How should the Princeton City Council search for a new City Manager?

At last night’s City Council meeting Commissioner Bob Warren presented a proposal from Voorhees Associates LLC, a public management consulting firm used to search for city managers. The proposal suggested it would take 11 to 12 weeks and cost nearly 20-thousand dollars to conduct the search. Commissioner Joel Quiram stated the city can’t afford a costly search and suggested the council do their own “more regional” advertising for the position. He said he would like to have someone with ties to the community who might stay in the position longer. Mayor Cain said he likes

people who are not from the area because they tend to bring new ideas. Commissioner Terry Madsen stated that time, cost, and other unknowns are factors for using the consulting firm. Commissioner Ray Swanson said that using the firm would help to narrow down the applicants. City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said he would solicit 3 or 4 more firms to see what their proposals would be.  In other business the following action items were approved: an ordinance authorizing the disconnection of property west of South Main Street and south of Bryant Woods Drive owned by KJET Land Investment LLC; a resolution calling for an election for a Home Rule Referendum, which will be held on March 20, 2012; by-laws for Princeton Tourism and Visitors Board; a special use permit for Princeton High School to construct a two-story structure to house a press box and concession stand at 505 East Farnham Street; and a resolution to purchase certain equipment and customers north of I-80 from Ameren IP for the sum of 21-thousand 748 dollars. Mayor Cain also proclaimed October 23^rd through the 29^th as “GFWC-IL Junior Week in honor of the Princeton Junior Woman’s Club’s 40-year service to the community.