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Council discusses city administrator recruitment, considers vendor to pre‑screen candidates
Summary
Council reviewed a city‑administrator job posting (about 15–20 applications so far), discussed whether to hire a search firm (estimated $30,000–$40,000) or use a lower‑cost HR scanning service ($175/hour) to pre‑screen applicants, and authorized the mayor to explore terms of a vetting/consultant agreement.
Staff reported the city posted the city administrator position for a 30‑day period and had received roughly 15–20 applications. The job description is based on council‑approved code duties and a salary range was listed ‘‘in line with past practice,’’ staff said.
Council discussed options for conducting the search. Some members said they preferred using existing free lists and local outreach to reduce cost; others noted search firms can handle candidate advertising and manage the process but typically charge $30,000–$40,000. Staff described an intermediate option: an HR vendor that would scan applications and perform initial phone screenings for roughly $175 per hour and could optionally provide background‑check services for finalists.
The council voted to direct the mayor to work out contract terms with the vendor so the proposed scope and costs can return to a future business meeting. Council members also discussed whether to extend the posting beyond 30 days depending on applicant quality. Staff said they would report back after the initial posting period and coordinate an interview process if council elects to run the process locally.
Why it matters: the city administrator is the senior executive for municipal operations and the recruitment approach affects cost, timeline and community involvement in candidate selection. Council directed staff to evaluate lower‑cost vendor options and to return specifics to a future regular meeting for approval.
