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City council moving forward on hiring of new city administrator
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The City of Caledonia is moving “full-speed ahead” with the recruitment and hiring of a new city administrator. Richard Fursman, president of the Brimeyer Group, attended the Dec. 7 council meeting and brought the council up to speed as far as the process was concerned.
The council hired the Twin Cities-based recruiting company last fall to find a new administrator to replace long-time clerk/administrator Bob Nelson, who retired in October, after serving the city for 25 years.
Several issues had to be hammered out before Fursman and his staff could complete the recruiting brochure which is used to attract candidates.
The salary range for the administrator position was one of the issues. Fursman had conducted a salary survey of various cities in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa to help the council members understand what city administrators in other cities of Caledonia’s size are receiving. The average salary was approximately $80,000 per year. Fursman suggested the city use a starting salary range of $70,000 to $80,000.
“You know where I stand on this issue,” Mayor Bob Burns said. “I feel that range is too high.”
“We can make it a wider range if you would like,” Fursman replied. “The only concern I have is if there is a candidate that you really like, but he or she won’t commit because their salary range is higher than what the city is offering.”
Burns asked Fursman how Caledonia’s benefits compare with other cities of this size. Fursman said Caledonia’s benefits are better than most he has seen and admitted the benefits need to be figured in.
“And what about our cost of living?” Burns continued. “A home in Caledonia has got to be considerably less to purchase than one in Cannon Falls or other communities around the Twin Cities.”
Fursman again agreed with Burns and felt those points should be included in the recruitment brochure.
The council decided to have the starting salary range set at $60,000 to $75,000.
Fursman then went through the time frame he was recommending. The recruitment brochures would be completed ASAP, the announcement of the opening with the requirements listed and the deadline for applications would be Jan. 18, 2010.
By Feb. 8 the Brimeyer Group would have the top 10 candidates and a packet of information about them ready for the city council to review. The council would have about a week to decide on the top five candidates. A two-day interview and “meet and greet” the top five candidates will be held Feb. 19 and 20.
The names of the top five candidates would be made public and a more in-depth profile of each candidate will be provided.
The two-day interview will include several public functions where Caledonia residents would have an opportunity to be on hand to meet the candidates, and for the candidates to get to know a little more about the Caledonia community.
Fursman asked the council what the expectations of the candidates would be as far as lodging, travel expenses and meals during the two-day event.
The council felt that most of the meals would be covered during the two-day event with the various “meet and greet” sessions. At first they felt it would be more advantageous to cover travel expenses instead of lodging. But when it was pointed out a candidate might be coming from “Oregon or Texas” and footing the bill for airfare might get a little steep, the council agreed to put the five finalists and their spouses up in the local hotel would probably be more economical.
“At least we would have a concrete figure there,” Burns noted. It was also pointed out that the city could possibly get a “group rate,” which should keep the cost at under $400 for the lodging.
The council agreed to provide one night of lodging for the five finalists and provide the meals during the two-day interview process.
If all goes as planned, the council will select the new administrator from the five finalists, who will begin duties some time in March of 2010.
Consulting fee for Nelson
In a related matter, the council unanimously approved a motion by Burns and seconded by Councilman Tom Murphy to pay former clerk/administrator Bob Nelson $30 per hour for consulting work. Interim Clerk/Administrator Mike Gerardy said Nelson has come into the office on several occasions to answer questions and utilize his 25 years of expertise.
“His knowledge is so valuable, and there have been a few times when I’ve called him and asked him to come up and help me,” Gerardy said. “He’s always been willing to do so, and I feel he should get reimbursed for his time.”
Nelson will be classified as an independent contractor. The council hopes they will be able to use his services from time to time during the “break-in” period of the new administrator.
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