Former Madison Mayor Jan Wells, second from left, recalls her term in City Hall. Listening to Wells are governance committee members Kris McBride, from left, chairman John Allen and Bob Drolet. (RECORD PHOTO/GREGG PARKER)

MADISON – Former Madison mayors Jan Wells (2000-2004), Sandy Kirkindall (2004-2008) and Paul Finley (2008-2012) met with Madison Governance Committee 2025 on Sept. 30.

To implement change in city governance, timing is key, Wells said. “It can’t be perceived from the (sitting) mayor’s office as anything but negative. It’s a challenge for department heads to do their jobs and move ahead.”

During Wells’ term, city council proposed a city manager, which was dispelled by public resistance, governance committee member Bob Drolet pointed out.

“Nuances need to be explored between city manager and city administrator,” Wells said.

“Madison was playing catch up; growth was expediential,” Wells said about her term. “(City Hall) was not computerized so I hired an IT person. We did not have a professional human resources director, and we had no job descriptions.”

Wells was mistaken in thinking “it was possible to speed up government.”

Wells said she lost a competent advisor when Woody Sanderson was replaced with an in-house attorney.

Kirkindall said the mayor’s job involves management and public relations. “Retail or industrial recruiting utilizes both skill sets. You have to sell the city … be personable and up-front.”

“The level of the public relations aspect” surprised Kirkindall. “Management wasn’t a surprise. I knew where the landmines were.”

The mayor’s aid for Kirkindall served as project manager, first receptor with the public but did not supervise. Kirkindall’s major frustration was seeing a need for the city but lacking funds “to make Madison what it could be.”

“The mayor proposes and the council disposes,” Kirkindall said. “The council is the legislative body.”

Finley said the city manager should report to the mayor. If the manager reports to council, the mayor can’t determine a course of action.

Finley employed Taylor Edge as executive assistant (job title changed from ‘mayor’s aid’). Edge was website administrator and managed Madison’s westward expansion, census and water utility disputes. “When Paul was outside the doors of City Hall, I was an authoritative voice that people listened to,” Edge said.

In other reports, former state senator Tom Butler commented on committee members’ visit with Mayor Don Kelly in Decatur. “A city administrator provides continuity for day-to-day management. Duties of mayor are out in the community,” Butler said.

Kyle has been frustrated in attempting to employ “quality people” with college degrees, committee member Robert Lott said.