Council - Administrator - Financial Administrator - Town Clerk
Department Heads - Legal Advisors

Town Administrator

Christopher J. Russo
Phone: (954) 434-0008
Fax : (954) 434-1490
Email: crusso@swranches.org
Address:
6589 SW 160 Avenue
Southwest Ranches, FL 33331

 
Christopher J. Russo became the Town Administrator of the Town of Southwest Ranches in March 2007. The services continue to be provided on a contractual basis through Mr. Russo’s firm.

As the Town Administrator, Mr. Russo is responsible for directing and supervising the administration of all operations of the Town government with the exception of certain financial matters, as per the Town Charter; the supervision of all staff and consultants; routinely advising and making recommendations to the Town Council regarding Municipal Services, Contracts, and Capital Improvement needs.

Before forming his own firm, Mr. Russo was the City Manager of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, a city with an estimated market property value of over $7 Billion Dollars. At Sunny Isles Beach, Mr. Russo totally restructured the budgetary process and operating departments of the city government; developed personnel policies and procedures, including a market-driven compensation plan. He has also planned and initiated a Commission approved long-term Capital Improvement Program that was vital to the redevelopment of the City, which includes over $40 Million Dollars in Capital Improvements. The center piece of that program was the construction of the Government Center.

Mr. Russo started his career in the public sector as Assistant to the Manager in Scarsdale, New York. There he garnered the professional experience that he would capitalize upon today. At Scarsdale, Mr. Russo’s responsibilities involved various aspects of police, fire, public works, parks and recreation, finance, planning and budgeting (estimated property value of $6 Billion Dollars).

Mr. Russo’s career took a significant turn when he became the first Village Administrator for the Village of Rye Brook, New York. This position was three-fold and included the duties and responsibilities of Village Clerk and Budget Officer. As Village Administrator his responsibilities included administration of all government services including personnel police, fire, public works, parks and recreation; management and acquisition of public land; labor contract negotiation and dispute resolution; planning process and economic development. His Village Clerk duties included conducting village elections and records management. As Budget Officer, he was responsible for the entire budget process (estimated property value of over $4 Billion Dollars).

Mr. Russo has assisted local governments in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida with the development of strategic plans for the delivery of local government services. He has conducted executive searches for local government administrators/managers and department heads. Further, he has served as a labor negotiator resolving labor issues and settling contracts for local governments. Mr. Russo has spoke at over 30 conferences and group meetings on topics such as “Innovations in Local Government”, “Public/Private Partnerships”, “Economic Development Incentives”, and “Leadership in Adversity.”

Mr. Russo has served in a leadership capacity or as a member of many civic and municipal organizations, including the Florida City County Management Association, International City/County Management Association, Municipal Administrators Association, New York State Municipal Management Association, and the American Society for Public Administration. He was an Executive Board Member of the New York State Conference of Mayors, and the Chairman of the Long Island Sound Task Force’s Point Source Subcommittee.

Mr. Russo is a graduate of Pace University in New York, earning his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees, respectively.

The Assistant Town Administrator assists the Town Administrator in all facets of Town administration, exercises administrative direction over several Town functions and departments, is responsible for managing special projects at the direction of the Town Administrator, and may function in the capacity of Town Administrator in the event of absence, vacancy, or as directed.

Specific duties of this position include:

Assistant to the Town Administrator

Cheryl Williams
Phone: (954) 343-7476
Fax : (954) 434-1490
Email: cwilliams@swranches.org
Address:
6589 SW 160 Avenue
Southwest Ranches, FL 33331

Specific duties of this position include:

• Types documents, correspondence, memoranda, contracts, and other papers from handwritten notes, dictation, verbal instruction, or transcription utilizing word processing equipment, desktop publishing, and spreadsheet software as appropriate.
• Prioritizes, channels, and facilitates communication from Town Council, Department Heads, and staff through the Town Administrator's office. Attends staff meetings; prepares and distributes notes on meetings as required; performs pre and follow-up work as appropriate to include scheduling and logistics.
• Greets and screens visitors and callers, making referrals to appropriate personnel or personally resolving the matter. Provides basic and specific information to telephone and in-person inquiries. Answers the telephone, waits on the general public, and provides information related to department and/or Town policies and procedures, makes appointments and announces callers.
• Assists in assembling and preparing data, photographs, charts, maps and other related materials as required by the Town Administrator. Assists the Town Administrator on such administrative support matters as organization procedures and the general administration of the Town Administrator's office.
• Composes correspondence and memoranda independently. Initiates and maintaines a variety of files and records. Briefs Town Administrator and Assistant Town Administrator on current activities in the office and the Town. Researches, compiles, and analyzes data for special projects and various reports as directed.
• Prioritizes, distributes and processes incoming and outgoing mail for the Town Administrator. Coordinates travel arrangements for the Town Administrator. Maintains appointment schedule and makes commitments for the Town Administrator. Notifies staff of directives of the Town Administrator and maintains appropriate files.
• Works in conjunction with and supports the Town Administrator and Assistant Town Administrator as necessary. Types, proof reads and processes a variety of documents including general correspondence, forms, memos, statistical charts and specialized documents from drafts, notes, verbal instruction or dictated tapes using a typewriter or word processing or computer equipment. Reviews documents for accuracy, completion and conformance to established procedures.