ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Rye, New York EXECUTIVE SEARCH PROVIDED BY Rye, New York by the numbers Rye, NY population 16,600 Land Area Median Household Income Westchester Co. population 5.85 sq. miles $192,688 967,500 NYC Metro Area population Households Median Home Price 24 million 5,900 $1.8 million THE COMMUNITY The City of Rye is a small, coastal suburban community located in the southeastern section of Westchester County, just 25 miles north of New York City. Rye is distinguished by its quaint downtown, historic buildings, bucolic neighborhoods, the surrounding Long Island Sound, and its natural, open spaces. Located within its limits are two National Historic Landmarks, The Boston Post Road Historic District, a 286- acre National Historic Landmark District which includes the John Jay estate, the Marshlands Conservancy, and Whitby Castle, as well as the county-owned Playland Amusement Park. Rye’s gentle and sophisticated country setting, conveniently located near a major metropolis, has earned it the reputation of being a highly desirable place to live. The City of Rye prides itself on its maintenance and preservation of open space, with several parks and playgrounds for both passive and active recreation. Residents enjoy a wide variety of community amenities including more than 454 acres of green open space. Access to recreation is plentiful with numerous public, private, and shared sports facilities from tennis to ice hockey and boating. The City owns, operates, and maintains a boat basin with over 300 slips and moorings as well as a golf club that boasts an 18-hole course and swimming pool. Cultural amenities include the Rye Free Reading Room situated on the Village Green, abutting City Hall. Throughout the year, the Village Green is home to many community events hosted by both the library and other not-for-profit organizations. The Rye Arts Center is a cultural and community focal point located on City property adjacent to the City’s recreation center. The Rye Nature Center, owned by the City and operated by Friends of Rye Nature Center (FRNC), is a 47-acre sanctuary amidst the economically developed and flourishing City. Access to waterfront makes Rye particularly special not just in its ability to offer an abundance of waterfront residential properties but because Rye also offers four private beach clubs, a private yacht club, and a private golf 2 | Rye, New York: Assistant City Manager THE COMMUNITY continued course within its almost six square miles. Also, located on the Major Employers shore of the Long Island Sound along a migratory flyway, the 179-acre Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a diversity Con Edison of marine life. There are three miles of trails through forest Verizon and field along the half-mile of publicly accessible shore, the intertidal habitat harbors a wide array of plants and animals. Jarden The Rye Town Park boasts public beach access and an expansive manicured lawn for concerts, picnics, or early morning dog Associated Capitol Group runs. WestMed Medical Associates The City’s Central Business District begins at the Village Green and City Hall and offers a vibrant downtown, with diverse GAMCO Investors shopping and dining experiences, small business institutions, and other professional services. In addition to its proximity to SIMS Metal Management NYC (40 minutes by Metro-North), Rye has many demographic characteristics that support its continued economic vitality. Osborn Senior Housing Facility More than 62% of residents over the age of 16 are part of the civilian labor force and nearly 75% of the population has earned a bachelor’s degree or higher; this proportion is significantly above the national and regional percentages. Over 70% of residents own their homes. The educational needs of the community are served by Rye City School and Rye Neck Union Free School District with a total enrollment of approximately 4,500 students in grades Pre-K through 12. The highly regarded public school system boasts a high school that is ranked 169 in the nation and 19 in New York State according to US News and World Report. In addition to the public school system, Rye Country Day School is a highly accredited private school in the area offering education for grades K through 12 and Resurrection School, a parochial school offering education to students in grades K through 8. For those seeking higher education, several institutions are located nearby including Pace University, Westchester Community College, Manhattanville College, and SUNY Purchase College. 3 | Rye, New York: Assistant City Manager GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION The City operates under the Council-City Manager form of government. An elected Mayor and six Council Members form the legislative and policy-making body of the City. The City Council adopts local laws and ordinances and oversees and adopts the annual budget. They appoint a full-time City Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization and to carry out their policies. The City Council also appoints a Corporation Counsel, City Court Judges, and members of the various unsalaried commissions whose functions are defined by the State law, City Charter, or Council resolution. Serving as the Chief Administrative Officer, the City Manager supervises and coordinates the work of all City departments delivering a full range of municipal services including: • Ambulance/EMS serviced contracted through • Flood Mitigation a local not-for-profit ambulance corps in a Government access cable channel, website, shared service arrangement with neighboring • social media, regular resident communication Rye Brook and Port Chester Public Safety through a full-time, Advancement of Legislative initiatives • • state-accredited police department License and permit requests under state or • Public Works including engineering, street local law • maintenance, snow removal, street lighting, • Community infrastructure and tree off-street parking, and the capital maintenance improvements plan • Community planning • Recreation, parks, playgrounds, marina, golf course and swimming pool • Conservation and sustainability efforts Solid waste and recycling • Maintenance and repair of sewers and drains • Grant availability research and applications • Records retention and foil requests • Vital statistics (birth and death certificates) • Fire Protection and prevention through paid • and volunteer firefighters • Building Inspections • Assessment/Real Estate Taxes • Resident inquiries The City employs approximately 146 full-time personnel and an additional 160 seasonal staff. Employees are classified and hired per New York State Civil Service Law. There are four labor unions. The terms and conditions of their employment are set forth within their respective collective bargaining agreements. The City’s fiscal year operates on a calendar year basis. The 2021 General Fund operating budget is approximately $40.6 million. Other internal, special revenue, and enterprise funds support specific municipal operations. The primary source of operating revenue is derived from property taxes on real property. Rye is currently undertaking the largest capital program in the City’s history. Over the next three years, the City expects to invest over $25 million in critical infrastructure improvements including an upgrade of City Hall, public works facility replacements, sanitary sewer upgrades, sidewalk development, and courthouse renovations. The City recently completed over $1 million in upgrades to its recreation facilities and is embarking on upgrading flood mitigation infrastructure. Also being reviewed is a Boat Basin and channel dredging project. 4 | Rye, New York: Assistant City Manager ABOUT THE POSITION The Assistant City Manager (ACM) is a vital and integral part of the City of Rye’s management team. The ACM reports directly to the City Manager and provides managerial and administrative support within functional areas of municipal operations, specifically human resources, but also including budgeting, strategic planning, and special projects. The ACM has a role in many legislative, administrative, and community issues, and must be able to confidently and competently serve as Acting City Manager if, and when, needed. The position requires a high degree of professionalism, dependability, and sound judgment. Essential duties of the ACM include: • Providing day to day administrative support to • Developing and implementing public the City Manager and Department Heads. relations efforts to inform stakeholders and the organizational team of the services the City Managing human resource functions such • provides, or of any impactful community issues. as administration of employee grievances and discipline, performance management, employee • Completing special projects assigned by the communication, and personal wellbeing. City Manager in support of organizational goals. • Overseeing other human resource functions to • Attending all meetings of the City Council, and ensure compliance with NYS civil service meetings of other commissions when assigned. law, rules, and regulations and compliance with Promoting the City’s commitment to a diverse, terms and conditions of the Collective • equitable workplace and community. Bargaining Agreements. Preparing oral and written reports for the City Assisting the City Manager with labor • • Manager concerning operational or situational negotiations and the resolution of any labor matters. disputes. Representing the City Manager in matters of Responding and resolving difficult