As the City of Holbrook awaits the outcome of a search for a new city manager, it was realized by staff that the city has been without one for the past week. According to City Clerk Cher Reyes, she was unaware that Randy Sullivan was no longer considered the interim city manager. “We just found out yesterday that Randy Sullivan is no longer the interim city manager,” Reyes noted in an email dated July 26.

Sullivan, who will hold on to his position as finance director, said that the 60-day contract as interim city manager ran out sometime around July 16-22. “I will still be helping out as needed,” shared Sullivan, “but I am no longer the interim city manager.”

Sullivan resigned his position as city manager on May 16 and on May 22, the council voted unanimously to accept the amendment to the City Manager Employment agreement, which accepted the resignation of Sullivan, while allowing him to continue working as interim city manager for 60 days and upon the conclusion of the 60-day period, Sullivan would return to his position as finance director.

On June 19, the council approved the services of Slavin Management Consultants in Mesa for the recruitment of a new city manager. Reyes explained last week, “The recruitment firm is telling me it will be a few weeks until the hiring process and verbiage is sent to the council for review.”

With that outcome still to come, city staff believes that another concern has been resolved. At the council meeting on July 10, concerns had been raised by Mayor Bobby Tyler and Councilman Tim Dixon regarding the process with which the new chief of police had been hired.

According to both Sullivan and Reyes, the selection by the city manager for the chief of police does not have to be ratified by the council as per the city charter. “The only thing the council will be required to do with regards to the hiring of Nathan Christensen as chief of police is to approve the contract that will be drafted,” said Sullivan.

Whether or not the council agrees with that determination will likely be revealed at the next council meeting to be held on Aug. 14.