Though he started work Sept. 17, new Avondale Estates City Manager Patrick Bryant sat in on his first official monthly meeting Oct. 4, a routine exercise lasting under a half hour. Bryant told a small audience that he was “still trying to figure out the priorities of the board, and how to deliver staff updates to the board in a public manner.
“I want to be,” he added, “as transparent as humanely possible.”
During a short interview with the AJC after the meeting he elaborated on his immediate goals.
“We need to focus on a future strategy for downtown development,” Bryant said.
“It’s also imperative that we address storm water issues in downtown and throughout the city. As we get more development there will certainly be increased runoff.”
Born and raised in Birmingham, Bryant spent three years as city manager in Talladega, Al., before getting terminated without cause last June. Chosen from among 49 applicants, with five receiving interviews from city commissioners, Bryant was the sole finalist to replace Clai Brown who resigned last Feb. 14 after 10 years on the job.
After earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in public administration from the University Alabama-Birmingham, he spent 15 months as a Local Government Fellow in Douglas County, Nevada (home of Lake Tahoe). Now 37, Bryant spent seven years (2008-15) as an administrative analyst for the city manager’s office in Santa Clarita, California, before going to Talladega.
