Trinidad hires a new permanent city manager

Almost two years after controversy started with the Trinidad City Manager’s Position and nine months after the Trinidad City Council voted to dismiss the city manger, Tuesday the council approved by a 7-0 unanimous vote to hire Tom Acre as the new city manager.

When asked how he felt to be named the permanent city manager Acre replied. “I am glad the process is over! I am looking forward to continuing some of the work, we have already started since I came to Trinidad, and I’m excited to help the city be even better than it is now. We have a great staff, hard working employees and this is great community.”

The council had been playing political chess with the position as a struggle for power of the council came to a head during the first round of interviews to fill the permeate position. The city had put in place two interim managers since May of 2012 former City Attorney Jared Beatty and retired First National Bank President Ralph Gagliardi.

Ron Miller a consultant the city hired to help in job search for a new Trinidad City Manger added. “I think the Trinidad City Council did their due diligence in considering the qualifications of the two finalists both of whom were top notch, well qualified professionals,” Miller went on to say. “I made some recommendations to the council about qualified persons that might be a good fit, had good work records and would help move Trinidad. I think the city has a great new manager in Mr. Acre, the city can move forward in a positive manner, I am very optimistic about the future of this great community.”

Acre had been acting as the Interim City Manager since the council appointed him in Dec. 2012.

Trinidad Mayor Bernadette Baca-Gonzales was pleased with the council’s choice. “Ohh my goodness it is so wonderful, we had almost gone a full year without competent effective leadership. Now we have someone with vision to implement plans to bring the city, city employees/staff and the entire community together. Council is looking forward to getting together with Mr. Acre to talk about priorities that need to be identified for the city, from their Mr. Acre can develop a plan of top priorities that the city can address. I am looking forward to good things to bring the community back together and Mr. Acre will help council get our community back on track Mr. Acre has a pose that will help him and he does not respond to negativity or challenges in a defensive matter.”

The council before the vote went into executive session for almost an hour and half before coming out with the unanimous vote to hire Acre on a permeate basis.

“We need look into all department and set a priority list for them, I will continue to meet department head and staff. We need to be efficient especially in our Utilities and Public Works areas the budget will be something that we will look into I want us to be even better with our budget moving forward,” Acre said after the meeting.

“We need the community to look at the city in positive light, I believe there are two ways we can do this one get business community involved get them excited about the potential for Trinidad hopefully do this through a business summit and two look at getting the staff and council out into the public and listen to their concerns.”

Acre will move into his permeate position immediately. Details of his contract still need to be hammered out, council expects the contract to be finalized soon