The City Manager Recruitment Saga

Terry H. Randolph (brown striped shirt)
and a few students from
his Political Science class
at Palm Beach State College

Politics is a science and we saw all the tactics in work last night from Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell on the city manager applicant process. He must have spent the entire day preparing for the action. He never lost a beat. In fact, he runs the show.

Last night the Mayor said that any discussion going over her 30 minute rule would go to a workshop. However, the discussion and ultimate votes on the city manager applicant process, that did 180^ turn, took 2 hours and at times was very confusing.

Back on January 3, the City Commission voted on a 3/2 to use city staff as well as the Range Rider program consisting of Kurt Bressner, retired city manager from Boynton Beach and Mark Durbin another Range Rider. The Range Rider Program consists of former city managers who donate their time to help cities find a qualified interim city manager and permanent city manager. Why did the Visionaries want to do this? Control of the resumes and who would be on the short list for their approval. Money was a secondary consideration.

Steve Carr said, "The recruitment of a City Manager is arguably the most important decision any City Commission must make. The recruitment process is also one that, generally, few City Commissions have experience and expertise in designing and implementing. Consequently, I believe that utilizing the services of a search firm, to be selected by an RFP process, for filling the City Manager position on a permanent basis is the best alternative." His good advice failed led by Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell. Instead the Visionaries voted to go with the volunteer group, the Range Riders. The volunteer group and/or the Human resource department was to submit all resumes to the Commission on a weekly basis.

On January 24, the Ranger Riders, as well as our HR Director, were told to review the resume and credential packages of applicants desiring to serve as the Interim Lake Worth City Manager for the purpose of recommending a slate of candidates from among the 65 applicants. Selection team members were tasked with conducting independent applicant reviews using the job description and criteria established by the City Commission, while applying their considerable experience and judgment to the task. The City Commission has always had the opportunity to select candidates from the entire applicant list.

Last night, February 7, it all went to hell. Why did it all go south? Scott Maxwell's candidate of choice was not on the short-list. The Vice Mayor was losing control of his goal--appointing someone of his choice as city manager. Anyone from Staff who sits at the first bench across from the dais will get the wrath of Scott Maxwell. He went after Mark Farrington, Human Resource Director, with a vengeance. Farrington stood up to him with equal conviction. Farrington said that it was his job to sift through the resumes and choose only based on the qualifications. Background and criminal checks would be something he would eventually conduct. In order to do background checks you have to have permission, in writing, from the applicant.

Control of the process was grabbed back by the Commission. The first Motion was if there are 1 to 15 qualified city manager applicants, then each on the commission will pick 5 of their top choices; if there are over 15 qualified applicants, then the commission will choose 8 applicants. The second motion had to do with narrowing down to 3 final applicants...Staff will compile the lists from all 5 commissioners.

Now, all of the applicants will be chosen by the City Commission, not those who they originally voted to screen and present their top choices, the HR Director and the Ranger Riders. Also, by consensus, the city is no longer interested in hiring an interim city manager because of only one week dividing the two processes. They will seek a permanent city manager only and applicants who have submitted for an interim position will be contacted today to see if they are interested in a permanent position. There have been a total of 67 resumes submitted to date with cut-off final date for submission on February 17.

I have reprinted some of my theory--total Control of City Hall administration by Scott Maxwell and the entire Visionary Trio

1. It was planned all along to fire Susan Stanton. Triolo and Amoroso got roped into the deception and now are prominent members of the "club," the Visionaries.
2. As no three people can possibly be this stupid, they are looking to control the resumes, control the process, control it all.
3. They shunned advice from Steve Carr for whom they have high regard. Why? He is the only employee, per Maxwell, that is qualified to step in as temporary city manager. Instead, they have forced him to act as interim, dual responsibilities, awhile longer. He has told them that this is a bad decision.
4. They ignored Bressner. They did the same with him as they did with Carr and then they appointed him to do the searches. Why? Control.
5. In my opinion, Maxwell wants to hire "yes man" Joe Kroll as city manager, someone who previously reached his Peter Principal. Why would he do this? Control.