Discussion Regarding the Pending Deputy City Administrator/Community Development Director Vacancy and the Process to Fill the Position

As the City Council is aware, Deputy City Administrator/Community Development Director Tim Gladhill has submitted a letter of resignation.  In the letter, Mr. Gladhill  stated that his last day with the City of Ramsey will be near the end of June.  This is a key staff position that has a significant impact on the City.  Staff is committed to filling this position with the best possible candidate, a candidate that demonstrates the qualities necessary to meet the City's mission, core values, and guiding principles.  

Recruitment Process:
Staff recommends conducting an external, open competitive recruitment.  Any internal candidates would be considered in one collective recruitment process along with external candidates. At this time, staff does not plan to seek assistance from an external recruitment firm. Staff will discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing this recruitment, including but not limited to costs and differing recruitment timeline.
 
Interview Rounds
First interviews will include the the Administrative Services Director and most likely the division heads of Planning Division, Economic Development Division and Building Inspections Division.

Second interviews is proposed to include three (3) interview panels, due to the critical nature and high profile of this position.
 

Panel	Participants
Community Development Department	Community Development Staff
Leadership	Department Heads + 2-3 Councilmembers Maybe a Neighboring Community Community Development Director
Community	2 Planning Commissioners 2 EDA Members 1-2 Business Owners 1-2 Developers

A final interview of 1-3 finalists would be conducted by the City Council.

Interim Community Development Director / Timelines
Staff will have an interim Community Development Director secured for Council consideration as soon as possible. In addition, since Mr. Gladhill is the City’s Deputy City Administrator, staff will identify an interim back-up to the City Administrator as well.  

The proposed / tentative recruitment timeline is as follows:

• 6-1 to 6-30-21 Application period
• 7-5-21 (week of) First Interviews
• 7-12-21 (week of) Second Interviews
• 7-19-21 (week of) Leadership Assessment with In-basket and role playing exercise 
• 7-26-21 (week of) Final Interview with the City Council (if desired)
• 7-30-21 Offer to move ahead in the process
• 8-2-21 (week of) Background Check / Reference Checks
• 8-5-21 Contingent job offer
• 8-6-21 Medical appointment
• 8-10-21 Council authorization to hire
• 8-30 to 9-17-21 Start working

This case is expected to take 10 minutes.
 

There is no funding required at this time.
 

Colleen Lasher, Administrative Services Director
Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator
 

The intended outcome of this work-session is for the City Council to provide staff, by consensus, feedback as to if the City Council agrees with the stated course of action to fill the position of the the Deputy City Administrator/Community Development Director.