Waukesha’s next city administrator is unlikely to be selected until June 19, but that person will answer to the mayor with the caveat that the legislation is the final authority.
“It is the original job description, but it has some additions to it,” said Joan Francoeur, who is the chairman of the Human Resources Committee.
The Waukesha Common Council Tuesday approved the city administrator job description that returns the reporting structure of that post to the mayor.
It was a highly controversial issue when the council removed Scrima’s supervisory role in the summer 2010 after conflicts between him and then-city administrator Lori Luther prompted the change. The move infuriated Scrima’s supporters, who would frequently use the public comment section of council meetings to criticize the city administrator and the council over the change.
The city is beginning a national search with the firm Colin Baenziger and Associates to replace Luther, who left in . The job description reverts to the job description before the 2010 reporting structure change, but with some clarifications
Major changes include these job descriptions:
- "Performance evaluations are based on assessments by members of the Common Council, including the mayor and city department heads."
- "Supervise the development and implementation of the city’s strategic plan."
- "Effectuate actions of the Common Council and implement administrative matters as directed by the mayor. Where a conflict arises between directives from the mayor and lawful actions of the Common Council, the actions of the Common Council shall prevail and the city administrator shall effectuate the actions of the Common Council."
- The administrator will regularly meet with the council president and currently serving past presidents and other aldermen who request meetings.
Alderwoman Kathleen Cummings called for respect and transparency as the city moves forward with the city administrator during the next two years.
“I am going to look at this as a restart opportunity, to start anew,” Cummings said.
Salary Range Selected
The council also set the salary range for the position between $110,000 and $140,000. While attempts were made to place the lower range to between $100,000 and $130,000, the council ultimately approved the $110,000 starting salary.
The salary range became semi-controversial as the consultant had advised between $110,000 and $140,000, but some aldermen wanted the range to be between $100,000 and $130,000 or between $100,000 and $140,000.
Voting for the $110,000 to $140,000 salary range were:
- Roger Patton
- Steve Johnson
- Francoeur
- Chris Hernandez
- John Kalblinger
- Eric Payne
- Duane Paulson
Voting against the salary range were:
- Rick Hastings
- Joe Pieper
- Cummings
- Andy Reiland
- Terry Thieme
Aldermen Vance Skinner, Paul Ybarra and Brian White were absent from the meeting.
Francoeur had wanted to keep the salary range in line with what the consultants had suggested. Scrima agreed that the council should listen to the advice of the consultant, stating “it would be wise to follow his recommendation to get the best candidate.”
“What is the worth of this job to the community?” Francoeur asked.
The closing date for applicants is planned for April 20, with semifinalists picked around May 21. The final selection for the city administrator could be made by June 19.
