For the majority of Bluffton residents, they not only live here, the town also resides in their hearts. That’s why when it’s time to change leadership, the town leaders take that decision very seriously.
With this in mind, the Town Council hired Anthony Barrett to be the new town manager when Bill Workman retired.
The council spent hours combing through resumes and conducting interviews to hire who we think is the best person for the job. We are very mindful that the town is at a delicate juncture on how we balance and define progress in the next decade.
With pride, I would like to introduce you to Anthony Barrett, in hopes that one day soon, you will introduce yourself to him.Mr. Barrett hails from Fredericksburg, Va., where he was a county administrator. He has a lifetime of experience working in towns similar to Bluffton, such as Ocean City, Md.; East Peoria, Ill.; Kinston, N.C.; and Winter Park, Fla. He most recently spent five years with a development company in Fredericksburg.
With perspectives from all sides of government business, he has in-depth knowledge of the agendas, strategies and a lifetime of experience leading government stafs. He knows what works best in many scenarios because he has personally been on the front lines of negotiating issues and obstacles governments face.
Mr. Barrett has said to me many times how impressed he is with the level of dedication the council members have to Bluffton. We genuinely care about our town, and that has made a huge impact on his decision to come here. While he is a newcomer to our piece of paradise, he has said many times that he understands the dedication because the “town grabs you the very moment you drive through it.”
People here leave their fingerprints on projects. That’s why we want him to lead our town through a stage of thoughtful decisions which will bring the overall good to this treasured town for years to come.
On top of the priority list for the council and Mr. Barrett is protecting the May River, managing development and implementing the vision we have for Bluffton in the years to come.
Mr. Barrett’s role is to implement the decisions of the council.
With that said, I ask you to take an active role in this process. We, the council, represent you. So if you have a comment, question or suggestion, please tell or ask us, so we can make decisions with as many voices of those who invest their money and their hearts here.
A high visibility job has its daily challenges. He has to supervise 94 employees who work in four departments, which include Engineering, Growth Management, Finance (which includes the Courts and Business Licensing) and the Police Department. It’s a tall order. Since joining us Sept. 1, Mr. Barrett has been in turbo action, meeting residents and acclimating himself with his new mission. He has plunged into the deep end of what is facing the town.
We are still small enough that people leave a legacy. Bill Workman compiled a talented and diverse staf. We thank him for that gift. We all look forward to the imprint Mr. Barrett and this current council will leave. We ask you to be a part of that legacy.
