Search ▸ Communication to the City Council
the City Manager Performance Review
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City Manager Performance Review Process
• By April 30, the City Council and City Manager will approve annual goals, the performance evaluation process and timeline, and a
template for performance assessment with defined evaluation metrics. The Mayor will designate a City Manager Performance
Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee with a chair to coordinate the process.
• By August 30, the Ad Hoc Committee Chair will meet with the City Manager to review goals as an opportunity for a mid-year check-in.
• By September 30, an outside, independent vendor will perform a climate survey of all City employees.
• By November 15, an outside, independent vendor will collect feedback from the City Manager’s direct reports and senior leadership
team. This will include the Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Managers, City Solicitor, Chief of Equity and Inclusion, Chief People
Officer, Chief of Staff, Chief Public Health Officer, Police Commissioner, Fire Chief, etc.
• By November 15, the City Manager will submit a self-review to the Ad Hoc Committee which will be provided to the full Council.
• By November 30, the Chair of the City Manager Performance Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee will gather feedback from the City Council
using the evaluation template on the City Manager’s performance based on the agreed upon performance categories and goals.
• The Chair of the City Manager Performance Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee will write a consolidated review of the employee Climate
survey, 360 reviews and input from the City Councilors based on the performance template.
• By December 20, the City Manager Performance Review will be delivered to the City Manager in a Special Meeting of the City Council.
The written review will be provided to the City Manager at least 48 hours in advance of the open session.
• There will be an opportunity for the City Manager to respond both verbally during open session and in writing afterwards if desired.
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City Manager Goals
The City Manager will report results against each goal as part of the self-assessment submitted by November 15.
Measures
Area
Description / measurement
Leadership
Successful launch of universal pre-K in fall 2024 through close collaboration with City and School leadership
On-track with action plan to address police reform in response to the death of Arif Sayed Faisal in January
2023
Engage on regional priorities and advocate on behalf of the City to the state administration and legislature
City Council
Relationship
Collaborate with Mayor and Council to facilitate Council goal setting
Establish an improved process and system for coordinating awaiting reports with the City Council
Management
Develop HR roadmap that will guide a multi-year plan for implementing improved systems and processes that
will serve, develop, and empower city staff
Complete annual performance reviews for the senior management team and expand training and
performance review process to a broader group of non-union staff
Community
Engagement
Hire Director of Community Engagement and update community engagement approach with greater
consistency across departments and sharing of best practices
Resident survey performance of >60% Excellent/Good on 2023 survey for overall performance of City
government
Culture
Implement annual employee engagement and satisfaction survey
Establish monthly Leadership Together meetings to improve communication, feedback, and connection across
the organization
ADEI
Establish the American Freedman Commission as a new city department in line with the 2023 ordinance
Establish Antiracism, Equity, and Inclusion (AEI) Advisory Council to provide input and collaboration on the
City’s AEI strategy and promote inclusive practices and leadership across departments
City Operations
Achieve compliance with established service level agreements (SLAs) for operating department requests in
SeeClickFix at an 80% level or above in the top 30 request categories
Fiscal
Management
Implement greater City Council input during the FY25 budget development process, including the following
Finance Committee meetings prior to formal submission of the budget: 1) City Council budget priorities, 2)
operating budget, 3) capital budget, 4) police budget
Maintain strong fiscal position and AAA bond rating
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City Manager Overall Performance Assessment
The City Council will provide an overall rating and high-level summary that synthesizes feedback on performance.
Overall Rating
Rationale
3.29
•
The City Manager is a collaborative leader who has a strong work ethic and has brought a new perspective to the
work of the city.
•
The City Manager has done well in developing positive working relationships with the Council, Senior Staff and
community and business leaders.
•
He has worked to improve communications with the council and throughout the organization.
•
He is learning to effectively balance his authority as City Manager and need to be in consultation with the City
Council working to support requests that are reasonable and he believes are viable.
•
City Manager has been increasing his engagement with regional and state leaders on regional issues.
4=Exceeds Expectations, 3=Met Expectations, 2=Partially Met Expectations, 1=Did Not Meet Expectations
Areas of Strength and Accomplishment
Areas for Growth and Development
•
Transparency and data driven in his in his decision making.
•
Has established a positive working environment among
senior staff and employees generally based on feedback
surveys.
•
Improved response time to City Council policy requests.
•
An increased presence in the community.
•
Hiring community Engagement, Climate Chief, and
implementing Universal Pre-K
•
Increased leadership and visibility in regional and state level
discussions.
•
He works with the Council when he finds the requests
reasonable and viable
•
Continue to work on improving community outreach.
•
Ask that he and his staff be more direct and assertive with the
council when they feel strongly about a decision. But also, that
the City Manager overrule department heads where appropriate.
There are times that the council finds itself defending decisions
that are counter to the overall needs of the city.
•
The City Manager should continue to review programs and
positions for their efficacy and return on investment. He should
feel confident in bringing recommendations to the council for
streamlining and reductions moving forward if he determines they
are in best interest of the city and our operations.
•
Updates regarding regional and state level activities.
•
Updates regarding Harvard PILOT negotiations and union
negotiations, especially on things like implementing body cameras
or when negotiations are ongoing such as the current library
negotiations.
•
With the addition of new staff and positions and departments it
would be helpful to have an updated organizational chart.
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City Manager Performance Categories
Ratings: 4=Exceeds Expectations, 3=Met Expectations, 2=Partially Met Expectations, 1=Did Not Meet Expectations
Area
Rating
Rationale
Leadership: Effectively carry out the vision and direction set
by the City Council including through development of goals
and strategies as well as work closely with the Council to
lead the City through significant events and crises
3.07
•
The process this year to set goals was
productive and has allowed the City
Manager and his senior staff to make
progress towards identified priorities in
housing, budgeting, city operations. In
the future, however, goals should be
more specific and measurable.
•
The City Manager has stepped into a
broader leadership role with
neighboring communities and the state
and participates in discussions to tackle
regional problems like transportation,
housing, and opioid addiction. Improve
communications with council about
updates relating to these activities.
•
Delivered on launching new programs –
Universal Pre-K and CARE.
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Area
Rating
Rationale
City Council Relationship: Establish a collaborative and
transparent working relationship with the City Council
3.37
•
The City Manager has done a good job
of navigating differing priorities among
Council members. It is difficult to meet
everyone’s needs, however, he has
done well in staying focused on Council
priorities and balancing the long-term
goals with the immediate needs of the
Council and City.
•
The City Manager has been transparent
in his decision making processes and
provides regular updates on progress
towards goals through new awaiting
reports status updates.
•
He approaches his work with a spirit of
collaboration and respect.
Management: Develop a strong City organization that has
the people, processes, and systems to deliver on day-to-day
operations and existing and new initiatives
3.14
•
The City Manager has been actively
hiring staff and building systems of
support and accountability to assist
employees in carrying out the city’s
priorities. This is especially notable in
the areas of Human Resources, the
development of performance reviews
and staff training.
•
City Manager needs to work with his
new HR team to address employee
grievances and work to attract and
retain top talent.
Community Engagement: Proactively communicate with the
community, and create a range of opportunities for all
stakeholders and residents to provide input and feedback,
particularly communities whose voices are not typically
heard by City Hall
3.14
•
The City Manager has improved in
communications employing multiple
avenues to reach out to Councillors,
staff and the community at large.
•
Need to continue to work together
with Council in making community
engagement authentic and
representative of the full community.
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Area
Rating
Rationale
Culture: Define and establish a healthy culture across the
City that fosters collaboration, trust, empathy, and effective
and efficient decision making
3.33
•
Based on direct report and staff surveys
the City Manager has been effective in
creating a healthy work environment
and staff culture.
•
Work to improve employee feedback
participation in future.
ADEI: Advance anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion
efforts across the City, including strategy, organizational
culture, HR, policy development, and service delivery
3.30
•
There have been significant
improvements in ADEI with greater
appreciation, awareness, and
opportunities for training and
discussion throughout the organization.
•
Would like to have updates on the
progress of the American Freedman
Ordinance.
City Operations: Oversee effective delivery of resident
services including day-to-day operations, maintaining city
infrastructure, and major capital projects
3.30
•
The city continues to offer high quality
services to residents and businesses
across many sectors.
•
The Council would like to see the City
Manager work to improve systems for
residents to connect with city staff and
departments to address problems, (i.e.
improve See Click Fix) and maintain the
highest standards of customer service.
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Area
Rating
Rationale
Fiscal Management: Provide effective financial management
and oversight of the budget, ensuring fiscal stability while
allocating resources to meet community needs
3.41
•
Cambridge continues to have a strong
fiscal foundation and policies.
•
The City Manager has been working
with his staff and the council earlier to
develop a longer-term forecast of
macroeconomic projections that will
impact the cities revenues to develop
thoughtful and realistic projections for
future operational and capital budget
planning aligned to priorities and
values.
•
Council seeks a deeper review of
efficacy of current programs and
positions to work smarter in pursuing
goals and