Search and Transition Committee report


What follows is the report of the Search and Transition Committee which was distributed by Henderson City Council member Ranger Wilkerson at last night’s city council meeting. Presumably, this is the final report of the committee:

The Search and Transition committee has met weekly since January. All of our meetings were open to the Council and all of our meetings were announced. We accepted advice and direction from all who attended. As we narrowed the field of candidates, we were looking for a city manager who has proven successful municipal government experience, strong budgeting and financial expertise, and outstanding customer service and interpersonal skills.

From the 52 candidates we narrowed the field to 27. From this 27 the field was narrowed to 12 possible candidates. The work became more difficult at this time and over the next two weeks the field was reduced to 5. One of these five had a present salary of over $120,000 and another of the five did not have experience as a head city manager. (At the present time the media has reported that this fifth candidate has taken another position. We, however have not verified this.) Our committee went with the top three candidates for the initial interviews. Our original time line suggested that we would have interviews between March 30 and April 15 and candidates to recommend to the Council by the end of April. If all went well a new manager would be on board by the first of July.

Our effort and our work over the last months was successful as our search produced three very capable, professional, and qualified candidates. Attached to this sheet are the guidelines we used for interviewing and the list of questions we asked each candidate. At the last committee meeting before the interviews began, these questions were studied and discussed. During the interviews which took place over the past two weeks, we have found that the questions do, when answered, provide a complete picture of a candidate. All candidates were asked all the questions in the same order.

The committee has made a best faith effort to do the council’s work professionally and correctly. This job required a great deal of work, organization, and planning. We realize that those who have not done the work may always suggest a better way to complete the task. However, the opportunity was there at each and every committee meeting for additional council input, questions, and advice.

The criminal background checks have not been made because Mr. Hartwell Wright said that that could come last since the candidates are presently employed and this might save the city some money.

As you know things have changed in Henderson since the search for a new manager began and the committee considered this as we interviewed. Our interview questions probed to ascertain if the candidates had experience in finding solutions or multiple serious problems. This is a crucial factor and one that we gave the utmost consideration. We did not feel that the council would direct us to ignore this. The committee is committed to serving the citizens with open, accountable government.

Here are some of the requirements the committee sought in a new manager:

. Complete knowledge of all budgets and complete financial responsibility
. Proven competence and a positive track record
. Stability and professionalism in work record
. Appropriate prioritizing of need and urgency in addressing those priorities
. Ethical business practices and standards that do not bend
. Experience in hiring and firing and in seeing the potential in employees
. Ability to motivate employees as well as deal appropriately with those who break policy
. Concrete plans and creative ideas for accomplishing the city’s goals

As the committee considered the needs of the city, its citizens, the staff, and the governing body, and after checking references and lengthy interviews and discussions we came to a unanimous decision. The committee’s recommendation for Henderson’s next city manager is Jerry Moss.

Submitted on April 10, 2006

Ranger Wilkerson
Pam Glover
Eddie Ellington
Elissa Yount
Andy Perkinson
Tom Hannon