MONROE — The Monroe Common Council decided to use the executive search firm GovHR USA, based out of Northbrook, Illinois, in their search for a new city administrator. 

At the council’s Dec. 2 meeting, Council president Brooke Bauman opened the item’s discussion by saying that she looked at all of about 10 potential firms sent to council members by Mayor Louis Armstrong and that she was impressed with the information she found on GovHR USA. 

“They’ve done a lot of work recruiting municipal administration in Wisconsin,” she said, most recently in Baraboo. 

She said they also do studies on classification and compensation, as well as help with job descriptions. 

“I think that’s something that we could benefit from,” said Bauman. 

Armstrong contacted the firm and said he would be receiving a proposal from them soon, and that it would include specific services and costs. 

“We’ve been out since October, so we want it yesterday,” said Armstrong, referring to how long the city has been without an administrator, in terms of the timeline for filling the position. 

Armstrong said he expressed a sense of urgency to fill the position and that it should be done as “quickly and conveniently” as possible. Former city administrator Phil Rath resigned in October after nearly a decade in the position. 

The amount budgeted for the new hire is currently about $1,000 more than Rath’s earnings, at $104,442, but that number could change. Armstrong said one of the things the firm could do is compare salaries for the position in other locations, in order for the city to set a fair rate. 

GovHR USA also helps develop job descriptions, something Armstrong said needs to be reviewed and updated for the position.                                                                                                                                                   One difference in the job description will be the absence of community development duties. Armstrong said he felt in the past there’d been “quite a load” on the city administrator, which meant less focus on community development. 

The council created a position specifically for that in the summer, and set aside funds for it in the budget — a salary of $72,800 was approved with the rest of the city’s non-represented wage schedule at the council’s Dec. 2 meeting — but the position has been unfilled since the chosen candidate backed out. 

Bauman said the city isn’t currently looking to fill the community development director position. 

“Let’s tackle one thing at a time,” she said.