By Kim McDarison
The City of Whitewater Common Council officially learned Tuesday that City Manager Cameron Clapper was approved by the Dodge County Board of Supervisors as its new county administrator.
The board approved its resolution to hire Clapper Tuesday during the same time that the city’s common council meeting was taking place.
During the council meeting, Clapper shared a memo with council members noting his new position and suggesting a recruitment process be undertaken to find his replacement.
He asked for direction from council relative to hiring a firm to facilitate the hiring of the next city manager.
Council directed staff to explore the possibility.
In the memo, Clapper wrote: “As common council members may be aware, the city manager has been nominated to fill the role of county administrator for Dodge County beginning in August.”
In addition, Clapper wrote, should the board affirm his nomination during its June 21 meeting, he would tender his formal resignation June 22.
During the council meeting, Clapper told those in attendance that his last day as city manager would be Aug. 12.
The memo continued: “While Whitewater is equipped with excellent professional staff members capable of conducting a recruitment for the city manager position on behalf of the common council, the use of a third-party firm to assist in the recruitment is common among municipalities and is also strongly recommended on the part of the soon-to-depart city manager.”
Clapper suggested to council in his memo that a third-party firm specializing in professional recruitments could provide a “broader professional network of qualified candidates,” while assisting with the “development of recruitment materials,” as well as experience and expertise.
He noted that some firms are capable of providing clients with the services of an interim manager, if one is needed.
During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Clapper suggested council direct staff to solicit the cost of proposals from area recruitment firms, with requests for proposals looking to firms to provide the following information:
• Costs associated with the recruitment process, such as the solicitation, application reviews, finalist selections, final reviews and contract negotiation services, as well as meetings to review candidates and the interviewing process for finalists.
• Costs associated with providing an interim city manager during the recruitment process.
Proposals are anticipated to be presented during the council’s July 19 meeting, or if applicable, during an earlier scheduled special meeting of the council.
Whitewater Municipal Building, file photo/Kim McDarison
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