River Bend manager leaving for job in Apex

June 02--RIVER BEND -- The River Bend Town Council met in emergency session last week and accepted the resignation of Town Manager Drew Havens.

Havens is River Bend's third town manager since the town adopted the manager-council form of government. He has served for seven years as the town grew by 200 people and the town's full-time workforce grew from 17.5 to 19 employees.

River Bend Mayor John Kirkland said Havens met with him last Monday to advise that he had accepted the position of assistant town manager in the Wake County town of Apex, and the mayor thanked him for his dedicated service.

Kirkland said Havens discussed with council members his decision to accept the post and "every member of council expressed appreciation to Manager Havens for his very successful seven year role as manager for our town."

Apex is a town of more than 40,000 people that Havens told the Sun Journal is "working hard to keep some small town appeal, not make it a cookie-cutter town. It has a great staff. I haven't met the board yet."

The job is an upward career move for Havens, "an opportunity I didn't feel I could turn down," he said. "I was not out there throwing my resume anywhere it would stick. River Bend is a great community, and I would tell anyone looking at this position that I love what I'm doing, the people I'm working with, and the people I'm working for.

"The leaders in this town get it; they understand the council-manager form of government," Havens continued. "They hire a manager, give him resources to do the job, and do not micromanage. In seven years, I have not had a member of the council tell me how to do my job."

Havens married two years ago and since coming to River Bend completed his master's in public administration and received the International City and County Management Association Credentialed Manager certification.

Kirkland said Havens' tenure "has been a period of progress in every dimension of town operations" with a staff that "has responded professionally to his leadership. They provide service to the community in a quiet and efficient manner and in compliance to the numerous state mandated regulations."

Havens has helped to refine and improve the annual budget process, resulting in River Bend's first Distinguished Budget Presentation Award recognition by the Government Finance Officers Association and other significant state and federal awards of excellence.

He developed financial policies for purchasing, investment, debt management and capital improvements and managed financial activity that resulted in an increase in the general fund balance and enterprise fund balances and Standard and Poors rate upgrades in three of the past four years.

Havens helped implement new accounting software that is faster and provides greater efficiency and transparency, improved utility system customer service, and helped get a CAMA Public Access Grant for a canoe/kayak launch.

With an independent consultant, Havens was active in managing recruitment and selection of a new police chief and in other human resources improvements helped completely re-write the personnel policy manual and revised the compensation plan and performance evaluation process.

General management contributions include achieving River Bend's first flood insurance premium reduction, establishing its first official website, and working with the Council of Governments developed a GIS mapping of water and sewer system infrastructure.

Infrastructure improvements included the addition of over $200,000 to stormwater management infrastructure, $350,000 in water system capital improvements, over $197,000 in wastewater collection and treatment capital improvements.

Kirkland said Havens' leadership has helped enhance the town's financial position and "allowed the council the confidence that the budget they pass is adequate and also visionary." It is their hope to select a successor to build on Havens' "successes and lead the town on the path we now travel."

He said filling the shoes won't be easy and "the town council is realistic about the time it takes to fill this critical position." Advertisements will be placed by early July and town leaders expect to have applications by early August and a manager to hired by mid-September.

Havens began the post at a $57,000 annual salary and is paid $69,820, but the salary for his successor has not yet been determined.

The town will work with the North Carolina League of Municipalities staff to locate and select an interim manager, Kirkland said.

"We are sorry to see Manager Havens leave ... but we know his cell phone number," Kirkland said. "We also know he will do well in his new position."

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