The Holbrook City Council will be looking to fill a position of interim city manager as plans progress towards filling the position permanently.
During the Aug. 14 meeting of the council, Mayor Bobby Tyler addressed the concern that Randy Sullivan’s interim city manager contract expired on June 22, leaving no one to address the overall operations of the city.
Sam Coffman with the law firm Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre & Friedlander working on behalf of the city was available telephonically and noted that having that position filled is key in order to ensure smooth operations. “This is a key leadership position that entails the authority to sign contracts, to do purchasing and act as liaison with the council,” he said.
City Clerk Cher Reyes said that the process of locating a permanent city manager will be long and anticipated a recruitment profile would be available for the council on Aug. 28, which is just the application proposal, indicating that it could be as late as December before a city manager is selected.
Councilwoman Francie Payne stated that she felt the situation for an interim manager could be resolved by offering an extension of contract to Sullivan, who has continued as the city’s finance director and is involved with public works. “He has not quit directing things and getting things done, it’s simply that the contract expired.”
Councilman CJ Wischmann disagreed stating that Sullivan had left the council “in a lurch,” noting his refusal to come to meetings and the animosity between Sullivan and the council. “I totally feel that he’s okay as a city finance director,” he said, but added that he did not want the contract with Sullivan extended.
Councilman Richard Peterson agreed with Payne, noting that he didn’t want to pay a recruiting firm to bring in an interim manager that would likely not start until mid-September. “We’ve had this team in place for two years now. I don’t suppose (the recruiting firm) is going to work for free to get somebody here. So to get somebody here that may serve for only two months and what are they going to do in two months? Randy has shown the integrity, even during the time right now he has not stopped doing the things he needed to do to keep this city moving forward.”
Mayor Bobby Tyler felt a consulting firm was the best solution for the issue. “I think we should utilize the company to bring in an interim city manager. You talk about the cost, we would have to pay someone anyways,” stated Tyler, adding that the city would benefit from someone coming in with what he called “a fresh set of eyes.”
Wischmann then stated that he felt there was current city staff with good knowledge of the city. “I think we should look at the possibility of asking some long-term city employees if they would be willing to take on that responsibility for a couple of months.”
Dixon asked Coffman if reaching out to the county manager was an option to consider in seeking an interim city manager. Coffman stated it was possible but didn’t feel it was an effective option. “I don’t know that they could be brought in and trained fast enough to be effective before a new hire is brought in.”
Coffman agreed that considering a current executive level position that would have the ability to effectively take on the position for a couple of months would be a viable option.
Councilman Adam Marsh stated that he felt utilizing a firm to select an interim manager would not be wise use of finances and time. “We’re the city council, it’s up to us to pick this person and I would be perfectly comfortable doing as council suggested and brainstorming the types of positions that are appropriate for that temporary promotion.”
The other council members agreed that the option seemed like a viable one and made the unanimous determination to hold a special meeting that was held last Monday, Aug. 20, at the city council chambers to discuss and possibly take action in selecting an interim city manager from the executive level employee pool already employed with the city.
