City begins expedited City Manager search

Commissioners Ayscue and Ross

The city's executive search firm has outlined a timeline that would have a new Fernandina Beach city manager in place by sometime in late September.

City commissioners approved the timeline submitted by Colin Baenziger & Associates (CB&A) at a special meeting Thursday addressing the need to hire a new city manager following the resignation of Ty Ross last December. Ross, only seven weeks into the job, quit after being involved in an alcohol related bicycle accident and not telling anyone he was driven home by the police.

Since the firing of City Manager Dale Martin in early 2023, six different people have acted as city manager for the city. Currently, Operations Director Jeremiah Glisson is the interim city manager, having been pressed into service following a medical emergency that has sidelined Interim City Manager Charlie George for an extended period of time.

"This (situation) is totally unfair to (city) staff. We've gone long enough with people pulling double duty, and that's not just Charlie (George)," said Commissioner Darron Ayscue in supporting the recruitment process. "We're at a point where we have to do something. We're running out of arms in the bullpen."

According to the Colin Baenziger & Associates timeline, the firm Friday will "posts the full recruitment profile on its website and submits it to the appropriate publications. It is also e-mailed to almost 14,000 local government professionals."

July 17 is the deadline for applications to be accepted and is followed by CB&A reporting on the results of the recruitment five days later.

The executive search firm will then narrow the applicants to a final field of five candidates for consideration by the city commission on Aug. 14.

Originally, CB&A had scheduled a candidates tour of the city and interviews with city commissioners on Aug 19-20.

But that plan has to be reworked due to conflicts with the Aug. 20 primary election and Ayscue said he would not be available until after Aug. 26.

Pushing back the timeline means that a new city manager would likely not be available to begin until late September.

Several public speakers urged commissioners to delay hiring a city manager until after the November city commission election when voters will decide who fills three city commission seats.

Shelia Cocchi argued that three new commissioners could be seated and those commissioners may not agree with the city manager selected.

"Any incoming person would be at the peril (of a new commission) because they serve at the pleasure of the city commission. I think it's prudent to wait," she said.

Jeff Muthersbaugh told commissioners he has owned the Heritage Recruiting Group, an executive search firm for 25 years and that the proposed recruiting timeline was too rushed to attract the best candidates for the city manager position.

"I think the July 19 timeline is a bit ambitious. You're looking at the best (candidates) that apply, not the best (candidates) that are out there," he said. "The best of what's out there is already working, you need to find them. Ask them if they're interested in this opportunity and encourage them to apply in Fernandina Beach."

City Human Resources Director Denise Matson told commissioners that CB&A would be recruiting "passive" candidates during the search process.

Tainia Christen proposed hiring a contract city manager until the November election.

"We've already done a tremendous amount of damage to our reputation. Between everything that's gone on, the lack of contingency planning. We've been in newspapers all over Florida," she said. "Let the next commission, whether it be you, hire the next city manager. Please save our reputation."

Commissioner Chip Ross disagreed with the speakers.

"I think it's not sustainable what we're doing now," said Commissioner Chip Ross. "It hasn't been sustainable for months. The staff cannot continue the way it is. Then putting this off to a new commission and going through this process which takes months, you're putting this well into next year. We need to resolve this now."

Ayscue agreed and said "this is going to be a new city manager for everybody. I don't think this is going to be a contentious hire. I don't think there's anything that prohibits this individual from working with any commission going forward."