The new guy named top boss at City Hall says he’s hoping to stay awhile.
But the odds are not in his favor.
Most city managers, those top bureaucrats in charge of balancing budgets and overseeing staff, last about five years.
Not in Hallandale Beach, where they’ve been ushered out the door or left on their own at a much faster pace.
Since 2016, the city known for its tumultuous politics has seen four people in the top boss role.
Last week, commissioners tapped Interim City Manager Greg Chavarria to run the day-to-day operations at City Hall after a national search netted just three candidates.
One withdrew, leaving only two in the running, including Chavarria.
“I really, really want this,” said Chavarria, who says he hopes to bring stability to the role.
Chavarria, hired to run the Hallandale’s information technology operations in 2015, has seen four city managers come and go since he came on board.
Renee Miller resigned in December 2015, saying she wanted to spend more time with family.
Her successor, Daniel Rosemond, was fired after one year on the job and has since filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city.
Then came Roger Carlton, who got the job in January 2017 and was gone by September 2018.
Nydia Rafols-Sallaberry, then deputy city manager, took over until she retired in January.
Before Chavarria’s arrival, Mike Good was fired in June 2010 for his uncommunicative work style and chronic absenteeism. Good, who ran City Hall for more than seven years, walked away with a lucrative severance package worth $366,653.
As city manager, Chavarria will answer to five commission bosses not always known for getting along. But Chavarria, who’s shown a knack for remaining calm amid chaos, says he’s up to the challenge.
On Wednesday, in a rare show of unity, all five members of the commission agreed to make Chavarria their next city manager.
“He knows our city and cares about doing good for our residents, employees and businesses,” Commissioner Michele Lazarow said Sunday. “Choosing him creates a seamless transition.”
Chavarria, who graduated from the University of Miami with a civil engineering degree in 1999, will oversee a $137 million budget and 500 employees.