Beaumont mulls city manager finalists

Beaumont City Council members have closed in on naming a new city manager, having announced the three finalists who could take over as city manager in the wake of longtime manager Kyle Hayes’ departure.

The top three candidates with the highest scores – in alphabetical order – were: Christopher S. Boone, Lionel D. Lyons and Kenneth R. Williams. Each was brought in for in-person interviews June 22 in a closed executive session. In addition to interviews, the council will discuss the appointment timeline, duties and roles of the city manager.

More than 50 people applied for the Beaumont city manager position. The top 16 were narrowed down by executive search firm Baker Tilly and presented to council. Those individuals were then ranked by the council on a number of factors and criteria.

Boone came to the city of Beaumont in 2006 after serving as the public works director for West Orange for four years and as the deputy director of land use administration for the city of Mobile, Alabama for six years.

He has a master’s degree in urban planning from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Alabama.

Boone’s resume describes him as a “master of urban planning graduate with over 25 years of experience in the management of city operations with a passion for the improvement of cities and a record of success in managing, including planning, policy, budgeting, data-based analysis, project implementation and oversight and technology integration. Creative problem solver with the ability to initiate and implement a productive work program, lead and inspire a diverse staff, and create and maintain strong community relations.”

Lyons’ biography says he’s “an accomplished and dedicated executive leader, manager and consensus builder. Lyons has more than 35 years of municipal government experience in various capacities. Most recently, he served as deputy city manager for development and operations with the city of Petersburg, Virginia.”

He holds a bachelor of science in political science from North Carolina A&T State University and a master of public administration from The Ohio State University. The executive summary provided in Lyons’ resume describes him as “an accomplished goals-oriented, results-driven and employee-focused executive leader with a successful 35-year career leading and managing in a large and small, multi-faceted organization. (He has the) ability to rapidly identify organizational strengths and opportunities, develop strategic partnerships, manage change, and direct complex operations in a fast-paced, high production, and team-oriented work environment.”

Williams is a self-described semi-retired city manager for the city of Buda,  having served approximately 18 years total in city management. Williams is an ICMA-credentialed manager serving as president of the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) in 2019/2020 and currently serves as an elected board member by his peers to the International City Managers Association Executive Board (ICMA). Williams holds an associate’s degree from Angelina College, a bachelor of business administration from Stephen F. Austin State University and a master of public administration from Villanova University.

Williams’ resume describes the man as a “highly skilled and visionary leader (who) works collaboratively with city council in creating and implementing strategic plans having modeled one of the best cities in the country with an excellent quality of life. (He has) successfully managed an ever-changing organization to one that is the most respected in local government. (He is) eminently esteemed in the profession in having the utmost skills in leadership, management, integrity, ethics and trust in having been chosen by peers as president of the Texas City Management Association and elected to the board of the International City/County Management Association. (He has) 15-plus years as a city manager in Texas. Highly skilled in city planning, economic development and personnel leadership.”