Not quite sure what happened here. From this post, while unsubstantiated, it sounds like the council did not make a decision on an interim manager and that it fully intends to allow public input into the selection process. In another post, also unsubstantiated, on the same topic, limited to "registered users" it is reported that they did make a decision and will report it on Wednesday. Given all the problems this council has been dealing with lately, I personally would tend to believe this report--they aren't stupid. Guess I'll check the Daily Post today and get the real scoop.

Daily News Today

"Outgoing City Manager Jerry Gruber said the council chose among three finalist whose names are being kept confidential."

"They didn't let me know their selection."

WhoRU, The point of confusion is that Atherton is looking for two temporary managers. The one the council hopes to appoint tomorrow is intended to be on the job very briefly, maybe three weeks, until a longer-term, but still temporary, manager is chosen. It might be helpful to think of the one appointed this week as the "bridge" city manager, and the one appointed in early November as the interim manager. The interim manager will be appointed to serve until a permanent manager is recruited and begins work, which is likely to be months from now.

The only reason a "bridge" manager is being appointed is that the assistant city manager, Eileen Wilkerson, unexpectedly announced that she is leaving her job this Thursday. That leaves a void in Town Hall after the city manager, Jerry Gruber, leaves his post this Friday.

The council didn't have much time to find the "bridge" manager (Wilkerson announced her retirement late last week, giving only a week's notice), but for the interim manager appointment, the council is discussing the process and appointment of the person in public, giving residents a chance to comment and make suggestions.

Hope this helps.

It is almost inconceivable that the Town Council could do a reasonably exhaustive search in the proposed three week tenure of the "temporary" manager.

Does this Council really believe they can receive public comment, post the position, advertise and recruit, qualify candidates, interview them, reduce the candidates to a final group for more intensive questioning and reference checks in just three weeks?

A decent search will take a few months.

Without a thoughtful process, it's just a recipe for another Atherton hiring disaster.

The search for an interim manager -- the person expected to be appointed in early November -- has been ongoing since late September, and applications are already being reviewed.

The search for the "bridge" manager has been short because after this Friday, there will be no one officially in charge in Town Hall, and that was an unexpected development.

Here's a link to our latest online story about the matter:

Web Link

Ms. Batti

Please check your facts before you post.

The recruitment date for the interim City Manager is open until October 29th. There was no indication in the anouncement that applications would be subject to review upon reciept.

If applications for the interim City Manager position are being reviewed at present, then the natural question is whether or not this contemporaneous review of applications (without having been previously disclosed) has introduced an element of bias into the selection process.

It would seem to me that, with Councilwoman McKeithen's statement that those with "baggage" need not apply, the City Council should be especially careful not to avoid discrimination in either apperance or in fact. Yet, it appears as though Ms. McKeithen by way of ignorance or arrogance has compromised the selection process and has further eroded the confidence in the ability of the Council to manage its affairs transparently and ethically.

This is most unfortunate.

Yes, Ms. Wilkerson's did submit her resignation unexpectedly, but is that any reason for you to apologize for the Town's behavior?

I find it admirable to not have to wast time having the "usual omnipresent group of ALMANAC critics running the show".
ANYONE would be better than how this area is controlled and run and if a person of a different country of origin, like our Governor, or a person of color, prefererably a legalized Mexican Millionaire, and/or even an ordinary citizen were to be City Manager, it would DEFINITELY be the AMERICAN way of doing things, instead of the way of the GOLDEN CORRIDOR of bourgeois savants.

R. Gordon -- I will call you R, if I may -- would you please tell us where you live?

Thanks muchly.

Joe:

Mr. Gordon lives on the planet where the sky is purple.

Ms. Batti, I just wanted to thank you for providing clarification regarding my previous post. It is certainly understandable in my mind that the Council would (1) need to move quickly to "bridge" the gap, and (2) that such a move would be something that a council should do. Personally I see nothing inappropriate in their actions in this regard, but it is telling to see how poor their credibility is among many of their constituents on this forum. The lack of trust can sometimes be as damaging as a misdeed would have been.