Laserfiche WebLink
,ity of <br /> <br />River <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />Item #4.7. <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Mayor & City Council <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administrator <br /> <br />January 24, 2000 <br /> <br />Hiring Process for Director of Economic Development~ <br /> <br />Director of Economic Development Paul Steinman has resigned from his <br />position and his last work day with the city is February 11, 2000. It is <br />important for the City Council to quickly decide on the selection process for the <br />next director of economic development. The selection process can take three to <br />four months at a minimum, so the quicker we decide on a process, the quicker <br />we will have Paul's replacement on board. <br /> <br />Prior to the City Council meeting on Monday, the EDA is holding a special <br />meeting to discuss this issue. It is important to receive EDA input on this <br />process as this organization works closely with the director of economic <br />development and funds over 50 percent of the expenses for economic <br />development activities. The balance, less than 50 percent, is funded by the <br />HRA and the City Council general fund budget. <br /> <br />There are basically two approaches to the selection process; one is to hire the <br />Brimeyer Group Executive Search firm and the other is to do the search <br />internally with city staff and a committee from members of the City Council, <br />HRA, and EDA. We have had good luck with the Brimeyer Group (Paul <br />Steinman, Michele McPherson, and Bryan Adams), but this firm, and any <br />professional executive search firm, is expensive. Hiring an outside firm does <br />not eliminate staff work or involvement, but it is greatly reduced, and this is <br />important when some of the key staff members are also being called upon to <br />pick up the extra work that needs to be distributed after Paul leaves the city <br />on February 11. Additionally, an executive search firm can make a <br />professional evaluation in matching the city's needs with the candidate's <br />qualifications and limit local politics in the first screening of the applicants. It <br />should also be noted that it took almost a year to find a director of planning <br />when staff headed the search and that, in this current "employee market," an <br />executive search firm can help sell Elk River as a desirable career opportunity. <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br /> <br /> <br />