After more than three decades on the job, Mountain Brook’s city manager is retiring later this year.

Sam Gaston, 68, has announced to city officials and employees that he plans to retire in November. It’s a decision he had been mulling over for the past year.

“It was about finding the right time for the city,” he said. “This has been a tremendous opportunity. I would never have dreamed a boy from Russellville, Ala. would have become the city manager of Mountain Brook.”

Gaston came to the city in 1993, after serving as city manager of Powder Springs, Ga. Before that, he held municipal administrative positions in Decatur, Gulf Shores and Anniston.

He was hired at a time when city officials were working to overcome a perception that Mountain Brook had been surpassed by some of its Over the Mountain neighbors. Like many, Gaston arrived as an outsider only knowing the city’s reputation as one of the Alabama’s wealthiest cities. But he was underwhelmed by the work culture at City Hall.

“I was not overly impressed with the quality of employees we had that time,” he said. “We had to work on changing the culture and professionalism of the staff. We were able to hire some very key employees in the first few years and they helped get the ball moving.”

As city manager, Gaston oversees the day-to-day operations of municipal departments. Mountain Brook has a staff of 257 employees, encompassing police, fire, the library and public works. He works with department heads and the city’s elected officials to implement policy and handle citizen issues.

It’s a delicate, deliberate and challenging job that Gaston has managed through several administrations. He also works as a city liason with Mountain Brook’s school system and chamber of commerce.

In all that time, only once did he entertain the idea of leaving for another position, he said. Now, he’s thankful he didn’t get it.

During his tenure, he’s overseen work on road and recreation improvements and renovations to the city’s unique commercial village areas. In addition, business districts have expanded to include Cahaba and Overton Villages, as well as Lane Parke. The city also added Alabama Veterans Park and revamped its athletic complex.

Mountain Brook now has more than 48 miles of sidewalks, connecting its commercial villages, churches, parks, and walking trails.

Gaston credits the vision of the various administrations and the city’s municipal employees.

“I’m most proud of our very professional and dedicated staff. We’ve got the best city employees in the nation, hands down,” he said.

During his tenure, Gaston also served as president of the International City/County Management Association. He said it was a chance to see how other cities go about their business, and the experience taught him a lesson.

“Even if you’re doing a good job, you can never reach perfection,” he said.

Gaston has been an ambassador for his particular job, advocating for other Alabama cities to embrace a council-manager form of government. There are about 15 city managers in the state, including Homewood(where the position is currrently open), Vestavia Hills, Clay, Pelham and Alabaster.

“It’s without a doubt the best form of local government,” he said. “It’s more efficient, more professional, more responsive, more ethical, and more innovative than the mayor-council form of government. That’s borne out by many studies. It’s a shame more cities in Alabama aren’t doing it.”

To stay on top of city needs, Mountain Brook conducts a citizen survey every three years. Gaston is particularly proud of the marks departments get in resident satisfaction with services.

But he said that also sets a high bar. Any successor on the job will have to use the staff effectively and work closely with the mayor and council.

“I tell each new employee when I meet with them: We are held to a higher standard in Mountain Brook,” he said. “You’re going to get paid better, you’re going to get good fringe benefits. You’re going to be appreciated by the mayor and council and the residents, but there’s a lot more expected of you too.”