Genoans divided over management issue

Genoans are divided on whether to continue management by the county or to seek a town manager of their own.

More than a dozen Genoa residents filled out surveys at a workshop Wednesday night.

After tabulating the results, the Genoa Town Board members reported those in attendance were split down the middle.

The survey revealed that 28 percent of the townspeople present agreed with the interlocal agreement that allows the county to mange town functions while 23 percent said they would have preferred the town start looking for a manager.

Half said they would prefer more discussion before the board took action in December to approve the agreement.

Town Board Chairwoman Kitty DeSocio said Wednesday's workshop was designed to find out how residents felt about the agreement.

Under the agreement, the town pays $45,000 to the county for management services.

The county uses part of that money to pay an events coordinator, who works on the town's annual fundraiser, Candy Dance.

DeSocio read off a long list of achievements by the county, including repairs to the town church, which was damaged in a freeze earlier this year, and work on town roads and equipment.

"We've accomplished a lot in seven months," she said.

Board member Dave Whitgob said so far the agreement has benefited the town, but that didn't mean in the future the town won't want its own manager.

"The work is being done and all the trains are arriving and leaving on time," he said.

At present, assistant to the county manager Lisa Granahan is serving as the liaison between the town and the county staff.

As such she has taken the title of interim town manager, to facilitate work to be done for the town.

The issue came to a head last year when a third town manager resigned in the space of 20 months.

All three men ended up being Candy Dance chairman in addition to their administrative duties.

Longtime Candy Dance volunteer Marion Vassar pointed out that until three years ago, a townsperson would chair the annual event, which was founded in 1910 to raise money for streetlights.

At present Candy Dance, which includes a two-day craft fair, a dance, candy sales and a variety of other fundraisers, draws 30,000 people to the town and raises about 80 percent of its income.

"The townspeople did a good job," she said.

Board member Bill Donohoe pointed out to residents that one reason the town manager started chairing Candy Dance was because there were no volunteers for the job.

"Careful what you wish for," he said. "Is anyone here willing to stand up and do the job?"

Resident Bill Brooks pointed out that the town needs to take its role as an advisory board seriously.

In a written review, he said it appears the function of advising commissioners has been taken on by staff members.

He said the board needs to reassert its policy-making function and establish clear lines of authority between the Candy Dance advisory board, the events coordinator, the interim town manager, the town board and county commissioners.

Of Douglas County's three unincorporated towns, only Gardnerville now has a manager. Minden has an office manager.

Genoa's previous experiment with a town manager lasted four years. Prior to that it had a secretary.