City Councilors have set an Oct 1. deadline to hire a new city manager and are hiring a recruiter in order to meet it.
Councilors Monday approved hiring public sector recruiting firm Springsted to handle the daunting task of finding, screening and interviewing a new city manager. Councilors will make the final hire.
In April, councilors opted not to renew former city manager Russell Allen’s contract. Allen was hired in 2001.
Former Chief Financial Officer Perry James been serving as an interim city manager since the start of this month.
Springsted was chosen from a group of three finalists, which were whittled down from more than 10 firms that answered the request for proposal. While an official figure is in negotiation, Springsted offered to do the work for about $25,000 plus expenses.
Because Councilors have already done the initial work by laying out what qualities they expect from a new city manager, Human Resources Director Steve Jones said, “We expect a fee reduction.”
The fee doesn’t include any behavioral assessments such as emotional intelligence tests or other testing that would gather data on a candidate’s strengths or personality.
“It’s just one other piece of information,” Jones said.
Springsted is based in St. Paul, Minn., but staff will work with firm employee John Anzivino out of its Richmond, Va.
Jones said if a contract can be signed quickly, Springsted could start the process as early as next week.
