ROCKLAND, Maine — City councilors said they will consider new strategies to attract a city manager.
The council discussed the upcoming search Monday night in the wake of the resignation last month of James Chaousis.
Mayor Louise MacLellan-Ruf said she will speak to the chairman of the city’s personnel advisory committee about the possibility of having it be involved in the review of candidates. The personnel board interviews candidates for most city positions but has not been involved in prior searches for the top administrator.
Councilors agreed with that approach and also called for holding a public forum to allow residents to offer what traits they want in a new manager.
Councilor Larry Pritchett said he would like in addition to have the public comment on what they think is not working in city government and where they would like to see the city be in the future.
Councilors acknowledged that the most recent search that resulted in the hiring of Chaousis less than two years ago was not successful. In August 2014, the council voted 3-1, with MacLellan-Ruf opposed, to hire Dacri & Associates of Kennebunkport for $17,000 to assist in that search.
“We had an ugly marriage with the last consultant,” Councilor William Clayton said.
Clayton said the councilors will need professional assistance in doing background checks on finalists for the job. MacLellan-Ruf agreed but said between the council and personnel board, she was confident the groups could go through whatever applications are received and determine which ones are worth giving interviews.
Councilor Valli Geiger said she feels that municipalities are presented by consultants with a small pool of candidates who move from one city or town to another repeatedly. She said she would like the city to expand the search to consider people who may not have been a manager but have efficiently run large entities.
“I’d like to see how we can widen the net,” Geiger said.
Geiger said that the council already has received interest from people who want the job.
Newly elected Councilor Adam Ackor questioned where that interest came from, mentioning that he had not received any names.
MacLellan-Ruf said people have reached out to her about serving as interim manager. Clayton and Geiger also said they had received an email from someone who offered to be manager. No names were released and the mayor advised councilors not to reveal confidential personnel information.
Chaousis served for 16 months from March 2015 to June 2016. James Smith had served as manager from April 2012 through December 2013 before he resigned to return to Brewer as assistant city manager. Rosemary Kulow served as manager from January 2009 through October 2011. Kulow said she resigned because she was unable to sell her home in southern Maine, where she had worked previously. Tom Luttrell served as interim manager twice following the departures of Kulow and Smith. The council passed over Luttrell, who was then the city’s finance director, when it hired Chaousis.