In the Greeley Tribune, reporter Tyler Duncan details a leadership handoff at City Hall. Community Development Director Brian McBroom was appointed acting city manager as the council accepted City Manager Raymond Lee’s resignation under a separation agreement. The author is Tyler Duncan.
According to the Tribune, McBroom will officially assume the role on December 3 while Lee wraps up and mentors him through the transition. Lee’s last official day is December 2, though he is effectively gone earlier while using holiday time. McBroom previously served eight years as Commerce City’s chief administrative officer and two years as Lochbuie’s town administrator, and he founded High Country Leadership LLC. He told the council he is not pursuing the permanent job and will return to Community Development once a new manager is hired. Council members emphasized transparency, trust, and a smooth handoff for residents and staff.
The Bullet Point Brief
• The baton pass. Council appointed Brian McBroom acting city manager and accepted Raymond Lee’s resignation at a Monday meeting.
• The calendar. McBroom takes the wheel December 3, with Lee mentoring during the transition and exiting by early December.
• The resume. Commerce City’s former CAO, Lochbuie’s past administrator, and an executive coach. McBroom knows the chair.
• The stance. McBroom says he is not seeking the permanent seat. He plans to return to Community Development when the search ends.
• The charge. Council flagged transparency, trust, and steadiness as the metrics that matter while a new manager is recruited.
My Bottom Line
I wish Raymond Lee well. He is a good man, and I am grateful for his service. In candor, there were times it seemed the city manager and the council were not always on the same page. That is not unique to Greeley. City manager is one of the toughest gigs in government. You run a large service organization while answering to seven politically elected bosses. No thanks. I would not want that job.
After twenty five years around local government, here is the hard truth. Managers have a shelf life. When it expires, things can slide quickly. Fresh ideas can be healthy, and sometimes they arrive only when leadership changes. Greeley is Weld County’s seat. As goes Greeley, so goes Weld. I want them to succeed.
So welcome to the hot seat, Mr. McBroom. I look forward to working with you and with the Greeley City Council to keep residents served, projects moving, and the county focused. Let’s make the transition boring in the best way and keep Greeley thriving.
Source: Greeley Tribune
