Application deadline for new City Manager to close Friday

September 09, 2009
Santa Paula City Council

Friday is the last day applications will be accepted for the City Manager’s position, and the City Council has signaled it will take public input on what qualifications the community feels would be appropriate for Santa Paula’s top job.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesFriday is the last day applications will be accepted for the City Manager’s position, and the City Council has signaled it will take public input on what qualifications the community feels would be appropriate for Santa Paula’s top job.Human Resources Director Kathy Campbell told the Council at the August 17 meeting the executive management recruit firm of Bob Murray & Associates of Roseville – retained by the Council in late June to find the candidates to replace Wally Bobkiewicz, who accepted the top job in Evanston, Ill. – has produced a brochure and placed ads in professional publications as part of the recruitment process.“We have also developed a link on the city website for community members to provide input,” regarding the search.Such comments, noted Campbell, can be made anonymously.Input can range from city priorities to candidate qualifications recommended by community members.For those who are not computer users Campbell said members of the community could call or fax her directly.Candidate interviews by the Council are tentatively scheduled for October 9.“Is there any plan for ways of soliciting community input on what kind of a city manager,” Councilman Gabino Aguirre said the community would prefer.
At this point, said Campbell, the Council had not directed such action.“I will follow up and ask the Council to plan some sort of community event,” that Aguirre said would be all-inclusive.Councilman Bob Gonzales asked if Aguirre preferred a separate meeting or dedication of a portion of a Council meeting to the issue.Noting that the application deadline is September 11, Aguirre said such input could wait until after the candidate screening process.And, “I think the cleanest way” to include the community would be to incorporate suggestions offered during a regular Council meeting.Employees, added Aguirre noted, are “a special category of community members” that he suggested representatives of same could meet privately.Public Works/Special Projects Director Cliff Finley, a native of Santa Paula, has been the Interim City Manager since Bobkiewicz’s departure on July 18.Bobkiewicz was Santa Paula’s City Manager for seven years.Bob Murray & Associates’ clients have included major California cities such as San Francisco, Long Beach and San Diego as well as Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and New Orleans, Louisiana.



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