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Council discusses Sumter firm for city administrator search; no selection recorded
Summary
Council members discussed proposals from recruiting firms and voiced a preference for a firm identified as Sumter because it offers a two‑year placement guarantee and a faster timeline; staff said the firm was within budget but members raised questions about the firm president's prior contract endings. No final award or vote was recorded.
City Council members spent the meeting discussing proposals from recruiting firms to fill the vacant city administrator position, with several members saying they favored a firm identified in the transcript as "Sumter" because it offers a two‑year guarantee and a shorter search timeline.
The discussion began after staff introduced the proposals and a motion to discuss was made and seconded. Council member 1 said, "The top 1, I think that was Sumter," and added that Sumter's two‑year backing was an important protection if the chosen candidate resigned or the placement did not work out.
Staff added that the preferred firm "were within budget too," and the chair noted that several firms had multi‑month timelines but that Sumter said it could shorten the process to "5 or 6 weeks," with associated cost implications. Council member 2 cautioned that some larger firms might assign less‑experienced staff to the search and asked whether any references had been contacted; staff said no reference checks had been completed.
Council member 2 also raised a concern about the firm principal's prior employment record, saying that for the last one or two cities where the principal had served, "his contract was ended on both of those" and that a gap appeared on the principal's resume; the reason for those contract endings was not specified in the materials or during the discussion.
Members emphasized that they want a recruiting firm that would work directly with the council rather than rely primarily on staff, and they discussed proximity and travel costs when comparing firms with offices in Georgia, Florida, Kansas City and on the West Coast. The chair reminded members that, if they chose to alter the ordinance language that sets minimum qualifications for the city administrator position (the transcript references a master's degree and about five years' experience as a department head or assistant city administrator), any change would require two readings of an ordinance.
No formal vote or contract award for a recruiting firm was recorded in the transcript; the recorded actions show a motion to discuss the proposals (seconded) and subsequent discussion. The council ended discussion and the chair opened the possibility of a motion to adjourn.
