FeedsCity to question new manager prospects
The process of hiring a new city manager will take longer than expected now that the Inkster City Council members opted to start the interview process again.
Council members indicated Monday night that city officials would ask Michigan Municipal League facilitator Bill Richards to seek five more applicants from the pool of resumes received by the city before the first round of interviews in September.
During that process, the council voted in an acrimonious session to offer the job to former Taylor Economic Development Director Fred Zorn, but he opted to accept a deputy manager position in Southfield.
“It worked out the way I hoped that it would,” said Councilman Michael Greene. “It’s the way we will get the best possible manager that we can.”
However, it remains unresolved as to whether a new manager will be in place prior to Oct. 15, the last day of work for outgoing manager Joyce Parker.
Parker did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday.
New applicants
The identities of the new applicants has not been released by the city, and so far, no interview date has been set.
Richards, who facilitated five interviews and led an application assessment for the city, will have to determine the availability of the applicants before an interview session can be established.
Sources close to the council said that none of the applicants that interviewed for the spot in September will be re-interviewed unless there is a change in plans, including D. Wayne O’Neal, who received the most support from the council behind Zorn, and Richard Wooten, the former community development director for Inkster.
However, a candidate from Chicago who was supposed to interview along with the other five contenders in September will interview. He was unable to make it to the original session because of inclement weather, sources said.
The process will work the same way it has – and will likely include a provision that required candidates to submit an essay about their personal experience with diversity as part of their application.
No interview date set
City officials will be informed by Richards sometime during the next few days about the availability of the candidates. If some have accepted other positions, the city could ask for more applications to round out the pool.
It is not known why Zorn did not accept the position in Inkster.
O’Neal – the council’s second choice for a manager – wanted at the high end of the $90,000 to $110,000 offered for the position, which concerned some council members.
The city may have to contract with Parker to manage city affairs on an interim basis, or hire an interim manager through the municipal league, if a new manager is not immediately hired.
They could also place the manager’s responsibilities on a department head.
