Lewisville Town Manager John Whitson said that Walkertown will have to pay for a well-qualified town manager. Walkertown has tended to hire either a recent college graduate or an older person who has retired from a compatible field. We've tried it both ways. We've tried to hire younger graduates with public administration degrees. Dolge said that the council holds some responsibility for keeping a town manager.
Members have to cultivate a good relationship.
Walkertown's problem in the years immediately after its incorporation was that the council was determined to wield power in the town, Dolge said. The current council has its heart in the right place, he said. But Southern looks at the balance of power between council and the town manager in a different light. For one thing, the manager has to work for the council. Having five individuals who can come in and talk to you as your boss can be kind of frustrating.