So is the City Council, which reportedly will hold off on any announcement until a background check and site visit are completed. The Council is scheduled to again discuss the selection during a closed session at the November 2 meeting.Following the morning session with the Citizens Advisory Panel the top three candidates, including Interim City Manager Cliff Finley, sat down separately for full Council interviews. The interview process and Council deliberations took about four hours Friday afternoon.Interim City Manager Cliff Finley was one of the three finalists interviewed Friday. Another candidate - the names of the other two have not been released - is presently a city manager. Finley, the city’s Public Works director/city engineer, has filled the post since Bobkiewicz left in mid-July to become city manager of Evanston, Illinois.The Council will likely send two of its members for the site visit. A similar visit by Evanston elected officials, who interviewed community members as well as City Hall staff, clinched the position for Bobkiewicz.
S.P. City Council decides on top candidate for City Manager’s job
October 28, 2009
Santa Paula City Council
A five-member Citizens Advisory Panel and others sat down with the three finalists for the city’s top municipal job Friday and the City Council later chose a top candidate in the search for a replacement for Wally Bobkiewicz.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA five-member Citizens Advisory Panel and others sat down with the three finalists for the city’s top municipal job Friday and the City Council later chose a top candidate in the search for a replacement for Wally Bobkiewicz.The Citizens Advisory Panel included former City Councilwoman Laura Flores Espinosa; Dr. William Herrera, a former Planning Commissioner; educator Jeri Mead; Limoneira Company Board President Alan Teague; and former Chamber of Commerce Chair Connie Tushla. Also on the panel were two city department heads and three representatives of employee bargaining units.“I thought we had a very good panel” who, Tushla said, “asked some thoughtful questions. Thanks to the City Council for involving the community in this process; like the rest of Santa Paula I’m anxiously awaiting the announcement of the next City Manager!”
