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MEDFORD City manager search should avoid 'costly mistake' Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 14, 2015 at 5:07 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 14, 2015 at 5:07 PM » Social News A search for a new Medford city manager has prompted a call for the City Council to push harder to nail down what it wants from the candidates and the recruitment firm. Councilor Dick Gordon said he’s still concerned the council hasn't spelled out qualifications for a new city manager before turning over the recruiting process over to a head-hunting agency. “They can’t do a good job unless they know what the council is looking for,” Gordon said. The city has sent out a request for qualifications from recruitment firms and will begin analyzing them after they’re due Sept. 23. The council has been wrestling with how it wants to proceed with the search since just after it fired former city manager Eric Swanson June 4. Gordon, who made the motion to fire Swanson, said previously that Swanson got the job by default because the other finalists had issues. He has been pushing for a better method rather than settling for someone who might not suit the needs of this city and this council. Gordon said he’s been compiling a list of qualifications he’s looking for in a city manager. Some of the suggestions he has include someone who is a good public speaker, a person who can build consensus with the council over difficult issues and someone who is good at navigating through the various personalities on the council. “In reality, it’s not just about consensus but about someone who doesn’t seek domination or wants to impose their will,” he said. Since the firing of the city manager, the city has been working through a number of thorny issues, including cost overruns on the new police headquarters and three new fire departments. Councilor Chris Corcoran said the city needs to do a better job screening the candidates than it did during the selection process three years ago. “As far as our previous city manager search, we made a costly mistake,” he said. This time, the city created an ad hoc committee made up of executives from local corporations who will help in the selection. Corcoran said the committee provides the experience and background that many on the council lack. “As volunteer city councilors, how often have we hired a CEO?” he said. “We don’t have the opportunity to look at things in depth like the private sector does.” He said upcoming City Council meetings will develop a list of the qualifications needed to fill the position. Once a few candidates have been selected, the council or someone from the city will likely visit the community where the candidate is employed to get a better sense of whether the references provided match the reality. “This is the kind of screening process we didn’t do the last time,” he said. Councilor Clay Bearnson, who wasn’t on the council when Swanson was selected, said he’s comfortable turning at least part of the search over to professionals, including executives with local corporations and a head-hunting agency. “It’s better than us using staff time or council time,” he said. “It seems to make sense.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 14, 2015 at 5:07 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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