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FROM THE COUNCIL From the council: Hiring new city manager is council's top responsibility By Chris Corcoran MailTribune.com By Chris Corcoran Posted Oct. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Chris Corcoran Posted Oct. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> To say that we as Medford city councilors have a full plate right now is the definition of “understatement.” Perhaps the biggest decision that we have yet to make is quietly riding under the media’s attention right now; the selection of a new city manager. There are those who say decisions regarding the city’s urban growth boundary expansion will be the biggest decision they’ll ever make as a city councilor. I however, believe it will be our choice as city manager that will occupy the top spot. The city manager is, in essence, the chief executive officer of our organization. The right choice can elevate the city of Medford to never-before-seen heights. While the wrong choice, well, let’s just say that’s not a pleasant thought. The council comprises eight volunteers from varying walks of life and backgrounds. Few of us have ever hired and fired individuals of the executive level of a city manager. Few of us have had the challenges of examining multiple respondents to requests for proposals from organizations that assist in executive recruitment. That said, we are fortunate to having living in our community several people who possess that expertise and experience, and they have agreed to step forward. Initially the council requested that Mayor Gary Wheeler ask five individuals who would be willing to serve on an ad-hoc committee to review firms wishing to assist the City Council in its recruitment efforts. These five people are enormously talented in their respective fields in the private and public sectors and we are fortunate they are willing to serve. They are Beth Lindsay, a retired human resources vice president at Harry & David; Rudd Johnson, a former human resources director at Harry & David; Mark DeBoer, Lithia Motors vice president; John Anhorn, former CEO of PremierWest Bank; and Rick Whitlock, former city manager of Klamath Falls, lawyer and a current member of the city’s Site Plan and Architectural Commission and Budget Committee. To me, leadership includes recognition of one’s own weaknesses. In this case, because of these five individuals’ incredible strengths in their respective fields, we have an opportunity to utilize their strengths on the community’s behalf. This will be an extremely thorough and deliberate process. We are fortunate in that we have very talented individuals currently holding the fort, so to speak, in the city manager’s office. There is no need to rush. This is a plum job with excellent pay, benefits and working conditions, and a city with enormous potential. I for one am thankful and appreciative that these five individuals have been willing to volunteer their services and expertise. The final decision will of course rest with the City Council. It is not the ad-hoc committee’s job to select the final individual, but to offer its interpretation of resumes, skill sets, styles and values. This is a selection the council must get right. Chris Corcoran is vice president of the Medford City Council. The views expressed in this piece are the individual's and do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of the City Council. By Chris Corcoran MailTribune.com By Chris Corcoran Posted Oct. 4, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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