Newberry City Manager Turns Down Atlantic Beach

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry City Manager Mike New will be staying in Newberry. This comes despite the offer of what appeared to be a more financially lucrative city management position from the City of Atlantic Beach. New made the decision to remain in Newberry and notified Atlantic Beach on Thursday, Aug. 10, withdrawing his name from consideration for the position of city manager.

“I submitted my application after being encouraged by people in the Jacksonville area that I have professional relationships with,” said New. “My family lives in Fernandina Beach, and we are over there often visiting,” he said. “Plus, we love being on the coast, so it could have been a good fit for us.”

In an Aug. 7 City of Atlantic Beach special commission meeting, the commission approved a resolution appointing New as the City’s city manager. The resolution also authorized the execution of an employment agreement between the City of Atlantic Beach and New.

“Unfortunately, negotiations weren’t successful,” said New, who said he wasn’t actively looking for a new position. “I have submitted only one job application in the past five years and that was for the City of Atlantic Beach. I’m really happy at the City of Newberry. I couldn’t work for a better city commission,” he said.

New added, “My staff is top notch and the citizens are warm and welcoming. However, the opportunity to live closer to my mother and on the coast, along with all the encouragement I received from professionals in the Atlantic Beach/Fernandina area, were things to consider. But it just wasn’t a good fit after all,” New said.

New has been the Newberry City Manager since July 2014 and previously served as the Public Services Director for the City of Alachua for 10 years. He graduated in 1988 from the University of Florida with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Engineering.

New and his staff have earned recognition in several key areas of city management. His most recent recognition came when he was named 2023 Member of the Year by the Florida Municipal Electric Association in July.

During his tenure, the City of Newberry has established an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, finalized negotiations with the County to establish a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), earned recognition for Certification of Achievement in Excellence in Financial Reporting for four consecutive years, participated in a large-scale solar project expansion and is working to increase the City’s solid waste system into a regional wastewater system while also creating an environmental park.

“The Newberry City Commission is excited to know that our city manager will be staying at the helm and continuing to manage all the exciting projects that are happening in our community,” said Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe. “His steady hands and his commitment to our community are truly valued. We look forward to many more years with him.”

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