unique location gives it significant control of its own destiny; the island community is not dominated by the influence of larger surrounding cities The quality of life for Block Island s residents and visitors is unparalleled and has been characterized as one of the most desirable places to live in the western hemisphere Block Island is a family-friendly community offering a safe environment, an excellent school, accessible healthcare and many outdoor activities and recreational opportunities readily available
Compensation and Benefits The starting annual salary for the Town Manager position will be market competitive depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate An attractive benefit package includes: Town sponsored participation in the Rhode Island Municipal Employees Retirement System, which is mandatory. 8.81% of salary is contributed by the Town and the Employee contributes 7%. The option to invest in a 457 deferred compensation plan is also offered Medical coverage provided through Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Rhode Island (8% premium). Delta Dental Plan fully paid. Vision coverage available Life and long term disability insurance coverage provided, capped at $50,000 Professional dues, subscriptions, tuition reimbursement and travel/subsistence costs related to professional development provided with pre-approval of the Town Council Generous 13.5 vacation and sick leave allowances paid holidays per year
TO APPLY If you wish to be seriously considered for this exceptional career opportunity, please submit a persuasive cover letter explaining why you feel you are a good fit for the position, resume, salary history and at least four professional references electronically no later than August 15, 2016 to: Clark Wurzberger The Mercer Group, Inc. EMAIL cwurzberger@mercergroupinc.com P.O. Box 546 Weimar, CA 95736 Phone 530-637-4559 Fax 530-637-1048 Submission deadline is August 15, 2016 Electronic submissions are required. Following the submission due date, candidates will be screened in relation to the minimum qualifications and criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates with the most relevant qualifications will receive preliminary interviews with the consultant. The most qualified candidates will be referred to Town officials for further consideration. Work history reference checks will not be conducted until mutual interest has been established. The Town of New Shoreham is an Equal Opportunity Employer Photos courtesy of the Block Island Tourism Council