Kalamazoo commission forms interim subcommittee to plan city manager search
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Summary
Commissioners agreed to form a three-person interim committee to work with the city—mployee-relations staff on options for a city manager search, including whether to hire a national search firm and how to collect community input.
Kalamazoo City Commission members agreed Monday to convene a three-commissioner interim subcommittee to develop options and a timeline for the upcoming city manager search.
The panel will work with James Henderson, the city irector of human resources, to return to the commission at its next meeting with recommendations on whether to conduct a national search through an outside firm or perform the search in-house, and on planned venues for community input.
The discussion matters because the city manager oversees day-to-day municipal operations and the post will become vacant later this year. Commissioners debated how broad the search should be and how to give residents meaningful opportunities to comment.
Commissioner Bridal said she favored a broad recruitment effort: "I really feel strongly that there should be a national search for this," she said during the discussion. Several other commissioners likewise said the commission should solicit community input and consider national candidates while remaining open to strong local applicants.
Commissioner Decker said the city epartment already has contacts and recruiting experience that could reach beyond the local area and that the HR office could manage a national recruitment if the commission chose that route. Vice Mayor Hess and other commissioners said they wanted structured opportunities for the public to meet finalists and provide feedback before a final appointment is made.
Mayor Anderson proposed that three commissioners volunteer to meet with Henderson to draft the specific search components, time frame, and cost comparisons needed to decide whether to hire an outside search firm. Commissioners Bridal, Decker and Wilson agreed to serve as the interim committee and will meet with Henderson before the commission ecides at its next public meeting.
No formal vote was taken on the search strategy Monday; the commission asked the interim subcommittee and HR director to return with a proposal for formal consideration.
Looking ahead, commissioners noted the need to allow time for any contracted search firm procurement process and for onboarding the new manager before the current manager eparture. Commissioner Decker said the current city manager's last day is expected in mid-November, creating a target window for completion and transition planning.
