In April, Mount Dora city council voted 7-0 to offer Vince Pastue, the city manager position.  Pastue reportedly plans to leave his current position as city manager of Farmington Michigan on May 31.   Farmington, a northern suburb of Metropolitan Detroit, is recognized for its own historic downtown and surrounding Victorian homes.  The city was ranked 27 in CNNMoney.com's "Best Places to Live" in 2013 and has undergone transformative downtown improvements in recent years. 

Pastue has been Farmington's city manager for twelve years and will bring considerable finance and economic development experience to Mount Dora.  Last month, he and the other finalist took time to answer questions to help residents get acquainted.

M.D. BUZZ:  What attracted you to Mount Dora’s city manager position?
PASTUE:  I’m at a point personally and professionally to move on.  I like the small town feel and all the activities, and my son lives in Tampa.

M.D. BUZZ:  What are Mount Dora's two greatest attributes?
PASTUE:  The traditional downtown is very attractive and the small town character of the area.

M.D. BUZZ:  Preservation and controlled growth are key to Mount Dora.  How do you managing growth while capitalizing on Mount Dora's reputation of being the “New England of the South?  .
PASTUE:  Preserve character and charm quality by not bulldozing the past and being very diligent and vigilant on density, traffic, development and preservation.

M.D. BUZZ:  How many years of managing and directing economic development to you have?   
PASTUE:  Probably 18

M.D. BUZZ:  Why did you leave your last position or why are you considering changing positions?
PASTUE:  After 12 years, it was time personally and professionally since the city is in a strong position and considered a desirable community.  I gave 7 months notice of my intention to leave. 

M.D. BUZZ:  Did the most recent city budget you managed have a surplus your last two years?  
PASTUE:  Two years ago, yes.  One year ago was a planned deficit for capital projects.

M.D. BUZZ:  Proudest professional accomplishment?
PASTUE:  Getting the city through the economic downtown turn and still maintain character of the city and its services, plus the transformative improvements to our downtown (infrastructure and redevelopment project).

M.D. BUZZ:  Regards to the most recent city you managed, what bond rating did it earn and for how long?
PASTUE:  Maintained AA bond rating preceeding and continuing through entire tenure, including during economic downturn.

M.D. BUZZ:  Largest budget managed?
PASTUE:  $25 million

M.D. BUZZ:  Largest number of employees managed? 
PASTUE:  200

M.D. BUZZ:  What city will you live in if you’re hired? 
PASTUE:  Mount Dora

M.D. BUZZ:  What are two of your biggest strengths?
PASTUE:  My financial background and being able to work with people during difficult and emotional circumstances.

M.D. BUZZ:  What is your greatest weakness?    
PASTUE:    I stay very current with technology professionally, but could do better staying on top of more advanced technologies for personal use.

M.D. BUZZ:  Two words to describe your management style?
PASTUE:  Collaborative and visionary.

M.D. BUZZ:  Two words your staff would use to describe your management style?
PASTUE:  The same (collaborative and visionary)

M.D. BUZZ:  Two words to describe your communication style?
PASTUE:  Clear & concise

M.D. BUZZ:  Best vacation you ever had?
PASTUE:  As a kid, fishing in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan with my father.

M.D. BUZZ:  Two things you enjoy for recreation?
PASTUE:  Golf and fishing

M.D. BUZZ:  Favorite vintage car?
PASTUE:  Late 1970's Trans Am
 
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Lake County parents have one less thing to stress about.  On Monday, the school board announced the start date of 2015-2016 school year would remain August 24.   In order to allow additional standardized test preparation, the board had been considering moving the start date up to August 10.  

The decision not to adjust the date was based on the outcome of a community survey of parents with over 10,000 respondents.  According to the school board's website,  71% did not support the change and 64% responded that they had already made plans that could not be changed to accommodate the earlier date.  

An earlier school year start may be considered for 2016-17.

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Guiding the future of Mount Dora is a tremendous undertaking, but the two finalists for city's top administrator are up for the task.  Vincent Pastue, current city manager of Farmington Michigan, and John Bonfield, former city manger of St. Petersburg Beach, both bring considerable experience to the table   The finalists for Mount Dora's city manager position will have personal meetings with the city council members tomorrow.   Residents are invited to meet the candidates on Friday evening at the Mount Dora Community Building from 5-7 pm during a community 'meet and greet'.   Meanwhile, the finalists took time to answer questions from Mount Dora Buzz to help residents get acquainted with them.

M.D. BUZZ:  What attracted you to Mount Dora’s city manager position?
BONFIELD:   My wife & I love Mount Dora and have visited a number of times over the years.  We've been visiting for nineteen years and very familiar with area and love its uniqueness and small town environment.
PASTUE:  I’m at a point personally and professionally to move on.  I like the small town feel and all the activities, and my son lives in Tampa.

M.D. BUZZ:  What are Mount Dora's two greatest attributes?
BONFIELD:  The history and uniqueness of its downtown is something very few places in Florida have.  Also, the location, geography and variety it offers.
PASTUE:  The traditional downtown is very attractive and the small town character of the area.

M.D. BUZZ:  Preservation and controlled growth are key to Mount Dora.  How do you managing growth while capitalizing on Mount Dora's reputation of being the “New England of the South?  
BONFIELD:  Planning ahead for growth and guiding it, instead of letting it guide you.  Identify how you want to be as a city and how you want that growth to benefit the community.
PASTUE:  Preserve character and charm quality by not bulldozing the past and being very diligent and vigilant on density, traffic, development and preservation.

M.D. BUZZ:  How many years of managing and directing economic development to you have?   
BONFIELD:  15 years as the city manager
PASTUE:  Probably 18

M.D. BUZZ:  Why did you leave your last position or why are you considering changing positions?
BONFIELD: Left last May after a change on they city's commission after 12 good years as city manager.
PASTUE:  After 12 years, it was time personally and professionally since the city is in a strong position and considered a desirable community.  I gave 7 months notice of my intention to leave. 

M.D. BUZZ:  Did the most recent city budget you managed have a surplus your last two years?  
BONFIELD:  Yes, we typically ended right on budget with a little surplus or a small deficit.
PASTUE:  Two years ago, yes.  One year ago was a planned deficit for capital projects.

M.D. BUZZ:  Proudest professional accomplishment?
BONFIELD:  The time in Madeira Beach & St. Petersburg Beach and the stability I brought to those cities and getting them in a better condition than when I started.  Also, the strong staff put in place that gave those cities great things to build from.
PASTUE:  Getting the city through the economic downtown turn and still maintain character of the city and its services, plus the transformative improvements to our downtown (infrastructure and redevelopment project).

M.D. BUZZ:  Regards to the most recent city you managed, what bond rating did it earn and for how long?
BONFIELD:  We paid off the only bond the city had several years ago and it was  A rated.  The city didn't need to go through a rating process recently because there was no need for debt.
PASTUE:  Maintained AA bond rating preceeding and continuing through entire tenure, including during economic downturn.

M.D. BUZZ:  Largest budget managed?
BONFIELD: $25 million 
PASTUE:  $25 million

M.D. BUZZ:  Largest number of employees managed? 
BONFIELD:  150
PASTUE:  200

M.D. BUZZ:  What city will you live in if you’re hired? 
BONFIELD:  Mount Dora 
PASTUE:  Mount Dora

M.D. BUZZ:  What are two of your biggest strengths?
BONFIELD:  My length of diversified experience and ability to communicate & understand people of all different types of the community.
PASTUE:  My financial background and being able to work with people during difficult and emotional circumstances.

M.D. BUZZ:  What is your greatest weakness?  
BONFIELD: To always remember you can’t over communicate to the public.  Anyone that spends time in government knows that they can always improve their communication.  
PASTUE:    I stay very current with technology professionally, but could do better staying on top of more advanced technologies for personal use.

M.D. BUZZ:  Two words to describe your management style?
BONFIELD:  Open & accessible to staff, elected officials and the community.  Calming.
PASTUE:  Collaborative and visionary.

M.D. BUZZ:  Two words your staff would use to describe your management style?
BONFIELD: Fair & consistent
PASTUE:  The same (collaborative and visionary)

M.D. BUZZ:  Two words to describe your communication style?
BONFIELD:  Honest & direct
PASTUE:  Clear & concise

M.D. BUZZ:  Best vacation you ever had?
BONFIELD: When I was 6 years old, it was a train ride from St. Petersburg to North Dakota.
PASTUE:  As a kid, fishing in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan with my father.

M.D. BUZZ:  Two things you enjoy for recreation?
BONFIELD:  Golf and projects around the house
PASTUE:  Golf and fishing

M.D. BUZZ:  Favorite vintage car?
BONFIELD: 1969 Buick Skylark (first car)
PASTUE:  Late 1970's Trans Am

In addition to Friday evening's community "meet & greet", residents can also attend the public meeting with Mount Dora City Council and the finalists at City Hall on Saturday beginning at 8:45 a.m. 

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Residents, upset over the destruction of downtown Mount Dora's mature oak trees and the knowledge that many more are scheduled to meet the same fate in the next few weeks, have found a way to express their growing displeasure. 

Residents and visitors that support  "An Oak for An Oak" tree replacement policy are encouraged to tie green ribbons on their trees, doors, mailboxes, cars, or other visible places to express their solidarity and symbolize their request that the city council do more to preserve and restore Mount Dora's arborous charm.  The green ribbon movement's goal is also to encourage the city council to develop a timeline to replace fifty percent of the palms planted downtown last year with shade trees similar to those planted in other Florida municipalities.  The ribbons are intended to remain displayed until the oak trees are better protected and and those that must be removed are replaced.  

The need for improved protection became an issue last summer after the city replaced mature oak trees with palm trees, in contrast to the planning departments public statements the oaks would be replaced with live oaks on Third Avenue.   The palm tree substitution became a passionate issue as it drastically changed that area's character. 

A written request was made to the city for additional information to include in this article, but was not received.   For more news and events, subscribe to Mount Dora Buzz at www.MountDoraBuzz.com/subscribe 

As the saying goes, the third time is the charm.    Besides, a little dust and heavy equipment isn't enough to dampen the spirits of downtown businesses.   After two consecutive summers of construction, business owners know the drill. They understand construction can be messy,  yet all downtown stores remain accessible and open for business for the many residents and visitors that keep coming.

During heavy rainstorms, merchants have experienced high water levels outside their shops, while some experienced the storm water tides inside their businesses.  In the end, many business owners understand the inconvenience of construction is worth the drainage and sidewalk improvements.  The project is scheduled during the area's slower tourist season, so not to affect the month's when the majority of revenue for downtown businesses is generated.   

The streets included in this phase of the project are Donnelly between Fourth & Third Avenues, as well as 4th Avenue between Alexander and Baker Streets.  Burkhart Construction returns as the contractor and will have their local office on the northwest corner of 4th and Donnelly.  The project will be complete by October 1 and will also feature improved lighting and landscaping.     During this project, locals are encouraged to support the area' local small businesses.  For a complete list of stores and restaurants visit www.MountDoraBuzz.com .

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