Bourey’s time on job typical

By Cindy Landrum  

APRIL 30, 2010 8:14 a.m. (0)

Jim Bourey’s length of service as Greenville’s city manager is typical for city managers nationwide.

When he leaves the job on June 30, Bourey will have been the manager of Greenville’s city government for nearly six and a half years.

Nationwide, city managers last an average of just over seven years, according to the ICMA, the International City/County Managers Association’s 2009 State of the Profession Survey.

Changes in a council following an election and personality conflicts were two of the top three reasons city managers across the nation were fired or forced to resign in 2009, said Michele Frisby, director of public information for ICMA. The other reason is political pressure.

City managers run the day-to-day operations of city governments and implement policies set by the elected city councils.

City managers are responsible for hiring and firing government staff, preparing a budget for council approval and making policy recommendations to council.

Frisby said the average tenure of city managers has increased from 5.5 years in the late 1980s.

“I think that’s because managers are more aware of the importance of good communication with their elected officials,” she said.

Prior to Bourey’s hiring in February 2004, Greenville went through two interim and two permanent city managers in six years.

Stephen T. Thompson, who came to Greenville from Aiken, lasted from December 1998 until January 2000. Mayor Knox White said Thompson was chosen by a “dysfunctional” council and wasn’t ready to lead a city the size of Greenville.

His replacement, Randy Oliver, lasted less than three years before resigning abruptly for personal reasons on the day of his scheduled performance review.

Amy Ryberg Doyle, the only council member to vote against accepting Bourey’s resignation, said she hopes Greenville’s recent history with city managers won’t hurt its ability to attract and hire a top-notch administrator. “We have a terrible track record,” she said. “This job is not for the faint of heart.”

But Frisby said Greenville is not considered one of the cities that “chew up” managers. There are some cities in Florida where managers last an average of just 18 months.

“There have been some cities in the past that have been considered a challenge, a place that just chews up and spits out managers,” Frisby said. “Greenville is not on any list that I’ve heard of.”