Healy Not Searching For Other Job Offers

Dispelling rumors that he will leave Cambridge when his 10-year contract expires in June, City Manager Robert W. Healy said yesterday that he is "not exploring" other job opportunities and would like to remain in the city.

But if the City Council chooses to rehire him, Healy, who has been Cambridge's top administrator since 1983, said he hopes it will be willing to make a long-term commitment.

"I would hope that there would be a contract provision, as there has been for the last nine years," Healy said.

The council is currently reviewing Healy's performance and deciding whether to renew his contract or let it expire and employ him without any long-term agreement.

Cambridge is currently the only city in Massachusetts with a top administrator that works under contract.

The arrangement helps preserve Healy's autonomy by insulating him from community and political pressures. But several city councillors have said it also limits his accountability and allows him to undermine the council's policies.

Under Cambridge's weak-mayoral system of government, almost all executive power is vested in the city manager. Elected officials are strictly prohibited from interfering in city administration.

A contract system effectively limits one of the City Council's strongest powers: the right to fire the manager.

Saying that a contract gives the city manager "balance," Councillor Alice K. Wolf said the system sometimes makes the city manager "not as responsive."

Councillor Jonathan S. Myers echoed Wolf'ssentiments, saying that Healy has not alwaysfunded social policies to the extent the councilintended. He singled out youth employment programsendorsed by the council as an example.

"I'm aiming for an accountable government inthe city," Myers said.

The city began contracting with top officialsduring a period of political instability in the'60s and '70s, when the council dismissed a seriesof city managers and school superintendents.

But now, Wolf said, "we have had an awful lotof stability and maybe there is not as strong aneed."

Although the annual evaluation is routine, manysay it will play a major role in the council'sdecision whether to renew Healy's contract.

Often considered a "conservative" and"pro-business" city manager, Healy has won widepraise for maintaining Cambridge's financialstrength in a period when many other Massachusettscities and towns experienced severe fiscaldifficulties.

Tax Base Expanded

The city tax base has expanded by $5 billionduring Healy's tenure, according to John R. Moot`44, treasurer of the Cambridge Civic Association,the liberal political group that backs Wolf andMyers.

But Moot said he believes some of Healy'ssuccess is merely the result of good luck, addingthat some areas of city government may have beenneglected during Healy's tenure.

"He has been the beneficiary of a tremendousamount of development," said Moot. "But if youlook at the details of the city's operations, manydepartments are not as good as they should be."

Moot cited Inspectional Services, the WaterDepartment and the police department as agencieswhich Healy has neglected. Myers echoed hisconcerns.

But Healy said he feels confident in his workand that many of the council's motions "have to bereviewed according to cost impact." He added thathe does not believe the liberal council majoritywill allow "patronage politics" to influence theirvote

Councillor Jonathan S. Myers echoed Wolf'ssentiments, saying that Healy has not alwaysfunded social policies to the extent the councilintended. He singled out youth employment programsendorsed by the council as an example.

"I'm aiming for an accountable government inthe city," Myers said.

The city began contracting with top officialsduring a period of political instability in the'60s and '70s, when the council dismissed a seriesof city managers and school superintendents.

But now, Wolf said, "we have had an awful lotof stability and maybe there is not as strong aneed."

Although the annual evaluation is routine, manysay it will play a major role in the council'sdecision whether to renew Healy's contract.

Often considered a "conservative" and"pro-business" city manager, Healy has won widepraise for maintaining Cambridge's financialstrength in a period when many other Massachusettscities and towns experienced severe fiscaldifficulties.

Tax Base Expanded

The city tax base has expanded by $5 billionduring Healy's tenure, according to John R. Moot`44, treasurer of the Cambridge Civic Association,the liberal political group that backs Wolf andMyers.

But Moot said he believes some of Healy'ssuccess is merely the result of good luck, addingthat some areas of city government may have beenneglected during Healy's tenure.

"He has been the beneficiary of a tremendousamount of development," said Moot. "But if youlook at the details of the city's operations, manydepartments are not as good as they should be."

Moot cited Inspectional Services, the WaterDepartment and the police department as agencieswhich Healy has neglected. Myers echoed hisconcerns.

But Healy said he feels confident in his workand that many of the council's motions "have to bereviewed according to cost impact." He added thathe does not believe the liberal council majoritywill allow "patronage politics" to influence theirvote