Nearly 80 apply to be South Lake Tahoe city manager
Publisher’s note: Updated May 18 at 9pm.
By Kathryn Reed
About 80 people are interested in being the next city manager of South Lake Tahoe.
The deadline to apply was May 17, though resumes will be accepted by consultant Bob Murray and Associates if they are postmarked by that date.
Bob Murray would not say how many people he intends to refer to the City Council to interview.
“The only comment I’m going to have for the press is the number of candidates and I should have the accurate count (Wednesday),” he told Lake Tahoe News on Tuesday.
In the extremely brief and somewhat terse conversation, Murray said as of Sunday he had 64 applications. “I will not identify if there are local candidates. That is privileged information,” the consultant quipped.
“Privileged” is an interesting response considering his fee comes from taxpayer money and the person to be hired will be working for the taxpayers at their expense.
This isn’t the first time Murray has concealed information from the public in relation to hiring a city manager. In 2002, he was hired as the headhunter when Dave Childs resigned.
Members of the community were chosen by city officials to interview a few of the candidates in what amounted to a closed session. When Dave Jinkens was chosen these people knew before the name was released to the public. What influence they may have had in the decision and who exactly they were remains a well kept secret.
Murray was also the consultant paid with taxpayer money after Kerry Miller resigned. He found Childs.
Transparency has been an often-used word at City Hall this year. With the history of this consultant, the view is already murky.
In April the council voted 3-2 to hire Murray again, this time for no more than $15,000.
Mayor Kathay Lovell said she expects Murray to whittle the list to a dozen or so candidates. She said the final applicant number Murray told her is likely to be near 80.
On the other end of the spectrum is Councilman Jerry Birdwell who would like to look over all the resumes.
Lovell voted for Murray, Birdwell did not.
Lovell said a community panel would be assembled to give input into the process. How that will work has not been determined.
Current City Manager Jinkens told the council early this year he would be leaving when his contract expires in August. He started with the city in 2002.
Susan Wood contributed to this story.
80 people, I guess it’s not bad number considering the salary for a City Manager here in South Lake Tahoe (Salary below from City of South Lake Tahoe website).
I would have almost thought there might be more applicants considering how many people are out of work.
Class Title: CITY MANAGER
Class Code: 1258
Salary: $81.49 Hourly
$6,519.34 Biweekly
$14,125.23 Monthly
$169,502.74 Annually
While they are at it, why not ask for 5 new council members !They sure in the heck help in our desperate search for qualified leadership.
PS…….I hope the county sues they heck out these against the odds council members.
Let them be remembered as the lame of the lamest bunch.
I would hope the current council has access to the applications from all of the applicants so, if necessary, they have the ability to challenge why any candidate made the final cut or did not. The council controls the process so it is their choice as to how it is handled.
Does anyone believe that the perennial local Machine Screw Hal Cole,has not challanged and or approved every final cut.
PS Behind closed doors.
PPS Did Bob Murray headhunted Kerry the Boy wonder of redevelopment.