City leaders debate urgent search for new finance director

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the critical need for hiring a new city manager and finance director, emphasizing the urgency of filling the finance director position due to its complexity and importance in managing state and federal funds. A consultant specializing in executive searches highlighted the challenges of finding qualified candidates for these specialized roles, noting that a 10% discount would be offered for the second search due to existing materials from previous searches.

The consultant advised that, given the difficulty in sourcing a finance director, it would be prudent to prioritize this role before hiring a city manager. However, they acknowledged that if the current finance director, who is highly regarded, is willing to extend their tenure, it may allow for a more strategic approach to hiring a city manager first.

The meeting also included discussions on selecting an executive search firm, with Baker Tilly emerging as a favored option due to their successful track record in previous searches, including the hiring of the current city manager. Concerns were raised about the performance of another firm, SGR, which had previously overlooked critical information regarding a former city manager's background.

Council members expressed confidence in Baker Tilly's capabilities, citing their familiarity with the community and previous successful placements. The consensus leaned towards engaging Baker Tilly for the upcoming searches, with plans to expedite the process to ensure that candidates are ready for consideration as soon as the city manager is appointed.