NP welcomes new village manager PBP) 11-3-04PALM BrAeH PO -Sr $P_
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North Palm
welcomes new
village manager -
Mark Bates most recently
was city manager for
Noilh Lauderdale.
By STEPHANIE SMITH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
North Palm Beach's new village
manager came from another town
of about 5 square miles, but the
difference is that North Lauderdale
had a lot more people, 42,000, in-
stead of 12,000.
Mark Bates, who started the job
that pays $119,500 last week, said
he was struck by the village's open
neighborhoods, and its charm and
character. But most importantly,
that many of the residents and vil-
lage employees have been in the
village for decades, which is a rarity
in South Florida.
"It's a real tribute to the com-
munity. It's a look and feel and it's a
certain character and charm," said
Bates, who turned 48 on Sunday.
During his first week on the job,
Bates met with village department
heads and many of the council
members.
He wants to get a consensus
from the council on the direction
the people who elected them want
the village to go, Bates said.
Mayor Don Noel said Bates'
j selection as village
manager was
-` unanimous,
Noel said he
particularly found
attractive B ate s'
background as a
certified public ac-
countant and his
Bates experience with
country clubs.
Prior to his
four years as North Lauderdale's
city manager, Bates was finance
director for that city as well as
Tamarac.
Before turning to the public
sector, Bates was an internal audi-
tor for private country clubs.
The village's country club is al-
ways a concern, Noel said.
"We want to make sure that it
tr evea
es a�ware o 0ssess
BATES from 1
eye. "I have never spent a
nature of the city manager's
worse three mouths in my
job, Zeitchik said. City
• :
to _aupprt tseff
entire life than I havehere,"
entire life
told the council.
managers only.have job se -
ctrity for about five years,
' to
WO don t want to `have
subsidize it. Each ..year, it4
.,Redmond
Bates ` said he, knows
about the situation involy-
he said. .
Newly elected officials
_
becomes more of a chat
lenge. More courses open:
� essor.
hng his predec
make new _ promises and
form new alliances, said
up, there's more comp
„
`I'm very aware of the
of
Zeitchik, who has been on
Lion, Noel said.
Councilmember David
stresses :and nuances
Public serve and the roles
North Lauderdale's council
for 12 years.
•
Norris said he wanted
and ter�� era , ents of both
elected officials.. man-
`There was a :couple of
.. .
someone with experience
in; .South Florida lbocai ,gov
yard
alters, Bates said.
con rrY ssionerS motivated
'cromana e The a
t�o. mi g Y p-
e 'rhment soreoe who
wouldn't be shocl-ted y it.
dates ' weed: to retri
from North Lauderdal . -
proached him to do certain
things and it was inappro-
The council last. pick
:..:ter negotiating six mOUths
p riate. They gave him a
•
for village manager, I�enr�*s
at full pay and health insur :
.:
vin or being
choice of lea g g
Redmond, abruptly, quit in`
ance, which expires in
fYred," Zeitchik said.
August after eight months
1Vlarch.
Zeitchik said Bates' fi-
on the job.
North Lauderdale
nancial background gave
Redmond, who had
Commissioner Michael
him intimate knowledge of
spent 31 years managing
Zeitchik said the village is
the city's budget and he has
small town Maysville, Ky.,
lucky to have Bates.
a no-nonsense manage -
found the village job so
Bates left North Lau-
ment style with other pro -
stressful that he quit in the
derdale stronger financially
fessionals.
middle of a favorable job
and helped the city in two
"They're lucky to get
evaluation.
annexations that succeed-
Mark, they really are. He is
Redmond said the
ed by majority votes,
going to do a good job if
stress of the job was hurt
Zeitchik said.
they'll listen to him,"
ing his health, including
Bates left North Lau-
Zeitchik said.
temporary blindness in one
derdale because that's the
Q stephanie_smith@pbpost.com