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SAN BENITO — The city’s new commission is taking on one of its biggest jobs — building its top administrative team.
Now, commissioners are considering launching a process aimed at hiring a city manager to replace City Manager Manuel De La Rosa, a week after they voted 4-1 to buy out his contract paying an annual salary of $175,000 plus benefits.
During a June 20 meeting, they are also planning to appoint an interim city manager to oversee daily operations until they hire De La Rosa’s replacement.
As part of an agreement, De La Rosa agreed to stay on the job for up to 60 days or until commissioners make the hire.
Meanwhile, the city’s assistant city manager job remains open after former Assistant City Manager Fred Bell resigned to take a job in March.
After City Attorney Mark Sossi resigned last week amid City Hall’s changes, commissioners appointed Javier Villalobos, McAllen’s mayor, to serve as interim city attorney.
“There’s still a lot more on the table that needs to be looked at,” Mayor Rick Guerra said during an interview.
Interim city manager
Topping their list, commissioners are planning to appoint an interim city manager, Guerra said.
“Hiring an interim gives us time to search for a city manager,” he said. “We won’t be in a hurry.”
For months, politicos around town have been pointing to local prospects.
“There are names out there,” Guerra said. “There are people considering throwing their names in. Whoever applies, we’ll look at everything.”
Handling statewide search
As they work to build the city’s new administrative team, commissioners are planning to launch a search for a new city manager.
While Commissioner Tom Goodman wants to hire a search firm to select candidates, Commissioner Deborah Morales believes commissioners can better handle the job.
Meanwhile, Guerra said he doesn’t want to launch a national search for San Benito’s next city manager.
“I’m going in open-minded,” Morales said during an interview, referring to the search process. “Every city commissioner should go in open-mindedly. We’re going to have very critical decisions and we need to take our time in the process — and it is a process. I ask the community to bare with us — to be patient. We’re looking for the betterment of San Benito.”
Morales, who wants to launch a statewide search for candidates for the job, said commissioners could advertise requesting qualifications.
“I want to take our time and find the perfect fit,” she said. “You’re not going to make everybody happy, unfortunately — but satisfying the majority, and the community as well.”
At City Hall, commissioners have a better understanding of what it takes to find the “perfect fit” for the job, Morales said.
“We’re more than capable of knowing what we want in a city manager,” she said. “We know our culture, we know our town — they don’t.”
Proposing search firm
But Goodman wants to hire a search firm specializing in city government administrative positions.
“The whole process is a much more professional process than us just taking applications,” he said during an interview. “That way we have a more independent, transparent process. Somebody specializing in that area will know how to vet people. A recruiter has contacts with city managers all over the place. We can give that recruiter the qualifications we’re looking for.”
With the help of a search firm, commissioners could seek prospects with experience in economic development, water and sewer plant operations and hiring and retaining staff, Goodman said.
“That way the recruiter can pre-qualify individuals before they’re presented to the commission,” he said.
Citing qualifications
For the city’s top executive position, commissioners said they want an administrator with strong experience who can work with the community.
“We need a city manager who’s business-friendly,” Guerra said. “We want to hire someone who can work with all of us.”
A year after calling for a series of water rate hikes aimed at helping to pull the utility department out of the red while paying off debt tied to the construction of a $17 million water plant, he said he wants to hire a city manager experienced in setting water rates.
Guerra also said he wants a city manager who could work with City Hall’s finances to boost low wages that have sparked staff turnover.
“They have to look at finances — our low wages,” he said. “I want some of our wages to be looked at.”
Guerra also said he wants a city manager who “understands” the region.
“We need someone who understands the culture that we have,” he said. “They need to know our elected officials — our state officials to get matching grants.”
Meeting community standards
Like Guerra, Morales said she wants to hire a city manager who can work with the community.
“Our culture is different. I want a city manager that works with the community, to meet the standards the community wants — that works with the staff,” she said. “I would want somebody who knows infrastructure, drainage, administration, budgeting. The plus is being a people-person.”
