'Listen to the people. That's your job'; Council torn, residents upset with new city manager hire

Yahoo

28-05-2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Residents like Angela Pryor didn't mince words about her frustrations with Springfield City Council Tuesday afternoon.
'The Council has circumvented the process of making this very, very important decision for the entire city,' Pryor said. 'It was confirmed that a number of people did come forward in the last few days and have tried to make their truth known and that the truth from this from the citizens is overwhelmingly in disagreement with this decision, the process and the person, and that we wanted them to restart the search process, especially in light of the fact that the salary of the city manager will now be the highest in the state of Missouri, and we deserve a more experienced city manager.'
Springfield City Council voted 5-4 to approve a contract to essentially hire David Cameron as the new city manager, months after the announced departure of Jason Gage.
Councilmembers Craig Hosmer, Bruce Adib-Yazdi, Monica Horton, and Brandon Jenson all voted no on Cameron's approval.
Councilmembers Callie Carroll, Abe McGull, Derek Lee and Heather Hardinger voted yes.
Newly elected Mayor Jeff Schrag broke the tie, voting yes.
'Listen to the people. That's your job. I think our new manager and our new mayor has really, really ignored the process for the people and the voice of the people, and it's not a great start for [Schrag's] term,' Pryor said. 'I think [Schrag's] leadership is at question.'
The meeting started with a reading from Mayor Schrag, explaining the process behind the vote being on Tuesday, rather than the next scheduled city council meeting on June 9.
'We will not have a full council present on June 9. The next council meeting after June nine is Monday, June 23, only two weeks weeks prior to the start date outlined in Council Bill 2025-115. I do not think there is enough time between the official vote and the start date. Therefore, I have deemed the vote to be time sensitive,' Schrag said in the meeting.
Councilman Hosmer immediately called for a vote to table the issue until a later meeting.
'I'd like to know why we're fast tracking this bill. It is not emergency. It's not time sensitive, and nothing in the contract requires us to have the bill [voted on] before the start date on July 7,' Hosmer said. 'This is a departure from the precedent that the city council is operating under for at least the 12 years that I've been on council. This, again, is not a normal city council meeting where the public can tune in, listen and watch, and even find out what happens. We've been very deliberate in our process so far in this candidate's selection. We have consistently, as a council said, we're not going to rush the process, and so the question I have today is why are we rushing the process now?'
Hosmer continued to give advice to those about to vote.
'It's a mistake because it creates unnecessary and creates an unnecessary cloud of suspicion over this contract and over this city manager,' Hosmer said. 'We are setting a dangerous precedent that will be remembered.'
Hosmer also took issue with parts of the contract.
'We also promised ourselves that $350,000 salary was going to attract someone from a big city that dealt with the big city problems in the city of Springfield faces. Instead, we're going six miles away to a city that's 1/10 the size of the city of Springfield. That's not a criticism of Mr. Cameron, but he hasn't dealt with the big issues that we have to deal with. To get the issue right on development is a relatively easy solution, but to get the issues right on poverty, on homelessness, on mental health, on drug and alcohol, on crime, those are hard. You need a city manager to discuss experience on those issues because those are the issues are going to impact Springfield more than whether or not we're open for business. I will be voting against the bill, but I am going to be supportive of the city manager if it is the council's choice to do so.'
Hosmer was not alone with concerns.
'I just wanted to acknowledge the fact that I figured that we would have a latent response from the public. We did have a latent response from the public over the last three days. I know I've received over 70 pieces of feedback, emails, phone calls and face to face from the public,' Councilwoman Monica Horton said. 'I feel as though that that particular set of information to the city council is something that we need to take into consideration, and what I've heard over the past three days in terms of just summing up is that, number one, they wanted us to table. That failed. Number two, they certainly wanted us to start this search over for reasons that in the previous council meeting, Councilman Jenson, he went over a whole litany of issues, and for the reasons that Councilman Hosmer is laying out today. And so, you know, to the extent that that matters, that we have a latent response from our public, but also the feedback that we have received from the staff in terms of the lowest ratings of the candidate of the simple majority. My vote is not against this candidate, it is a no vote for the people.'
'We are voting today on a contract and there are a couple components of the contract I don't completely agree with, but understand that if we end up with a majority vote, I'm also on board with supporting in the best way we can. In full disclosure, I did ask for a one on one meeting with Mr. Cameron and I had one last week and it was a it was a great conversation. I have hope that his wisdom and his learning over the last couple of decades has maybe taught him that he doesn't treat everything he does in the same way, and hopefully he'll be able to see that Springfield is not Republic,' Councilman Bruce Adib-Yazdi said. 'I also agree we should have started over and hopefully, you know, a no vote today is not, again, necessarily so hard against Mr. Cameron, but I really wish we could have done that process over. However, if approved today through a majority vote, I do commit to work with my fellow council members to generate specific priorities and guardrails for his role that will help us move our city forward while preserving the good that we've already done in our planning. I feel really confident that we have a lot to look forward to. I feel like some of his strengths are things that we could use as long as we can harness them and put them in the right on the right track.'
Councilwoman Callie Carroll spoke with Ozarks First after the vote.
'I've had the opportunity to work with David Cameron prior to this whole scenario and what I've learned from him, he's collaborative. He brings people to the table, he's solutions-oriented and he also holds himself and others accountable, and that's what I want in a city manager,' Carroll said. 'I would have had concern if this would have been our public hearing. We had our public hearing last Monday night where people could come and people did come and voice their concerns, voiced their support. We heard that us as councilmembers. We also spoke after that meeting. During that meeting, we spoke, and we've heard all of these things. Today was just the procedural part of the vote. So it was put out many weeks in advance that this would be what would happen. I do think it's the right choice, especially considering we would have had to push it to the end of the month with council members being absent for the next meeting. I do think it was the right thing to move forward with this. We haven't had a city manager for seven months. It's time to move forward.'
Carroll says many people who are down on Cameron may just need to see the new manager at work.
'I think something that we've heard from both sides and everything that we've been hearing, the people who have got the opportunity to work with David Cameron, with their whatever they've been doing, they're all very, very positive about David Cameron because they've experienced getting to work with him. The people who have the doubt or criticism, they don't even know David Cameron, and that's a lot of the things that I've heard. It's the fear of, and they don't know him. I'm one of the people that have got to work with him, and have really, really enjoyed [it]. He brings people to the table and he gets things done anyway,' Carroll said.
Stephen Allgeier also left the meeting after the vote, and he wishes city council would have tabled the issue.
'I really wish it was tabled and started over again myself because I agree that we should probably look for someone from a bigger city or at least US cities with some of the same problems we have which, you know, I'm sure we're not the first ones to have these problems,' Allgeier said. 'This is a time to really think about this, and I really wish that they'd have gone with a more experienced, larger city or someone with more experience in the problems we have.'
Cameron was not present at the meeting, citing a previously scheduled mental health retreat.
He did issue a statement after the vote, saying the following:
'As someone born in the Ozarks, raised in 417-land, and shaped by the values of this region, I'm incredibly honored by the thought of serving as Springfield's next City Manager. While I won't be present for the official announcement due to a previously scheduled mental health retreat, I want to express my deep appreciation for the trust the Mayor, City Council, and community extended to me,' Cameron said.
Cameron continued, 'This is not about one individual; it's about what we can accomplish together in Springfield, across the region, and throughout Missouri. I understand this decision was not unanimous, and I respect those who voted differently. Their commitment to public service is evident, and I look forward to earning their trust through our shared work ahead.'
'I want to sincerely thank the City of Republic, Mayor Franklin, City Council, dedicated staff, and the incredible community for allowing me to come back home and serve over the past nine years,' Cameron said. 'We built something special together, and I carry that same regional mindset with me into this next chapter.'
'Springfield has a strong foundation, and I'm excited to begin working alongside city staff, community leaders, and residents as we embrace a new season of growth, challenge, and opportunity,' Cameron said.
In the press release with that statement, there's an additional statement by Cameron that says, 'I am very excited and honored to join the City of Springfield as its next City Manager. As a 417 Kid from Miller, Missouri, the opportunity to continue serving the region I've always loved is truly special. While I will deeply miss the Republic staff and community, where we've accomplished and transformed so much over the past nine years, I'm grateful for all we've built. I'm now excited to contribute to the growth and success of the place I've always called home in a new way. Springfield plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of southwest Missouri. I'm energized by the opportunity to work alongside Mayor Schrag, the City Council, and the City staff to lead with vision, courage and collaboration. Let's go!'
Cameron's first day is July 7.
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