While some local residents pack cars and make plans for summer vacations, Charlottesville officials remain busy with one of the most important decisions City Council will make all year. The informal process of selecting a new City Manager began in January, when Gary O’Connell announced plans to leave his 15-year post and accept a position as Executive Director of the Albemarle County Service Authority.
Although the position profile is still under review and will be made public soon, the city, for the first time and as a cost-cutting measure, circulated a survey that asks residents to help find the right candidate.
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Compared to the City Manager position, city councilors are “short timers,” says Mayor Dave Norris. “The City Manager could be here for 15 to 20 years.” |
“We are actually trying to save money with this,” says Ric Barrick, city spokesperson. Charlottesville enlisted the help of Richmond-based Springsted Incorporated to assist with the logistics of the search, for a total of $16,000. Normally, a consulting firm would craft and present the survey. This time around, “we used text for a survey [the firm] did in Arlington and we customized it…and saved about $3,500,” says Barrick.
The position will formally open to the public at the end of the month and, according to Norris, the city will be looking for applications to come in throughout July, with a final decision anticipated by the end of the summer. “I expect we are going to be flooded with applications, and with really quality applications,” says Norris. “Charlottesville is a very attractive place to live and to build a career, it’s a highly respected city government.”
From now until the end of the summer, Maurice Jones will act as interim City Manager. Calls to Jones regarding his interest in the position were not immediately returned.
“I don’t know where he is in the thought process,” says Norris. “But if he does decide to throw his application in the ring, he’ll be a very compelling candidate, I can say that.”
What makes a compelling candidate? The survey’s first question deals with leadership, and asks residents to list the three most important leadership qualities the next city manager should possess. Among the possible answers are experience, transparency, personal integrity, accountability and adaptability—a trait Mayor Dave Norris says is very important.
“This is the person we look to run City Hall, to keep our department heads and city staff accountable, and keep them focused on what needs to happen to deliver high quality public services,” Norris tells C-VILLE. “Good leadership skills are essential.”
According to the survey, candidates need to produce demonstrated effort in six areas: financial management, public safety management, environmental sustainability, social equity, regional partnerships and cooperation and management of staff and operations.
For Norris, one of the main priorities for the new manager should be infrastructure issues. “Obviously, the water supply has been a big focus lately,” says Norris. “But it’s not just the water supply plan—it’s the sewer system, it’s transportation, it’s parks and recreation. And I’d say sensible economic development.”
Choosing the new leader of City Hall also has its upside. “It is our chance to leave a lasting imprint on the city. We are short timers here on City Council, but the City Manager could be here for 15 to 20 years,” says Norris. “It’s an exciting opportunity to help shape the city for years to come.”
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