Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Executive Search topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Atlantic Beach commissioners table decision on executive search after heated debate
Summary
After hours of debate over whether to hire an executive search firm or appoint the interim manager, the Atlantic Beach City Commission voted 4–1 to table Resolution 26‑60 on hiring an executive search consultant until May 26, asking commissioners to return with shortlist preferences and staff to provide a cost matrix.
The Atlantic Beach City Commission on April 27 paused a decision on hiring an executive search firm to fill the permanent city manager role, sending Resolution 26‑60 to a future meeting after extended debate over process, cost and candidate outreach.
Bob Blanco, the city’s director of human resources, told commissioners eight proposals were received and scored by staff. “The remaining proposals were all within 10 or 15% of each other,” Blanco said, listing examples “in the upper twenties, 26, 28, 29, 30. I think there was a 32 or 34,000.” He described the review as an individual scoring process by three staff reviewers.
Commissioner Bould urged a different course. Citing turnover in the city manager position since 2013, he proposed bypassing a broader search and “make Mr. Hogancamp City Manager of this city today with a 6 month review period,” arguing the city could save time and money.
Other commissioners pushed back. Several said they wanted the opportunity to interview top firms and to see a clearer matrix of flat fees and potential additional charges, such as travel or placement advertising. Interim City Manager Kevin Hogancamp and procurement staff recommended a shortlist and interviews rather than selecting solely from the written rankings.
After discussion about fairness, local fit and the limits of an RFP score sheet, Commissioner Ring moved to table the resolution to a later meeting. The motion to table Resolution 26‑60 to May 26 passed 4–1, with the mayor noting commissioners should return with their top three firm preferences and staff preparing a cost breakdown for each proposal.
What happens next
The commission instructed staff to prepare a matrix that breaks down the firms’ flat fees and any additional charges, and commissioners said they would each come to the next meeting with their top three shortlisted firms for focused interviews. The resolution itself was not approved or rejected; the body deferred final action so members could perform additional due diligence.
