Sunnyside approves interim finance director contract and GMP consultant agreement to place Pat Haley as interim city manager

Sunnyside City Council on March 9 approved two personnel actions intended to stabilize city administration: a personal services agreement for Monica L. Hofstetter to serve as interim finance director, and a contract with GMP Consultants to formalize the interim appointment of Pat Haley as city manager.

The interim city manager (speaker 12) explained that the finance director position is vacant and that Hofstetter has been working remotely to reconcile records, prepare federal reporting and train new finance staff. The contract presented to council spells out a scope of work and was described as time‑limited, tied to completion of specified deliverables in exhibit A. Council discussed an hourly rate mentioned in the meeting ($58/hour) and a council‑approved budget cap (discussed during the meeting as approximately $135,000 and change); staff said any exceedance would require returning to council for approval.

City attorney Julie Norton summarized the GMP Consultants contract, explaining that Pat Haley will be an employee of GMP and that the city will pay GMP an hourly rate for Haley’s services; the contract is terminable at will. Norton said Haley had accepted the appointment and could start the week of March 16 if the council approved.

Councilors discussed oversight, expected deliverables, and incorporating the interim finance function into subcommittee work to ensure quarterly reconciliations and training of incoming staff. Both motions passed on unanimous roll calls.