Dear Ms. McKeithen, Mr. Gruber and Mr. Dobbie

I read with interest the article in today's Almanac News indicating that the City would be hiring an interim city manager on a temporary basis while continuing to recruit for an interim city manager on a longer term basis and then of course a city manager on a permanent basis. This article seems to suggest that the screening process for an interim City Manager has begun while being vague as to whether or not candidates (such as myself) who have submitted their applications in response to the advertisement posted on the City's website for the position of interim city manager are being considered for what is effectively the job of "temporary, interim city manager".

Quite frankly this does not make sense to me. It appears as though the City was given ample notice of Mr. Gruber's retirement and therefore has had ample time to recruit for an interim City Manager. It is also evident that the City held open the recruitment date beyond Mr. Gruber's expected departure without disclosing any plans with respect to who would fill the slot upon Mr. Grubers departure and until such time a temporary but more permanent replacement is found.

At the very least, this bizarre behavior gives one the impression that the City Council's selection committee and Mr. Gruber are acting completely independently of the City Attorney. Is this indicative of a power struggle going on between the Mayor and the City Attorney?. It certainly seems so.

Call me jaded but this also seems to indicate the absence of good faith upon the part of the current Council and City manager in conducting its recruitment. For example, on my application which I submitted yesterday, I made it clear that I am available to serve the City immediately. However there has been no effort to contact me to confirm my availability. Instead I have been left read offhanded comments by Mayor McKeithen that those with "baggage" need not apply.

As such I would appeal directly to whomever is in charge in Town hall to please confirm that my application has been accepted and that I am being considered as a candidate for each of the following postings:

Temporary City Manager effective from October 23, 2010 to November 8, 2010 or beyond
Interim City Manager effective from November 8, 2010 until such time as a permanent city manager is appointed
Permanent City Manager.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Additionally, please consider this to be a public records request pursuant to the California Public Records Act.

Please provide me with a list of all individuals who have submitted their resume (or C.V.) for consideration for an appointment as interim city manager. Additionally, please provide me with copies of any writings which would identify those individuals whom Ms. McKeithen described as a "good possibilities" or "good fits" for consideration as a short-term replacement in the article referenced below:

Web Link

Please respond to this public records request within 10 days.

John P. Johns, CPA

It is inconvenient but the Town can not schedule major emergencies around everyones schedule apparently.....but thanks for the notification, I hadn't heard. Is this verified?

Ed, I spoke with Mayor McKeithen and have heard directly from the city clerk, and both confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday). So far, the town hasn't posted the notice on its website, but agendas should be posted at the Town Center.