Wednesday marked three months since former Sedalia City Administrator Frank Myers was placed on administrative leave for reasons that still remain unknown to anyone outside of City Hall.
What also remains unknown is not only when a new city administrator will be hired, but also when a search committee will be formed, who will serve on that committee and what criteria applicants will have to meet to be considered for the position.
Sedalia faces an array of important issues, the most significant of which is the the city's aging infrastructure (sewers, roads, buildings); other key matters are housing conditions and economic development (including expansion at the airport and luring more jobs). As the job description for the position clearly states: "This position is responsible for administering all functions and operations of the city."
When Police Chief John DeGonia was named acting city administrator in December, Mayor Elaine Horn said DeGonia "has a good working knowledge and understanding of how the city works and what we need to be doing moving forward."
While we believe DeGonia was the right choice to handle the job on an interim basis, Sedalia needs an appropriately trained professional to help the city and its residents move forward. The current job description for the position, which is available on the city's website, requires:
"• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with the completion of a master's degree in a course of study related to the occupational field.
"• Experience sufficient to thoroughly understand the diverse objectives and functions of the subunits in the division/department in order to direct and coordinate work within the division/department, usually interpreted to require three to five years of related experience."
We believe Sedalians deserve an administrator with a solid background in municipal planning and budgeting as called for by the current criteria. We also believe the right applicant would project confidence and competency while serving as the "public face" for City Hall. The administrator also must have the backbone to stand up to the city's elected officials when their ideas are more populist than they would be productive.
Sedalia residents have complained about the severance package still being paid out to Myers and its impact on city finances. But as The Democrat's Dennis Rich reported, Saturday's City Council work session revealed that Sedalia could see its reserve fund grow to more than $9 million at the end of fiscal year 2011; that kind of bankroll should ensure the city's ability to pay a top-quality candidate for the most integral position in city administration.
It is past time for Horn and the City Council to launch a search for the person who will take our community to new heights, who will make insightful, educated decisions that will make Sedalia a better place to live, work and play. This city has a lot to offer to trained professionals; there are candidates out there who have a lot to offer us, as well. We need to start looking for them.
0 comments:
Post a Comment