Calls for trust, transparency shape town manager search discussion at Yountville Town Council meeting
People filled the chambers for the Yountville Town Council meeting on May 19, while additional residents watched the proceedings on TV from the Locals Lounge next door.
Council Member Robin McKee opened the meeting by reading the heartfelt apology she had published in the Yountville Sun last week as a letter to the editor.
The time set aside for public comment for items not on the agenda, continues to provide residents with a popular opportunity to communicate their concerns to the council. At the meeting two weeks ago, residents of Bella Vista Senior Living Park asked the council to consider developing a rent stabilization ordinance. During Tuesday’s meeting, Bella Vista resident Jerry Lake stepped forward to express gratitude for the quick response they received on the matter. Interim Town Manager Ken MacNab said he has asked Yountville’s planning director to prepare an ordinance to bring forward this summer. A representative of the ownership of Rancho de Napa Senior Living Park noted that “one size does not fit all” and urged the council to consider both residents and park owners when developing the future ordinance.
Resident Sandy Fagan said she appreciates the work and time council members put into their positions. She noted that the challenges facing the community are not new, but said residents can come together to find solutions.
Gary Jabara, owner of The Estate Yountville, offered several suggestions regarding how the town communicates with residents. He asked the council to consider limiting the authority of the town manager position going forward and called for greater transparency in the procurement process. Jabara also requested more detailed quarterly reports that would include contracts signed by the town manager. He cautioned the council that the town is currently paying two town manager salaries and urged them to be mindful of spending town funds. Town Attorney Gary Bell clarified that MacNab is currently serving part-time and is being paid only on an hourly basis.
Council Member Hillery Trippe responded to Jabara’s comments by noting that improvement is a good thing. She said the town already provides detailed financial information but suggested a simpler dashboard-style financial link on the town’s website could make that information easier for residents to access.
This topic resurfaced during discussion of the proposed biennial budget presented by Director of Administrative Services Celia King. King noted that the budget book is available online through the town website, Town of Yountville. While acknowledging that the document is lengthy, she said the summaries and visuals at the beginning of the report are designed to make the information presented easier to understand. McKee suggested that an online tutorial could also help residents better navigate the budget information.
Selection of a recruitment firm for a new town manager
Town Attorney Gary Bell explained that, at the council’s request, he had reached out to recruitment firms and received six proposals for the town manager search. He asked the council to deliberate and select a firm.
Each council member highlighted different qualities they considered important in the proposals. Mayor Margie Mohler focused on the proposed timelines and whether the firms were assigning their “A Team” to the project. Council Member Eric Knight emphasized the importance of firms having strong California connections and appreciated that most proposals included some level of community engagement. Trippe said she wanted the process to be as transparent as possible and asked Bell about the necessity of open versus closed sessions. Bell explained that closed sessions are optional, not required, and are generally used later in the process to protect the confidentiality of applicants during interviews.
Before the council began discussing the six proposals, public comment was opened. Resident Carrie Hays shared ideas for engaging the community in ways that could help rebuild trust lost over recent months. She suggested forming a small community recruitment group that could provide local insight without removing decision-making authority from the council.
Hays also urged the council to select a firm committed to meaningful community engagement consisting of more than a single public meeting and a small survey. She warned that moving too quickly through the process, or holding too tightly to control, contributed to the current lack of trust in town leadership.
Two residents asked the council to delay hiring a new town manager until after the November election so newly elected council members could participate in the decision.
Resident Alan Tenscher urged the council to reflect on how the town arrived at its current situation and to carefully consider what public engagement truly means. “You have been tasked with leadership, and you have been challenged about your leadership. Use your best judgment,” he said.
The council’s discussion about the hiring process covered a variety of viewpoints. Vice Mayor Pam Reeves defended the town’s previous recruitment process, noting that it included both a survey and a public meeting. “It was a good process,” she said. Reeves stated that the council owes the community open meetings and transparency but added that the town cannot afford endless costly meetings. She also said she was not convinced that there is widespread mistrust of the council.
“We have brought a lot of good on the council, and the lack of trust is coming from a certain group, and I don’t want to operate on that basis,” Reeves said. She added that she wants to hire a new town manager during the tenure of the current interim manager.
Trippe suggested narrowing the selection to the two firms that appeared to best fit the town’s needs and inviting them to the next council meeting for public interviews.
“I want to be able to hear from residents about the candidates, as different views are always important,” she said. “I have seen that it creates a connection to people in the community, as more heads are better than one.”
Knight said it is important to find a town manager with experience working in a small town. He also stated that he believed delaying the process until after the election would make the process take too long.
As discussion continued, two firms emerged as the leading choices among council members: Peckham & McKenney of Roseville, Calif. and Ralph Andersen & Associates of Rocklin, Calif. The council directed Bell to contact both firms and invite them to attend the June 2 Town Council meeting for in-person interviews during an open session. It was noted that the council could potentially award a contract following the interviews and discussion that evening.
