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Council authorizes $20,000 for city administrator recruitment and approves communications specialist hire
Summary
Council approved an additional $500 for the city-administrator executive search—bringing the total to $20,000—after staff said social-media and news searches required the increase; council also voted to approve the communications specialist employment offer with legal counsel advising council backing for the outward-facing position.
The Washington City Council on Aug. 4 approved a staff-recommended increase in purchase authorization for an executive recruitment contract and separately approved a communications specialist employment offer.
Joni (staff) said she spoke with the search firm (Jim Art, Municipal Services) about reallocating services; the firm agreed but noted that social-media and news-article searches performed by its staff increased the price by $500, bringing the total contract to $20,000. "He did send a revised proposal for 20,000, so it's only a $500 increase," Joni said. Council moved to approve the revised authorization and voted unanimously.
On the communications specialist position, city administrator Dennis Carr explained that hiring typically rests with the city administrator but legal counsel recommended council approval for this outward-facing role; council moved and unanimously approved the employment offer.
One council member noted lingering concerns about the recruitment approach but expressed appreciation for staff efforts to respond to feedback. The council did not change the approved structure and voted to proceed with the revised recruitment authorization and the communications hire.
