Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka Administrator Search to Continue

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

After hour-long interviews with the two finalists for city administrator Wednesday, the Assembly decided to turn down both of them and hire a recruiting agency for a new search.

The finalists in the selection process were former Sitka police chief Sheldon Schmitt and Homer public works director Carey Meyer.

After the interviews the Assembly met for about five minutes in executive session and then returned to open session for a 15-minute discussion of the candidates. Members’ comments generally were that they liked both of them, but didn’t think they had all the qualities they want in an administrator.

“Both had strengths and some things we’re still looking for,” summarized Bob Potrzuski. 

“There’s no clear vision for taking things into the future,” Steven Eisenbeisz said of one of the candidates.

Mayor Matt Hunter noted Schmitt’s leadership skills, and Meyer’s knowledge about infrastructure as pluses, but said he still would like to continue the search for the right candidate.

“We’re not in a rush, I don’t want to rush this process,” Hunter said. He noted that Sitka has some “depth of leadership” to step up while the search continues.

City Human Resources Director Mark Danielson said he will bring offers from regional and national recruiting firms to Tuesday’s regular meeting.

He said he’s had success finding employees for higher level positions using one of the firms, The Prothman Company, a Northwest consulting firm that specializes in national and regional executive recruitment service. He expects to receive an offer also from a national firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates, which is also a municipal executive search and recruitment firm.

But Danielson doesn’t expect to find anyone by June 15, the date the current administrator, Mark Gorman, plans to retire.

Recruiting firms submitting proposals in the past have stated fees $20,000 and up, plus expenses. Conditions of the contracts generally guarantee the recruit will stay on the job for a certain time (one or two years) or the company will do the search again, at no cost, Danielson said.

He said today he’s not surprised at the outcome of the locally directed recruiting process that just ended.

“I’m thinking the days of ‘post and pray’ are over,” Danielson said. “It’s transitioning to specialized recruitment for specialized potions. That’s just what I see happening.” 

Assembly members earlier this year said they wished to have Danielson conduct the recruitment, which resulted in more than 50 applications. They narrowed the list to a handful for interviews, and some dropped out along the way. Schmitt, who had a priority because he is already working for the city, applied late in the process, and by the time of the final interviews Wednesday he and Meyer were the only ones still in the running.

Danielson said the recruiting firms will outline the work they will do, but that services generally include advertising, background checks, and reviewing the network of candidates within their system from past recruitment efforts.

“They should have about five candidates to present to us,” he said.

As to whether the Assembly could have someone on board by June 15, Danielson said, “Not a chance.”

Two members of the public testified after the interviews.

“I would encourage you to take your time,” Margie Esquiro said. “Find someone you highly respect, has experiencing managing a budget of our size, someone who comes with a knowledge of small towns ...”

Her husband Pete added, “I don’t think you’ve seen the strong leader Sitka needs. I don’t like or cherish the idea of spending more money but I think you’ve got to keep looking. I don’t think there’s a way Sitka can lose by doing that.”

Assembly members previously have expressed hesitancy about spending the tens of thousands of dollars on a recruiter. One member said he felt Sitka has not been well served in the past by professional recruitment.

Several weeks ago, as the Assembly began to express misgivings about the shrinking list of prospects, they agreed to reconsider the original list of candidates but didn’t find any they wanted to follow up with.

At the Wednesday interviews, the two finalists were asked about their management styles, hiring practices, their strategies for making budget decisions and cuts, leadership skills and economic development ideas. They were invited to ask questions of the Assembly.

Meyer thanked the Assembly for considering him, saying he had become more enthusiastic about the job after spending time in Sitka on this trip.

“I am interested in the position, I try to be as honest and straightforward as I can,” he said. 

Meyer said he knows what it’s like to be passed over for someone from outside, who doesn’t know the community.

“All things being equal, I would encourage you to hire from within,” he said. But if the Assembly believes the community would benefit from a fresh perspective and “new blood,” “I’m your guy,” he said.

Schmitt’s first interview was held Monday, and was held via Skype, the same method that had been used with the other applicants. The selection procedure called for the Assembly to make a decision after a Skype interview on whether to invite the applicant for an in-person interview.

Schmitt was moved forward for an in-person interview, but a day later, one of the finalists, Sitka Fire Chief Dave Miller, withdrew his name from consideration.

In his Wednesday interview Schmitt highlighted some of the same personal qualities that he had talked about in the Monday interview, such as his good relationship with employees, his collaborative style, leadership skills, his work with the public and his relationship with organizations in town.

“This job hits me in the sweet spot,” he said. “My attributes and skills are even better for this job than for police chief,” he said, noting his management strengths, his ability to deal with the public and the relationships he has build in the community.

He told the Assembly at the end of the Wednesday interview that he finds it hard to sell himself, but wanted it made clear that he believes he would do a good job as administrator.

“I think I could do the job – I know I can,” he said. “I’m right here and ready to go to work.”

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

After hour-long interviews with the two finalists for city administrator Wednesday, the Assembly decided to turn down both of them and hire a recruiting agency for a new search.

The finalists in the selection process were former Sitka police chief Sheldon Schmitt and Homer public works director Carey Meyer.

After the interviews the Assembly met for about five minutes in executive session and then returned to open session for a 15-minute discussion of the candidates. Members’ comments generally were that they liked both of them, but didn’t think they had all the qualities they want in an administrator.

“Both had strengths and some things we’re still looking for,” summarized Bob Potrzuski. 

“There’s no clear vision for taking things into the future,” Steven Eisenbeisz said of one of the candidates.

Mayor Matt Hunter noted Schmitt’s leadership skills, and Meyer’s knowledge about infrastructure as pluses, but said he still would like to continue the search for the right candidate.

“We’re not in a rush, I don’t want to rush this process,” Hunter said. He noted that Sitka has some “depth of leadership” to step up while the search continues.

City Human Resources Director Mark Danielson said he will bring offers from regional and national recruiting firms to Tuesday’s regular meeting.

He said he’s had success finding employees for higher level positions using one of the firms, The Prothman Company, a Northwest consulting firm that specializes in national and regional executive recruitment service. He expects to receive an offer also from a national firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates, which is also a municipal executive search and recruitment firm.

But Danielson doesn’t expect to find anyone by June 15, the date the current administrator, Mark Gorman, plans to retire.

Recruiting firms submitting proposals in the past have stated fees $20,000 and up, plus expenses. Conditions of the contracts generally guarantee the recruit will stay on the job for a certain time (one or two years) or the company will do the search again, at no cost, Danielson said.

He said today he’s not surprised at the outcome of the locally directed recruiting process that just ended.

“I’m thinking the days of ‘post and pray’ are over,” Danielson said. “It’s transitioning to specialized recruitment for specialized potions. That’s just what I see happening.” 

Assembly members earlier this year said they wished to have Danielson conduct the recruitment, which resulted in more than 50 applications. They narrowed the list to a handful for interviews, and some dropped out along the way. Schmitt, who had a priority because he is already working for the city, applied late in the process, and by the time of the final interviews Wednesday he and Meyer were the only ones still in the running.

Danielson said the recruiting firms will outline the work they will do, but that services generally include advertising, background checks, and reviewing the network of candidates within their system from past recruitment efforts.

“They should have about five candidates to present to us,” he said.

As to whether the Assembly could have someone on board by June 15, Danielson said, “Not a chance.”

Two members of the public testified after the interviews.

“I would encourage you to take your time,” Margie Esquiro said. “Find someone you highly respect, has experiencing managing a budget of our size, someone who comes with a knowledge of small towns ...”

Her husband Pete added, “I don’t think you’ve seen the strong leader Sitka needs. I don’t like or cherish the idea of spending more money but I think you’ve got to keep looking. I don’t think there’s a way Sitka can lose by doing that.”

Assembly members previously have expressed hesitancy about spending the tens of thousands of dollars on a recruiter. One member said he felt Sitka has not been well served in the past by professional recruitment.

Several weeks ago, as the Assembly began to express misgivings about the shrinking list of prospects, they agreed to reconsider the original list of candidates but didn’t find any they wanted to follow up with.

At the Wednesday interviews, the two finalists were asked about their management styles, hiring practices, their strategies for making budget decisions and cuts, leadership skills and economic development ideas. They were invited to ask questions of the Assembly.

Meyer thanked the Assembly for considering him, saying he had become more enthusiastic about the job after spending time in Sitka on this trip.

“I am interested in the position, I try to be as honest and straightforward as I can,” he said. 

Meyer said he knows what it’s like to be passed over for someone from outside, who doesn’t know the community.

“All things being equal, I would encourage you to hire from within,” he said. But if the Assembly believes the community would benefit from a fresh perspective and “new blood,” “I’m your guy,” he said.

Schmitt’s first interview was held Monday, and was held via Skype, the same method that had been used with the other applicants. The selection procedure called for the Assembly to make a decision after a Skype interview on whether to invite the applicant for an in-person interview.

Schmitt was moved forward for an in-person interview, but a day later, one of the finalists, Sitka Fire Chief Dave Miller, withdrew his name from consideration.

In his Wednesday interview Schmitt highlighted some of the same personal qualities that he had talked about in the Monday interview, such as his good relationship with employees, his collaborative style, leadership skills, his work with the public and his relationship with organizations in town.

“This job hits me in the sweet spot,” he said. “My attributes and skills are even better for this job than for police chief,” he said, noting his management strengths, his ability to deal with the public and the relationships he has build in the community.

He told the Assembly at the end of the Wednesday interview that he finds it hard to sell himself, but wanted it made clear that he believes he would do a good job as administrator.

“I think I could do the job – I know I can,” he said. “I’m right here and ready to go to work.”