Grand Terrace accepting applications for city manager post document.write
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 13, 2009
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHIThe Press-Enterprise
GRAND TERRACE - With two employees who have done the job waiting in the wings, the Grand Terrace City Council has opted to include outside recruits in its search for a permanent city manager.
The council met in closed session Tuesday night to discuss the job, which pays $178,000 a year, an amount nearly equal to the cuts the city is looking to make in its upcoming budget.
After the private session, City Clerk Brenda Mesa said, the council announced that it was directing the city attorney to begin recruiting a city manager.
As to what that means for the status of Acting City Manager Steve Berry, she said, "At this point, my guess would be nothing."
Berry was the assistant city manager in June 2008, when then-City Manager Tom Schwab was hospitalized with a subdural hematoma, or bleeding in the brain. Berry was appointed acting city manager and Schwab was placed on medical leave.
Schwab's contract expired in February 2009, Mayor Maryette Ferre said. He was hired back as a consultant on a part-time basis through June 30 to help the city prepare its 2009-10 budget, which takes effect July 1.
Now Schwab says he is healthy enough to return full-time and wants his city manager job back.
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Asked Wednesday why neither Berry nor Schwab were chosen Tuesday night, Ferre said, "I have no idea. I am one of five (council members). The consensus of the group was to go about it in this manner in great hopes that both Steve and Tom will apply, which I think they will."
Neither Schwab nor Berry could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Ferre said the city will seek help from the League of California Cities to recruit applicants.
"We expect to close the recruitment in mid- to late August," she said.
The city manager could be chosen as early as September.
"This, of course, is no reflection on the acting city manager, Steve Berry, or Tom Schwab," Ferre said.
Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 951-368-9484 or dsantschi@PE.com
Paww adds.
Now Folks of Grand Terrace is the time for all the activists to get out there and make sure that it is known that Neither Tom or Steve, should be hired or retained. It is now possible to ballance the budget AND have a Change in City Management in ONE CLEAN Action.
I hope Brenda Applies for the Job, she is more qualified than Steve any day of the week, and she has been working for Woman's Pay and manages to budget her own personal finances sufficiently to suggest that the City Would be better off under an administration lead by her than two fellows that have repeatedly asked for increases in income because in part "They Needed It".
WANTED IN GRAND TERRACE CITY MANAGER>>> SMALL TOWN... Less than 3 Major Contracts to Negotiate. Contracted Fire and Police and Utilities.... Small City Staff and Crew.
Submit applications to the City of Grand Terrace, 22795 Barton Rd, Grand Terrace, CA 92313
Come to the table with an income demand under $90,000.00/year and for budgetary reasons alone you may get the job.