PATA History Pages

Six Candidates Remain for City Manager

Selected from over 75 applications

SIX CANDIDATES SELECTED TO VIE FOR PICKERINGTON CITY MANAGER
Published: Sunday, March 28, 2004
NEWS 06D
By Kirk D. Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Finalists

A search committee and consultant for Pickerington have identified six candidates as finalists for city manager. The finalists will visit City Hall for full-day tours on the following dates:

* Frank Wiseman, interim city manager in Pickerington (Monday)

* Robert Elliot, former city manager in Frankfort, Ky. (April 13)

* Judith Gilleland, assistant city manager in Centerville, Ohio (April 14)

* Douglas Elliot, city manager in Somersworth, N.H. (April 15)

* Frank Myers, city manager in Trotwood, Ohio (April 16)

* Barbara Burns-Matthews, former city administrator in Manchester, Mo. (April 19)

Source: Douglas Plunkett, Circuit Rider Management Group






Starting Monday, six finalists for Pickerington city manager each will spend a day in the city, selling themselves to the staff they hope to lead.

As part of a plan devised by consultant Douglas Plunkett, the candidates -- chosen from 75 who applied from across the United States -- are to visit City Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on their appointed day to meet with officials and observe how the government operates.


Plunkett, who runs the Circuit Rider Management Group in Granville, unveiled the list Wednesday after members of a search committee helped determine which candidates best fit their city-manager profile.

During their visits, candidates are to talk with department heads about finances, legislative matters, personnel, planning, police procedures, recreational programs and zoning.

"Everybody's sizing up everybody,'' Plunkett said. "It exposes (the candidates) to the people in the organization, and it helps them relate better to the community.''

The first visit will take place Monday with candidate Frank Wiseman, the interim city manager who wants to keep the job full time. He already knows the employees but said he doesn't expect that to be an advantage.

"I want to make sure I go through the same process as everybody else,'' Wiseman said. "I don't want any preferential treatment.''

Wiseman, however, also is the public service director and will be one of the department heads that the other candidates must talk with during their visits. In that role, Wiseman will show off Pickerington's streets and utilities.

"Obviously, if one of them gets (the city manager job), I want to be able to know I can work with them and to reiterate my thoughts and skills,'' Wiseman said.

"Whoever would be hired -- if it's not me -- I believe I'd have a lot to offer them.''

Wiseman is the only Pickerington finalist and one of three Ohioans. The other three finalists come from Kentucky, Missouri and New Hampshire.

On their respective tour days, each candidate will have lunch with the Violet Township administrator and commissioners of Fairfield County, where most of Pickerington's jurisdiction sits.

The candidates are to have dinner with Robert Thiede, superintendent of Pickerington schools.

"The city manager in any city that's going to be successful has to interact with the superintendent,'' Plunkett said.

After the final tour on April 19, the search committee is to recommend three candidates to meet with Mayor David Shaver, who will forward his choice to the City Council for approval.

"The mayor wants a pretty open process,'' Plunkett said. "He wanted to avoid politics and have this be based on competencies and track record.''

If the interviews fail to produce three candidates, members would have to seek additional prospects.

That could throw the city off a schedule that officials hope will lead to a job offer by May 13.

krichards@dispatch.com

City Manager Candidates

The Columbus Dispatch