By Mike Phillips
The most important item on yesterday’s city commission agenda was billed as a “discussion” about the city’s process for finding a city manager. Given the amount of running around in circles that followed, it was more like a contest to see which commissioner could sow the most confusion — particularly commissioners David Sturges and Darron Ayscue (who changed or modified their ideas frequently enough to make onlookers’ heads spin).
Citizens who made comments were far more concise. Hire a professional search firm, they said, and tell the firm what you are looking for. Five such search firms have made proposals to the city.
Then came the first round of confusion, over who should determine what the city is looking for in a new manager. At first some commissioners said they thought the citizen advisory committee that will have its first meeting April 17 should determine what the city is looking for. They eventually seemed to drop that idea, but they didn’t formally accept the obligation themselves, either.
After more circling around on the question of hiring a professional search firm, they settled on seeking an “a la carte” arrangement with Strategic Government Resources (SGR). At first, there were suggestions that the firm would just be used to “vet” candidates, though the nature of “vetting” wasn’t clearly spelled out.
Then, after some more circling around, the word “recruit” emerged. After all, professional search firms do know where to look, and citizen committees don’t.
Three other important services that SGR offers weren’t discussed, although Commissioner James Antun pointed out that they would cost only $2,500 more:
— Leading the search process.
— Handling all logistics associated with scheduling interviews.
— Offering a one-year guarantee on hires they have recommended.
Firms like SGR aren’t headhunters, as some people call them. They are matchmakers. They get to know the city and its leaders and scour the applications and their more general knowledge of the municipal management landscape and look for good matches.
One question was where the citizen committee fits in. The general response was that the search firm would submit a list to the citizen committee. A list of every candidate who survived the “vetting”? Or a list that has been edited by the search firm’s matchmaking skills? That’s not clear.
And then came a question (one of many) from Commissioner Chip Ross that almost stumped the other commissioners: Who is in charge of this process? Finally, Mayor Bradley Bean said, “The chair of the citizen committee.”
After receiving the list, he said, the committee will narrow it down to a manageable number and bring finalists in for interviews with the committee and the commission.
After that, he assured all present, the commission will do its job and decide.
WTF? Chaos.
Chaos is being kind.
The process certainly left many of us shaking our heads. Ignoring the one-year guarantee is shortsighted. If the successful candidate walks away after a few months of this chaos, the commissioners are back to square one. How were the search firm proposals rated? Firms that do not get the bid can request a summary of the ranking–was there a set of criteria?
I ran the Superintendent search for a School District. The School Board wanted a “blended approach”. The search firm would provide me with vetted candidates and I completed the process. There was no guarantee by the search firm since they weren’t involved in the actual selection and received about 50% of their normal fee. Is the city HR Director advising the Commissioners? Sounds like a real time suck and 5 Commissioners pulling and pushing in different directions!
Aren’t you a part of CCDF?
This is why experience and thoughtfulness matters. We have a well meaning but inexperienced group of men running our city. This is what on-the-job training looks like.
“well meaning”???? questionable characterization. “inexperienced” — accurate.
This is an embarrassment for our City.
The level of incompetence of our elected officials is astounding.
I am so disappointed that our city commission is still bucking the only professional way to hire a city manager. Why? Is it ignorance? Corruption? Mayor Bean needs to explain why he is so against hiring a search firm. Surely he knew that firing our city manager without having citizen input would lead to this enormous task and it would cost the city dearly in money and goodwill. I hope that we will be able to move forward without hidden agendas and hubris.
Both.
Bean already has a hand picked candidate.
Firing Martin and the subsequent search for replacement was a done deal before the election and Sunshine was required.
And who is the hand picked candidate since you apparently have a crystal ball?
No he does not. Jack Knocke has hand picked out next City Manager and told Bean who it would be.
It’s the same thing.
This is pretty scary, but unfortunately true. Beware of the Republican minority as a citizenship group on the island.
We’ve only been in Fernandina Beach for a little over a year- long enough to see the writing on the wall. What we have here is a tight knit group of irresponsible, so-called leaders who get nothing done. People attend meetings and voice their concerns to be ignored. People write letters to commissioners that go unanswered. We’ve lived in many places with problems here and there but Fernandina Beach takes the cake. Lame.
While there is agreement and disagreement on this issue, what strikes me the most is the constant “stone throwing”. Could we not all be responsible adults and assist our city, rather than tear down every step our leadership makes.
We are. Competent, unbought, unbiased professional guidance. We most all know what we should do. The road blocks – given just what happened in this election are significant.
Exactly. All the people on here with negative comments are “so called experts” why don’t you run for office! Pathetic!!
Another act in the Clown Circus. Again, why would any decent, qualified person even consider the job?
Seems like CCDF-Nassau, the ultraconservative organization, is trying to foist their handpicked candidate on the city. Wonder how many Republican commissioners see this as the game plan and are just pretending to go through an objective process!
They’re not an ultraconservative organization, they are a RIGHT WING organization per the former Mayor, Mike Lednovich.
Do your own research. The group proclaims to be non-partisan. What a bunch of phooey.
How many? Certainly 3. Perhaps 4.
How many of them are in on it? My count? 3.
A few thoughts:
The problem sir is that there is no process. Every reasonable suggestion to do something competent including GovHR USA – has been tossed to the side. Now why do you suppose that is? Could it be that Mr. Findlay is right?
Chip Ross lost his sidekick. Hopefully the next manager listens to all the commissioners. Will miss the weekly “Chip n Dale” cartoons though in action
Could it be that Martin was correct and listening to the person who does their homework? Could it be that Martin was merely an obstacle preventing personal agendas from prevailing?
Well it did seem as if the commissioners opposed to hiring a search firm hadn’t bothered to read the proposals.True leaders are willing to acknowledge they are not experts in everything and rely on professionals for their expertise. And that is not having the members of the city HR department involved in hiring their boss. It’s almost as if they lack the confidence to bring in professionals to help hire a competent city manager.
What’s the best way to contact the Commissioners? Email? Do they respond or ignore? Thanks to anybody who can help.
They probably won’t respond to Guest.
I don’t come here much and wasn’t asking for myself. The topic came up this morning so I thought I’d ask. A waste of time I see.
I don’t live in the city, but since no one else wants to help you…
The city website is http://www.fbfl.us
Commissioner information is easy to find. The site gives emails and phone numbers. http://fbfl.us/842/Meet-the-Commissioners
Good luck.
We don’t know yet how helpful they are. Haven’t written yet and don’t want to ask for help. Another issue. Many have said they rarely respond to constituents.
Never communicated with the city, but I imagine the potential response would depend upon which commissioner(s) you contact, the subject matter, and its perceived relevance. From what I read on the Observer, Commissioner Ross seems to be extremely responsive to constituents. The others, I don’t know.
Thanks John. How they respond or don’t respond to constituents’ concerns when no one else is looking speaks volumes. I’m told that Chip Ross responds but just enough to say that he did. Not sure that counts.
Mayor Bradley Bean
[email protected]
(904) 415-5181
Vice-Mayor David Sturges
[email protected]
(904)624-4596
City Commissioner Ronald “Chip” Ross [email protected]
(410) 394-0220
City Commissioner Darron Ayscue [email protected]
(904) 780-4480
City Commissioner James Antun
[email protected]
(516) 547-5309
I replied last night with the city website/commissioner information, but it’s still “awaiting approval”. Judging by my past experience on this site, their crack moderators could take 3-5 days to review.
The city website, “www DOT fbfl DOT us” has the commissioner’s phone numbers and email contact info.
#RECALL
Only candidates who go through the Executive Search Process (application, screening, and background checks) and are identified as finalists should be considered by the Citizens City Manager Search Committee and the Commission. If either group is not satisfied with the pool of finalists, they can either consider the next highest rated non-finalists or restart the process with a revised recruitment plan and re-advertise the position. All local candidates should be strongly encouraged to apply, complete the entire process, and compete with the entire field.
I don’t think anyone who is not elected should be able to make these decisions for our City.
We have elected officials who can barely form a sentence much less find us a City Manager. Hire a profession to find the new manager.
It is very clear this new citizens committee, our so called Mayor, and the majority of the Commissioners can not make a decision without the local CCDF telling them what to say. You were elected by more people than them. Act like it.
I pray for our little town because none of these people really give a damn about it.
Preach!
You’re so on the ball. You should run for office. No kidding.
In other news … Yesterday, April 4, the Fernandina Beach City Commissioners voted 4 to 1 in favor of removing 25 additional parking spaces from Parking Lot A. That is the lot at the west end of Center Street, north of Brett’s Waterway restaurant. In a “downtown” area that is already parking limited, and replacing with grass, is nonsensical at best. The downtown merchants at the west end must be thrilled.
They just replaced the grass along the waterfront with freakin’ shells! It’s a mess on the sidewalk and the marina docks. Are these clowns following ANY of the expensive plans that have been bought over the years, or is one of their kids needing a summer job mowing the grass? Oh…it’s stupid shells now! Better get some more grass in there, quick!