Carson’s Top Job Goes to Interim City Administrator

Abandoning plans to conduct an exhaustive search for a new city administrator, the Carson City Council has awarded the job to Larry Olson, who since February had been filling the role on an interim basis.

The council in closed session Tuesday voted 4 to 0 to award Olson a two-year contract for $95,000 a year, with annual cost-of-living increases. Olson, formerly the city’s public safety director, said the council’s action gives him the freedom to make longer-term decisions, such as reorganizing and consolidating department functions: “I feel very honored to have that level of confidence and trust.”

Olson was working as a self-employed management consultant when Carson hired him in 1988 to be public safety director. He assumes the post vacated by Jack Smith, who resigned in February when the council failed to offer him a long-term contract.

Although the council vote was unanimous, Councilwoman Sylvia L. Muise, who was absent, criticized the lack of a competitive selection process. Most council members had said earlier this year that they expected several candidates to be considered for the city administrator’s job before a final choice was made. However, no outside search was conducted.

“I’m not saying that (Olson) might not turn out to be the most qualified,” Muise said. “But we have not a yardstick by which to measure him.”

Muise said Olson’s accomplishments during his tenure as acting city administrator have been few and that “the city is not moving forward in the manner in which it is accustomed to.”

Councilwoman Vera Robles DeWitt, on the other hand, praised Olson’s stewardship of the city. She singled out his ability to craft a balanced budget in a timely manner and keep abreast of the city’s financial condition. The council in July adopted a $29.1-million 1991-92 spending plan. The budget is $500,000 less than last year’s, which was adopted more than five months into the fiscal year.

“Larry has shown in the months that I’ve seen him as acting city administrator to be very fair, hard working and competent,” DeWitt said. “He’s already been in the role and done a good job. Like the saying: ‘If it ain’t broke, why fix it?’ ”