How to replace Holter?
Marion administrator to retire June 30
Staff writer
Marion city council members began looking Monday at options for finding a new city administrator after disclosing that current administrator Roger Holter plans to retire June 30.
“We’ve got three options for executive search,” mayor David Mayfield said.
The council could run the search itself or it could contract with the Kansas League of Municipalities or Osenbaugh Consulting.
The League offers an executive administrative search for $4,200 plus advertising costs, estimated at $1,000 to $1,400.
The city could opt to form a selection committee to participate in candidate selection.
If the city contracts with the League, the league would provide salary guidance, handle advertising, review resumes, conduct initial interviews, interview finalists, extend a conditional offer, approve an employment agreement, and announce a new city administrator.
Osenbaugh, led by Don Osenbaugh and Hutchinson city manager John Deardorff, would charge an all-inclusive fee of $7,500. The firm estimated that the task would take four months.
Osenbaugh would meet with city council members, advertise the opening, have resumes reviewed by experienced city managers, and present top candidates to the city council.
After the council narrowed the field to three or four candidate, interviews would be scheduled on a single day. Council members then would agree on a top candidate and a runner-up. Contract negotiation would begin and a final offer would be made.
Osenbaugh said the council should anticipate a 60- to 90- day delay after selection to allow the selected candidate to give notice to his or her current employer.
Council members discussed whether an interim administrator would be needed.
“Whoever we have, we’re going to have to bring him up to speed,” Mayfield said.
One option with Osenbaugh is that the firm might provide an interim administrator.
“I like the idea of coming up with a selection committee,” council member Zach Collett said. “A lot of people are very talented at hiring people.”
Council member Ruth Herbel said she wanted to have the council and a section committee involved.
When Mayfield said he didn’t know whether hiring with a search committee would be a bad thing, Collett said he preferred hiring a firm.
“They know what they’re looking at,” Collett said. “We don’t.”
Mayfield said the council needed to discuss salary, whether to pay relocation expenses, and other items related to the search.
He said the search would be added to the council’s agenda for next Monday.