5 Questions With City Manager Sam Gaston

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL - June represented for Sam Gaston quite a milestone. June of 2018 means Gaston has served as city manager for Mountain Brook for a quarter of a century. To put that into perspective, he has served as manager of the city through four different presidential administrations, seven Alabama governors and an exponential amount of change around the city he has helped run through all of those years.

In his capacity, Gaston serves as the chief administrative officer of the city - responsible for the overall operation and supervision of governmental functions of the city - and he is responsible for the appointment and dismissal of all employees (except the Police Chief and Fire Chief who are appointed by the City Council), preparation of the annual budget, and enforcement of all laws, ordinances and policies of the City. He serves as the chief advisor to the Mayor and City Council.

Gaston received his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University. He has served as President of the Alabama City/County Management Association, Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Anniston Sunrisers Kiwanis Club, and Homewood/Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club and he is a Practitioner-In-Residence/Online in the MPA program at Regent University. He served on the Executive Board of the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) from 2005-2008. He served as ICMA President from 2011 to 2012.

Patch caught up with Gaston to chat about Mountain Brook - what makes it a great place to live and do business, how it has changed, and where the city is headed.

What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Solving problems! Working with an outstanding staff!

What has been the most challenging aspect?

Resistance to change. Fear of change.

How much have you seen Mountain Brook change since you became City Manager 25 years ago?

So much! Commercial Villages improvements, sidewalks added and linking our commercial villages, schools, parks and neighborhoods. New commercial developments added to the city such as Cahaba Village, Mountain Brook Plaza, Overton Village, The Shoppes at River Run and Lane Parke, recreational improvements, including Cahaba River Walk.

If you were trying to convince someone to move to Mountain Brook, what three selling points would you use?

Outstanding municipal services including low crime, great school system, convenience to commercial villages, downtown Birmingham, Highway 280 and I-459.

How do you see the city in 10 years? What do you think will change? Stay the same?

I think the community will continue to evolve to meet the future challenges it will face and strive to increase the quality of life.

Photo courtesy of Sam Gaston