MONROE - An overwhelming majority of City Council members and city department supervisors agree that Monroe's city administrator needs to have strong marketing abilities and a personable character.
Mayor Ron Marsh said those two aspects go well together.
Marsh conducted a survey of the city's 10 aldermen and 15 department heads last week to determine what qualities should be looked for in an administrator when the city begins its search.
Marsh said his survey question was two-pronged, asking which strengths were wanted most in the job position and leadership characteristics.
Respondents were allowed to respond with whatever traits they liked.
For the job position, marketing was ranked first (32 percent) and second (28 percent), with eight and seven votes. Human resources came in third.
For characteristics, personable character was first (28 percent) and second place (24 percent) also, with seven and six votes. Able to make decisions was third.
Other traits needed in an administrator include economic knowledge, safety and general executive abilities, Marsh said.
"An administrator needs to be able to handle whatever comes forward," he said. "If they don't have the knowledge, they at least need to know where to go to get it."
Marsh also asked department supervisors about their opinions on three questions. Only 14 responded.
Marsh asked if the supervisors felt the city needed an administrator by the first of the year. His question was based on the time schedule presented by one hiring firm, Public Administrative Associates, which made a presentation to Council members June 10. The soonest they could have an administrator ready to hire was 16 weeks, or Oct. 15.
None of the supervisors felt the need for an administrator immediately.
Marsh said the reasons varied, with some respondents mentioning the holiday season and schooling as poor times to require a family to move. Other supervisors mentioned the fact that the city budget will have already been approved, and an administrator hired by the end of October would not have any input anyway.
If the supervisors had indicated an immediate need, Marsh said he would have put the hiring of an administrator "on the fast track."
Marsh also asked if the supervisors were comfortable with the way the city business and duties are being handled now, in the absence of an administrator.
All 14 said yes. If any had answered no, Marsh said his follow-up question would have been what they felt was missing or needed.
His third question asked supervisors whether they felt the city needed to use an outside firm to do the job of seeking and hiring a new administrator. The results were split, with five saying yes, five saying no, and four being neutral. Those indicating neutral expressed a concern with how much time it would take on top of normal duties and who would be asked to serve on a hiring committee.
The duties of the administrator have been divided up among council members and Marsh since the departure of Mark Vahlsing May 14.
After Tuesday's City Council meeting, Alderman Mark Coplien, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee, said the division of duties is a loose one.
"The mayor is here during the day, and department heads know which council member they can come to with questions," he said. "So there's really no official division (of labor)."
Coplien said the city is fortunate to have a mayor who can be available to handle the duties that Marsh is during this time, but he also commended the council for its wide range of abilities.
"One thing I want to make clear is that the past city administrator did a lot of good things for the city, but the reason Wal-Mart and Menards, and all those other developments came to Monroe was because of the city council," Coplien said. "The city council gave them the opportunity to come to Monroe. Vahlsing was part of it, but he didn't do it all. Those projects were already in the works when he came.
"Your city council did this; your Plan Commission did this."
So then, does Monroe really need a city administrator?
Coplien says yes.
"Yes, they do. At the PAA (Public Administrative Associates) meeting, you heard them say, 'yes, we do need somebody in charge,'" Coplien said. "That's why I say we are fortunate to have the mayor here during the day. And we (council members) all agreed upon the mayor doing that," he said.
So why doesn't Marsh just become the new city administrator?
"Oh, no," Marsh, 67, said with a smile. "Not interested. I want to retire."
Mayor Ron Marsh said those two aspects go well together.
Marsh conducted a survey of the city's 10 aldermen and 15 department heads last week to determine what qualities should be looked for in an administrator when the city begins its search.
Marsh said his survey question was two-pronged, asking which strengths were wanted most in the job position and leadership characteristics.
Respondents were allowed to respond with whatever traits they liked.
For the job position, marketing was ranked first (32 percent) and second (28 percent), with eight and seven votes. Human resources came in third.
For characteristics, personable character was first (28 percent) and second place (24 percent) also, with seven and six votes. Able to make decisions was third.
Other traits needed in an administrator include economic knowledge, safety and general executive abilities, Marsh said.
"An administrator needs to be able to handle whatever comes forward," he said. "If they don't have the knowledge, they at least need to know where to go to get it."
Marsh also asked department supervisors about their opinions on three questions. Only 14 responded.
Marsh asked if the supervisors felt the city needed an administrator by the first of the year. His question was based on the time schedule presented by one hiring firm, Public Administrative Associates, which made a presentation to Council members June 10. The soonest they could have an administrator ready to hire was 16 weeks, or Oct. 15.
None of the supervisors felt the need for an administrator immediately.
Marsh said the reasons varied, with some respondents mentioning the holiday season and schooling as poor times to require a family to move. Other supervisors mentioned the fact that the city budget will have already been approved, and an administrator hired by the end of October would not have any input anyway.
If the supervisors had indicated an immediate need, Marsh said he would have put the hiring of an administrator "on the fast track."
Marsh also asked if the supervisors were comfortable with the way the city business and duties are being handled now, in the absence of an administrator.
All 14 said yes. If any had answered no, Marsh said his follow-up question would have been what they felt was missing or needed.
His third question asked supervisors whether they felt the city needed to use an outside firm to do the job of seeking and hiring a new administrator. The results were split, with five saying yes, five saying no, and four being neutral. Those indicating neutral expressed a concern with how much time it would take on top of normal duties and who would be asked to serve on a hiring committee.
The duties of the administrator have been divided up among council members and Marsh since the departure of Mark Vahlsing May 14.
After Tuesday's City Council meeting, Alderman Mark Coplien, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee, said the division of duties is a loose one.
"The mayor is here during the day, and department heads know which council member they can come to with questions," he said. "So there's really no official division (of labor)."
Coplien said the city is fortunate to have a mayor who can be available to handle the duties that Marsh is during this time, but he also commended the council for its wide range of abilities.
"One thing I want to make clear is that the past city administrator did a lot of good things for the city, but the reason Wal-Mart and Menards, and all those other developments came to Monroe was because of the city council," Coplien said. "The city council gave them the opportunity to come to Monroe. Vahlsing was part of it, but he didn't do it all. Those projects were already in the works when he came.
"Your city council did this; your Plan Commission did this."
So then, does Monroe really need a city administrator?
Coplien says yes.
"Yes, they do. At the PAA (Public Administrative Associates) meeting, you heard them say, 'yes, we do need somebody in charge,'" Coplien said. "That's why I say we are fortunate to have the mayor here during the day. And we (council members) all agreed upon the mayor doing that," he said.
So why doesn't Marsh just become the new city administrator?
"Oh, no," Marsh, 67, said with a smile. "Not interested. I want to retire."