DeFuniak Springs City Council sets date for finance director interviews

By REID TUCKER
The City Council unanimously approved the rankings for the top three candidates vying for the vacant finance director position and set Tuesday, May 26, as the date for conducting interviews.
The board members needed little time to approve the rankings on the night of the regularly scheduled May 11 City Council meeting, with applicant Paula J. Smith receiving the most number-one votes among the field of seven prospective candidates. Joe Brown and Carol Malone Willis rounded out the top three picks. All three applicants chosen will be interviewed by the Council and city staff at the May 26 special meeting to be held at City Hall starting at 5:30 p.m.
The rapidity with which that agenda item was handled typified the night’s proceedings, as the Council quickly dealt with a variety of topics ranging from board appointments to discussions about strategic planning and even the possible creation of a city film commission.
First up, the individual Council members got approval for their two nominees to the planning board’s sign ordinance committee (which will eventually be tasked with reexamining and proposing modifications to the ordinance passed in 2012). Councilman Kermit Wright nominated Ricky Nelson and Rebecca King, the latter of which was on the original sign ordinance committee, Councilman Henry Ennis chose Jason Kyzer and Cindy Woodham, Councilwoman Janie Griffith picked J.B. Hillard and Dean Shaw, and Councilman Ron Kelley went with Louie Hayles and Danny Glidewell. Councilman Mac Carpenter and Mayor Bob Campbell deferred their appointments until the next meeting.
Next, Griffith spurred the Council to action regarding the Institute of Senior Professionals’ imperatives report, specifically as the recommendations put forward by the group apply to the Council’s stated goal of putting together a five-year and longer-term strategic plan. ISP representative Mike Flynt said the best way to go about tackling the top priority imperatives (particularly as it applies to the budget) is to form a work group made up of appropriate city staff members and experts in the applicable field be it engineering, marketing or planning. City Manager Sara Bowers and Assistant City Manager Tilman Mears will coordinate with staff and help organize the professional volunteers into work-study groups, which are expected to begin meeting by early June.
Later, Carpenter proposed the idea of creating a film commission for DeFuniak Springs to take advantage of increased movie-making activity statewide. The creation of such commissions is being encouraged by the state government, and DeFuniak would need a dedicated contact point for prospective film-makers, lest it be “not in this game.” Carpenter said a film commission could turn out to be a major part of an overall marketing strategy for the city, even if it would probably mean television commercial crews would start appearing in town before Hollywood movie crews.
No action was taken at the time of the meeting, but Carpenter said he would bring more information at upcoming meetings. The board could look at forming a film commission during next year’s budget workshop season.
Finally, the last major item on the Council’s agenda turned out to be a no-go, as an in-meeting workshop regarding the future site of City Hall was stalled due to a hang-up on the end of the developer looking to purchase the current City Hall property. Campbell told to the Council that the result of a recent meeting of the developer’s board was less than favorable for the city, though no particulars were mentioned. The mayor said all parties were “still fighting the good fight” and that the deal wasn’t yet off the table, but the Council decided to defer discussion on a new City Hall site until staff received a more positive indication that negotiations are still moving forward.