Council debates appointing interim city administrator while recruitment continues

Council members on March 5 discussed whether to appoint an interim city administrator so overstretched staff can get immediate help, or to re-open recruitment and wait for additional candidates.

Members said staff are at capacity and need support. One councilor said staff had told them they were "drowning" under current workloads and urged appointing an interim who is willing to step in now. Other members said they want to re-advertise the permanent position to ensure a full candidate pool and noted that past recruitment drew candidates who later declined because of pay expectations.

Councilors debated whether an interim appointment would prevent posting the permanent job; staff clarified an interim can be appointed while the city continues to accept applicants, but councilors asked that any interim arrangement and duration be documented in writing. One member urged that the council keep its earlier commitment to create the administrator position and not treat the interim arrangement as a way to avoid fulfilling that commitment.

The transcript records a motion and extended discussion about terms and posting; a final vote or appointment is not recorded in the provided segments. The council agreed to draft documentation and consider the matter again during the next meeting.