Belleair Beach Council Approves McCollum Contractby Leo CoughlinBELLEAIR BEACH - The City Council made it official Monday night, agreeing unanimously on a contract for City Manager Nancy McCollum. She had been serving on an interim basis after the departure of Reid Silverboard, who left in March to become city manager in Treasure Island. McCollum was then given the full-time job after it was determined that serving as such temporarily would not interfere with her role as city clerk. There was virtually no discussion of McCollum's contract and the council also quickly ratified Patti Gentry as McCollum's successor as city clerk. Because McCollum's service of several years as city clerk, in which she did an outstanding job, she is a good fit as city manager. She was proposed for the job almost immediately after Silverboard, who was the first to serve as manager after the city changed its form of government. Early in August, Councilmember Richard Crowl proposed her for the job, an invitation she had previously declined. McCollum's concern was not to lose her status as city clerk and she was on the verge of being certified as a master clerk. Under her agreement with the city, if she should step down as manager she can return to her city clerk position and she maintains her master clerk status. Another problem early on was whether there was a breach in the charter which forbids one person from performing two charter officer jobs. Because she was filling in as manager on a temporary basis she was deemed as legally not holding two jobs. McCollum wanted her future in Belleair Beach protected and this why she wanted an agreement on returning to her clerk's job if necessary. She has expressed her desire to continue her career in Belleair Beach until retirement. Gentry had been serving as an administrative assistant before phasing into the clerk's job.
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