Not In Plainfield Any More?
Former City Administrator Norton Bonaparte Jr. is the chosen finalist for the new post of city manager in Topeka, Kans.
According to media reports from Topeka, Bonaparte emerged from a pool of 30 candidates as one of two finalists. In a meeting Tuesday (Jan. 10, 2006) the Topeka City Council decided to open negotiations with Bonaparte for the job.
Voters agreed in November 2004 to change Topeka’s form of government from a strong mayor-council government format to a council-city manager plan.
As city manager, Bonaparte will have extensive powers to hire and fire administrators and employees and also to manage Topeka’s finances.
The position will be almost the opposite of Plainfield’s situation, where the mayor has the power to hire and fire and make appointments.
The job description includes such global requirements as “to devote his or her entire time to the duties and interest of the city,” in addition to preparing the budget and being in charge of the city’s financial affairs.
"I think while I have certainly appreciated being the administrator for the City of Plainfield, I am looking forward to the appointment of city manager for Topeka," Bonaparte said Thursday.
On Wednesday, when he received a call that the Topeka City Council had selected him, the news was splashed across a local Topeka TV outlet in a scrolling banner.
Bonaparte said he has informed Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and Plainfield City Council members of the Topeka council's decision. The move will take him back to the Midwest, where he had his first administrative post in Grand Rapids, Mich. and where he met his wife, Santa. In New Jersey since 1995, he was an administrator in Willingboro and Camden before coming to Plainfield.
"I value all those experiences," he said.
Bonaparte said he applied for the city manager job in October.
By way of contrast, Topeka, Kans. has about 123,000 residents, while Plainfield has around 48,000 residents. The Topeka budget for 2005 was approximately $154 million. The Plainfield budget, still to be approved, is about $64 million. Plainfield has about 500 city employees and Topeka has a work force of approximately 1,300.
Bonaparte was sworn in as the acting director of Administration and Finance in Plainfield as the new administration took hold on Jan. 1, 2006. The Plainfield city administrator, all three department heads and corporation counsel are only serving in acting capacity for 90-day terms awaiting City Council approval for four-year terms concurrent with that of the new mayor.
According to media reports from Topeka, Bonaparte emerged from a pool of 30 candidates as one of two finalists. In a meeting Tuesday (Jan. 10, 2006) the Topeka City Council decided to open negotiations with Bonaparte for the job.
Voters agreed in November 2004 to change Topeka’s form of government from a strong mayor-council government format to a council-city manager plan.
As city manager, Bonaparte will have extensive powers to hire and fire administrators and employees and also to manage Topeka’s finances.
The position will be almost the opposite of Plainfield’s situation, where the mayor has the power to hire and fire and make appointments.
The job description includes such global requirements as “to devote his or her entire time to the duties and interest of the city,” in addition to preparing the budget and being in charge of the city’s financial affairs.
"I think while I have certainly appreciated being the administrator for the City of Plainfield, I am looking forward to the appointment of city manager for Topeka," Bonaparte said Thursday.
On Wednesday, when he received a call that the Topeka City Council had selected him, the news was splashed across a local Topeka TV outlet in a scrolling banner.
Bonaparte said he has informed Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and Plainfield City Council members of the Topeka council's decision. The move will take him back to the Midwest, where he had his first administrative post in Grand Rapids, Mich. and where he met his wife, Santa. In New Jersey since 1995, he was an administrator in Willingboro and Camden before coming to Plainfield."I value all those experiences," he said.
Bonaparte said he applied for the city manager job in October.
By way of contrast, Topeka, Kans. has about 123,000 residents, while Plainfield has around 48,000 residents. The Topeka budget for 2005 was approximately $154 million. The Plainfield budget, still to be approved, is about $64 million. Plainfield has about 500 city employees and Topeka has a work force of approximately 1,300.
Bonaparte was sworn in as the acting director of Administration and Finance in Plainfield as the new administration took hold on Jan. 1, 2006. The Plainfield city administrator, all three department heads and corporation counsel are only serving in acting capacity for 90-day terms awaiting City Council approval for four-year terms concurrent with that of the new mayor.
--Bernice Paglia
KEYWORDS: Bonaparte, finance director
posted by Bernice at 4:26 PM
<< Home