During last week’s Holbrook City Council meeting, Tim Vickering of Interim Public Management addressed the council regarding the services his company provides in regards to interim public managers.
He thanked Mayor Bobby Tyler for inviting him to speak, noting that he had met the mayor at a recent convention. He explained to the council the services provided, which involves providing experienced leadership while cities search for permanent solutions for management.
Vickering noted that some interim managers are asked to stay on as permanent managers, referring to them as a “try ’em before you buy ‘em” opportunity.
His presence was confusing to some on the council, as they had approved Assistant City Manager Randy Sullivan as the interim manager at the previous council meeting with a contract that is in effect until May 2017.
So when Councilman CJ Wischmann moved to approve the services of IPM, Councilman Tim Dixon seconded the motion and Mayor Tyler quickly called for the vote without any discussion, he was interrupted by Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, we have a contract right now and we would be in breach of contract if we accept those services. I’ve been through this before and the city has paid a large sum of money for this. So if you’re prepared to do that, you guys just go ahead and go for it, but I’m gonna vote against it,” he said.
“If you wanted this to be done, Mayor Tyler, you would have been talking to these guys long before we had this agreement. We had this agreement the last meeting! Why…didn’t you say something then? This is the good ol’ boy thing that was mentioned here before,” stated Carlisle, clearly agitated at the proceedings.
Tylor said that he’d had a discussion with Sullivan to go back to his position as finance manager and not as city manager.
Councilman Richard Peterson shook his head, stating that they had already made a decision by offering the position to Sullivan. “We can’t then have someone else provide us with that,” he said.
Tyler responded that they were still entitled to look under Section C of the contract made with Sullivan. The contract presented stated a search could continue for a “city manager” not “interim city manager,” noted Dixon.
Peterson suggested that the council members put their focus on the selection of a permanent city manager and not an interim manager since that decision had already been made.
Carlisle agreed, adding that they needed to come up with a process of how to proceed in that matter.
When asked by Carlisle, Vickering noted that the cost to proceed was $1,500 plus a contract, but no dollar amount was presented. The City of Winslow is currently utilizing the services of IPM for their interim police department administrator at a cost of approximately $16,000 per month. Whether the cost would be the same in this instance was not discussed.
Councilman Earl Kester stated he didn’t know why they were discussing hiring an interim manager when they already had one.
Wischmann stated that he was completely confused about what had transpired. He withdrew his motion and suggested tabling the item. The remainder of the council agreed. Councilwoman Francie Payne was absent from the proceedings.
Many of those present at the meeting addressed the council during the call to the public in support of Sullivan. Alli Gardner, Jerrie Paschal, Barbara DeSpain, Kathleen Smith, Stacy Perez and David Smith voiced their support and appreciation for Sullivan.
“We need someone like Randy,” said Gardner. “He knows here and lives here. He knows what we need and I really appreciate that.”
Pascal suggested that the city offer Sullivan at least an interim contract until a decision for city manager is made.
“There’s a lot of good things going on in the city,” said Smith, who is the director of Community Development for the city, “and I give a lot of the credit to Randy Sullivan.”
Her husband, David Smith, stated that in his time volunteering and helping the city that he enjoyed working with Sullivan. “I hope you guys make the right decision and keep Randy.”
Mary Martinez also addressed the board in the last call to the public on items not on the agenda to voice her appreciation for city employees, especially previous City Manager Ray Alley, as well as Sullivan. She also shared comments she had collected from Holbrook citizens asking them what they liked about the community.
