Norfolk Daily News

Monday – February 4, 2008

The process of hiring a new city administrator for Norfolk is moving forward.

During the city council’s finance committee meeting Monday morning, Mayor Gordon Adams said the first review of applications will start March 31.

A brochure describing Norfolk and requirements for the job already has been prepared and will be sent to applicants. The city also has a data base of more than 700 names that was supplied by the League of Municipalities from cities of 10,000 to 40,000 population.

Adams said he’s not interested in hiring a search firm, which he said could cost up to $60,000, to find a permanent replacement or in having a search firm locate an interim administrator. Mayoral candidate Tom Schommer made the latter suggestion, saying an interim administrator could serve for a year while a long-term search is conducted.

Councilman Dale Coy said it’s unrealistic to think a replacement could be found by May 1. Adams said he agreed that it will take longer.

Both Schommer and mayoral candidate Sue Fuchtman will be included in the search process to replace Mike Nolan, who’s leaving April 30.

Here is the process that the mayor said he will use:
The human resources director will advertise and recruit for the position and screen applications for minimum qualifications.

The mayor, city council president and two council members with the most years of council experience will screen applicants in the human resource office and prepare a list of no more than 12.

Those applicants will be asked to respond in writing to supplemental questions in advance of a phone interview.

The mayor, city council president and two council members with the most years of council experience will review the written responses and conduct phone interviews.

Each elected official will individually review the applications and phone interview materials in the human resource office and designate up to six finalists. The applicants designated by the greatest number of those reviewing materials will be considered as the finalists for the position.

Finalists will be invited for public interviews with the mayor, city council, two mayoral candidates and two citizen representatives in a public session. During this interview, there will be an opportunity for citizens to ask questions of the applicant. Each candidate will have an opportunity to meet with city staff, tour city facilities and the community as a whole.

After the public interview process, the mayor will request input from the council members, the two mayoral candidates and the two citizen representatives.

The mayor will make a final recommendation for council approval.