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Carlin council directs staff to negotiate with city manager candidate after debt disclosure; outgoing manager extended
Summary
After interviewing Richard Braithwaite, the Carlin City Council directed staff to negotiate an employment contract that addresses housing and moving arrangements. Council also extended City Manager Madison Aviles' contract through Dec. 15 to ensure an in-person transition.
The Carlin City Council on Oct. 25 directed staff to negotiate an employment agreement with city manager candidate Richard Braithwaite while reserving contractual details about housing and start dates. The motion to continue negotiations, made by Councilperson Denise Taylor and seconded by Councilperson Cameron Kinney, passed unanimously.
Braithwaite, who answered council questions at the meeting, acknowledged a previously high debt level but said he has paid down roughly $550,000 and now carries about $60,000 in outstanding obligations that he expects to retire soon. “I’ve paid down over $550,000 in debt in two years. I am down to $60,000 and I'll be debt free,” he told the Council, adding that he has never missed a payment or had foreclosures, repossessions or judgments on his record. The mayor and council raised debt as a concern because the city manager serves as the municipal chief financial officer and must handle fiduciary duties.
Braithwaite also disclosed a long-running side business as a commercial broker and consultant. He told the council the work is part-time, performed outside usual daytime hours, and provides professional contacts relevant to local commercial development. “It isn't a time-consuming thing that takes me away from doing other things,” he said.
Council members said the housing shortage in the region is a limiting factor for immediate relocation. Mayor Dana Holbrook and others asked staff to include housing arrangements and time frames in the proposed contract. Braithwaite said he intends to live in Carlin if housing can be found and that he could begin work quickly if accommodations are in place.
Separately, the Council voted to extend the employment agreement for interim City Manager Madison Aviles through Dec. 15 to allow for an in-person handoff and transitional support. Aviles and the mayor both emphasized the role is not well suited to fully remote work. Aviles said she could assist with remote work and a brief in-person transition but recommended overlap in the office to transfer knowledge of contracts, compliance deadlines and operational procedures.
Next steps: staff will draft a proposed contract incorporating the housing provisions and time frames discussed and return the item to the Council for final approval.
