City Manager Rick Buss requests demotion

The city of Maricopa is searching for an assistant manager. Could they be looking for a new city manager, too?

Rick Buss, the only city manager since Maricopa’s incorporation in 2003, told inmaricopa.com he would be interested in the assistant city manager’s position. “I don’t know… we’ll see what happens,” Buss said, responding to whether he would move from his current role to the assistant city manager post.

According to Buss, the need for an assistant city manager is due to a heavy workload in the city manager’s office. The position was posted on the City’s Web site earlier this month, and will run until July 26 or until filled. “Candidates will go through our normal hiring process,” Buss noted.

Vice-Mayor Brent Murphree said the “nature” of that posting may change in the next few weeks as city council looks at what the needs are for the city manager’s department. “We’re actually in discussion on this right now,” Murphree said. “Rick was brought on in 2003 as an interim/assistant city manager and I think he’s done a great job with what we’ve handed him.”

Councilman Joseph Estes said he’s been told that there very likely will be a meeting on the city manager’s department and the direction it will take Monday, July 2. “Rick has requested that he be appointed to the position of assistant city manager,” Estes said. “There will be a meeting to address that request,” Estes added.

Estes said it has been his position that the City needed an assistant city manager in place two years ago as Maricopa continues its rampant growth. “We need to be diligent in our search for a city manager and be sure we get the most qualified person in there.” When asked why Buss would want to step down to the role of assistant city manager, Estes said he understood it to be his desire to spend more time with his family.

Councilman Kelly Haddad feels Buss has done a “wonderful job” in his role as city manager. “Rick is spread so thin right now. I think with the issues we face right now, we need someone in the role who has a little more experience in municipal government,” Haddad said. When asked how soon he would like to see a full-time city manager in place, Haddad said “yesterday.” Asked if the search for a new city manager was nationwide, Haddad added he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Murphree noted the salaries for the current city manager and the assistant city manager position being advertised is comparable. The salary for the assistant city manager is listed at around $116,000. Buss said his current salary as city manager is $120,000.

Buss said he wouldn’t know until the position is closed how many people have applied for the assistant city manager’s position. According to Buss, the City is looking for just one assistant city manager at this time, but that could change down the road as Maricopa grows.

Councilman Stephen Baker said Maricopa has been a little bit behind in hiring to fill needed positions. “We’ve been doing it here and there,” Baker said. “The city is plugging right along and growing.” Baker added that he felt Buss has “done the job that’s been asked of him.”

In his current role as city manager, Buss’s responsibilities include oversight, management, strategic planning and evaluation of all aspects of the City’s functions. Among those functions are finance, public safety, human capital, development services, planning, information technology, parks and recreation, economic development and municipal courts.

Photo by Aaron Thacker

Editor’s note: Attempts to reach Mayor Kelly Anderson for comment on this story were unsuccessful.