Lauderdale Lakes City Manager gets a good evaluation

Lauderdale Lakes City Manager gets a good evaluation

By Staff Writer

      LAUDERDALE LAKES, FL  – At a recent Commission Workshop Meeting, the City of Lauderdale Lakes Mayor and Commission provided City Manager Jonathan Allen an overall positive performance evaluation which covered the 2013 fiscal year, from Sept. 1, 2012 to Oct. 31, 2013.

Allen has worked for the City of Lauderdale Lakes for a total of 14 years and has served as City Manager for approximately two years.

Allen, who has been credited with developing and implementing the City’s Financial Recovery Plan, received praise from the Mayor and Commission for successfully addressing the city’s financial crisis and near bankruptcy.

“I think Mr. Allen is an intelligent, professional, and financially astute city manager” Mayor Barrington Russell said. “He has provided the city great leadership and professional expertise in the midst of a financial storm.”

In response, Allen commended the Mayor and City Commission for adopting and supporting the City’s Financial Recovery Plan and supporting the tough recommendations to improve the city’s financial condition.

“I want to continue working with the Mayor and Commission to build upon our financial and operational successes in the city and to establish a competitive local government for city residents and employees,” Allen said.

Allen also praised the city employees, saying the city employees at all levels have made significant sacrifices and remain professional and dedicated in performing their duties for the betterment of the entire community.

Allen’s overall performance evaluation by the Mayor and Commission rated him as exceeds job expectations. Most notably, he received exceeds expectations in the following performance categories: City Com-mission Relationship, Public Relations, Fiscal Management, Communications, Quantity and Quality, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Personal Traits.

Allen was particularly re-cognized for addressing the city budget crisis from two years ago, improving the city’s working relationships with the state, county, and Broward County Sheriff’s Office Officials, and completing community improvement projects through grants.

In Fiscal Year 2014, the Lauderdale Lakes Commission wants Allen to focus on pursuing more grants, completing the Northwest 21st Street Project, finalizing the contract negotiations with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, continuing to improve the city’s financial condition and brand, and expanding business development opportunities in the city.