Interim administrator search begins
With City Administrator Mark Watson's letter of resignation in hand, the Yuma City Council will begin looking for someone to fill his position temporarily while searching for a permanent replacement.
Mayor Al Krieger told the Yuma Sun Thursday that the council will hold a meeting sometime next week to begin discussing the selection of an interim administrator. He added that he is working closely with Human Resources Director Jack Dodd on that selection process.
"An interim administrator will be selected to perform the duties of the city administrator until a permanent administrator is named," Krieger said. "It could be someone on staff or outside the present staff."
The hope is to have someone in place within the next couple of weeks so the interim administrator can begin working with Watson during a transition period, Krieger said. According to the agreement between Watson and the city approved by the council Wednesday night, Watson's resignation is effective March 26.
"We'll be looking for someone with experience with the city," Krieger said. "Logically, we would be looking at the staff ... someone who knows the employees and the workings of the city."
In the meantime, Krieger said, Dodd has begun putting together a presentation for the council on the nationwide search process the city will initiate to find a permanent administrator.
The council also has approved a motion made by Councilwoman Bobbi Brooks-Gurrola outlining the succession of city staff to perform the duties of the administrator during vacations, out-of-town trips or illness.
"We need a line of ascension for an acting administrator ... someone to step in and handle the issues of city business," Krieger said, emphasizing that the position is different than the interim position.
The designation approved by the council includes Police Chief Jerry Geier as the first preference, Fire Chief Jack McArthur second, City Attorney Steve Moore third and Finance Director Pat Wicks fourth.
Krieger said other business before the council is to revisit the issue of city employee furloughs.
Last week, Watson had sent out an e-mail saying that all city employees, including those in public safety, would be required to take 16 hours of additional unpaid time off during the remainder of the fiscal year that ends June 30 because of the budget shortfall.
"I found out about it when I saw it on the news," Krieger said of the furloughs. "I was surprised to hear of it."
He said he's since heard concerns from a number of city employees, including police officers and firefighters, about the furloughs and promised the council will revisit the issue.
That will be part of the council's mission to specify priorities for city spending, he said, to identify essential services versus nonessential.
The question of fees for service will also be on the table, including the debated need to initiate a fee for residential trash collection, Krieger said. It has been suggested that each household be charged $5 a month to have their trash collected.
"We have to deal with the numbers," Krieger said. "We need our priorities in order."
