Town of Lawrence, Wisconsin Town Administrator Recruitment Profile PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT The Town of Lawrence, Wisconsin invites applications for the position of Town Administrator. The Town of Lawrence is an attractive, rapidly growing mixed use community in the Green Bay metropolitan region. It is one of the fastest growing towns in Wisconsin and has tripled in population since 2000. Currently there are 4,973 residents. During the past four years, 237 new homes have been constructed. There is one established business park and others are being contemplated. The northern part consists of established neighborhoods and businesses and the southern still is predominantly rural. Lawrence offers a high quality of urban and rural life and excellent opportunities for residential, commercial, and industrial growth. Interstate Highway 41 runs through the Town with easy access points. The Fox River bounds the Town on the east. The Town is served by the highly regarded West De Pere School District and an elementary school is located in the Town. A small part of the Town is served by the Wrightstown Community School District. Nearly 98 percent of the Lawrence residents have a high school education and 41percent have a college degree. Overall, the largest number of residents are within the age range of 35 to 49. Household adjusted gross income in 2014 was $86,370. Required Qualifications and Desired Characteristics Qualified applicants must possess a bachelor s degree in a relevant field, with an MPA or MBA preferred, and administrative experience in a complex organization. They must have strong budgeting and financial skills, knowledge of municipal organizations and operations, demonstrated written and oral communication skills, ability to foster and support a team environment with the Board and staff, knowledge of computer applications, including websites and social media, and experience in dealing with intergovernmental issues. Knowledge of community development, planning, and economic development is strongly desired. Salary $85,000 to $105,000 How to apply Please send cover letter, resume, professional references, and salary history to Public Administration Associates, LLC, PO Box 282, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54903 or paassoc@northnet.net by February 10, 2017.
COMMUNITY BACKGROUND The Town of Lawrence, Wisconsin is an attractive, rapidly growing mixed use community consisting of approximately 4,975 persons. The Town has tripled in population since 2000. During the past four years, 237 new homes have been constructed. There is one established business park and others are being contemplated. The northern part consists of established neighborhoods and businesses and the southern still is predominantly rural. Lawrence is well located in the Green Bay metropolitan region, offering a high quality of urban and rural life and excellent opportunities for residential, commercial, and industrial growth. Interstate Highway 41 runs through the Town with easy access points. The Fox River bounds the Town on the east. A wide selection of residential properties is available. The Town shares a common border with the City of De Pere, the Villages of Ashwaubenon and Hobart, and the Town of Wrightstown. The Town is served by the highly regarded West De Pere School District and an elementary school is located in the Town. A small part of the Town is served by the Wrightstown Community School District. Nearly 98 percent of the Lawrence residents have a high school education and 41percent have a college degree. Overall, the largest number of residents are within the age range of 35 to 49. Household adjusted gross income in 2014 was $86,370. TOWN GOVERNMENT Towns in Wisconsin are governed according to Wisconsin Statute Chapter 60 that specifies the powers and duties of town government. The Town works closely with Brown County on planning and zoning issues and receives backup law enforcement services from the County Sheriff s Department. The Central Brown County Water Authority provides water service and the Metropolitan Sewer District provides sewer service to the urban areas of the Town. The Town is served by a strong volunteer fire department with a long tradition of service. Law enforcement is provided by the joint Hobart-Lawrence Police Department. There are two Town parks and the State Lost Dauphin Park in the Town. The Town is governed by a five-member Town Board consisting of the Town Chairman and four Supervisors. The Town Chairman and the Supervisors are elected for two year terms with two supervisor positions up for election each year. The Chairman votes along with the Supervisors on agenda items. The Town has a Planning Commission and a Parks Committee. The direct staff consists of the administrator, clerk-treasurer, administrative assistant, building inspector/zoning administrator, public works superintendent, maintenance operator, and utility operator. The Town has an assessed valuation of $515 million and a $3.5 million (combined general fund and utilities) budget in 2017.
FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR The Administrator, subject to the limitations defined in resolutions and ordinances of the Town of Lawrence and Wisconsin State Statutes, shall be the chief administrative officer of the Town, responsible to the Board for the proper administration of the business affairs of the Town, pursuant to the statutes of the State of Wisconsin, the ordinances of the Town of Lawrence, and the resolutions and directives of the Board, with power and duties as follows: A) GENERAL DUTIES 1. Carry out directives of the Town Board, which require administrative implementation, reporting promptly to the Town Board any difficulties encountered herein; 2. Be responsible for the administration of all day-to-day operations of the Town government including the monitoring of all Town ordinances, resolutions, Board meeting minutes and state statutes; 3. Prepare a plan of administration, including an organization chart, which defines authority and responsibility for all non-statutory positions of the Town; and submit it to the Board for adoption as the official organization and administrative procedure plan for the Town; 4. Establish when necessary administrative procedures to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Town government according to current practices in local government, not inconsistent with paragraph 3 above or directives of the Board; 5. Serve as ex-officio nonvoting member of all Boards, commissions and committees of the Town, except as specified by the Board or Wisconsin State Statutes; 6. Keep informed concerning current federal, state, and county legislation and administrative rules affecting the Town and submit appropriate reports and recommendations thereon to the Board; 7. Review existing policies and ordinances and when appropriate recommend new or revised policies; 8. Keep informed concerning the availability of federal, state and county funds for local programs. Assist department heads and the Board in obtaining these funds under the direction of the Board; 9. Represent the Town in matters involving legislative and inter-governmental affairs as authorized and directed as to that representation by the Board;
10. Act as public information officer for the Town with the responsibility of assuring that the news media are kept informed about the operations of the Town and that all open meeting rules and regulations are followed; 11. Establish and maintain procedures to facilitate communications between citizens and Town government to assure that complaints, grievances, recommendations and other matters receive prompt attention by the responsible official, and to assure that all such matters are expeditiously resolved; B) RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE TOWN BOARD 1. Attend all meetings of the Board, assisting the Board as required in the performance of their duties; 2. In coordination with the Town Chairman, the Board, and the Clerk, ensure that appropriate agendas are prepared to all meetings of the Board, all Board committees, and all other appropriate committees and commissions of the Town, together with such supporting material as may be required; with nothing herein being construed as to give the Administrator authority to limit or in any way prevent matters from being considered by the Board, or any of its committees and commissions; 3. Assist in the preparation of ordinances and resolutions as requested by the Board, or as needed; 4. Keep the Board regularly informed about the activities of the Administrator's office by oral or written report at regular and special meetings of the Board; 5. In the event that action normally requiring Board approval is necessary at a time when the Board cannot meet, the Administrator shall receive directives from the Town Chairman. (C) PERSONNEL 1. Be responsible for the administrative direction and coordination of all employees of the Town according to the established organization procedures; 2. Recommend to the Board the appointment, promotion, and when necessary for the good of the Town, the suspension or termination of employees; 3. Serve as personnel officer for the Town with responsibilities to see that complete and current personnel records, including specific job descriptions, for all Town employees are kept; evaluate the performance of all employees on a regular basis; recommend salary and wage scales for Town employees; develop and enforce high standards of performance by Town employees; assure that Town employees have proper working conditions.
4. Work to assure that employees receive adequate opportunities for training to maintain and improve their job-related knowledge and skills and act as the approving authority for requests by employees to attend conferences, meetings, training schools, etc., provided that funds have been budgeted for these activities. (D) BUDGETING AND PURCHASING 1. Be responsible for the preparation of the annual Town budget, in accordance with guidelines as may be provided by the Board and in coordination with department heads, and pursuant to state statutes, for review and approval by the Board; 2. Administer the budget as adopted by the Board; 3. Report regularly to the Board on the current fiscal position of the Town; 4. Supervise the accounting system of the Town and insure that the system employs methods in accordance with current professional accounting practices; 5. Serve as the purchasing agent for the Town, supervising all purchasing and contracting for supplies and services, subject to the purchasing procedures established by the Board and any limitation contained in the Wisconsin State Statutes; (E) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 1. Promote the economic well-being and growth of the Town through public and private sector cooperation; 2. Represent the Town and work with the County Planning and Zoning Committee and Department on issues related to planning and zoning, including requests for changes and enforcement issues.