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At last night's city council meeting the hiring of our next city manager was discussed. A "selection" firm is apparently going to be funded, at taxpayers expense, to narrow down the field of potential candidates. The whole process (we were told) will take 6 months.
I would prefer that our council, with public input, select our next city manager without using any taxpayers money.
Do any of you have an opinion about this? Please offer yes or no about using an outside firm. Thank you

One resounding "NO" vote here!

JMO, but I think the idea of hiring a "selection" firm to choose a new City manager is one of the STUPIDEST ever proposed by city council....

Didn't the "Fab Four" have some kind of a a PLAN in mind when they canned GG??? And how in h--- is an OUTSIDE FIRM going to have a CLUE what kind of qualities the people of the City of Owosso would like to see in a new city manager???

These four guys have already cost the taxpayers some $61,000 to eliminate GG, which doesn't include the pay raise for the newly-appointed INTERIM city manager....... And now they're looking to waste even MORE taxpayer money (MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE) to hire outside (I.E; Out-of-Town/State) CONSULTANTS???????

And these guys call themselves the "FAB FOUR"???? What a JOKE!

....They're ACTING more like the "Three Stooges (and a Spare)!"

I am surprised on how small the number of people has been, that have replied to this post. I have done a little research (Google) and have found that the average amount to pay a firm to help in a city manager search is between $20,000 and $30,000. Do the taxpayers in Owosso want our city council to spend that much more money? (Geutschow has already cost us enough in his severance package). I feel that our council can do the search themselves, thus saving us a lot of money.
How do you feel? We must tell our council before it is too late.

Don't be discouraged by the small response, GMSPARTY7. This is a small forum with less than 100 active members....and some--if not many-- live outside the city of Owosso.

Keep asking the tough questions. Maybe our fellow citizens will wake up BEFORE the council blows another $30,000 of their tax dollars......

I didn't respond because I'm not an Owosso resident, and because I don't really know how I feel about it. I did write a little about it on my blog.

Did the council give any estimate on how much it would cost to have the city screen the candidates in house? I don't see how anyone can make a decision if they don't have that information.

We asked at the council meeting how much they intended to spend for this search. They did not answer the question. Now, I'm beginning to think that they don't want to do it for $10 (that's all they get for each council meeting).I really don't know because they would not answer our question.

"Didn't the "Fab Four" have some kind of a a PLAN in mind when they canned GG???"

Now that's a heck of a question! The Fab Four didn't plan to rid of GG in the first place. GG decided to can himself.

"These four guys have already cost the taxpayers some $61,000 to eliminate GG, which doesn't include the pay raise for the newly-appointed INTERIM city manager......."

Now that's a heck of a statement! How do you know what it may have cost the taxpayers had GG stayed? Not one person knows what changed the mind of ONE council member and why he could no longer support the manager? Remember that council member has been on the council for years and had always supported GG. One could only guess what suddenly changed this council members mind.

"And now they're looking to waste even MORE taxpayer money (MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE) to hire outside (I.E; Out-of-Town/State) CONSULTANTS???????"

Wasn't it the Mayors idea that they hire a search firm? It was not itched in stone that they were going to use a hiring firm. She just wanted the council to consider this at the next meeting.

"And these guys call themselves the "FAB FOUR"???? What a JOKE!"

Now that really is a heck of a statement! They've not once called themselves the Fab Four. The public that elected them and support their decision are calling them the Fab Four.

"....They're ACTING more like the "Three Stooges (and a Spare)!"

Could you be the spare?

Regarding the original question: No, on the search firm and just in case it is brought up, No, on a public opinion poll as to what type of manager the taxpayers want for a replacement.

I would wholeheartedly agree with that!
Maybe stupid, but done quite commonly.
GG resigned, after being told he no longer had the support of the majority of the council. But quit, as in immediately. That likely changed some things.
The city council will have to tell them.
Actually...cheap at twice the cost, as compared to what gg cost the city..jmho (of course)
Probably an out-of-state-mgr, too.
OK..that's enough of that. A guy spoke up at the meeting when gg resigned and referred to them as "The Fantastic Four", then I called them "The Fab Four".......they never once said anything like that about themselves..
Well, that is your opinion..........thank you for sharing
I think they were long overdue getting rid of gg, but I don't think they need to hire a consulting firm to do a 'nationawide' search. About time they tried to find somebody local. At least try local first, then expand if necessary.

See what I mean GMSPARTY7?????.......All ya gotta do is POKE at 'em a little, and they come out just a snarlin' at ya!!!

I didn't think I was snarlin' at ya'............just a little difference of opinion..........

Once upon a time I thought what the city of Owosso did was not of much concern to me. WRONG!

When what the city of Owosso does can come all the way out to Bennington twp and cost us the most stupid of all stupids taxes...........then I am convinced all the neighbors should be keeping an eye on them.

What they do should be of utmost concern to all the neighboring municipalities. Well, if those neighbors wish to remain independent and not get gobbled up by the city.

I received a couple of good responses to my letter to editor.... without divulging who, I will share parts of them... I value their knowledge and experience:



AND , from another:

As is ALWAYS the case, there is more than ONE way (MINE ) to look at an "issue".

I think we should hire someone to do the search who will in turn pick themselves to be the next city manager much in the same way Cheney found a VP for Bush.

I'm sorry but it just seems like the right thing to do.

Impeach Bush/Cheney

I personally think that a firm would be okay,---------if Owosso had EXTRA money to pay for the service. I don't believe we do (Geutschow told us we had no extra money for Holman Pool and other projects).

Interim City Manager Larry Cook seems to be off to a good start and is doing a good job. Why not give him a probationary period (say---6 months) and after a favorable evaluation, hire him. Owosso saves money, we have someone that knows Owosso, everyone is happy.

What do you think of this idea? If most comments seem to be favorable, I will offer this suggestion at the next city council meeting. Yes, those from "outside" Owosso may "chirp" in.

Sounds like a perfectly logical thing to do.