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Retired city managers outline options for Ennis’ next city manager hire
Summary
Two senior advisors from the Texas City Manager Association briefed the commission on the council‑manager form of government and recruitment options for a new city manager, emphasizing the value of defining candidate criteria, confidentiality considerations under Texas PIA, and pros and cons of search firms versus posting an ad.
Retired city managers Greg Vick and A.C. Gonzales presented to the Ennis City Commission on Aug. 20 about how to approach hiring a new city manager. They said the council‑manager form requires elected officials to set policy and the city manager to execute that vision, and offered practical advice on recruitment.
Greg Vick described the senior‑advisor group and said the role of the commission is to define what it wants in a candidate, noting that search firms can cast a wider net and know the candidate pool. A.C. Gonzales discussed on‑the‑ground experience and suggested the commission clarify the relationship it expects between council and the city manager before recruiting. The advisors recommended commissioners consider compensation, candidate chemistry, and core competencies; Vick observed that many city managers hold master’s degrees in public administration and that the hiring process typically takes 60–90 days if well‑executed.
Commissioners asked about commission‑staff relations and confidentiality during recruitment. The advisors flagged Texas public information considerations for applications and noted the need to balance transparency with candidates’ privacy. The presentation closed with an invitation for commissioners to stop presenters during the presentation for questions; commissioners thanked the speakers for the guidance.
The briefing was presented as guidance, not a city recommendation, and commissioners said they would review the materials and next steps as they consider options for selecting the next city manager.
