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Council to consider firms for hiring city manager

By NATHAN BRUTTELL
Today's News-Herald
Published Tuesday, December 22, 2009 7:07 AM MST

The City Council is expected to select a recruiting firm for the next city manager during tonight’s council meeting.

The city has been without a permanent city manager since the October firing of former City Manager Richard Kaffenberger. The council appointed Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs Manager Charlie Cassens as the interim city manager soon after and sent out a request for proposal for a search committee in November. The council received five official proposals earlier this month and will select from the top four tonight.

“This was a process the community asked us to do, and I think if you want the best possible outcome of getting the right candidate, you higher professionals to do it,” Mayor Mark Nexsen said. Nexsen was also a member of the review committee that selected the four firms.

The city did not go through the process of hiring a recruiting firm to select possible city manager candidates during its previous selection. Former Mayor Harvey Jackson nominated Kaffenberger, and the City Council made the selection after a 4-3 vote in December 2005.

“In the past, there were members of the council that disagreed with the selection and the council in general received criticism in not doing a search for a city manager,” Nexsen said. “We also could’ve hired our (Human Resources) department to conduct the search but an executive recruiting firm is in contact with possible candidates the entire year, whereas our HR department could not have been.”

The review committee ranked the top firms based on six criteria including qualifications, scope of services, references, costs, earlier termination and samples of documents and materials used. The committee selected four firms because of a tie for third place. The firms, in ranked order, are the Waters Consulting Group, Inc., Slavin Management Consultants, CPS Human Resource Services and Ralph Andersen & Associates. All four firms charge from $14,000 to $21,500 plus possible additional expenses.

The city will use general fund contingency for the contract, as the item was not included in the year’s budget, according to council communication. “A budget amendment will be brought before council to address all expenses related to the termination, recruitment and hiring of a city manager at a future date,” according to the note.

Nexsen said any one of the four firms could be selected during tonight’s meeting.

“In this kind of situation, you’re not going based on the lowest bidder,” he said. “The council is going to be judging these firms based on technical expertise and experience. … I believe that for the amount they’re charging, you’re going to get a pretty big bang for your buck.”

HR Director Shirlee Palbicki agreed any of the four firms could be selected.

“I don’t think I could say that one is any better than the others at this point,” she said. “Anyone of them are qualified, and that’s why they’re on that short list.”

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com.

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Comments (20 comment(s))

BonHomme Richard wrote on Dec 29, 2009 12:09 PM:

" I will bet the state won't let cities take over state parks. Why have all the over paid dead beets on well fair? Working for the state they get free cars, paid living space, and 200% the people needed to do the jobs. "

Brightone wrote on Dec 24, 2009 10:20 AM:

" I still elect Blazo for City Manager! "

Sameo Sameo wrote on Dec 23, 2009 5:31 PM:

" Here we go again blowing big bucks on a Headhunter for what? I thought Havasu was "cash deprived" and needed to cut expenses. How about a New Years resolution that we quit wasting money on all consultants, headhunters and other various BS merchants? Charlie Cassens is doing the job and should be crowned as the new City Mangler err...Manager. "

ivote wrote on Dec 23, 2009 1:00 PM:

" Your right, getoverit, I am glad you brought up that point. LaPaz IS worse than Mohave County. At least we have that to feel better about in comparison. The Total IQ for LaPaz County is about a 2! "

lifer wrote on Dec 23, 2009 11:05 AM:

" Cal, you are assuming a local person can't do that job. Let's examine how the interim manager does prior to judging. "

MN wrote on Dec 23, 2009 3:32 AM:

" annex "

getoverit wrote on Dec 23, 2009 12:24 AM:

" cal/hav wrote on Dec 22, 2009 6:48 PM:

Where else would a retired cop be a Judge. Try La Paz County they have several Judges with law enforcement. It's NOT just Havasu. Just because YOU and your sniveling friends don't know about it or want to grow up and face the facts other counties, cities and states have the same thing. Maybe life for you is more perfect in California. "

gatekeeper wrote on Dec 22, 2009 10:33 PM:

" Where is Tim Ernster? "

james wrote on Dec 22, 2009 9:07 PM:

" With money being so tight with the city, why not just leave the guy doing the job now and move on.. Seems we elect these people and all they want to do is spend more money for someone else to do their job..After reviewing the last several that were hired from outside, we didn't fair that well. Look in house and move on.. "

cal/hav wrote on Dec 22, 2009 6:48 PM:

" "Why do we have to bring someone in from out of the city? Why spend the time searching for someone when we have people who are knowledgeable about the people, the politics and the issues surrounding our city?"
THAT IS WHAT HAS IS IN THIS MESS. It's the Political Inbreeding that has gone on for years in this City. Where else would a retired cop be a Judge. A Fired, scandalized City Manager be Hired by a neighboring City. The money will be well spent if it brings a QUALIFIED professional who won't have nepotism involved with the aquatic center. Have a vendetta against public employees. Who won't waste money on Dog Parks while cutting Public Safety. The Political Inbreeding in this City has finally led to Cerebral Mutation and mental deformity that is evident in their Moronic decision making "

VoiceOfReason wrote on Dec 22, 2009 5:14 PM:

" Lifer and dubld make good points. Think about it...the CVB went "outside" and look what happend! She mucked things up, then bailed!! There's money well spent, huh?

Just like the Havasu merchants say, "Shop Local." "

don123 wrote on Dec 22, 2009 4:37 PM:

" The consutants will be paid to do a national search and a background check on the most qualified candidates they locate. They also have contacts with good candidates that have used their firms in the past and that have expressed an interest in certain jobs. In these difficult economic times, it will be important to have a financially responsible CM for LHC. "

lifer wrote on Dec 22, 2009 11:50 AM:

" Why do we have to bring someone in from out of the city? Why spend the time searching for someone when we have people who are knowledgeable about the people, the politics and the issues surrounding our city? We're so obsessed with bringing someone from out of town here, when we have people here who we refuse to be loyal to. "

dubld wrote on Dec 22, 2009 11:30 AM:

" I guess it's good to let an outside firm hire someone so there's not some sort of favoritism with the candidates...but one does have to wonder, with all the managers & people out of work in the area, is it worth the $25K to hire somebody to HIRE somebody willing to be the town manager? "

cal/hav wrote on Dec 22, 2009 10:52 AM:

" Can they throw in hiring a qualified Magistrate to fix that problem? Seems the council is finally recognizing what is screwing up this City. But they continue walking around with their EYES WIDE SHUT.
As for the Water Bills I think they are only postmarked Yuma. It use to be Vegas in the Old days when the Postal Annez was there. "

nomore wrote on Dec 22, 2009 9:49 AM:

" More money to waste, Get rid of the city`s H/R if thay can`t do there job.
And why are the water bills comeing out of yuma?? WE need the JOBS here. "

arizona 5150 wrote on Dec 22, 2009 9:17 AM:

" Who would want to be the city manager, the word is out about how difficult it is to work with the good old boys group “ladies included” in Havasu. Companies not bidding on jobs here is a sign people. The do for my buddy way of life has and the back door system has just about taken Havasu as low as it can go. A few made lot’s of money and many paid for it. "

CharlesM wrote on Dec 22, 2009 8:54 AM:

" It's a waste of money because the council will appoint Cassens permanently anyway. "

tiredofbunk wrote on Dec 22, 2009 8:34 AM:

" I hope everyone remembers Margaret wss part of the recall that hired Kaffenberger and did not look to fire him until he attacked the fire department that supported her election. At least this time they are actually going to look for a qualified candidate, not a bum from bullhead. "

BrightOne wrote on Dec 22, 2009 8:25 AM:

" I elect Blazo for city manager "

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