Tuesday's Workshop Meeting on the City Adminstrator

I couldn't attend the meeting last night (that pesky job), but did receive the following report from Jim Schmidt. It is posted here with his permission.

Last night in the City Hall council chambers, Julie Stone, from the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, noted that 6 of the 8 elected officials at the tables were new to the process. Only Ms. Conlon and Mr. May had been through the lesson before. Mr. Owensby called in sick.

Ms. Conlon brought up the item sure to need attention - our Pension. The City Administrator advertisement wording appears ready to roll out. All eight felt that a minimum of a bachelors degree was important (which is in the ordinance anyway) but even more important was a track record of success in dealing with concerns facing Overland.

Ads in trade newletters and magazines, direct contacts to Julie Stone's peers and industry contacts, and online promotion seem to be a strong part of the task, for which EWGCC charges $5000. Julie shared countless examples of nearby cities, listing their populations, budgets and their CA salaries.

• Five weeks campaign will put the deadline for submission about mid January.
• All calls and resumes will go to East-West Gateway, where Julie will help the council weed out the worst.
• Interviews might take four weeks.

Julie told the audience that preservation of the applicant's identities is of extreme importance, and the responsible steps planned to preserve anonymity for them. All but one applicant will not be hired, yet all applicants must preserve the jobs they've considered leaving. When applicant anonymity is needed, the procedure must go into private sessions.

Much of what the team wanted was what Julie Stone called "Eco-Deevo". Nothing was mentioned about a better employees' manual [with a complaint resolution system, a whistle-blowing policy, and written and precise job descriptions],- but HR skills were mentioned as a desireable trait. Lack of a PW director was mentioned and noted. Other competencies required were financial savvy, motivational skills, good communication skills, insights into Missouri laws, regs and statutes, and a sense of humor.

The budget for salary was described as $75,000 to $90,000, Depending On Qualifications. The CA position must have compensation higher than any other city worker, Julie said. Also mentioned was City Halls "archaic" vacation plan, "nothing until a year of service." A modern plan provides accrual of combined vacation days and sick leave, accrued at so many hours each pay period, Julie said. Under the archaic system, a parent is discouraged, if not punished, for keeping a sick child at home. Such a plan is a deterrent, not a benefit. Julie said wise applicants would know better and seek work elsewhere.