Kerry officially becomes South Lake Tahoe’s city manager

By Kathryn Reed

Nancy Kerry has lost part of her title with the city of South Lake Tahoe. That would be “interim”.

The City Council in closed session on Tuesday agreed unanimously that Kerry should be the city’s city manager.

When Kerry was appointed interim city manager in June this was to last until the fall. At that time the council was to decide if a full search should take place or if Kerry would be given the job.

Nancy Kerry

In the nearly two months since she has had the interim role, Kerry has demonstrated her ability to her five bosses in a manner that does not require them to see any more or talk to anyone else.

Mayor Claire Fortier told Lake Tahoe News, “The council has been very, very impressed with Nancy’s capacity to deal with people and take on this city at a tough time.

“It is really gratifying to promote within someone so capable and so considerate and forward thinking.”

Another consideration for making the decision now instead of in October is so during the budget process and election cycle the city manager position did not become a political issue.

Fortier with Councilwoman Angela Swanson will be working out the details of the contract. The contract is expected to be discussed in closed session Sept. 4, with it likely presented to the public Sept. 18.

Fortier would not speculate on what Kerry’s salary or other benefits would be.

However, it is likely the contract will be for 30 months so this moves it out of the election cycle. Most city managers have been given a three-year contract, with annual renewals.

The 52-year-old Kerry is South Lake Tahoe’s first female city manager. She started working for the city in 2008 in the now defunct Redevelopment and Housing Department. She became second in charge under former City Manager Tony O’Rourke about one year ago.

In her short time as interim city manager, Kerry has cleaned house a bit by letting go of Community Development Director Stan Sherer, reducing the number of medical marijuana collectives from three to one, and has begun an earnest effort to do things and stop talking about doing them.

Listening to community members and caring, even when disagreeing, is how Kerry approaches her job.

“My style is very participatory. I like to involve employees in decision-making,” Kerry told Lake Tahoe News.

Kerry added that she is touched and humbled by the opportunity to be South Lake Tahoe’s city manager.