The township has created a selection committee and authorized it to engage a consultant to assist with recruitment of a new public works director.
At the Nov. 10 meeting, Mapleton council authorized the selection committee, consisting of newly-appointed CAO Brad McRoberts and Mayor Neil Driscoll, to spend up to $20,000 to hire a third party to provide recruitment services.
McRoberts was promoted from public works director to fill the CAO/clerk position on Nov. 4, creating the current vacancy. His hiring was the result of a search conducted with the assistance of consultant Nigel Bellchamber of Bellchamber and Associates at a cost of around $15,000.
McRoberts was originally hired in June 2014 to replace former public works director Larry Lynch, who was dismissed in December 2013.
Bellchamber and Associates was also hired to consult on the hiring of the public works director and a restructuring of the department at that time at a cost estimated by former CAO Patty Sinnamon to be between $15,000 to $20,000. In October of 2014, four public works management positions were eliminated and three new positions were created as a result of the restructuring process.
McRoberts said proposals for the consulting position will be requested from the firms considered for the chief administrative officer recruitment. Funds will be drawn from existing budget and/or reserves as required, he explained in a written report.
“Would the world come to an end if we were to hire a director of public works without spending upwards of $20,000 on a consultant?” asked councillor Dennis Craven.
“I don’t know if the world would come to an end, but you could end up with an employee who doesn’t have the qualifications for the position,” replied McRoberts.
The CAO pointed out consultants are “very key” to the process and skilled at “strategically asking questions that certainly help the recruiters figure out whether those people are appropriate for the positions or not.”
While stating he “fully agreed” with McRoberts’ statement, Craven noted, “I had a half-dozen people ask me if we could not do this.”
The motion to create a selection committee and authorize it to hire a consultant passed unopposed.
Council had previously directed McRoberts to immediately recruit for the position with an application deadline of Dec. 2, with the intent to fill the position by Feb. 1.
A short-list of candidates will be brought to council for final interviews, with council then making the decision.
