How will Hilton Head replace its top official after 29 years? 3 things to know
The search for Hilton Head Island’s first new town manager in 29 years will last three months.
When Steve Riley retires at the end of the year, a new person will be tasked with taking over management of town staff, creating road maps to accomplish Town Council goals, overseeing long-term planning efforts and representing the island alongside the mayor.
The Town of Hilton Head Island has hired an executive search firm that is responsible for placing the lion’s share of town managers in Florida to find the island’s next top official. Colin Baenziger and Associates will be paid more than $25,000 for the search.
Meanwhile, assistant town manager Josh Gruber, who some see as a possible successor to Riley, has not confirmed whether he’ll submit an application for the job. He said he’s talking with his family to decide.
Asked whether he wants to be town manager on Friday, Gruber was noncommittal, saying “I think Hilton Head Island has a lot of opportunities and that will be an exciting challenge for whoever takes the job.”
Gruber has been noticeably sharing duties with Riley in recent weeks. He has presided over Town Council meetings and issued regular updates alongside Riley and Mayor John McCann.
He acknowledged that his face has been out in front of the public more during the coronavirus pandemic, and said it has been a “manner of splitting the responsibility,” as Riley takes short trips and while the mayor is injured.
Although he works closely with the town manager, Gruber said there would be no preferential treatment if he were to submit an application. By electing to hire an executive search committee, the Town Council took the application process outside the walls of town hall.
Here are three things to know about the executive search for a new town manager:
1. The cost
Colin Baenziger and Associates will be paid $26,500 to conduct the search.
That’s about on par with other local government contracts. Baenziger most recently delivered four finalists to the City of Brighton, Colo., for $25,000.
In 2018, Beaufort County spent $17,000 and then an additional $22,500 to use a different firm to hire Ashley Jacobs as county administrator.
Hilton Head will also be on the hook for additional expenses during the search.
The town will be responsible for providing the facilities for interviews, coordinating lodging for candidates, making arrangements for the reception, and reimbursing the candidates for all expenses associated with their travel, meals, and incidentals for the interview weekend, according to the proposal.
2. The timeline
Baenziger will move quickly in his firm’s search for applicants.
From July 8 through July 21, the firm interviewed town council and community members to create a picture of what people want from a new town manager.
But there have been concerns from community members about who has been interviewed.
While existing council members and some native islander leaders have confirmed being involved, there have been no public listening sessions announced by the town.
Although public input sessions are not part of the firm’s proposal, those who run in town government circles have called for a more public process.
“A selection without an open process, without public input, and without communication to the public contradicts what Mayor John McCann and several Town Council members promised when running for office,” residents Patsy Brison and Risa Prince wrote to The Island Packet. “Town Council engaged Colin Baenziger & Associates to manage this search. Disappointingly, there is no public input planned in the hasty timeline.”
On Friday, the recruiting process began.
Baenziger’s firm recruits from its networks, advertises on LinkedIn and in trade publications and emails the job posting to potential candidates.
The firm does not advertise the job in local or national newspapers because those postings “generally do not produce the type of candidates we are seeking,” according to the firm’s proposal.
Aug. 14 is the closing date for applications.
By Sept. 21, the town will select the finalists for interviews.
On Oct. 1, the town will hold a reception for the candidates and interview them one-on-one the following day.
The proposal says the town should have a decision on a finalist on Oct. 2.
3. Who it will be
The search is likely to garner between 60 and 100 applications.
Baenziger’s firm narrows the applicants down to six to 10 semifinalists, which the town will review.
Three to five finalists will be invited to Hilton Head for interviews.
The proposal said 40% of the firm’s finalists are typically “women and/ or minorities.” The proposal did not describe which “minority” identities are included in that statement.
