NSB City Commission asks for a 'quick' recruitment process to choose next city manager
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — City commissioners Tuesday opted for a national recruitment process to choose the next city manager.
Khalid Resheidat, who has been with the city for 34 years, will retire in August, and the city wants to have solid candidates as quickly as possible.
Heather Kidd, head of the city’s Human Resources Department, presented the commission with three options during a workshop Tuesday night:
Promote current Assistant City Manager Ron Neibert.
Use the city's Human Resources Department for a localized recruitment process.
Recruit nationally using a consultant.
The option for a localized process through the Human Resources Department presented two main problems, according to Kidd.
“The time commitment from my staff will be burdened with the department having to complete regular duties,” Kidd said. “A large recruitment like this will take a lot of time.”
The other issue would be that all applications would become public records immediately, which could possibly deter some candidates from applying “because they may not want their city or municipality to see that they are applying for another job,” she added.
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Commissioners praised Neibert’s work since he was hired last year, and Mayor Fred Cleveland said he would “favor the option that says Ron Neibert is a candidate and applies, regardless of whether we go inside or outside.”
How will the national recruitment process work?
Commissioners agreed that hiring an outside recruitment company was the best option, as a nationwide search would give the city a chance to hire the best person for the job as it faces growth and development challenges ahead.
Kidd presented a timeline for the process, which has commissioners interviewing the eventual candidates in March and April and choosing the next city manager in June.
Commissioner Jason McGuirk and Vice Mayor Randy Hartman asked for the timeline to be revised and the process shortened, if possible, as the next city manager would have a lot to catch up on during budgeting season in the summer.
McGuirk said the outside firm recruitment idea is “a good choice” but also pointed to other possible obstacles during the process.
“Sometimes you get good candidates, and sometimes you don’t,” McGuirk said. “My experience is you get a unique set of people, and it can be very challenging.”
He took time to praise the Neibert, adding that “he is going to be the bar for me.”
“And the question is, ‘Is there somebody out there that I feel is head and shoulders or above that?’” McGuirk said.
Ideally, commissioners hope that the request for proposal process of selecting the outside search firm will be complete before the start of 2024.
The recruiting process would involve the selection of six to eight candidates to be interviewed by city commissioners — first individually and then during a public meeting.
Commissioners also discussed the possibility of creating a citizens' committee to interview the candidates and help choose the next city manager but quickly pushed back on the idea, calling instead for an open house event for residents to meet and talk to candidates.
Just weeks ago, the Deltona City Commission created such a committee in its ongoing search for a new city manager.
The candidate would ideally be selected months before taking office in August, when Resheidat officially retires.
Hiring the outside firm would cost the city between $25,000 and $50,000, Kidd said.
The city’s Human Resources Department will now begin the RFP process to hire a recruitment firm. The City Commission hopes to make its selection during a regular meeting this fall.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB to hire outside recruitment firm to select new city manager
