CB Council begins search process for new town manager

Figuring out how best to use the public resource

The Crested Butte Town Council officially began the process of hiring a new town manager to replace the recently resigned Susan Parker at a special meeting on Monday, December 10.

All indications are it will not be a short process, as Mayor Aaron Huckstep asked the council to compile upcoming vacations or time out of town between now and March 31 in order to begin scheduling meetings, interviews, receptions and other events associated with making the new hire. Huckstep has said he hopes to have someone hired and working by May if not earlier.
During the Monday meeting, the council reviewed and approved a document titled “Town Council Operational Plan for Transition or Absence of Town Manager.” The extensive document provides guidelines on how the council will attack the hiring process.
“The overriding purpose and intent of this policy is to assist the Town Council in initiating and completing the search for a new town manager in an orderly and timely fashion, while allowing for flexibility to accommodate the circumstances that necessitate the search itself,” the document reads.
Huckstep, Councilperson Shaun Matusewicz and Crested Butte Human Resources director Lois Rozman were officially appointed as the Human Resources Subcommittee. They will delve into developing general guidelines for the hiring process that will be brought to the council for approval.
Among the issues to be discussed by the subcommittee will be whether or not to hire an outside search firm to manage the recruitment process. The subcommittee members will review and make adjustments if necessary to the job description. They will write a draft of the position opening announcement as well as consider pay ranges and hiring timelines with a projected start date for the new manager.
They will also begin compiling some general characteristics they desire in a prospective town manager. All of the recommendations will be discussed at the council level.
“Fit is really important,” commented Matusewicz. “We want someone who will fit in with this community.”
Crested Butte resident David Leinsdorf attended the meeting to recommend the council utilize the services of Mike Rock, who currently resides in Buckhorn Ranch just outside of Crested Butte and was the first Gunnison County manager in the mid-1980s. He then went to Loveland to be the town manager for a few years before moving on to Lakewood, Colo., where he was the manager for 17 years.
“We are fortunate in this community to have him available,” said Leinsdorf. “I spoke with him and asked if he’d be able to help the council perhaps focus on parameters to be used in the process. He’s an amazing resource with tremendous experience that could help guide criteria, standards and help screen applicants.
“He is available and ready to participate if asked, as am I,” continued Leinsdorf. “I’d be willing to put time in if you need further citizen involvement.”
“We’ll take that all under consideration,” promised Huckstep.
Resident Jeff Scott also was at the meeting and volunteered to help. “Has there been any consideration of non-council, non-staff to be part of the subcommittee?” asked Scott. “I’d volunteer my time to assist. I think developing the list of characteristics of a future town manager is really important and I’d like to be part of that.”
“It seems the time for more community involvement would be down the line and might make sense when it comes to something like helping to screen the applicants,” suggested Rozman. “The subcommittee is charged with dealing with the formation of guidelines. It all has to be approved by the entire council.”
“A lot of people in our community have a lot to offer and may want to participate,” said councilperson Glenn Michel. “Ultimately it will be up to the seven of us on council to make the decision but we should figure out a way to use the members of the community.”
“The subcommittee is meant to nail down some of the boring stuff involved in the process,” added Matusewicz. “It’s not a swimming pool and party committee.”
“We definitely need to think about how best to use the public resources,” said Huckstep. “We’ll be discussing the guidelines and things like qualifications in an open meeting and at a minimum the public will be able to comment.”
Councilperson David Owen mentioned that he had heard feedback from the public that perhaps a member of the council who had lived in Crested Butte longer than Huckstep or Matusewicz should be part of the subcommittee. But the council felt comfortable with the skills embodied in the two and emphasized that the entire council had equal say in the hiring process.
“The subcommittee is sort of the plow horse doing some early grunt work and bringing recommendations to the council,” summarized Huckstep.
The council went into private executive session to discuss some specific personnel matters concerning the perspective hiring. The subcommittee will come up with written recommendations for the entire town council to consider at the next meeting on December 17.