Bob Bruner to Leave Birmingham City Manager Position
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 15, 2013)
“Don’t believe everything you read,” said Birmingham City Manager Bob Bruner about news reports and internet rumors of strife between himself and the City Commission.
After weeks of negotiations the Commission decided not to offer Bruner an extension on his contract. The decision was unanimous, with only Mayor Scott Moore not in attendance. Because it is a personnel matter, details of the negotiations and the reasons for not renewing are private.
Mayor Pro-Tem Stuart Sherman shared the Commission’s official statement on the matter. “After extensive consideration, the Commission has decided to let Mr. Bruner’s contract expire on February 13, 2014. We expect Mr. Bruner to complete the terms of his contract. Over the next few weeks, we intend to appoint an interim city manager and will have these discussions at an upcoming city commission meeting,” Sherman said.
Commissioner Tom McDaniel added “We wish Bob every success in his future endeavors and thank him for his service over the past 3 years.”
Bruner started the job of City Manager of Birmingham in 2011. Before that he was City Manager of Ferndale. Bruner sold his house in Ferndale to move to Birmingham in the early months of that career move.
“My goal is to leave a community in better condition than I found it and I think that is true of Birmingham, but it is too soon for me to say what our biggest accomplishments during my tenure may have been,” Bruner said.
While in negotiations with Birmingham, Bruner also threw his hat into the ring for the Huntington Woods City Manager position. He ultimately withdrew his application there, but said he is not worried about finding his next position. “There are more ‘Baby Boom’ managers retiring than ‘Generation X’ managers like me to take their places so I hope to find a similar position in another community,” he said.
Mayor Scott said that an interim City Manager will be in place by Feb. 14 and that the process for hiring the next City Manager “will unfold in coming meetings” and will be “very open” to the public.