Pigeon Forge, TN (story courtesy of WVLT) Breaking Update: David Wear will be offered the position of Pigeon Forge city manager, city commissioners announced Friday.
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The search for Pigeon Forge’s new city manager is well underway, with candidate interviews planned for the end of this month.
WVLT News has obtained background information on all the candidates who hope to take over the position, as well as a breakdown of the responsibilities of the position itself.
That said, the latest update from the city said commissioners had narrowed the pool down to three finalists: Eric Brackins, David Wear and Jason Baiamonte.
What does Pigeon Forge’s city manager do?
Pigeon Forge’s current city manager is Earlene Teaster. She was the state’s first woman to hold a city manager position, something she did for 44 years.
As for her responsibilities, Pigeon Forge’s city manager acts as the chief executive officer. The city manger oversees the 17 departments that make up the city’s government and recommends the city’s operating and long-term budgets.
Taking a look at the city’s website, The city manager also works closely with Pigeon Forge’s five commissioners and acts as a liaison with the state government. Beyond that, Teaster has also represented Pigeon Forge on several Sevier County boards, like the Sevier water, transportation and solid waste boards.
Who is in the running for the city manager job?
Several people who already hold positions within the city government are hopeful for the job. The list includes Assistant Finance Director Jason Baiamonte, Assistant City Manager Eric Brackins, Assistant City Planner Loreto Ferrada, IT Director Rob Ogle and Mayor David Wear.
The city commission will begin interviewing three candidates for the position Wednesday. This decision on which candidates comes from MTAS on who would be best for the position. The three people are assistant city manager Eric Brackins, Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear and assistant finance director Jason Baiamonte.
WVLT News obtained each of the candidates’ application packets, which included resumes and cover letters. Here’s the breakdown:
Assistant Finance Director Jason Baiamonte
Baiamonte has been a city employee since 1997 when he worked as a patrol officer for the Pigeon Forge Police Department. He held that job for 13 years before moving into the city’s finance department in 2010, which is where most of his administrative experience comes from.
The assistant finance director’s resume, Baiamonte’s responsibilities have included overseeing more than 20 cash accounts for the city, tracking city projects, helping with audit reports and capital assets and budgeting city expenses. He’s also the supervisor of seven other employees.
Baiamonte doesn’t only work for the city, however.
His resume includes a building contractor position, which he has held since 2003. There’s no business associated with it on his resume, however Baiamonte said he manages residential construction sites and supervises subcontractors as part of his position.
Baiamonte also said he had four college degrees, most of which are in business and management-related fields.
He is also one of three finalists.
Assistant City Manager Eric Brackins
Eric Brackins works as the assistant city manager, a position he’s held since 2009. His resume outlined many of his current responsibilities, which mostly include helping Teaster as her right-hand man.
Specifically, Brackins said he oversees 360 employees with Teaster across several of the city’s departments, including administration, tourism and public works. Among his responsibilities, Brackins listed reviewing and interpreting city ordinances, playing his own part in compiling the city’s yearly budget, developing city projects and advising the commission on policy changes.
He also listed a few specific city projects he played a part in getting off the ground. Those include a $45 million wastewater treatment plant, appealing to the state for tourism project funding and a $48 million police and fire station, which is still in the works.
Brackins doesn’t claim to currently hold any non-city jobs. The closest thing to an outside position he holds is acting as a member of the Tennessee City Managers Association, a membership he’s had since 2007.
Prior to his time with Pigeon Forge, he acted as the City of Norris’ city manager and held a few city jobs in Louisville, KY. He also holds a masters in public administration and a bachelors in political science.
Brackins is a finalist.
Assistant City Planner Loreto Ferrada
Lo Ferrada gave the city her resume when she applied for the city manager job. It outlines her current job, as well as two other positions she’s held: a credit analyst at Elavon and a planner for the Lower Chattahoochee Regional Development Center.
Ferrada has been Pigeon Forge’s assistant city planner since October of 2022. As the assistant city planner, Ferrada said to have developed land use regulations and overseen zoning applications, then recommending moves to the city’s commission.
Her resume lists a bachelors degree in urban studies and a masters in planning.
She also does not currently hold any positions outside of the city.
IT Director Rob Ogle
Rob Ogle currently holds the IT director position— the only job he currently holds, according to his resume. He’s held the job since 2008.
As the IT director, Ogle said he’s had experience overseeing technology growth across the city. He’s also got experience working with emergency management.
Ogle also lists a bachelors in computer engineering technology.
Mayor David Wear
David Wear has been with the city as a commissioner and mayor since 2009, but that’s not the first position listed on his resume.
Wear, who describes himself as a “results-oriented leader with over a decade of management experience,” is the vice president of operations at the major entertainment district The Island. It’s a job he’s held since 2014.
As the vice president, Wear said he’s got experience creating the budget and operation plans for the multi-million dollar entertainment venture. He also said he oversees more than 350 staff members and works with more than 80 tenants.
He also said to be the overseer of The Island’s marketing and advertising projects.
As for his role as mayor, Wear said he has experience working with city administration to finalize policy decisions. He also said he’s played a “pivotal” role in major city projects, including the previously mentioned wastewater treatment facility.
Much like his fellow applicants, Wear said he’s worked on city budgets.
As for applicable skills, Wear said he has “extensive’ knowledge of municipal laws and local ordinances and codes.
Wear, a finalist, also holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice administration.
He spoke with WVLT News Tuesday, saying if he gets picked for the position, he would step down from his job at The Island.
We asked the city attorney, Nathan Rowell, Tuesday how the vote will go since Wear also serves on city commission. He said he will not have a vote and it’ll be up to the other 4 city commissioners to decide the next city manager.
What’s the salary difference among all the positions?
WVLT News also obtained information about not just the city manager position, but the roles currently held by all the applicants. The current salaries breakdown like this:
City Manager: $223,929.19
Assistant City Manager: $181,488.33
Assistant Finance Director: $101,914.68
Assistant City Planner: $67,079.31
IT Director: $113,106.15
Mayor: $5,400
Who will pick the final candidate?
City officials have said Peter Auger with the Knoxville-based Municipal Technical Advisory Service is consulting with the city to advise the process and evaluate candidates.
A representative for the city said candidate interviews are planned for the end of the month, a slight delay from the end-of-May deadline originally proposed.
The latest information from the city said the three finalists would face questions from the city commission at 1:30 p.m. on June 25. The final announcement is expected Friday.
