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Reprinted with permission from
The Courier=Times Online
"Whew!"
Roxboro Mayor Steve Joyner leaned back in his chair, wiped his brow and uttered that one word of relief Monday night.
Moments before, Councilman Mark Phillips had offered a motion for Roxboro City Council to approve Jon Barlow as Roxboro’s next city manager, effective May 31.
Once Phillips' motion was on the floor, there was a brief period of silence before Councilman James Allen offered up a second to the motion.
It wasn't that council was debating whether it wanted Barlow, the motion carried by a unanimous vote of 5-0. Instead, it appeared that the remaining council members were all merely waiting on someone else to offer the seconding motion.
The official naming of Barlow as city manager ended a seven-month search by council, which had terminated former manager Jim Freeman by a 4-1 vote late last September.
Barlow, 40, will come to Roxboro after serving as town manager of Nashville since 1997.
Monday, council and Joyner signed the necessary paperwork to finalize Barlow's contract, and on Tuesday, Barlow drove to Roxboro and inked his name on the five-year contract.
Much like Joyner and council were relieved to have the situation finalized Monday night, Barlow, too, showed a sense of relief when he signed the contract Tuesday.
"It's great to have some finality to it," Barlow said. "I made a decision, gave it a lot of thought, and I'm happy with the decision."
The contract calls for Barlow to earn $85,000 per year. There is also a stipulation that Barlow will live within the city limits of Roxboro.
"He's excited to come up here," Joyner told council prior to Monday's unanimous vote.
Barlow earns a salary of $63,000 in Nashville where he has a staff of 49 employees. Barlow's staff in Roxboro will be in the neighborhood of 125 employees.
Barlow confirmed Tuesday that Nashville town officials made a last-ditch effort to keep him as their manager. The Nashville Town Council met in closed session with Barlow Monday night to try to sway his decision. Though he would not confirm what type of counter offer was proposed, Barlow did say the Nashville offer was "very close" to the $85,000 he will earn as Roxboro's city manager.
"It's like I told someone the other day, it's nice to be loved," Barlow said with a smile Tuesday. "They hated to see me leave. They felt like I did a good job down there.
"I have a good situation in Nashville," Barlow added. "And, people have asked me why would I leave a good situation. But, perhaps that is the right time to leave.
"Nashville will be fine," Barlow continued. "I look forward to working for the City of Roxboro and being a part of the community. I hope I can help make it an even better place to live and work."
Last month, it did not appear that Barlow would be Roxboro's city manager. He was one of two finalists selected from the initial pool of 46 applicants; however, council first chose 37-year-old Joel Davis, the assistant city manager of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the position.
During contract negotiations, however, Davis and council could not come to terms and the two parted ways, reopening the door for Barlow.
"I would like the citizens of Roxboro and Person County to know that we have not taken the selection of a new city manager lightly," Councilman Phillips said after Monday's vote. "We realized that when Mr. Davis turned us down that we would take some heat for that and we have.
"We have been called fools and other names for that situation, others have wondered if we knew what we were doing and it has been the topic at local breakfast places and around some dinner tables," Phillips added. "We accepted that responsibility and have borne it well. I can truly say that we are disappointed that it has ended up taking this long to get a committed city manager.
"However, in the end, we got the best person for Roxboro," Phillips continued. "We are very proud to have Mr. Barlow as our new city manager. We are anxious for him to begin. … The decision of Mr. Barlow is a good and right decision.
Manager-elect says he did his homework on Roxboro
Prior to accepting the Roxboro city manager position, Jon Barlow did his homework.
Now, he's preparing for even more homework.
While Roxboro Mayor Steve Joyner and Roxboro City Council were busy learning about the 40-year-old Barlow, the current town manager of Nashville was collecting information about Roxboro and Person County.
"They did their homework on me," Barlow said Tuesday shortly after signing a five-year contract worth $85,000 annually. "And, I did my homework as well."
And, when Barlow officially begins duties as Roxboro city manager on May 31, the learning process will continue.
"I'll be busy meeting with the [city] staff and the citizens of Roxboro," Barlow said. "I'm going to be learning and listening and becoming acquainted with the community.
"Anytime you make a transition like this you have to become acquainted with the community," Barlow added. "I need to listen to find out about the community and what needs are expected of the manager and how my skills and abilities can help us get the things accomplished that we need to."
Barlow already knows of some things that will greet him when he begins his new job.
"When I get here, the renovations to City Hall will be underway," Barlow said. "I'll move in [the temporary City Hall location on South Main Street] with everyone else. And, then we'll all move back when it's done, just like one big family."
Barlow also knows he will be called on for input on the proposed new headquarters for the Roxboro Police Department. The proposed site for the new police department is at the corner of Court Street and Lamar Street. Currently, the police department is headquartered in a building on Gordon Street, which is being leased from Sprint.
"The police station will be a big project awaiting me," Barlow said.
Even though Barlow won't begin his work here until May 31, he still plans on aiding some with the city's budget, which will take effect for the next fiscal year on July 1.
"Hopefully I can have some input on the budget as well," Barlow said.
In an earlier interview with The Courier-Times, Barlow indicated other areas he would like to focus on if he were named city manager.
"I would look at growing the tax base and providing good jobs," Barlow said. "Economic development is also something that we would all like to see."