Following last week’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen work session, the board evaluated the city administrator’s overall job performance. Kevin Owen’s last evaluation was in March 2024, making this the third evaluation since Owens was hired as city administrator in March 2022.

Prior to the meeting, each alderman and the mayor received a copy of the evaluation that contained 10 categories with five areas each on which scores ranged from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. An average of each of the five areas determined an average score for each category. The average of each category determined the overall score.

Mayor Donna Hartman said each alderman was given a package and reviewed it as “to what you see Kevin’s productivity was during this two-year period. Then at the end of the package there are five questions you identify as strengths’ how you identify the most critical for improvement; and creative or constructive suggestions; and comments you may have relating to priorities, expectations and goals; and what your goals are for the city administrator for the upcoming year.”

Mayor Hartman said Debbie (Williams), administration director, has taken each person’s evaluation package it on a graph. “You see where the scores are. It also reflects every alderman’s score. Keep in mind that people score differently. Some give everybody a 5 or 10 (highest number). Some go low. I think our history of where we’ve worked, how we’ve been taught, how we have done things and how we engage people plays into it,” she said.

The 10 categories and the average score included: 1. Individual characteristics – with a 4.5 average score, compared to 4.4 in 2024; 2. Professional skills and status – with a 4.3 average score vs. 4.1 in 2024; 3. Relations with members of the BOMA – with a 4.4 average score, up from 4.1 in 2024; 4. Policy execution – with a 4.2 average vs. 4.0 in 2024; 5. Reporting – with a 4.2 average, up from a 4.0 in 2024; 6. Citizen relations – with a 4.1 average score vs 4.0 in 2024; 7. Staffing – with a 4.1 score, with no change from 2024; 8. Supervision – with a 4.4 score compared to a 4.0 score in 2024 ; 9. Fiscal management – with a 4.4 score vs. a 4.2 average score in 2024; and 10. Community – with a 4.4 average, which held consistent from 2024.

Owens received a 4.30 overall score, which is slightly higher than the 4.14 overall score given in 2024.

Each board member present addressed Owens. Alderman Jeff Alder was absent. Mayor Hartman called on Alderman Tonya Allen first. “This is to Kevin,” she said.

“I am happy with Kevin,” Allen said. “You’ve faced a lot of challenges the last couple of years. I appreciate everything you do. I’d like to see you keep going.”

Vice Mayor Jeff Bradford said he echoed what Alderman Allen said. “He’s good for the board and good with the board and good at keeping it cohesive. He said he did have a few issues with the evaluation, which had nothing to do with Owens. “Some of the questions, I don’t know that I was actually qualified to give a response, because I’m not here when he deals with the public. I’m not here when some of the other businesses are done,” Bradford said. “I did the best I could, but overall I know he’s done a good job.”

“To answer your question, I think a lot of times people will call and say the city administrator is (doing) good; he’s bad; he’s whatever,” Mayor Hartman said. “That might be the input you’re getting from folks.” She and the administration director spoke with Patrick Marsh with Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) when putting the evaluation form together. “He agreed with the form. It’s just a different perspective of a few out in the real world,” she said.

Next to address Owens was Alderman Mike Keenan. He said he thinks Owens “does a great job. I think a lot of the things we don’t see, the public’s response and some of the comments you read … that’s the level of engagement with the public.” Keenan said he thinks Owens communicates well and provides information well. “He’s always been responsive when I’ve asked for things for clarity of anything like that,” Keenan said.

Alderman Joseph Faulkner said this was his first time to evaluate Owens. “I will say that in my professional life, outside the board, when I’m rating employees, usually the highest mark is extremely hard to get,” Faulkner said. “I think I gave you 5s on relations with the governing body and the way you work with the staff. I think you go above and beyond for those sections. I think that’s really good for the city overall.” He said he doesn’t think the citizens understand what really is going into the city administrator’s job, and how “you’re basically working 24/7 because you’re having to think about all facets of the city that you’re trying to make decisions about.

“I will say I’ve never worked with another city administrator, so you set the bar,” Faulkner said. “We’ve had a lot of things that have happened over the past few years since I’ve been here that I feel like you’ve also grown in areas … I appreciate your willingness to take on new things and hear people’s opinions. Overall, I think you’re doing a great job and I hope you stay here as long as I’m on the board,” Faulkner said.

“Have your bags packed,” Alderman Dorothy Small jokingly said. “It goes unsaid that you are doing a great job. There hasn’t been a time that I’ve come to ask for clarification that I haven’t gotten it. I think the lowest scores that I gave you are explained in what I wrote them as all this is subjective and objective as well. You try to be as objective as you can. I think I was as objective as I could be,” she said. “I do think there are a few items — I didn’t put down as a goal. I come to you and ask for communication. It’s not all on your shoulders to inform the board of monthly (meetings).” She was referencing an upcoming meeting between Owens, Mayor Hartman and Lincoln County Mayor Bill Newman. “It would have been nice to have an email that said ‘we’re meeting with this for that’ and finding out about it the day of. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just a matter of what you’re having to do and how busy you are. I think overall communication within this board is not what it should be. I’m saying the board — all across the board — because we’re not hearing from all the committees what’s going on just for information purposes. Communication is not yours alone. It’s all of our situation as well to inform each board member what’s happening in each committee. Overall, you’re going a great job.”

Small also said she wishes she had some of Owens’ “even keelness and to be able to handle some of the things that you have been confronted with and to handle them in a manner you do.”

Mayor Hartman said Owens is doing a great job. “The public does not realize how many things you touch, answer, write in a day’s time. You meet with so many people; you have to write responses to emails; you have to respond to letters. That’s just not enough time in your day,” she said. “I appreciate everything you have done for this board and for the City of Fayetteville. I have never seen a staff who works together like what you have put together now. … I think that says a lot for you and your people skills.”

The mayor said there are areas that can be improved upon, “because it will help the city. I work a lot of hours with you. … We can talk things out; we can hash them out. We might disagree sometimes, but we get there. I appreciate everything you have done for us.”

Owens thanked the board for their input. “Before the new board arrived I had worked with probably 52 elected officials. I can say that this board is the best of the 55 or so I have worked with. They always listen and are not quick to jump at you. That makes my job a lot easier. I actually look forward to coming to work.”

Owens said the staff, board, City Attorney Johnny Hill, the community, have been great to work with. “I don’t want to take it for granted, but I think even with the challenges we have, as long as people keep the same willingness attitude, we can meet them. I thank everybody for making my job easier,” he said.

Mayor Hartman said, “Normally, the city administrator is on a contract. I know times have changed; rating requirements have changed. We all know that contracts are good and contracts can be bad. We just need to look at the charter, meet with Attorney Hill and see what you want to do, what you’re interested in and let the board know.”