'If you want the best, you have to pay for the best:' Pooler appoints new city manager

After an executive session Monday evening, Pooler City Council approved the contract for city manager for Savannah employee Heath Lloyd.

Lloyd currently serves as Savannah's assistant city manager, and has nearly two decades of local government experience, with master's degrees in public administration and civil engineering. He also previously served as Chief Infrastructure and Development Officer, Interim City Manager, and has held leadership positions in public works, water management, and revenue. He was named as one of three finalists in late June, alongside Interim City Manager and Public Works Director Matt Saxon, and Col. Bryan Logan.

Last year, former City Manager Robert Byrd resigned during an executive session after being city manager for more than 16 years. Councilmember John Wilcher noted this before they voted to approve and appoint Lloyd, pointing out that Lloyd's contract would be around $288,000 while Byrd's contract cap was $255,000.

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"This gentleman's coming before us has a contract on the table for $245,000, with an annual stipend in his retirement at $10,000, bringing him to a total of $255,000," Wilcher said. "This year, it'll be a little bit less because there's not quite as much time here. We are also in this contract looking to give him seven weeks of PTO up front. Giving him the accrual of a 15-year tenured employee valued at $33,000, bringing our grand total to $288,000. It's no shame to this gentleman, I give it to you for negotiating. It's a shame we didn't have a little more business acumen on our side."

There were no other comments on the contract before the council voted 4-2 to approve it.

Mayor Karen Williams later said that after reviewing all of the applicants, Lloyd stood out by his years of experience with a city of Savannah's size, and even provided a two-year plan for Pooler with his resume. She highlighted his degrees from Clemson University and University of South Carolina in chemical engineering and environmental engineering.

"He is also an ICMA certified manager of the class of 2021," Williams said. "There are only 51 managers in the entire state of Georgia that have that classification, and he is one of 51. If you want the best, you have to pay for the best, and his experience speaks for itself."

With this appointment, all Chatham County municipalities that began the year searching for city manager replacements have the positions filled.

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: 'If you want the best, you have to pay for the best:' Pooler appoints new city manager