Menlo Park: Major changes ahead for City Hall staff

Something seems off with the Assistant City Manager recruitment... McIntyre made a big production in March about getting professional recruiter help [SEE STAFF REPORT - Web Link but then the process takes about half a year and they hire someone in the office already? Either they wasted time and money hiring Nick when it should have been obvious what to do, or- they did an external recruitment, came up empty and then had to go with a consolation prize?? Either way, doesn't look great for McIntyre...

Did we ever get more information on why Pegueros was dismissed abruptly from Portola Valley?

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Interesting comments. The recent staff report on adding new job titles sheds some indirect light as to why Pegueros was tapped. Web Link However, I suspect that there is more to this difficulty than what the public has been told. While the staff reports give general statements about hiring difficulties experienced by other cities, I've seen no specifics. Instead, I would like to see some actual comparative data. In contrast, the City of Mountain View recently hired a new library director because their former one retired. (Our Library Director in MP has also announced her October retirement.) According to a local newspaper article, MV had many outstanding applicants for the position and it was filled relatively quickly. I've compared the Mountain View recruitment brochure with ones from MP and, on paper alone, the benefits and salary seem similar across our towns. So I see no obvious reason as to why MV would find it easy to replace their Library Director. As an FYI, I have sent the newspaper article and MV Library Director recruitment brochure (along with some comments) to MP's current HR manager in case they are helpful. Having a citywide vision and strategic Plan, such as the example from Tacoma, Washington, Web Link would also make MP a more desirable place to work. A strategic plan would cut down on decision-making reactivity, shifting priorities and the influence of well-organized special interests. Residents would also benefit from having a values-based decision-making framework and a greater role in our own local government. A strategic plan would help residents, staff and council to work together more as partners towards making MP a desirable place to live and work.

This is what’s wrong with Menlo Park and their retention issues. Read the comments: Web Link