HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 01-04 Search still on for city Manager DISPATCH Maplewood �Qh de /929
Search still on
for city manager
By SCOTT CARLSON ney Donald Lais said that Laird's
Staff Writer new job will be in Africa where
he will investigate countries ap-
The World Bank has taken plying for World Bank loans.
away Maplewood's top candidate Meanwhile,Maplewood is con
for city manager,the Council
learned recent- tinuing its search,Greavu said.
fi ly. At a special meeting last Thurs-
"He had day,the Council interviewed
made applica Eric Blank,acting Maplewood
tion for the manager,and James Ratner, a
`, (World Bank) former Maplewood clerk,for the
job six months manager's position.
s ago"Mayor Other candidates previously
John Greavu interviewed by the Council
y said last week include: John Cottingham,for
of Carlton mer Coon Rapids manager;
Laird,of Bay Curtis Olson of Connecticut and
City,Mich. Robert Simon,South St.Paul
Greavu When Laird city engineer.Simon has since
returned home from his Maple- withdrawn.
wood interview,he had a World
Bank job offer that"he couldn't "I've been trying to keep the
refuse,"Greavu note/I. organization going so there_are
MAPLEWOOD CITY Attor- See Job,Page 2(E)
Joblraf/ 4j /919
Continued from Page 1(E) acceptable.he added.
no serious problems for the new ''IT WOULD BE an additional
manager."Blank said when challenge to convince the other
questioned by the Council about two at the year's end that they
possible administrative reorgan- should go along with the other
ization.He said he has thought three,"Hafner said.
about shifting duties for the city Hafner,currently a purchas-
clerk. ing agent for Davies Water
BUT BLANK added: "I think Equipment Company,said that if
the organization functions fairly he is selected manager,"I would
well.Anytime you change it hope to reduce the city budget.'
causes stress for the good or the Reducing purchases is a realistic
bad. area for cuts,he said.
"If the Council wants to make In response to other Council
a change overnight then I would questions, Hafner said he be-
say I'm not your man.I would lieves that department heads
want time to do it right the first should usually show up for work
time." at 8 a.m. to set a good example
Blank,who took over last sum- for their employees. Hafner add-
mer when Michael Miller left to ed that he would investigate
become manager for Council pooling staff cars for depart-
Bluff s.Iowa,has been employed ment heads.
in Maplewood for nine years, "Eight million dollars(the
most recently as the community city's budget)is a big business
services director. and we ought to treat it that
In response to a Councilman's way,"he said. "Cities like Rose-
question,Blank said he would ville and Maplewood can go the
need four favorable votes to ac- way of Cleveland if we're not
cept the city manager's job. careful."
Three votes would put the mana- ' The Council is scheduled to in-
ger's future in jeopardy,he terview Barry Evans,another
explained. candidate,at noon Saturday at
Responding to the same ques the city hall, 1380 Frost Ave. Ev-
tion,Hafner said he would prefer ans is executive director of the
unanimous Council support. But TComprehenAsive(C Employment
a 3-2 vote in his favor would be in Dade
ut CETA)consortium
in Dade County.Fla.