City Manager Healy Faces Evaluation, Contract Renewal

Often a calm voice of reason at impassioned city council meetings, City Manager Robert W. Healy has earned the support of many Cantabrigians who credit him with the city's strong financial standing.

An honorary dinner for Healy earlier this fall brought a flurry of support and overwhelming approval. But in the next six months, Healy will need all the support he can get as he faces an annual performance review and the expiration of his contract.

Healy may not have the full support of the city council, an endorsement he will need if he wants to keep his post.

And a routine annual evaluation of his office's performance may become grounds for dismissal, according to some politicos.

With the manager's contract expiring in June, this year's evaluation of the manager will scrutinize how well he has implemented the progressive policies of the city, as well as explore other concerns, several city councillors said.

This year's findings, to be announced in December or January, will be particularly important for the council, which will decide whether to renew Healy's contract.

Healy is credited with molding strong fiscal policy and keeping the city solvent during the recession. Under Healy's ten-year tenure as city manager, he has made Cambridge the city with the highest bond rating in the Commonwealth.

But councillors said that in addition to economic accomplishments, the evaluation will look at many other responsibilities of the city manager, which include several board appointments and control of all the city's money.

Among the councillors' primary concerns are efficiency of departments such as Community Development and Inspectional Services, and allocation of funds for social programs such as affordable housing projects.

"There is a strong financial side in the city, but the role of government is to be effective in all areas possible," said Councillor Jonathan S. Myers, a long-time proponent of youth employment programs.

Meyers added that the evaluation report will "weigh what's working well with what needs improvement" and "foster accountability in government."

Councillor Alice K. Wolf said the area of performance she will look at closely is how Healy enforces measures passed by the council.

"By the nature of what the city manager does, he might be considered conservative," said Wolf, dismissing the allegation that the more liberal majority on the council might dismiss Healy because of his conservative bent.

"What we will look at is if the policies of the city council are less conservative, how does he implement them properly," Wolf said.

Councillor William H. Walsh said Healy is rumored to have had other job offers if he chooses to leave Cambridge.

Walsh also said the more liberal members of the council might attempt to keep Healy without a contract, to make him immediately accountable for his decisions.

Healy is the only city manager in the Commonwealth who cannot be immediately fired by the council, according to Walsh.

Healy could not be reached for comment. In an interview last spring, however, he said he would continue his stint if the council renews his contract.

In advance of the pending evaluation, in December or January, many Cantabrigians give Healy a good review.

"I think that the proof in the pudding is in the eating. And this one seems to be just fine, "said former mayor Barbara J. Ackerman, who credits Healy with opening the city's purse to many social programs which have been cut off from state funding recently.