New Hope City Manager Position Posted
The New Hope City Council gave direction this week in what it wants to see in a new city manager.
The city’s police chief, Tim Hoyt, is currently serving as acting city manager, a position he’s held since previous city manager Kirk McDonald retired last June. Recently, Hoyt announced he would stay in his role as police chief and not seek a dual-role arrangement.
Under the job posted, the salary would be roughly between $149,000 and $181,000.
“The salary in my mind is right in line with where it should be,” said Pat Melvin with DDA Human Resources, the firm hired to lead the search. “I base that on just knowledge of what is happening out there.”
The city plans to do video interviews first before narrowing down the field to three to five candidates. Then council members will conduct in-person interviews.
The city council debated at Monday’s meeting how much local government experience should be required. Under the education and experience requirement, the city’s job description reads as follows:
“Master’s degree with coursework in public administration, or related and considerable experience working in local government in a leadership position, or equivalent combination of education and experience.”
According to Rich Johnson, the city’s director of human resources, “considerable” experience is defined as three to five years working in local government.
“I know when I moved from the private sector in human resources to the public sector, it was a significant change,” Johnson told the city council. “I’m not saying it can’t be done.”
The city council expressed a desire to hire someone with city government experience, but wouldn’t rule out a hire from the private sector.
“I think it’s very important they do have some local government experience because it’s a big difference from business” said New Hope City Council member Andy Hoffe.
“I do to,” added New Hope Mayor Kathi Hemken. “But we get to interview these guys and I would hate to turn down the CEO of 3M because he didn’t have any government experience. Not that we’re going to get him or her.”
Candidates will be accepted through March 14. A proposed interview date to interview the finalist candidates is May 2
