City placed in Rose’s hands

Dan Kulin

Friday, July 25, 2003 | 11:26 a.m.

The North Las Vegas City Council this morning appointed Assistant City Manager Gregory Rose as acting city manager in a special meeting.

The council also agreed to decide within the next three months how to go about permanently filling the position.

Rose's appointment temporarily fills the vacancy left when the council fired City Manager Kurt Fritsch on July 16.

After the firing a majority of council members, including the mayor, had said Rose would probably be promoted to acting city manager. The vote this morning was unanimous.

Rose, 42, said he will pursue the permanent position. His $129,375 annual salary will not be increased because of the interim appointment, Montandon said.

Rose and fellow Assistant City Manager Dan Tarwater have shared the responsibility of the top job since Fritsch left. Rose was responsible for development issues and Tarwater oversaw administrative matters.

Montandon said Rose was the preferred choice for the temporary position because most of the major departments, including public works, community development, development services, parks and fire, already answered to him as assistant city manager.

The police chief and city public information officer have reported to Rose, the senior assistant city manager, since Fritsch's firing.

Tarwater oversees departments including finance, human resources and administrative services. He also serves as liaison to Municipal Court and the North Las Vegas Library District.

Tarwater, an assistant city manager since December 2001, said he does not plan to apply for city manager.

"I think Gregory, with his background, will be the best choice for the city," Tarwater said.

Rose was hired as an assistant city manager in February 2001. Before then he was a deputy city manager in University City, Mo., and an assistant city manager in Warrensburg, Mo. Rose has a master's degree in public affairs and a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Montandon said there were three ways the city could conduct a search for a permanent replacement: hire a firm to do a national search, look within the ranks of the city or advertise in trade magazines and with the International City / County Management Association.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith said it was important that the council has time to think about the next step.

Until a new city manager is hired, Montandon said Rose probably will be charged with maintaining the status quo.

"An acting city manager rarely sets forth major policy changes," the mayor said.

The next city manager will be North Las Vegas' fourth in five years.

Linda Hinson resigned in 1998 after the council voted 4-1 not to renew her contract. Her successor, Pat Importuna, left the job in 2000 less than two years into a six-year contract. He took a similar job in California.

Fritsch was promoted from assistant city manager to city manager in July 2000.

The council voted 5-0 to fire Fritsch without first meeting to discuss Fritsch's job performance or explaining their votes.

About a week before the vote, the council rejected an offer from Fritsch that he resign in a few months and receive severance pay.

By firing Fritsch before the end of his contract, the council opted instead to pay him $127,066, which was half of his roughly $150,000 salary plus pay for any accrued vacation days and half of his unused sick days.

Fritsch has questioned whether the council followed proper procedure in firing him.

Fritsch said Thursday that he has not decided whether he will sue the city over his firing, and refused to comment on other aspects of the matter.