Subadan brings stability to Albany government

ALBANY — Sharon Subadan doesn’t have to fake loving her job.

The Albany city manager, who has now been in that position for a year, credits God for leading her to Albany, and so far she’s thankful for His divine guidance.

“I’m not saying this to be showy or tongue-in-cheek, but I love Albany,” Subadan said as she reflected on her year as the day-to-day manager of the Albany city government. “I bought a home here in the city limits because I am invested in this community, I’m part of it. I feel like I’m thriving in this job.”

While Subadan can come off tough-as-nails to those who cross her, it’s easy enough to believe her all-in commitment to the community she manages. It’s there in the smile on her face as she talks about the community. It’s even there in her social media ID: Her hashtag? Bestjobever.

Even detractors — and there are always detractors — admit that Subadan has boldly pushed the city’s agenda forward, championing the completion of projects that had long languished under her predecessors. As one observer noted: “She came into office with the accelerator on the floor, and she hasn’t taken her foot off the pedal.”

In the past 12 months, 12 months that Subadan calls “a whirlwind,” the city has:

— Approved private development proposals for a microbrewery and a mixed-use development project for the former Albany Heights building, both of which are slowly moving through the administrative and regulatory process;

— Developed a plan to secure loans that will allow the city to, finally, complete the long-needed overhaul of the Holloway Basin stormwater project and other sewer projects that have in the past received band-aide-type improvements;

— Expanded the reach of its utilities department outside the city and county limits to bring in revenue from other communities;

— Developed and implemented a rebranding campaign;

— Put together a budget proposal that has been reduced by $1.5 million with a modest millage rollback without the use of Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia credits;

— Overseen ribbon-cuttings on a long-delayed swimming pool in East Albany and a new fire station;

— Received Georgia Ready for Advanced Development certification for 85 acres of land at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport;

— Removed dilapidated structures at the airport and developed an aggressive plan to alleviate blight throughout the city;

— Developed a special-purpose local-option sales tax wish list that is heavy on infrastructure improvements;

— Created a development fund that is being used to spark public/private redevelopment partnerships in the city’s downtown district; and

— Completed a compressed natural gas fueling station in anticipation of more efficient CNG-fueled vehicles.

“When you look at things like the swimming pool, the ongoing work at Thornton gym and the agreement with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albany to help manage those assets, they kind of stand out because they’ve been such a long time coming,” Subadan said. “But I’m proud of things like building a budget that includes funding for asset management.

“It’s not good enough to build something without having funding to manage it. That’s not necessarily Management 101, but it is common sense. As I told you when we met a year ago, I believe implementation is my strength. I’m not a procrastinator, and we have a strong enough team in place to keep the processes of government moving forward.”

As this newspaper’s squawkers are quick to point out — and as many city employees acknowledge privately — working with a seven-member commission that at times can lean toward dysfunction is not one of the key elements of a progressive government. But Subadan praises the Albany City Commission for its commitment to the community.

“Our commissioners come from different backgrounds and different parts of the city, and they each have their own concerns and personalities,” she said. “But at the end of the day, I believe they all want good things for the city. That’s one of the main things that brought me here.

“But as I’ve said before, I make my best recommendations based on staff’s research, but the commissioners are the policymakers. Are there sometimes disappointments and frustration when they don’t agree with recommendations that I think are best for the city? Sure. But one thing you have to know in this position is that not every idea is going to get four votes, even if it’s a good idea.”

As optimistic as Subadan is about Albany’s future, she admits that there have been disappointments over her first year on the job.

“I wouldn’t say I’m really disappointed, but I’m frustrated by the lack of progress we’ve made in our redevelopment of the SB&T building (at 401 Pine Ave.),” she said. “I think moving our utilities operations there is going to have a positive impact, and I know that project has about a million moving parts. But I was hoping we’d move that project along at a quicker pace.

“Still, the one thing I’ve stressed about this project and all others we undertake is that even if it takes a little more time, I want to do things right.”

That same sentiment can be applied to the slow-moving progress in downtown redevelopment.

“The microbrewery is almost ready to move forward, and once it starts I think you’re going to see a great deal of excitement and momentum downtown,” Subadan said. “Progress is a little slower with the Albany Heights building, but it’s moving forward. I guess one of the areas we need to work on is managing expectations better.

“There is also progress being made downtown that people don’t necessarily see or hear about. I think you’ll see some big changes in the next year.”

Accelerated development in the city’s Central Business District, making hires to fill key vacancies in the city’s leadership team, completion of pending SPLOST VI projects for which funding has been allocated — including a long-delayed transportation hub — and working out a palatable facilities management agreement with the Dougherty County Commission are some of Subadan’s immediate concerns as she moves into year two.

She’s aware that many are predicting her departure sometime during the next 12 months as she continues to check boxes off the city’s wish list.

“Yes, I’ve heard those comments, but I want to make it clear that I’m not a job-hopper, I’m not a resume-builder,” Subadan said. “As I told you, I believe God brought me here, and I will be here as long as He wants me here. I had a boss that always told me, ‘If your in-box is empty, you need a new job.’ My in-box is full. There is work to do here.

“There have been employees who’ve basically said, ‘You don’t have to do what she says, she’ll be gone in a year.’ Well, I’m ready to get busy on this second year. See, I’ve been places during my career seven years, eight years, 10 years. I want a sense of satisfaction in my job, and you get that by doing what has to be done. I am happy to bring a sense of stability to a government that has had four city managers in the last six years. If I wasn’t vested in this community, I wouldn’t have come here.”

And it’s the community’s reaction to Subadan that she says has been her biggest surprise.

“I’d hoped when I came here that people would accept me and my ideas, but I have been overwhelmed by the warmth the people of Albany have shown me, citywide,” Subadan said. “A lot of this job involves thankless work, but the people here have made me feel so welcome. People from all walks of life — from diverse ages, races, genders and socio-economic status — have been so kind and welcoming.

“That heartfelt kindness has not gone unnoticed. And it is appreciated.”