Sarasota debates city manager search again

Although not on the agenda, the subject of selecting Sarasota’s next city manager found its way into the discussion during Monday’s regular meeting of the Sarasota City Commission. 

Already spared a potentially day-long appeal over the approval of the Obsidian condo tower at 1260 N. Palm Ave.  — that was continued until a May 13 special meeting — during commissioners’ comments Jen Ahearn-Koch resurrected her contention that the twice-delayed schedule to choose a group of finalists for city manager remains inadequate. She asked if the city could reopen the application process to augment the now-47 applicants culled by its search firm, Colin Benzinger Associates. 

Rather than settle for the firm’s list of eight semifinalists to consider for its final cohort, commissioners previously opened consideration to the entire field during its April 11 workshop. Ahearn-Koch now wants the opportunity for more to apply. 

What could be the problem, she wondered aloud, with a two-week period to collect a few more applications to consider prior to its scheduled May 22 workshop? She contends the previously listed requirement of possessing city manager or deputy city manager experience may have discouraged potentially qualified applicants — perhaps some locally or even from staff.

Interim City Manager Doug Jeffcoat countered that opening the process to more applicants is tantamount to starting the process from scratch. Vice Mayor Debbie Trice offered a compromise position.

“My understanding following the (April 11) workshop was that we would continue with the process as is, with all deliberate speed, but if we didn't find the person we wanted to hire as city manager then we would start the process all over again,” Trice said. “We have a special meeting in May to continue the process, so based on timeline I would want us to move forward and do as best as we can, but then if we don't find someone then we can restart the process.”

As Ahearn-Koch pressed on, Mayor Liz Alpert interjected, “You're obviously telling us that you have somebody in mind.” 

Shot back Ahearn-Koch, “Please don’t put words in my mouth.”

Ever vigilant of governmental protocol and Florida sunshine laws, City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs ended the debate by reminding commissioners they shouldn’t be discussing the matter at all.

“We are going down a little bit of a rabbit hole and we need to be careful,” Griggs admonished. “I just want to make everybody aware of that because this wasn't noticed to be discussed, so come to some sort of understanding on this.”

Concluded Commissioner Kathy Kelley Olrich, “Yeah, it's pretty clear to me we do not have consensus on this and we can't vote on it anyway. So, what are we talking about?”