Avondale Estates has decided on hiring a search firm to locate a replacement for City Manager Clai Brown who left last month.
The city’s board of mayor and commissioners has narrowed the list to two firms and hopes to approve a final selection during their March 26 meeting.
Mayor Jonathan Elmore admitted the alternative approach, where the city places its own ads in various trade publications, is far cheaper.
“That’s what past Avondale boards have done,” he said. “But by [the admission of several former board members] it was a rigorous process.”
The anticipated costs are roughly $21,000. Both finalists have said that once starting work it takes 60 to 150 days finding a new city manager.
“There are just so many advantages to hiring a search firm,” Elmore said. “They do this a lot and know the candidate pool. They know about interviewing, narrowing down the field and holding community meetings. Most important they know about employment law.
“The short version is,” he added, “you don’t want to get sued by a person you don’t hire.”
Brown resigned last Dec. 6, rescinded his resignation Jan. 11 then ultimately agreed to a final separation with the city on Feb. 14. Since then Financial Director Ken Turner has served as interim city manager.
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