Town Working With Outside Firms To Find Next Manager

Published September 6, 2017 at 9:39 PM CDT

Outside the Town Council Chambers on the fourth floor of Uptown Station.

The Normal Town Council on Tuesday agreed, with one dissenting vote, to hire a recruitment firm to find its next city manager.

Current City Manager Mark Peterson announced his retirement last month, effective in March 2018. Council members have also worked with consultants Lyle Sumek Associates to distil the qualities they think are important for a city manager.

Mayor Chris Koos said Wednesday during GLT's Sound Ideas that Gov HR will handle some "HR services council isn't really equipped to do themselves."

"Some of us have gone through that process, but a lot have not," said Koos. "Basically it's kind of a staff position for the council to assist in selecting a new city manager."

Among its duties, Gov HR would advertise the position, vet the initial round of applications, and coordinate interviews. The contract will cost the town $20,000. The results of the discussion with Lyle Sumek Associates was passed on to Gov HR when the town first contacted the firm.

Mayor Chris Koos during his re-election announcement in July 2016 at Uptown Circle.

"Good background in fiscal management, having some vision for community, a strong person willing to engage in the community at large. I think these are important things for a city manager," said Koos, who added a lot of the qualities council is looking for are those already possessed by current City Manager Mark Peterson.

"We won't get a Mark Peterson," said Koos. But Koos said that because of some of what the town has accomplished and resulting recognition, he's expecting a superior candidate pool.

The contract with Gov HR includes a national search process that will take approximately 12 weeks from beginning to end. The process is expected to begin in mid-September.

Council member R.C. McBride, who is also GLT's general manager, voted against the proposal and said he thought the scope was too broad and that council could assume some of the recruitment duties.

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