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sdlazenby@gmail.com | 503-894-1448 | http://www.scottlazenbybooks.com



The Human Side of Budgeting explores the relationship between budget systems and the overall management of the organization.  It approaches the budget from a local government management point of view, and makes the case that traditional budget systems work against almost everything we know about good management (i.e., that most of our employees are not, in fact, lazy and stupid). It is written both as a text for students in graduate programs and as thought-provoking essay for more senior managers who wonder why their budgeting systems produce such pathological behavior in their staff and governing bodies.

 

Price: $4.99 PDF; Print: $14.99 (www.Amazon.com); Kindle e-book: $0.99 (limited time)

hobbsmngt@aol.com | 209-640-4100 |


Ben Leiter presents professional-life snapshots of conflict, corruption, betrayal, murder, suicide, drug running, spying, sex scandals, courage, communists, Nazis, several heroes, and a monkey on the loose. Most days were meetings. He is a gray man and encountered the best and the worst in people. This is his story as a municipal bureaucrat, spanning forty-four years.


Local government is where we live, work, and die. It's a wild ride. Dare to take it.

 

Price: Print: $7.97 (Amazon.com); Kindle e-book: $0.99; $7.97 (Tower.com)

$7.97

“Flying Lessons for Leaders and Managers” is an engaging series of essays on leadership and experiences from a nearly 40 year management career in public service. Mr. Nordby is a second generation city manager with a gift for storytelling and humor. Managing a public organization is often a lot like piloting an airplane: handling headwinds, crosswinds and the occasional tailwind while maintaining situational awareness and navigating your organization to reach its destination.

Through his own management experiences and observations, coming of age in the home of his city manager father, the author provides insight and inspiration for anyone in a leadership position, whether in the public or private sector.

During a career in public management the author found value in using storytelling to illustrate a point or to empathize with others. These are some of his stories.

This volume of anecdotes on the profession of public management has been assembled from the author’s contributions to various publications of the Municipal Research and Services Center and Public Management, the journal of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The title, “Flying Lessons for Leaders and Managers” is taken from one of the articles.

The author gratefully thanks MRSC and ICMA for permission to reuse material originally published by them. 

 

 

aperry83@comcast.net | 630-388-8127 | http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000371211/Blueprint-for-Building-Community.aspx


American cities are a basic part of the fabric of our democratic traditions.  Many of these cities are served by professional city managers and administrators.  Cities that succeed at an outstanding level often employ professionals.  Yet the average American knows little about the role of these professionals.  City managers have seldom written about their experiences.


Blueprint for Building Community is a rare look at the career of a city manager.  This career portrait is set in two Illinois communities --Park Forest and Woodridge--communities which hold high aspirations for their residents.  City managers, partnering with elected leaders and citizens in these communities, have worked to fulfill those aspirations.  This book highlights the values and relationships that must be cultivated by the city manager to successfully build community.  Although the focus is on the role of the city manager, other key participants such as the elected officials, citizens, and employees can gain from the insights.  Community building requires connecting the key groups in the community to the mission and “sacred things” dear to residents.  Harnessing the energy of all the players produces tremendous results. For the many people who worked to build Park Forest and Woodridge, and so many communities across this country, this book is a tribute to their efforts.


This book is written to encourage the next generation of city managers to pursue the challenge of building communities.  The author chronicles the lessons and principles that add to success as a city manager.  He conveys the inspiration, passion and excitement to those who consider public service. 

 

Price: $6.99 - $17.95 (depending upon form) http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000371211/Blueprint-for-Building-Community.aspx

wbrick@thecsaedge.com | 760-445-6550 | www.TheScienceOfService.info



The Science of Service: Six Essential Elements for Creating a Culture of Service is the ultimate blueprint for any person or organization that provides service to the public. Offering practical solutions based on real-world experiences by a former government employee, this book is written in an easy-to-understand format with everyday examples, helpful tips and proven techniques for success. Improve the internal and external quality of service provided by your agency with this guide written for local, state, regional, and federal governments.

 

www.TheScienceOfService.info

$14.95

opowell@indiana.edu | http://www.authorhouse.com/


At last, a good book about one of the most exciting career opportunities available in the country today – city management. It is an exciting and rewarding career because all the great issues in our society – crime, pollution, urban sprawl, economic development, traffic congestion, race relations, and terrorism – are concentrated in our cities. City managers dealing with these issues are in a unique position to make a positive difference in the lives of people in their communities.

 

Price: $11.50 Paperback, $4.95 E-book.  Call (888) 280‐7715 to order.

$11.50

opowell@indiana.edu | http://www.authorhouse.com/


Christina Park and Orville Powell set out to look at some of the consequences of predicted population growth and identify connections to other large scale issues.  What they discovered in researching these topics is that it is not really about the answers, but about the questions. The questions that every city and town in America should be asking themselves.  The clock is ticking and we cannot wait any longer to begin addressing these issues.  It is time for local leaders to face these problems and begin the necessary discussions to look for ways to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Will you help save the planet?

 

Price: $11.99 Paperback, $3.99 E-book Call (888) 280‐7715 to order.

$11.99

carl@carlstephani.com | http://www.amazon.com 


Remember - or discover - what it's like to have your first city manager job. The tension, the frustration, and the exhilaration that come from meeting new staff, working with a council up close, and becoming involved in a community as you never have before. This true story is not about everyone's first manager experience, but it is about one that will keep your attention, and give you a hearty meal of food for thought. If you work in local government, if you work with local government, or if you have ever wondered how your local government works, this story will intrigue you.  It’s about employee cocaine use, what it led to, how it was discovered, and what was done about it.  It was a very complicated situation with some good lessons, especially for a new manager.

 

Price: $23.36 Paperback, $9.99 E-book http://www.amazon.com 

$23.36

carl@carlstephani.com | http://www.amazon.com


Zoning 101 will enable you to put everything related to zoning in context. As stated in the book's introduction by renowned land use attorney Dwight H. Merriam, FAICP, this book is "essential reading for every citizen who is interested in understanding this important aspect of the operation of his or her local government...Zoning 101 will turn the novice into an expert, and reinforce an expert's understanding of ... the seven basic elements that form the center of the universe for all zoning ordinances. The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities finds it "written in a concise, easy-to-read style, the primer introduces and explains the basic philosophy and administration of modern zoning ordinances."


Zoning 101 is designed to be accessible and informative for busy local elected officials, as well as a handy reference tool for staff professionals, especially in smaller communities with limited personnel and resources for planning and zoning. The book features a section on "the seven basic elements of zoning" plus a glossary. Areas of focus include application processing, planned unit developments, overlay zones, subdivisions, performance zoning, and enforcement procedures. Also, there are practical tips on how to tackle difficult zoning situations and ways to involve the public in a positive manner on zoning issues." The author also wrote The New City Manager - A Study in Government Ethics.  

 

Price: $23.36 Paperback, $9.95 E-book http://www.amazon.com 

$23.36