Photo by KELLY FARRELL, Staff
City Planner Bryan Milk, recommended by Parks and Recreation Director Dana Souza, participated in the City Council meeting as Milk will become interim Parks and Recreation director when Souza departs the city Nov. 14.
Marco Island City Manager Steve Thompson named Bryan Milk, 47, to the position of Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Marco Island Tuesday afternoon. The promotion for Milk from city planner to parks and recreation director brings with it an approximate 15 percent salary increase, according to figures released by City Clerk Laura Litzan Monday .
“Bryan’s leadership and positive nature is a fine addition to the management team,” said City Manager Steve Thompson in a prepared release.
Milk has lived on Marco Island since 1998 and been employed by the city of Marco Island since 1999. He earned $78,810 per year as a planner and will earn $90,631.50 as director, Litzan said. A benefits package up to 30 percent above the base salary is also included for department directors.
In his decade career with the city, Milk has served as the Acting Community Development Director twice and until Tuesday as the Acting Parks and Recreation Director.
Milk replaces former Parks and Recreation Dana Souza who resigned from the city to take a job in Greenville, S.C. Souza earned about $98,000 annually.
"Milk's leadership is well received by his co-workers and the team of directors at the city. Milk’s tenure with the city and history of planning is an important key in further development of the Parks and Recreation Department,” Thompson said
MIlk holds a Bachelors of Arts in geography with a minor in business management. He has coached various football and baseball teams on Marco Island; he has been instrumental in developing youth activities in Collier County, specifically Marco Island for the past fourteen years, according to the release by Public Information Coordinator Lisa Douglass Tuesday.
“I am thrilled for this opportunity and am lucky to have a great staff to work with,” Milk said. “I am looking forward to pulling all of the interests together and working toward providing coordinated recreational opportunities for all citizens.”
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Comments » 13
Beached writes:
Excellent choice, good luck Bryan.
WoolyBully writes:
Smart move Mr. Thompson. There was no doubt that the community, for the most part (accept the YMCA), was pulling for Bryan. We look forward to working with him and his dedicated staff as we move forward in providing outstanding programs and improved facilities for our community.
waterday writes:
Good choice for City.
Why all the negative towards the YMCA? The community would be better if all of these groups would work TOGETHER. It is not in your best interest to degrade the YMCA, the YMCA needs improvement and so does our City programs, and all other groups involved in this community should work towards one goal- for the youth and Island,good luck Bryan. You are a great choice for the park.
7ate9 writes:
Wasn't sure the city would make the right move in replacing Dana, but it looks like they have.
Great choice!
MarcoFacts writes:
Great decision!!
freedomofspeech1 writes:
Nothing against the decision but what happened to the selection process? I thought there was to be a National Search? Dana Souza hasnt even been gone for 2 weeks and we already have a replacement. What makes a city planner qualified to be in charge of parks? Thats why you actually search for a better candidate. Lastly, how much is this unqualified individual to make? I hope he is not at the upper end of the pay scale with his lack of experience.
Something sounds fishy...if there isnt enough smelly fish here on Marco..........
Richard_Gibke writes:
Brian was the best choice. Brian will bring the YMCA, the Optimist club and the city together. Great choice by Thompson.
ejburger writes:
I agree Richard, this is a move that should bring our community together as far as parks and recreation are concerned. No doubt some will find fault in this decision.
jhirsch writes:
This is the way it should be done, promote within!!! You don't need to look outside the community for good people! Good Luck Bryan...
freedomofspeech1 writes:
Promote from within when you have a qualified candidate...this guy has NO parks and rec experience!!!I cant wait to see if they OVERPAY him....With his lack of experience he should be at the BOTTOM of the scale but knowing how the city overpays everyone he will be at the top.
WoolyBully writes:
Like I said. Smart move Mr. Thompson. After Harrison's embrassing exit (I mean retirement...cough..cough...with a 25K golden parashuet)Thompson made a good decision to keep this hire in house. Let's support Bryan, as he will do an excellent job. From what I hear and read The Optimist Club of Marco put a heavy push to get him promoted to this position. It seems they are doing a good job working with Parks & Rec in developing a decent youth sports program
for this Island with over 200 kids in both the football and basketball programs. I wish my older kids had those organized programs back when.
lauralbi1 writes:
FreedomofSpeech1: With all due respect, please provide us all with a copy of Bryan's resume, as you seem to be familiar with it. I would be very interested in the same information that you seem to have. And while you are at it, why don't you provide us all with your Human Resources background and City Management experience. You seem to possess a great deal of both, based on your opinions and comments and maybe we can put you to good use with all your qualifications. There are many committees that, with your "supposed" background and experience, you could serve on !!!!!! You can just post the information here and we will all look forward to reading it with great interest. If you are just spewing emotional, negative comments, then crawl back into your hole and leave the important decisions to those that do have the qualifications.
Ed Issler
lauralbi1 writes:
Beowulf: I am just curious as to what is the source of all your vial emotions. I am not the one questioning Bryan's qualifications for his new job. I am not the one making statements that the City conducted itself improperly in awarding this job to Bryan. I have known Bryan from a professional standpoint for about ten years now and know him to be very qualified for this position. FreedomofSpeech1 is the one who is ranting and raving about this issue and I still question his or her sources of information and background for him or her to be able to make the statements that were made. Objectively, I would think you would be interested in the same thing. But I guess you are just a miserable soul, or at least come off that way. I think if you read all of my postings, you will find objectivity in all of them.
P.S. I am very happy with the job that I have, thank you. And my resume is none of your business.
Ed Issler
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