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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 09/24/1981 - Specialv MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, 1981 11:00 A.M. PRESENT: Mayor Luther Jones Mayor Pro Tem Betty N. Turner Council Members: Jack K. Dumphy City Secretary Bill G. Read Bob Gulley * Herbert L. Hawkins Dr. Charles W. Kennedy ABSENT: Council Member Cliff Zarsky City Manager Marvin Townsend Mayor Luther Jones called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of City Hall. City Secretary Bill G. Read called the roll of required Charter Officers and verified that a necessary quorum of the Council was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. Mayor Jones explained that the purpose of the meeting was to hear presentations by consulting firms to be considered to assist in the selection of a City Manager. He stated that the firm of Korn/Ferry Executive Research had previously made a presentation. He then recognized Mr. Joel T. Edmonds of Peat, Marwick & Mitchell. Mr. Edmonds expressed appreciation for the opportunity to appear before the Council. He provided background information in regard to his firm stating that Peat, Marwick and Mitchell is one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the world; they have twenty-three offices that have consultant firms; and nine offices have an executive search practice. He stated that their offices work well together and share a resume bank. Mr. Edmonds continued and informed the Council that his company has performed search work in Garland, Texas and Grand Prairie, Texas. He stated that their search process is very methodical and they go into the field to attempt to find a client who has the qualifications that will fit in with the requirements of the particular City. NIiCRQFJLMED Ig of84 minutes Special Council Meeting September 24, 1981 Page 2 * Council Member Herbert Hawkins arrived at the meeting at 11:16 a.m. Mr. Edmonds continued and expressed the opinion that his firm could carry out this assignment for the City of Corpus Christi very satisfactorily because they have local representatives who are familiar with the City and with municipal government. He provided the Council with brochures on his company. Council Member Gulley inquired of Mr. Edmonds if he had a written proposal that would address the cost. Mr. Edmonds stated that they did not have a written proposal because they bill on a rate system and their rates are a little less than other firms. Fie predicted that the fees for this service range from $7 or $8,000 to $28,000. Mr. Edmonds then explained the procedure that they would follow in their search for a City Manager indicating that he planned to interview the Mayor and Council Members and would like to interview the City Manager, Assistant City Managers and Department Heads to determine what the Council wants and then go into the field to identify the people who might have the proper background. He stated that they would then present to the Council in writing a detailed summary of the individuals recommended after they have checked references, etc. Mr. Edmonds stated that his firm could also advise the Council in regard to relocation expenses. Council Member Kennedy inquired if this firm performs psychological testing and Mr. Edmonds replied that they do not do this ordinarily but if this is desired, they will arrange for a subcontractor to perform such tests. He estimated that the entire procedure would require approximately three months and stated that he would work on the project, himself, with support from their Houston office. Mayor Jones informed Mr. Edmonds that Korn/Ferry indicate that their fee would be $20,000 and Mr. Edmonds stated that he did not believe that his fee would exceed that amount. ********* Mr. Paul A. Reaume of Paul A. Reaume, Associates, Chicago, Illinois, addressed the Council next and also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to appear before the Council to discuss their particular approach to recruiting a qualified professional to serve as City Manager. Mr. Reaume explained that his • 'nutes iecial Council Meeting September 24, 1981 Page 3 firm works exclusively with City government nationally of all sizes. Ile stated that they spend a great deal of time working with the Council to obtain as much information as possible because they feel that it is important to capture the needs of the community. He stated that they interview individual members of the City Council and interview them collectively. 1 -le informed the Council that there will be at least three members of their firm involved and he would be the principal one working with them. He assured the Council that he will be examining professionals who will fit in with this group and with the community. He stated that he realizes that this City is going through a difficult time and the key factor to determine is what this community needs now and several years from now. He stated that they would also like to meet with the City staff. He expressed the opinion that the process should be an open recruitment and anyone who feels that he is qualified for the position should be allowed to apply. He stated that in about sixty days, they will recommend eight to ten candidates and suggest that the Council select five from that group for interviewing. He assured them that all candidates will be well qualified. He stated that the firm continues to work through the interview process and will assist the candidates when they arrive in Corpus Christi and will be present to assist the Council in interviewing the candidates. He explained that their fee is based on 20$ of the appointed candidate's initial annual salary and their fee will not exceed $12,000. Mayor Jones noted that Mr. Reaume's firm had worked with the City of Fort Worth and inquired about the cost for that City in their search for a City Manager. Mr. Reaume replied that they accomplished that in about sixty days and their fee was under $10,000, but that was three years ago. He stated that they have worked with other cities such as For Worth, Dallas, and Wichita, Kansas, for a City Manager and in Charlotte, North Carolina for a County Manager. Mayor Pro Tem Turner inquired how many City Managers their firms has placed in the past year and Mr. Reaume replied approximately twenty-five. Mayor Pro Tem Turner inquired if there is a limitation on expenses, and Mr. Reaume explained that this would depend upon how many trips to Corpus Christi would be required. Minutes Special Council Meeting September 24, 1981 Page 4 Council Member Dumphy inquired about the expenses for interviews with the candidates and Mr. Reaume explained that that cost would be borne by the municipality. Council Member Kennedy inquired about psychological testing and Mr. Reaume stated that they do not ordinarily do this, but if it is required, their firm arranges for someone else to perform the tests. Mr. Gregory Gridley, Consultant to Management -Executive Search, addressed the Council and stated that he worked for a local executive recruitment firm. He informed the Council that he is a psychologist and that he has worked with the Corpus Christi School District. He stated that he felt that he could perform a very good job locating a City Manager since he is a local citizen and is familiar with this municipality. He stated that his process is very similar to the ones explained earlier in that he will interview all Council Members to determine what kind of qualifications that would be required and after individual interviews with the Council Members, he will meet with the Council collectively. He explained that he then screens candidates and presents ten to fifteen candidates which they suggest being reduced to five for interviewing purposes. He stated that he has placed people in fairly high positions, but he has not worked with municipal government before. Mayor Jones asked Mr. Gridley for his opinion about psychological testing and Mr. Gridley replied that it depends on how much the Council desires. He stated that he was of the opinion that the best test is an interview or a series of interviews. Mayor Jones thanked Mr. Gridley for his presentation. Discussion followed as to whether or not the Council should make the decision at this time. Motion by Gulley that the Council select the firm of Korn/Ferry International to assist in the selection of a City Manager; seconded by Hawkins. Mayor Jones stated that he agreed with that selection because he felt that they would do an outstanding job. The motion passed by the following vote: Jones, Turner, Dumphy, Gulley, Hawkins and Kennedy voting, "Aye"; Zarsky, absent. ********* lutes cial Council Meeting .)eptember 24, 1981 Page 5 Council Member Hawkins indicated that he would like to make a statement in regard to another matter before the meeting is adjourned. He explained that he was very disturbed about an article in the Corpus Christi Caller -Times which contained remarks that he had made in connection with the resignation of City Manager Marvin Townsend. He alleged that the statements attributed to him were taken out of context and were completely erroneous. He expressed the opinion that the reporter had deliberately and maliciously distorted his remarks and stated that he believes that some of the reporters at the Caller -Times are incapable of writing correctly. Motion by Gulley that the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Kennedy, and passed unanimously at 12:05 p.m., September 24, 1981.