Former Washoe County official Minden's first choice

Minden Town Board members selected a former deputy Washoe County public works director as their top candidate for the town's first manager.

Following public interviews Tuesday night, board members ranked Roger Van Alyne as their first choice. Assistant to the Douglas County Manager Lisa Granahan was second and Dave Betley of Boulder City came in third.

Following background checks and salary and start date negotiations, the board hopes to fill the position next month.

The job pays $74,246-$99,756 plus benefits.

Van Alyne, 53, has been a Carson Valley resident for 14 years. He was Washoe County Public Works deputy director until his job was eliminated last June.

In a statement to the board, Van Alyne said he possessed outstanding personal leadership, management and interpersonal skills.

"Military officers are trained in the principles and standards of leadership and management," he said. "I have extensive experience putting this training into practice as an engineer, construction manager, flight commander, plans officer and deputy public works director."

Van Alyne said he was experienced as an adviser to elected officials and understood the political process and the importance of objectivity.

He said he was trained in operational and strategic planning and helped develop strategic plans for the Nevada Army and Air National Guard.

If selected town manager, Van Alyne said within 60-90 days, he would be working to create and approve the fiscal 2010-11 budget.

"This is an important budget because it is the last for tenured board members and the first with a town manager," he said.

He pointed out that in one year, Minden will have a new town board for the first time in more than 26 years.

"The town manager's role is to ensure continuity of management," he said. "To be ready, I will prepare an 'organizational profile' describing the 'who, what, when were, why and how' of town government and services."

Granahan told the board she would bring 25 years experience to the job and a track record of longevity, having worked for El Centro, Calif., for 20 years and Douglas County since 2004.

"I'm a real team builder," Granahan said. "I identify people's talents and grow them into strengths."

She cited her 18 months as temporary Genoa Town manager as a strong basis for the Minden job.

"I have a familiarity with county government and good working relationships," Granahan said.

Her experience includes coordinating the county's strategic planning process and overseeing franchise agreements.

"I like to switch the conversation from problem-based to solution-based," she said.

Betley said he lived most of his life in the Henderson area, but had been a former resident of Northern Nevada.

He said he and his wife want to return to the northern part of the state to raise their two young children.

He's been an engineer for 15 years.

"My management style is very open. I believe in the Golden Rule: Treat people how I want to be treated," Betley said.

He said he manages with honesty and compassion.

Board member Steve Thaler asked each candidate to name one characteristic of a town manager.

Van Alyne said the town manager needed to be a strong leader.

"The town manager would be chief executive officer to this board of directors (the town board) who are accountable to the shareholders, the people of Minden," Van Alyne said.

Granahan selected visionary.

"So much of what we do is process and procedure. If we're not looking at where we're going, I don't believe we're doing justice to the town," she said. "I would help the board focus on what's coming and the future plans to get there."

Betley said he believed "presence" would define the town manager.

"The town manager needs to live in the current moment, not live in the past," he said.