Author: Kristie Wells
Seven months have passed since the involuntary resignation of former General Manager, Indra Winquest, and Mike Bandelin was appointed as the Interim General Manager of the Incline Village General Improvement District.
At the January 25, 2024 meeting, several candidates were scheduled for interviews by the Board of Trustees. However, the process was halted when some candidates withdrew their applications. That meeting is available online, and this specific discussion starts at the 48:38 mark.
During the same meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the draft template for the District General Manager’s anticipated employment contract, indicating the anticipated working environment for the new General Manager.
On February 14, 2024, the Board received a report on the status of the General Manager recruitment process. Subsequently, the Board directed staff to propose a two-year contract appointing Interim Director of Finance, Bobby Magee, as the General Manager.
Following the Board’s directive, negotiations for the contract were conducted between the Director of Human Resources, the Interim General Manager, and Mr. Magee, with the District’s General Counsel involved throughout the process. The negotiated contract and the General Manager Job Description were included in the March 6, 2024 Board Packet.
- Referring to his background as a finance and procurement consultant, critics argue that these skills may not necessarily align with those required for a General Manager tasked with overseeing hundreds of personnel and managing the daily operations of a General Improvement District.
- Questions have also arisen regarding Magee’s candidacy, particularly regarding his location in Southern California and the expectations of onsite presence outlined by the Board.
- It’s plausible that upon Magee’s appointment as General Manager, the recruitment for an Assistant General Manager in the Washoe County area may commence.
- Additionally, the recent resignation of Chris Nolet as the Chair of the Audit Committee raises questions, suggesting a potential connection with these developments.
“The General Manager is an exempt employee as defined and consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act. General Manager is hired with the understanding that he is responsible for accomplishing the duties required of General Manager. General Manager does not have set work hours, he is expected to be available at all times. It is recognized that the General Manager must devote a great deal of time to the business of IVGID outside of IVGID’s customary office hours, and to that end General Manager’s schedule of work each day and week shall vary in accordance with the work required to be performed and in accordance with any specific direction provided by the Board of Trustees.”
Section 1.5 in the INCLINE VILLAGE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR GENERAL MANAGER
The employment agreement for Magee has drawn attention, particularly in Section 2.1, where the Board commits the District to a two-year agreement with him.
- This decision is particularly noteworthy, considering the imminent general election in less than nine months.
- During the election, three of the five Board seats, those of Trustees Schmitz and Tonking up for re-election, and Dent terming out, could potentially undergo changes.
- The current Board appears to preempt any opportunity for the incoming Board to select its own candidate.
The annual salary outlined for Mr. Magee in Section 3.1, amounting to $275,000, has sparked debate, particularly in light of his reported current salary of $312,000 while serving as the Interim Director of Finance. The position of General Manager entails considerably greater responsibilities, including the supervision of hundreds of staff members. The rationale behind Mr. Magee’s willingness to accept a substantial reduction in pay for this role remains unclear.
The effectiveness of Mr. Magee’s leadership and his alignment with community expectations remain to be seen.
Resources mentioned in this article:
- Indra Winquest resignation as General Manager
- Mike Bandeling appointment as Interim General Manager
- March 6, 2024 Board Packet; Item G. 1
- Related post: Looking for a Puppet General Manager