FeedsInkster starts manager search
A little more than a month before the departure of the current city manager, Inkster City Council members voted to accept assistance from a search firm to identify new candidates for the spot.
Representatives of the Michigan Municipal League (MML) pitched the services of the organization at the last council meeting to advertise, then identify, qualified candidates before Joyce Parker — who has handled day-to-day operations for more than three years — leaves Aug. 15.
“The position will be advertised in the ICM (International City Managers Association) newsletter, and the MML web site,” said Dan Lawrence of the MML. “The advertising will begin July 21, and will run for four weeks,” he said.
Once all of the applications are gathered, the MML will present qualified applications to the council, which will then interview anywhere from 5-10 candidates, said Lawrence.
The city has used the services of the municipal league before. In 2005, five candidates were interviewed for the city manager’s post after the retirement of Robert Gordon. Parker was ultimately hired.
There is expected to be interest from both internal and external candidates, but Lawrence said he has received no resumes regarding the position. Internal candidates will be invited to send their information to the MML, but in the end, it’s the seven-member council who will make the decision regarding who is hired.
It’s not clear what the salary range for the position will be at this time, though Parker was hired at $98,000 per year, and currently makes in the neighborhood of $115,000 annually.
In Inkster, the city manager is responsible for overseeing seven city departments and a general fund budget of about $17 million. The manager also is responsible for overseeing other tasks — such labor relations — in the 28,000-resident city.
Parker resigned last month. She came to the city with experience in economic development gained during stints with the cities of Saginaw and Flint. Parker has not accepted another job with a municipality, though she said she would not rule that out.
Also, she plans on doing some consulting work.
Family concerns also played into Parker’s departure.
“As I stated before, I want to spend more time with my family – those are primarily the reasons,” she said after she turned her resignation letter into council members.
A 60-day clause in Parker’s employment contract ensures that she would assist the council in finding a new manager, if she’s asked.
“I indicated in my resignation letter that I would stay to make sure the transition is handled in a way that is not disruptive to the organization,” she said.
