BAYFIELD – Bayfield is renewing its search for an interim town manager after learning another remaining candidate didn’t pan out.
Town attorney Michael Goldman confirmed to the town board during Tuesday’s meeting that there were two finalists for the position. One candidate had reference checks that didn’t yield satisfactory results, while another took their name out of consideration while negotiations took place.
With the search not leading to an eventual hire, the board opted to schedule a work session to make some headway. That work session is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 7.
“It’s just taking time. I’m sorry none of the candidates panned out, but we’ll just go back and start over, try it again,” Mayor Tom Au told the Herald.
In the event the search extends past that work session, Au said staff will help with town manager-related duties for a period of time until a candidate is picked.
Board Trustee Brenna Morlan asked that staff who may be tasked with additional duties in the weeks ahead be present during the work session. That way, any questions that might emerge can be answered then.
The board tabled the matter to Tuesday after learning that one of the candidates withdrew their name from the list of finalists on Dec. 11.
The board had four finalists after a nationwide search for candidates.
Aside from that previous candidate withdrawing, Au told The Durango Herald on Dec. 11 that another candidate was involved in a car crash the night that person was scheduled for an interview and could not go on with pursuing the job. Au said a fourth candidate dropped out for unknown reasons, leaving one finalist.
Au said on Tuesday he’s unsure whether the one remaining finalist was the one in which reference checks became an issue.
The human resources department posted the opening on the Colorado Municipal League’s online job board, as well as the Colorado City & County Management Association’s online job board. The deadline to apply will be Jan. 3. The application process will be open back up if another vetting session may be needed.
When and if a candidate is ultimately hired, they will replace outgoing Town Manager Katie Sickles. Sickles announced her resignation in October after some town board members called for her ouster over allegations she wasn’t acting in the “best interest” of a majority of town board members.
Board trustee Kat Katsos told the board the town is “missing leadership” with the vacancy still not being filled.
“We need a town manager. We need an interim (position). We’re working on it,” she told the Herald, adding that the recruitment firm KRW Associates is putting together a search for a permanent position. “We’ll know more on the Jan. 7 meeting kind of how that’s going to land.”
In the meantime, multiple department heads reassured the board on Tuesday that things will be fine during and coming out of the Christmas and New Year’s holiday seasons.
Parks director Mark Robinson told the board that operating procedures will be fine in the coming days, barring any incident where human resources may get involved.
Public works director Jeremy Schulz told the board he’s confident things will be OK for the next couple weeks, given the holiday schedule. As for building permit matters, he told the board those would be handed over to the interim town manager once a person is chosen.
For the time being, Town Clerk Dustin Hayden is tasked with putting together the agenda packets.
The town board also expressed optimism the coming weeks will be fine.
“We have a very competent staff, for sure,” Katsos told the Herald.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
