Monday night, the Homewood City Council voted to appoint the former long-time Mountain Brook city manager, Sam Gaston, as the special assistant to the city manager. Gaston will serve alongside Cale Smith, who was appointed acting city manager at the November meeting.
Gaston has over 45 years of experience in local government management and planning. He recently retired after more than 32 years serving as the city manager of Mountain Brook.
"I cannot imagine anybody more qualified to help with our leadership team, to bring that together to set the guardrails," Mayor Jennifer Andress said at the pre-council meeting.
She explained that he will start on Tuesday and work no more than 20 hours a week.
"I got a little bit of grief from my friend, the mayor of Mountain Brook," Andress joked to the council before adding that Mayor Graham Smith was supportive.
"Sam's decision to serve in Homewood is a gift to our entire region. He is one of the most respected municipal leaders in Alabama," Smith said in a statement.
"His experience and steady leadership will be exactly what Homewood needs as it moves into this new government structure. Mountain Brook has benefited from his wisdom for decades, and now our neighbors in Homewood will share in that same strength.
Following the meeting, the city announced the news on social media.
"We are excited and grateful to welcome Sam Gaston to Homewood as Special Assistant to the City Manager," Andress said in a statement. "Sam is the gold standard for city managers in Alabama. He encouraged our move toward a Council Manager form of government, and we are thankful to have him join Cale Smith in this important season."
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